Navajo Code Talker Bill Toledo is scheduled to have a book signing after his speech on Feb. 28 during East Central University’s Fifth Annual Louise Young Diversity Lecture.
Mr. Toledo will be speaking at 7 p.m. on Feb. 28 at the Ataloa Theatre of the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center on the ECU campus. The speech is free and open to the public.
Toledo was a World War II Navajo Code Talker for three years from 1942-45, serving in engagements including the Battle of Bougainville in the British Solomon Islands and the battles of Guam and Iwo Jima.
Toledo’s work and use of the Navajo language helped block Japanese intelligence experts from breaking United States and Allied codes. The Japanese were well-versed in the English language and were able to anticipate American and Allied actions, before the United States Marine Corps employed the Navajo Indians, who used their native language, to help disguise American and Allied moves, which proved to be highly successful.
Following his speech and a brief question-answer session, Toledo will sign books for $45 apiece (cost of the book and signing). Several titles of books included are: Navajo Weapon,Navajo Warriors and It Had To Be Done. Proceeds from the book signing will go to the operating revenue of the Navajo Code Talkers group to purchase food, drinks, etc. for their meetings and other functions they attend.