March 15, 2004
Code talker finally gets his benefits
Decades later, a windfall for code talker Attorney secures medal, benefits for Navajo WWII vet
Teddy Draper Sr. fought in WWII at Iwo Jima. He and other Navajo have been credited with a large amount of the success in WWII. The Navajo language (unknown outside of North America) was used to confound the Axis powers in WWII. The code talkers put their lives on the line, as their handlers were instructed not to let them become POWs under ANY circumstance. Teddy was hit by a mortar round while serving at Iwo Jima. His injuries while not life threatening are non the less severe. He has lost a large part of his hearing, and some eye sight. That coupled with what sounds a lot like survivors guilt and post traumatic stress disorder means he gave a lot to a country that put him and his people on a reservation.
Even now, Teddy didn't really get the award he deserved. His purple hart was mailed to him in a box, very unceremoniously. Then again this kind of goes with how we have always treated the native americans.
While most of my right up has been a downer, it must be pointed out that an attorney, George P. Parker Jr., was the one to workout and fix things for Teddy. Who until Mr. Parker stepped in had been trying to work the system for 60 years. Parker, a labor attorney, learned all about Veteran's law strictly to help Mr. Draper probono.
Posted by pqbon at March 15, 2004 04:00 PM