Allen Dale June
{{Short description|WWII Navajo code talker (1921–2010)}}
{{Infobox military person
|name = Allen Dale June
|birth_date ={{birth date|1921|11|28}}
|birth_place = Kaibito, Arizona, U.S.
|death_date = {{death date and age|2010|09|8|1921|11|28}}
|death_place = Prescott, Arizona, U.S.
|allegiance = {{flag|United States}}
|branch = {{flag|United States Navy}}
|serviceyears = 1941–1945
|rank = Sergeant
|unit = United States Marine Corps
|battles = World War II
|awards = Congressional Gold Medal
|alma_mater = New Mexico Highlands University
University of Utah
|spouse = Dolly Beaver (divorced)
Virginia June
Rose Mary Begay
|relations = Michael June, Adeline June, Roxie June, Cyndi June Allison June (son), Alden June (son), Marlene Smith (daughter), Janie Brown (daughter), Jonathan Beiser (grandson), Ellen June (daughter), Adolph June Jr.
Floyd June
Jackie June
Keith June
}}
Allen Dale June (November 28, 1921 – September 8, 2010) was an American veteran of World War II. June was one of the 29 original Navajo code talkers who served in the United States Marine Corps during the war.{{cite news|first=George|last=Hardeen|title=Navajo Code Talker Allen Dale June passes away|url=http://nhonews.com/Main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=12846|work=Navajo Hopi Observer|date=2010-09-14|access-date=2010-09-23|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714180646/http://nhonews.com/Main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=12846|archive-date=2011-07-14}}
Early life
June was born in Kaibito, Arizona on November 28, 1921, to a Navajo family. His mother was {{spell-nv|Kinłichíiʼnii}}, born for {{spell-nv|Tłʼízíłání}}, and his father was named {{spell-nv|Yéʼii Dineʼé}}, born for {{spell-nv|Tachíiʼnii}}. June graduated from Tuba City Vocational High School in Tuba City in 1941. Once the United States entered World War II later that year and began recruiting Navajos as code talkers, June hitchhiked to Fort Defiance and Fort Wingate to enlist.
War years
June enlisted in 1941 and became one of the 29 original Navajo code talkers in the U.S. Marines. he served until the end of World War II in 1945, when he was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant.
After War
Congressional Gold Medal
Dale, along with the other original nine Navajo code talkers, received the Congressional Gold Medal on December 21, 2000.[http://clerk.house.gov/art_history/house_history/goldMedal.html Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives – Congressional Gold Medal Recipients] In recent years, residents of Longmont, Colorado, raised money to buy June and his third wife, Virginia June, a home when they learned the couple had no permanent place to live.
Death
Allen Dale June died at Presscott Veteran's Hospital in Prescott, Arizona, on September 8, 2010, at the age of 89. June had become ill while on a trip to Arizona from the family's home in Longmont, Colorado.{{cite news|title=WWII Navajo code talker dead at 91 |url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/09/10/WWII-Navajo-code-talker-dead-at-91/UPI-12851284142284/|work=United Press International |date=2010-09-10|access-date=2010-09-23}} He was buried at a family cemetery in Kaibeto, Arizona. Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. ordered all flags to be flown at half staff in June's honor.
With June's death in 2010,{{cite news|first=Felicia|last=Fonseca|title=An original Code Talker keeps tale alive, Few remaining members of elite Navajo Marine unit|url=http://www.santafenewmexican.com/LocalNews/An-original-Code-Talker-keeps-tale-alive|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202061404/http://www.santafenewmexican.com/LocalNews/An-original-Code-Talker-keeps-tale-alive|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-02-02|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Santa Fe New Mexican|date=2010-08-29|access-date=2010-09-23}}{{cite news|title=One of original Navajo Code Talkers dies in Ariz.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/10/AR2010091000812.html|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=2010-09-10|access-date=2010-09-23}}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Lloyd Oliver's death in 2011, and Chester Nez's death on June 4, 2014,{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/04/us/navajo-code-talker-obit/index.html |title=Chester Nez, last of original Navajo code talkers of World War II, dies |last1=Stapleton |first1=AnneClaire |last2=Carter |first2=Chelsea J. |date=June 5, 2014 |publisher=CNN |access-date=June 5, 2014}} none of the original 29 Navajo code talkers are alive.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Arizona during World War II}}
{{Native Americans and World War II}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:June, Allen Dale}}
Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II
Category:Military personnel from Arizona
Category:Congressional Gold Medal recipients
Category:New Mexico Highlands University alumni
Category:University of Utah alumni
Category:People from Coconino County, Arizona
Category:People from Longmont, Colorado