PRESTON TOLEDO
U.S.- WORLD OBITUARIES
From "The Tulsa World," Tulsa, Oklahoma, Friday, December 24, 2004
PRESTON TOLEDO
Preston Toledo, a member of the Navajo Code Talkers group that invented a military code based on the Navajo language to confound the Japanese during World War II, died Dec. 5 in Santa Fe, N.M., after a car accident. He was 81.
He was buried Wednesday at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe.
A member of the Navajo Bitter Water People Clan, Toledo was born Nov, 23, 1923, in Broncho.
Family members said he was a humble man who didn't brag about his role in the war or about a famous photograph of him and his cousin Frank Toledo relaying orders over a field radio while in the South Pacific. The photograph is part of the Smithsonian Instution's collection.
Toledo was awarded the Bronze Star, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the China Service Medal. He served from 1941 until 1945 but didn't receive the medals and recognition until about 10 years ago, family members said.
Code talkers were not allowed to discuss their work when they returned home after the war. It wasn't until 1968 that the Defense Department first released information on the code talkers.
Felipe Toledo said his grandfather was proud of what he helped do during World War II.
"He was very special, very dear. He was a holy man," Felipe Toledo said, explaining that his grandfather was a roadman -- a kind of priest -- in the Native American Church.
From the National Archives and Records Administration
Cleared for Release
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