NOVEMBER 28, 1923

TLINGIT LEADER ALASKA NATIVE CODE TALKER GUSTEIHEEN (MARK JACOBS) BORN

Born in Sitka, Alaska, Jacobs grew up in family camps. His schooling was interrupted by World War II. Joining the Navy with his brother Harvey, he served on the USS New Mexico in the Aleutians, the USS Newberry, and 2 years with amphibious forces in the South Pacific where he and Harvey were used as Code Talkers. After the war, Mark finished high school and became active in the Alaska Native Brotherhood Camp, Alaska Federation of Natives, and National Congress of American Indians. Jacobs served for over 34 years on the Executive Council of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Tribes of Alaska, on the Sealaska board of directors, and in the Sitka Civil Air Patrol. He was engaged in construction and was a union steward. Nationally, Jacobs was appointed to the Native American Veterans Advisory Commission and helped Senator Inouye draft the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. Jacobs died on January 13, 2005, in Sitka.

Sources: 
“Tlingit Code Talkers: The warriors who helped end World War II,” Sealaska Heritage.  Retrieved 6/28/2020, https://www.sealaskaheritage.org/node/659
“Mark Jacobs, Jr., Tlingit and civic leader dies at 81,” Alaska Web, 1/18/2005.  Retrieved 6/28/2020,     http://www.alaskaweb.org/obits/jacobsmjr.html
Medal: U.S Mint, 2008.  Tlingit Code Talker Congressional Medal.  Designed by Susan Gamble and sculpted by Joseph Menna. Public Domain.