HUBBARD-ARTHUR

NAVAJO  CODE  TALKER

Arthur Jose Hubbard was born on January 23, 1912, on the Tohono O’odham Nation in Topawa, Arizona, about three weeks before Arizona became a state.  He grew up in Ganado, Arizona, which is part of the Navajo Nation and studied at the University of Arizona.  He was the leader of a Navajo tribal band, as a trombone player and singer.  In 1939 he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and when the Marines developed the classified and highly successful Navajo Code he became an instructor training over 200 men to transmit coded messages using the Navajo language.  He was discharged from the Marine Corps in 1945.  After his military duties, the then Governor of Arizona appointed Hubbard to be the Director of Indian Development District of Arizona.  In 1972 he became an Arizona State Senator, serving for 12 years until 1984.  This made him the first Native American senator in the Arizona State Legislature.  His other work included serving as a water rights advisor to the Tohono O'odham Nation, and as a Navajo culture and language instructor at Arizona State University.  He also played an important part in the establishment of Dine College (originally known as Navajo Community College), which was the first college established within the Navajo Nation.  Hubbard was inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame and received the Navajo Code Talker Congressional Silver Medal in 2000.  He died at age 102 on February 7, 2014, in Phoenix, Arizona.  

On Hubbard’s death, flags across the Navajo Nation were flown at half-staff in his honor and Navajo leaders wrote, “The Navajo Nation mourns the loss of a living treasure, an American hero and a role model for young kids across the Nation.  The Navajo Code Talkers are living treasures of the Navajo Nation.  With the passing of Arthur Hubbard we have lost a true American hero.  Our Nation and Dine Citizens were truly blessed to have had such a highly respected and distinguished warrior on our side that fought for our Nation, both as a Navajo Code Talker and as a state leader.  We will always honor and cherish his sacrifices to make our Nation stronger.”

Hubbard has been laid to rest at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix.

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)