Does anyone remember the old movie, "When the Legends Die", with Richard Widmark?
I am reminded of that movie this morning when I received the very sad news of the passing of my friend, Corporal John Kinsel Sr. Corporal Kinsel was one of the last two living Navajo Code Talkers. He died peacefully in his sleep this morning, less than three months short of his 108th birthday.
John kept asking his son if it had snowed yet, and early this morning, the wind came howling, bringing his parents and both sides of his relatives that came for John and he took his final journey with the first snow that he had been waiting for. The moisture lifted his footprints. The Kinsel family uses traditional ways, in that the departed will let us humans know of their time to take their Spiritual journey.
Few men have lived like John Kinsel lived. To say he lived a full life would be a gross understatement. John was a hero in the purest sense of the word. If one wishes to explain to a young man what a real man is, tell him about Corporal John Kinsel Sr.
Amy and I have been beyond honored to have been friends with John and his son, Ron Kinsel for several years now. We have enjoyed visiting them in their home on numerous occasions.
The Code Talkers service was a turning point for America in WWII and provided the edge that we needed to win the war. Bear in mind that they did not have to do this and who would blame them if they refused. Truth is, they were eager to help and many, many volunteered.
After returning from the war, John built a small, one-room cabin near Lukachukai, AZ and raised his family there.
I have posted several times about our visits up there. The links below are two of the most notable. There are also more pictures in those links...
Hágoónee, Nizhónígo!
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https://www.facebook.com/share/p/thCowB8AVG6VuL73/
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https://www.facebook.com/share/p/mk6ZYGWmTo8yMZ32/
