'Shi buddy'

Saturday's weather was fit for a celebration of Willard Varnell Oliver's life as hundreds of family, friends and relatives gathered at St. Isabel Catholic Church.

Oliver, 88, died Oct. 14 of health problems related to injuries he had received in a car-pedestrian accident two years ago.

He was a Navajo Code Talker in World War II, later receiving the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and the Congressional Silver Medal for his service.

He was Bit'ahnii (Folded Arms Clan), born for Kinlichíi'nii (Red House Clan). His chei was Naakaii Dine'é (Mexican People Clan) and his nálí was Tódích'íi'nii (Bitter Water Clan).

Oliver grew up between Shiprock and Farmington and graduated from the Shiprock Agricultural High School in 1940. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on March 23, 1943, and served in the South Pacific with the 2nd Marine Division. He was honorably discharged on Dec. 11, 1945.

His younger brother Lloyd Oliver, of Camp Verde, Ariz., is a member of the original 29 Navajo Code Talkers. The Navajo Times approached Lloyd Oliver for comments at Willard's service but was told by his grandson, Steven Oliver, that he couldn't do an interview because he had a sore throat and didn't have his hearing aid.

The two brothers were close, and when Lloyd traveled to Washington, D.C., to receive the Congressional Gold Medal in 2001, Willard went with him to share the moment. A year later, when Willard was awarded the Congressional Silver Medal in a ceremony in Window Rock, Lloyd was there with him.

"When (Willard's son Lawrence) asked him why his younger brother joined the Marines before he did, Lawrence was told that Lloyd was mad at his girlfriend so he joined the Marines," said Tony Ramirez, nephew who provided the eulogy during the memorial service. "If you noticed, his military experience has touched the lives of his family."

Ramirez shared the story about how a rock thrown into a calm pond creates ripples that expand outward, eventually touching everything in the pond. Willard's reverence for military service was like that, as attested by the many family members who wore military uniforms as they paid their finals respects to him.

Willard was the husband of Nellie Oliver, and father to Pearl Platero of Many Farms, Ariz., Brenda Oliver of North Hills, Calif., Sandra Oliver of Fort Defiance, Melinda Oliver and Olivia Whitethorne of Shonto, Ariz., Regina Oliver and Varnell Oliver of Lukachukai, Gloria McLane of Houck, Ariz., Virgil Oliver of Woodbridge, Va., and Lawrence Oliver of St. Michaels, Ariz.

He had 38 grandchildren, 42 great grandchildren and 30 great-great grandchildren.

Hidden heroism

After his service in World War II, Willard Oliver returned to civilian life but continued his public service as a police officer and ambulance driver for the Navajo Nation. He also spent time working for the BNSF Railroad in California, and as a pipefitter.

On Saturday he was remembered by his family as someone who liked to be on the go.

"He was always outgoing and was always wanting to go to powwows because his granddaughter, Gina Lynn Oliver, is an accomplished dancer in the powwows," said his son Lawrence. "He enjoyed going to the fairs and he liked football, locally and the NFL. I don't know if he had a favorite team.

"The one thing about him, he had a heart for little lost puppies," Lawrence said with a chuckle. "If he found one he would bring it home and let my mom deal with it."

Ramirez noted that Willard "loved being with his family and his grandchildren."

"He also had many friends especially with the other code talkers," Ramirez added. "To other code talkers he would always call them 'Shi buddy.'"

Yet owing to the secrecy surrounding the Navajo-based code, even Willard's family did not know the full story of his role in the war until he was an old man.

"For us, his children, growing up we didn't know about his experiences," Lawrence said. "He never talked about it. I found out about it once it was declassified."

Willard seldom talked about his war experiences but when he did, Lawrence said he avidly took notes. Since 2005 he's kept a record of his father's stories, and has them summarized as part of a four-page manuscript.

"This is so that the younger generation of family will have something that documents my father's military service," he said.

