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Navajo Code Talker Teddy Draper Sr. Dies in Arizona at 96


FILE - Navajo Code Talkers from left, Albert Smith, Teddy Draper Sr. and Samuel Tso read the names of their brothers-in-arms written on a pillar dedicated to them during the filming of a documentary about them in Gallup, New Mexico, Oct. 28, 2006.
FILE - Navajo Code Talkers from left, Albert Smith, Teddy Draper Sr. and Samuel Tso read the names of their brothers-in-arms written on a pillar dedicated to them during the filming of a documentary about them in Gallup, New Mexico, Oct. 28, 2006.

A Navajo Code Talker who used his native language to outsmart the Japanese in World War II has died in Arizona.

Navajo Nation officials say Teddy Draper Sr. died Thursday at age 96 in the small city of Prescott.

Tribal officials say Draper lived in Chinle, Arizona.

Draper and other Navajos followed in the footsteps of the original 29 who developed the code.

He was part of the 5th Marine Division, fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima and received a Purple Heart as well as a Congressional Silver Medal.

Funeral plans were pending and a list of Draper's survivors wasn't immediately available Thursday.

Draper's death came nine days after another Navajo Code Talker, George B. Willie Sr., died in Arizona at age 92.

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