WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (Washington County, Utah)
SAMUEL TOM HOLIDAY
(World War II veteran, Navajo code talker)
BIOGRAPHY
Samuel "Sam" Tom Holiday was born in a sheep camp in Monument Valley, Utah, sometime around the summerof 1924 (best guess is 6/2/1924 and that is the date recognized by his family).
During World War II, at the age of 18, Sam enlisted in the U.S. Marines. He served with the 4th Marine Division,
25th regiment, H&S Company, in Saipan, Iwo Jima, Kwajalien, Tinian, and the Marshall Islands. He was one of
the famous "Navajo Code Talkers". The complex and unwritten Navajo language could not be deciphered by
the enemy, but these heroes were able to communicate messages quickly and accurately. They were a secret
weapon until being declassified in 1968. At the time of his death, Sam was the 10th remaining Navajo Code
Talker out of 420.
After the war, Sam served as a Navajo Nation police officer in Kayenta, Arizona.
Sam spent the last part of his life in Washington County. He was known in the area for his attendance at veterans
events and his visits sharing his experiences with schoolchildren. He spent his later days living at the Southern
Utah Veterans Home in Ivins. Sam died on June 11, 2018 in the Southern Utah Veteran's Home. He was buried
next to his wife in the Kayenta Community Cemetery in Kayenta, Navajo County, Arizona.
*** NOTE: A GoFundMe account has been establised to raise funds for a statue to honor this great man. ***
FAMILY
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Sam & Lupita's Family: Samuel Tom Holiday Lupita Mae Isaac Holiday Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx |
(~6/2/1924-6/12/2018) (married xx/xx/1954) (5/7/1932-10/27/2010) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx) |
PHOTOS
 Samuel Tom Holiday |
 Samuel Tom Holiday |
 Samuel Holiday & daughters |
REFERENCES
Find-A-Grave entry for Samuel Tom HolidayUnder the Eagle: Samuel Holiday, Navajo Code Talker
Autobiographical book by Samuel Holiday and Robert S. McPherson
University of Oklahoma Press, 8/13/2013, 266 Pages
Navajo Code Talker: Sam Holiday
A personal reflection by Sam Holiday, 2010, 55 minutes
An oral history of Samuel Tom Holiday
Produced by students at Winona State University and Dine College during the Summer of 2012, 22 minutes
Navajo code talker Samuel Holiday, 90, gets surprise honors; Marine Corps League Dixie; STGnews Videocast
Article by Aspen Stoddard, St. George News, June 1, 2014
One of last surviving Navajo code talkers to celebrate 93rd birthday at Georgefest
Article by Joseph Witham, St. George News, May 30, 2017
Community celebrates Navajo veteran's 93rd birthday
Article by Joseph Witham, St. George News, June 3, 2017
Navajo Code Talker Samuel Holiday dies in Ivins at age 94
Article in the St. George News, June 12, 2018
Gov. Herbert to declare Friday 'Samuel Tom Holiday Day'; veteran's funerary escort to start in St. George
Article by Joseph Witham, St. George News, June 14, 2018
Free event to mark year anniversary of Navajo Code Talker Samuel Tom Holiday's death
Article by Joseph Witham, St. George News, June 10, 2019