Washington, DC - July 26, 2001 Congressional Gold Metals awarded to Navajo Code Talkers. Here John Brown Jr. receives his award.

John Brown, Jr.

One of the original 29 Navajo "Code Talkers" who developed a code based on their native language to help in WWII

PHOENIX , Arizona - John Brown Jr., a Navajo Code Talker who was part of the original group recruited to develop what became an unbreakable code that confounded the Japanese during World War II, died Wednesday. He was 88.

Tribal officials confirmed the death of Brown, who was from Crystal, N.M.

Several hundred Navajos served as Code Talkers during the war, but a group of 29 that included Brown developed the code based on their native language. Their role in the war wasn't declassified until 1968.

Brown received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2001 along with other members of the original 29 Code Talkers. Less than a handful are still alive.