LAWRENCE — Kansas University will present an honorary degree Monday to a World War II Navajo code talker who withdrew from KU 60 years ago. Chester Nez, 91, will receive the degree Monday morning at 11 in the Lied Center pavilion. The event is part of Native Heritage Month activities at KU, and is free and open to the public. Nez left KU in 1952 after three years as a student, unable to pay to complete his education after he used up his GI Bill funding. He left for New Mexico to find work. KU says Nez is the last survivor of the original 29 Marine code talkers. The code talkers used the Navajo language as an unbreakable code as Marines battled the Japanese in the Pacific.
Thursday, Nov. 8, 6 a.m.
