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U.S. NEWS Monday 15 august 2022

80 years later, Navajo Code Talker marks group’s early days

PHOENIX (AP) — It’s been the enemy of the United outcome. President Ronald
80 years since the first Na- States of America.” Reagan established Nava-
vajo Code Talkers joined Hundreds of Navajos were jo Code Talkers Day in 1982
the Marines, transmitting recruited by the U.S. Ma- and the Aug. 14 holiday
messages using a code rines to serve as Code Talk- honors all the tribes associ-
based on their then-un- ers during the war. Begay is ated with the war effort.
written native language one of three who is still alive It’s also an Arizona state
to confound Japanese to talk about it. holiday and Navajo Nation
military cryptologists during The Code Talkers partici- holiday on the vast reserva-
World War II — and Thomas pated in all assaults the tion that occupies portions
H. Begay, one of the last liv- Marines led in the Pacific of northeastern Arizona,
ing members of the group, from 1942 to 1945 includ- northwestern New Mexico
still remembers the struggle. ing Guadalcanal, Tarawa, and southeastern Utah.
“It was the hardest thing to Peleliu and Iwo Jima. Begay and his family came
learn,” the 98-year-old Be- They sent thousands of from Albuquerque, New
gay said Sunday at a Phoe- messages without error on Mexico, to Phoenix for Sun- Navajo Code Talker Thomas Begay salutes during the national
nix ceremony marking the Japanese troop move- day’s event at the Wesley anthem at the Arizona State Navajo Code Talkers Day
anniversary. “But we were ments, battlefield tactics Bolin Plaza where a Na- celebration, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022, in Phoenix.
able to develop a code and other communications vajo Code Talker statue is Associated Press
that couldn’t be broken by crucial to the war’s ultimate displayed.q

Police: Man killed himself after ramming U.S. Capitol barrier

By MICHAEL BALSAMO collision did not appear
Associated Press to cause the blaze. Police
WASHINGTON (AP) — A officers at the scene saw
man drove his car into a the man fatally shoot him-
barricade near the U.S. self as they approached,
Capitol early Sunday and Manger said. The chief
then began firing gunshots said investigators located
in the air before fatally addresses for the man in
shooting himself, according Delaware and Pennsylva-
to police, who said he did nia and learned he had a
not seem to be targeting criminal history in the past
any member of Congress. decade, though his motive
The incident happened just remained unclear and he
before 4 a.m. at a vehicle had no links to the Capitol.,
barricade set at East Capi- “We don’t have any infor-
tol Street NE and 2nd Street The sun shines on the dome of Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022. mation that would indicate
SE in Washington. Associated Press his motivation at this point,”
It comes at a time when law The attack is reminiscent of identified as Richard A. York nounced dead. Capitol Po- Manger said.
enforcement authorities an incident when a man III, 29, of Delaware, crashed lice Chief Tom Manger said Police said “it does not ap-
across the country are fac- drove a vehicle into two into the barricade and that officers did not hear the pear the man was targeting
ing an increasing number Capitol Police officers at as he was getting out of man say anything before any member of Congress”
of threats and federal of- a checkpoint in April 2021, the car, the vehicle be- he opened fire “indiscrimi- and that investigators are
ficials have warned about killing an 18-year veteran came engulfed in flames. nately” in the street with a examining the man’s back-
the potential of violent at- of the force. And many on The man then opened fire, handgun and walked to- ground as they work to try
tacks on government build- Capitol Hill remain on edge firing several shots into the ward the Capitol building. to discern a motive. Both
ings in the days since the after supporters of the air as police approached. Authorities are investigat- the House and Senate are
FBI’s search of former Presi- then-president stormed the Capitol Police said the man ing whether the man may in recess and very few staff
dent Donald Trump’s Mar- Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. shot himself as the officers have set his car on fire, the members work in the Capi-
a-Lago estate in Florida. Authorities said the man, neared. He was later pro- chief said, because the tol complex at that hour. q