In one passage, Willard told how he was injured in the 1944 battle for Saipan, one of the Pacific islands occupied by the Japanese military.

"...I noticed the infantry was moving forward nearby, so as I began moving out of the foxhole, right then an artillery shell landed right in front of the soldiers nearby, knocking them over.

"At the same instance, one landed about 10 or 15 feet away from me," Lawrence quotes Willard as saying. "Next thing I knew I was lying on the ground and had to get myself into a nearby foxhole quickly.

"I guess I was wounded badly. I was holding a grenade with the pin removed in my right hand ready to toss, in case the enemy came upon me."

Willard had sustained shrapnel wounds to his left thigh and around his left shoulder. He had a piece of shrapnel lodged in his shoulder that was never removed, and which would bother him from time to time, said his son.

"The doctors said the shrapnel was to stay because it was inoperable and could be a risk," Lawrence said.

Return to the Pacific

In 2005 Willard's son Virgil, who works at the Pentagon, helped organize a trip to Korea for Willard and other surviving members of the Navajo Code Talkers.

"People in Japan had heard the code talkers were nearby and contacted us, requesting for them to come visit Japan," Virgil recounted in his presentation during the services. "Japanese officials said they wanted them to come over and visit.

"(Willard) was hesitant, thinking there would be some anguish and animosity. He went and realized that it wasn't like that at all. They welcomed him and the other code talkers," Virgil said.

The code talkers always got a special reception, no matter where they went, Lawrence noted.

"Even when (Willard) traveled to other places, when he wore his uniform people would stop and ask for autographs and their pictures to be taken with him. A lot of people would also thank him. It happened everywhere he went."

Among those present at Saturday's service was Cal Curley, who attended on behalf of Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M. Curley presented the family with a U.S. flag that had flown over the state capitol of New Mexico, a certificate, and a letter of condolence from Udall.

"Mr. Oliver left a vacancy in the world that can never be filled," Curley said, reading from Udall's letter. "We can never express our appreciation for Mr. Oliver's services to our country...he's a shining beacon to all who knew him."

Clarence Gorman, a member of the Central Navajo Veterans Organization color guard and a Korean War veteran from Chinle, also came to pay his respects.

"It's an honor being here," he said. "I didn't know him personally but he served along with my brother Carl Gorman. It's our duty to respect and participate in (Oliver's) memory. There are very few code talkers left."

"They're legendary," said Tom Gorman, another member of the color guard. "It's our honor to serve every veteran that has served for our country. (Code talkers) are our heroes from our own nation. We should preserve that history and pay our respects while they are still among us, especially our leaders and policy makers."

Members of the Delta Communication 4th Recon of Albuquerque attended as well.

"We're always honored to be there for a code talker," said Staff Sgt. Abel Saenz, whose wife is Navajo. "(Oliver) is a large part of our history and it's sad to see that another code talker has passed away.

"To be as small as you all are as a nation, there are so many Native Americans that sign up to serve," Saenz added. "It says a lot and I'm always at a loss for words to know many participate. The Navajos are such respectful and honorable people."

Despite his advancing age, Willard Oliver was in good health until December 2007, when he was involved in a pedestrian accident, said his son Lawrence. Willard was walking in Lukachukai when he was struck by a vehicle driven by a distracted tourist.

Lawrence said his father suffered bumps and bruises but at the time thought he would recover. He never really did, however.

"Since then his health condition went up and down," Lawrence said. "It finally got the best of him."

As Willard's decline steepened he entered the Veteran's Administration hospital in Prescott, Ariz., where he was under medical supervision until his death last week.

"He gave us 88 wonderful years," said Father Blaine Grein, who shared the story of a man who planned his own funeral and noted that he wanted to be buried with a fork in his hand, so he'd be ready for dessert.

The man wanted to be buried with fork in hand because he knew that "the best has yet to come," Grein said.

Following a 21-gun salute and the playing of "Taps," Willard Oliver was buried in the Lukachukai Community Cemetery located north of the church.

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