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Code Talker Samuel 'Jesse' Smith Sr. passes on

By Bill Donovan
Special to the Times

WINDOW ROCK, April 17, 2014

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Courtesy photo

Samuel 'Jesse' Smith


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Samuel "Jesse" Smith Sr., a former Navajo Code Talker and long-time tribal police officer and tribal employee, died on Monday.

Tribal officials said Smith, who was 89, died at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque.

"He caught pneumonia back in January and wasn't able to shake it," said his son, Mike Smith.

Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly ordered that Navajo Nation flags be flown at half-staff from Monday through sunset on Friday.

"The Navajo Nation is saddened to hear that we lost another wonderful hero and role model to our people," he said. "He set a positive example for us to follow and we offer our prayers and condolences to the family."

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