Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Wilfred Eli Billey Collection

Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Marine Corps
- Service Unit/Ship: 297th Platoon; Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division
- Location of Service: Tarawa Atoll (Gilbert Islands); Saipan, and Tinian (Northern Mariana Islands); Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands); Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Corporal
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/51394
Wilfred Billey was born in 1923 near Sanostee, New Mexico, and attended boarding school at the Navajo Methodist Mission School in Farmington before enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1943. After completing the training to become a Code Talker at the Navajo Communication School, Billey was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, with whom he took part in the battles on Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian, and Okinawa. After returning from the war, Billey finished high school, then went on to get a bachelor's degree and start his career in education. He worked as a science and industrial arts teacher, as a guidance counselor, and also attained a master's degree while working full-time. Billey eventually became an administrator, serving as the principal of Shiprock High School for fifteen years before finally retiring in 1990.
Interview / Recording
Share
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PlayBilley's gratefulness for the use of the atomic bombs, due to the fact that Billey and the 2nd Marine Division were due to invade Kyushu in November 1945; visiting Japan and Nagasaki after the war. 00:00:15.0 - 00:02:20.0
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PlayReturning home; working as a school principal, teacher, coach, and guidance counselor; receiving an honorary doctorate. 00:04:40.0 - 00:07:42.0
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PlayTraveling the country to speak to the public about his service as a Code Talker. 00:07:50.0 - 00:09:07.0
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PlayHis advice for people joining the military today; memories of how difficult boot camp was. 00:10:03.0 - 00:11:49.0
About this Item
Title
- Wilfred Eli Billey Collection
Names
- Farmington Museum
- Billey, Wilfred Eli
- Wilsey, Bart
- Renner, Luke
Home State
- New Mexico
Headings
- - Billey, Wilfred Eli
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Marine Corps.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- American Indian and Alaskan Native
Status
- veteran
Service History
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World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Marine Corps
- Service Unit/Ship: 297th Platoon; Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division
- Location of Service: Tarawa Atoll (Gilbert Islands); Saipan, and Tinian (Northern Mariana Islands); Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands); Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Corporal
- Dates of Service: 1943-1946
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran served as a Navajo Code Talker.
Materials
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2004-12-16; 2004-01-01)
- Video: DVD [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2004-12-16; 2004-01-01)
- Manuscript: Biography [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2002)
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2004)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/51394
Online Format
- image
- video
Additional Metadata Formats
Special Format
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Okinawa Island (Ryukyu Islands)
- Pacific Theater
- Saipan, and Tinian (Northern Mariana Islands)
- Tarawa Atoll (Gilbert Islands)