John Brown Jr. (Navajo)

John Brown Jr. (December 24, 1921 – May 20, 2009) was an American Navajo Code Talker during World War II.

Biography

Brown was born in Chinle, Arizona. He was the son of Nonabah Begay and John Brown. Brown was educated in Chinle Boarding School and Albuquerque Indian School. He graduated from the latter in 1940.

Brown joined the United States military right after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He was one of the original 29 code talkers, who were the ones who actually developed the code.

Later on, for a time, Brown served as a member of the Navajo Tribal Council.

Brown was a Latter-day Saint.

Brown and his wife, the former Loncie Polacca, were the parents of seven children.

References

• Navajo Times obituary of Brown
• "Richardson orders flags lowered to half staff," (May 24, 2009) KOB.com, KOB-TV, LLC.
• Gallup Independent obituary of Brown