Mr. Preston Toledo was age 81 when he passed away. He died of injuries suffered in a car accident.
Mr. Toledo was 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.
Mr. Toledo, a member of the Navajo Bitter Water People Clan, was described by relatives as 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 Institution's collection.
Mr. Toledo was awarded the Congressional Silver Medal of Honor, the Bronze Star, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the China Service Medal. He served from 1941 to 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 after the war. It wasn't until 1968 that the Defense Dept. first released information about them.
Mr. Toledo was 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.
Mr. Toledo, a member of the Navajo Bitter Water People Clan, was described by relatives as 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 Institution's collection.
Mr. Toledo was awarded the Congressional Silver Medal of Honor, the Bronze Star, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the China Service Medal. He served from 1941 to 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 after the war. It wasn't until 1968 that the Defense Dept. first released information about them.
Mr. Preston Toledo was age 81 when he passed away. He died of injuries suffered in a car accident.
Mr. Toledo was 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.
Mr. Toledo, a member of the Navajo Bitter Water People Clan, was described by relatives as 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 Institution's collection.
Mr. Toledo was awarded the Congressional Silver Medal of Honor, the Bronze Star, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the China Service Medal. He served from 1941 to 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 after the war. It wasn't until 1968 that the Defense Dept. first released information about them.
Mr. Toledo was 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.
Mr. Toledo, a member of the Navajo Bitter Water People Clan, was described by relatives as 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 Institution's collection.
Mr. Toledo was awarded the Congressional Silver Medal of Honor, the Bronze Star, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the China Service Medal. He served from 1941 to 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 after the war. It wasn't until 1968 that the Defense Dept. first released information about them.
Inscription
PFC US MARINE CORPS
WORLD WAR II
NAVAJO CODE TALKER
Gravesite Details
Resided in Cuba, NM
