WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — John Kinsel Sr., one of the last remaining Navajo Code Talkers who transmitted messages during World War II based on the tribe's native language, has died. He was 107.
Navajo Nation officials in Window Rock announced Kinsel’s death on Saturday.
Tribal President Buu Nygren has ordered all flags on the reservation to be flown at half-staff until Oct. 27 at sunset to honor Kinsel.
“Mr. Kinsel was a Marine who bravely and selflessly fought for all of us in the most terrifying circumstances with the greatest responsibility as a Navajo Code Talker,” Nygren said in a statement Sunday.
With Kinsel’s death, only two original Navajo Code Talkers are still alive: Former Navajo Chairman Peter MacDonald and Thomas H. Begay.
Hundreds of Navajos were recruited by the Marines to serve as Code Talkers during the war, transmitting messages based on their then-unwritten native language.
They confounded Japanese military cryptologists during World War II and participated in all assaults the Marines led in the Pacific from 1942 to 1945, including at Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Peleliu and Iwo Jima.
The Code Talkers sent thousands of messages without error on Japanese troop movements, battlefield tactics and other communications crucial to the war’s ultimate outcome.
Kinsel was born in Cove, Arizona, and lived in the Navajo community of Lukachukai.
He enlisted in the Marines in 1942 and became an elite Code Talker, serving with the 9th Marine Regiment and the 3rd Marine Division during the Battle of Iwo Jima.
President Ronald Reagan established Navajo Code Talkers Day in 1982 and the Aug. 14 holiday honors all the tribes associated with the war effort.
The day is an Arizona state holiday and Navajo Nation holiday on the vast reservation that occupies portions of northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico and southeastern Utah.
FILE - Navajo Code Talker John Kinsel Sr., of Lukachukai, Ariz., listens as his comrades speak of their WWII experiences Tuesday Aug. 14, 2007, in Window Rock, Ariz. (AP Photo/Donovan Quintero, File)
MIAMI (AP) — Lionel Messi and Inter Miami had a 3-0 lead, against in-state rival Orlando City, on co-owner David Beckham's 51st birthday no less, finally looking poised to get the long-awaited first win on its new home field.
Martin Ojeda and Orlando City had other ideas.
Ojeda scored three goals, Tyrese Spicer had the go-ahead goal in the third minute of stoppage time and Orlando City stunned Inter Miami 4-3 on Saturday night — ending the reigning MLS champions' 11-game unbeaten streak across all competitions.
Messi had a goal and two assists in his 100th appearance for the club, and somehow, that wasn't enough against a team that came into the night near the bottom of the MLS standings. Inter Miami fell to 0-1-3 at its new stadium.
Ian Fray and Telasco Segovia also scored for Inter Miami, which was unbeaten (5-0-6) in its last 11 matches across all competitions and its last nine matches (5-0-4) in MLS play.
Orlando City (3-7-1) had won only two of its last 15 MLS matches — including playoffs — dating to last season. Orlando City also was 0-4-1 on the road in MLS play this season.
None of that mattered. Ojeda scored in the 39th minute to send Orlando into the half down 3-1. He scored again in the 68th minute to make matters interesting.
Too interesting from the Inter Miami perspective.
Ojeda had a great chance to tie it in the 73rd minute, alone on the right side of the box. But Inter Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair came well off his line and made a point-blank save to keep the score 3-2.
Ojeda wouldn't be denied, connecting on a penalty kick in the 78th minute to tie things up at 3-3. He had another chance in the 80th minute, with St. Clair stopping that one with his face — yes, his face — to keep the match tied.
Spicer eventually got the go-ahead goal for the visitors, Messi and the Herons kept arguing over what they felt were missed calls, and time ran out.
Inter Miami has four matches left before MLS’ seven-week stoppage for the FIFA World Cup begins. None of those looming opponents — Toronto, Cincinnati, Portland and Philadelphia — was over the .500 mark entering Saturday.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
From left, Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10), midfielder Telasco Segovia (8) and forward Luis Suárez (9) celebrate a goal together in the first half during an MLS soccer match against the Orlando City, Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Chris Arjoon)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) controls the ball as Orlando City defender Robin Jansson (6) attempts to stop in the first half during an MLS soccer match against the Orlando City, Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Chris Arjoon)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) controls the ball as Orlando City defender Robin Jansson (6) attempts to stop and midfielder Luis Otávio (5) looks on in the first half during an MLS soccer match against the Orlando City, Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Chris Arjoon)
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) battles for the ball in the first half during an MLS soccer match against the Orlando City, Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Chris Arjoon)
