Code Talker remembered for his service in faith and war

NAATSIS’ÁÁN, Ariz.

Bahe Ketchum, who traveled far and wide during his life, soaking up adventures and serving

around the globe, died Monday morning June 8. He was 96.

Ketchum was born in Kaibeto on Jan 15, 1919 as born Arlo Tallman, according to an early Indian Census Roll. He was born to the late Paul and Susie Tallman. He is survived by eight children from his second wife, Estellle – Margaret, Cyrus, Arnold, Lance, Jimmie, Marvin, Arlo, and Alexandra.

According to Jimmie Ketchum, his father, Bahe, had a daughter from a previous marriage, and soon after her birth, the baby’s mother passed away.

It was then that his relatives decided to find him another wife.

Irene Blake, one of Ketchum’s clan mothers said, “My mother said that he needed a wife, so she went to look for one for him.”

Ketchum soon married Estelle and together they had nine children. Their eldest child, Francis, passed away in 1979. Estelle passed on in 2006.

Ketchum was a straight shooter and a sharpshooter. He could eat like nobody’s business. He could hike for miles, barely tiring out, and he knew every hiking trail in north Western Navajo, according to his family.

According to his military record, Ketchum entered active duty in the U.S. Marines on Jan 5, 1944, seeing action in the Ryukyu Islands from April 1 to July 9, 1945 and in Tsingtao, China where the sixth Marine Division was charged with the occupation of China from Oct 12, 1945 to March 3, 1946.

His record also states that Ketchum had “good conduct … no offenses.” And under the special military qualifications reads “Code Talker.”

Ketchum was honorably discharged as a private from the First Separation Company MCB in San Diego and from the Marines Reserve on April 2, 1946.

Ketchum was a churchman. His sons, Jimmie and Marvin, said their father often willingly acknowledged that his perspective was a reflection of his training, upbringing, and of the virtues and principles in which he believed, as well as his personal observations as he entered his late nineties.

“I remember him as a pastor here,” said Amos Grass. “He was a true missionary for the Lord.”

“He was hard of hearing, but the messages he brought were always touching,” Grass added.

Relatives knew Ketchum as a local tourist, enjoying one-day trips to nearby places such as Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, Page, Kayenta, and Tuba City, as well as Gouldings and Kanab, Utah.

“He would want to eat at the Ranch House Grille or at Denny’s (in Page),” said Priscilla Bighorse. “He always ordered a big meal and finished it.”

“When he traveled, he wore that Code Talker hat. And he ate free (of charge) at restaurants,” Bighorse added.

Ketchum also leaves behind a lasting imprint on the Navajo Nation.

“A lot of people looked at him as a community person,” Marvin said. “He did a lot for the community (Naatsis’áán) as a chapter official and a representative.”

“He did a lot for Shonto and Ts’ahbiikin chapters,” she added.

In 1955, Ketchum served as the Navajo Mountain Chapter vice president. He also served as the secretary-treasure from 1963 to 1975. In addition, he served as an archeological society guide and a community health representative.

Ketchum was Tł’ízíłání (Many Goats Clan) and born for Tábąąhá (Water’s Edge Clan). Though this is in debate with some relatives of Ketchum’s, Jimmie and Marvin said their father introduced himself as Tł’ízíłání.

His maternal grandparents are Tódích’íi’nii (Bitter Water Clan) and his paternal grandparents are Tsi’naajinii (Black Streak Wood People).

President Russell Begaye ordered flags across the Navajo Nation to fly at half-staff from sunrise on June 9 to sunset on June 12.

“We salute his bravery, sacrifice and determination for the Navajo people,” Begaye said in a statement.

U.S. Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) also released a statement on Tuesday saying that he joins the entire state of Arizona in mourning the loss of Ketchum.

“Bahe and his fellow Code Talkers devised the only allied code that the enemy was never able to decipher and played a critical role in speeding up our decisive victory over tyranny and oppression,” Cain stated. “We will forever honor Bahe’s remarkable service and sacrifice for the cause of American freedom.”

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, said, “We will forever be indebted to Navajo Code Talker Bahe Ketchum for his service to our nation. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends as we mourn his passing. I ask that all Arizonans keep Navajo Code Talker Bahe Ketchum in your hearts during this difficult time, and to continue to pray for the safety of all the servicemen and women who fight to protect our freedom every day.”

Ketchum’s funeral is set for June 13 at 10 a.m. The service and reception will take place in Naatsis’áán at the Ééhániih Day event grounds.

An account also has been set up at Wells Fargo to help cover funeral costs. Donations can be made under the “Bahe Ketchum Memorial Fund.”

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