Mayor Julie Hackbarth-McIntyre and San Bernardino County

Mayor Julie Hackbarth-McIntyre and San Bernardino County Supervisor James Ramos pose with family members of the Barstow area Marines who served as Navajo Code Talkers, during and event dedicating the new Navajo Cold Talker Mural to them held in Barstow, Calif., Nov. 11. The families of the five United States Marines who served as Navajo Code Talkers during World War II, were able to speak to the crowd about their relatives' proud service to the Corps and to the United States of America. The ceremony included awards, certificates, and high praise from Mayor Julie Hackbarth-McIntyre, San Bernardino County Supervisor James Ramos, Assemblyman Jay Obernolte, as well as the commanding officer of Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow. After their service during the war, the Marines came to the Barstow area, working for MCLB Barstow until their service ended. Some returned to work as civilians until they retired. The Marines honored on the mural, left to right: Jimmy L. Benally, 4th Marine Division, was awarded the Silver Medal; John Chee, 2nd Marine Division, was awarded the Gold Medal; Nelson Draper, Sr., 2nd Marine Division, was awarded the Silver Medal; Joe Morris, Sr., 6th Marine Division, was awarded the Silver Medal; Joseph H. Towne, 3rd Marine Division, was awarded the Silver Medal. Each entered into the Marine Corps as radiomen, unaware that their primary mission would be to use the secretive Navajo language as a code to help transmit top secret, mission-critical message to support the Marine Corps' war efforts. Their motto, "Our Weapon Was Our Language" is proudly displayed on the mural honoring these hometown heroes.