Thursday, March 28, 2024

Code Talker passes on

Code Talker passes on

WINDOW ROCK

Navajo Code Talker David Patterson, Sr., has passed on. He was 94.

Portrait

Navajo Times | Ravonelle Yazzie
Navajo Code Talker David Patterson, Sr., looks on during Navajo Code Talker Day on Aug. 13, 2016, in Window Rock. Patterson passed on early Sunday morning, said his son, Pat Patterson. He
was 94.

According to his son, Pat Patterson, his father died at 2:42 a.m. this morning at the Rio Rancho Care Center in Rio Rancho, N.M., from complications stemming from a fall on Sept. 8 at his son’s home. During his stay in the hospital, he contracted pneumonia.

“He was brave until the very end, but was just not strong enough to overcome this battle,” his son wrote on his GoFundMe page.

Patterson enlisted into the Marine Corps in 1943 and honorably discharged on April 7, 1945. After serving his country, he went to college in Oklahoma and New Mexico, earning a degree in social work, his son said.

The Code Talker raised his family in Oklahoma and in California, before moving back to Shiprock. There he worked for the Navajo Nation Division of Social Service until retiring in 1987.

After his service to the Navajo Nation, Patterson volunteered as a foster grandparent for schools in the Shiprock area.

On November 24, 2001, Patterson, and other Code Talkers, were awarded the Silver Congressional Medal of Honor.

The Los Angeles Dodgers fan was a devout Catholic and loved playing bingo, and was an avid bowler, his son wrote.

“We will all miss you and cherish you for all of eternity. You were my father, my hero, my mentor, and my bowling partner,” he wrote.

Patterson had six children, one of whom passed on before him. He lived with Pat at his home in Rio Rancho from 2012 to 2017.

Funeral services for Patterson will be held in Shiprock at the Christ The King Catholic Church. However, Pat said a date a time have not, yet, been set. A GoFundMe page titled, David E. Patterson, Sr’s Funeral, has been set up.


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About The Author

Donovan Quintero

"Dii, Diné bi Naaltsoos wolyéhíígíí, ninaaltsoos át'é. Nihi cheii dóó nihi másání ádaaní: Nihi Diné Bizaad bił ninhi't'eelyá áádóó t'áá háadida nihizaad nihił ch'aawóle'lágo. Nihi bee haz'áanii at'é, nihisin at'é, nihi hózhǫ́ǫ́jí at'é, nihi 'ach'ą́ą́h naagééh at'é. Dilkǫǫho saad bee yájíłti', k'ídahoneezláo saad bee yájíłti', ą́ą́ chánahgo saad bee yájíłti', diits'a'go saad bee yájíłti', nabik'íyájíłti' baa yájíłti', bich'į' yájíłti', hach'į' yándaałti', diné k'ehgo bik'izhdiitįįh. This is the belief I do my best to follow when I am writing Diné-related stories and photographing our events, games and news. Ahxéhee', shik'éí dóó shidine'é." - Donovan Quintero, an award-winning Diné journalist, served as a photographer, reporter and as assistant editor of the Navajo Times until March 17, 2023.

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