Willard Varnell Oliver (1921 - 2009)

Born 2 May 1921 in Shiprock, San Juan, New Mexico, United States

Died 14 Oct 2009 at age 88 in Prescott, Yavapai, Arizona, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Native Americans Project WikiTree [send private message]

Willard was Navajo. Join: Native Americans Project Discuss: native_americans

Biography

Willard Oliver is Notable.

Willard Oliver served in the United States Marine Corps in World War II
Service started: 1943
Unit(s): Navajo Code Talker
Service ended: 1945

Willard Varnell Oliver was born in 1921. He was a Navajo Code Talker and served alongside his brother Lloyd Oliver (one of the original 29 Navajo Code Talkers). He served in the military from 1943-1945. He was awarded the Congressional Silver Medal, Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his service.

Navajo Code Talkers Medal

Willard Oliver is survived by his wife, Nellie Oliver of Lukachukai; his daughters Pearl Platero of Many Farms, Ariz., Brenda Oliver of North Hills, Calif., Sandra Oliver of Fort Defiance, Melinda Oliver and Olivia Whitethorne of Shonto, Ariz., Regina Oliver of Lukachukai, and Gloria McLane of Houck, Ariz.; and his sons Varnell Oliver of Lukachukai, Virgil Oliver of Woodbridge, Va., and Lawrence Oliver of St. Michaels, Ariz.^[1]

Willard Oliver's clans were Bit'ahnii (Folded Arms People), born for Kinlichii'nii (Red House People), and his nalis were Todich'ii'nii (Bitter Water) and Naakaii Diné (Mexican Clan).^[1]

"I did not realize that until the Code Talkers were recognized that all the victories back during the war came about because of our Diné language," he said. "Sometimes I think about it. Why did the government want to use our language when throughout BIA school we would get our mouth washed out with soap when they caught us speaking Navajo?"^[1]

Oliver died in 2009 and is buried in Lukachukai Cemetery in Lukachukai, Apache County, Arizona.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Navajo Code Talker Willard V. Oliver passes on. Navajo Times. 15 Oct 2009.

• "United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG5W-F5YS : 26 September 2018), Willard Oliver, Navajo, Northern Navajo; citing Census, NARA microfilm publication M595. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1967.
• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KMRV-77T : 19 August 2019), Willard Oliver in household of Ollie Oliver, Farmington, Election Precinct 16 Northwest Farmington, San Juan, New Mexico, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 23-30, sheet 2B, line 57, family 49, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 2450.
• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKLF-4PM1 : accessed 21 August 2019), Williard Olivier, New Mexico, United States, 16 Oct 2009; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Gallup Independent, The, born-digital text.
• http://wrscouts.com/code_talkers.htm
• Willard Varnell Oliver on Wikipedia
• Wikidata: Item Q16018544
• Willard Varnell Oliver (1921-2009) on Find A Grave: Memorial #43105272 retrieved 21 August 2019