Hear about the experience of Bill Toledo in his own words at: https://www.loc.gov/collections/veterans-history-project-collection/serving-our-voices/diverse-experiences-in-service/legacies-of-service-celebrating-native-americans/item/afc2001001.54889/?fbclid=IwAR3auIoDz-__sfW8A-Ct9AFxlCTSYW_hLBPJ7DgB3zt6hYQGEIbnB8EZ-1o#item-service_history

Pfc. Bill Toledo served with the 3rd Marine Division in the Pacific, including Bougainville, Guam and Iwo Jima. 
He was born in Torreon, New Mexico and joined the Marines in October 1942 along with his uncle, Frank, and cousin, Preston. All would become code talkers. 
In general he said he got along with the Marines in his unit, but he did experience discrimination, “But the bunch I was with we worked together. We were always working together helping each other,” he said. 

After the war, he struggled with PTSD, but a traditional Enemy Way Healing Ceremony in 1970 helped rid him of it. 

Pfc. Bill Toledo died May 5, 2016.

Navajo code talker takes part in a Motorcyclist ride to Washington, DC. 

BILL HENRY TOLEDO

Service

WORLD WAR II

US MARINE CORPS,

PFC

Resting Place

Mementos

Tributes

Word Cloud

Biography

Milestones

Mementos

Historical Documents

Veteran programs and services

More VA resources

Get VA updates

In crisis? Get help now

Contact us