World War II Navajo Code Talker To Speak In Buchanan, Dowagiac

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A World War II Navajo code talker will be coming to southwest Michigan next month. The Buchanan American Legion Veterans Day Committee, the University of Notre Dame, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, and Southwestern Michigan College have all partnered to host Peter MacDonald, Sr. He enlisted in the U.S. Marines at 15 and served from 1944 to 1946 alongside other Navajo Marines for the top secret Navajo Code School. After the war, he became an engineer. Navajo Code Talkers were credited with saving hundreds of thousands of lives to shorten the war in the Pacific, and MacDonald received the Congressional Silver Medal for his service. He was also given a Special Commendation by President Richard Nixon and was featured in TIME magazine as one of 200 “Rising Leaders of America” in 1974. He is currently the president of the Navajo Code Talkers Museum and Veteran Center in Arizona. MacDonald will be speaking in Buchanan, Dowagiac, and South Bend from November 11 to the 14. You can see the schedule below.

The Buchanan American Legion issued the following information:

Who: World War II Navajo Code Talker Peter MacDonald, Sr.

What: Veterans Day Week appearances in Michiana

When: Nov. 11-14

Where: Nov. 11 and 12 in Buchanan, Nov. 13 at Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac, Nov. 14 at the University of Notre Dame

Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. at the Buchanan American Legion and at 7 p.m. at Buchanan High School, Nov. 12 at 1:30 p.m. at Buchanan High School speaking to students.

Nov. 13 at 5:30 p.m. at Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac in the Lyons Theater.

Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. at Notre Dame in the Jordan Auditorium in the Mendoza College of Business.

He will also be attending the Notre Dame vs. Navy football game on Nov. 16.