Chester Nez, the last of the original 29 Marine Navajo Code Talkers was given the Audie Murphy award on November 9. The risk of torture and death for these warriors was an everyday reality.

The Native Americans used the Navajo language to transmit coded messages concerning Japanese military operations.

“I was very proud to say that the Japanese did everything in their power to break that code but they never did,” Nez said in an interview with Stars and Stripes the day before the award ceremony.

The service of these brave men saved the lives of many Marines.