"'Leave our code talkers alone or we're going to kill you.'" (Audio Interview, 4:40)

Merril L. Sandoval

War: World War II, 1939-1946 Branch: Marine Corps Unit: 2nd Marine Division; 5th Marine Division Service Location: Pacific Theater; Hawaii; Japan Rank: Corporal Place of Birth: Farmington, NM

Merril Sandoval worked as a Navajo code talker in the Pacific Theater of World War II, and during his brief interview, he demonstrates the language he and his fellow Indians used to baffle the enemy. On Iwo Jima, Sandoval and a buddy were mistaken for Japanese soldiers and almost shot, but they were recognized by a couple of officers, who saved their lives.