In the years since that tragic day, stories surrounding their final mission have begun to surface, offering deeper insight into the sacrifices made. Among them is a powerful segment recently released by teammate Nick Jones through Black Rifle Coffee Company (BRCC), recounting the harrowing exfiltration mission to bring Pongo and Navas home. The emotional retelling sheds light on the pain, bravery, and brotherhood that defined that operation.

As we reflect on their sacrifice, we are reminded that silence only serves the oppressors—not the victims of war. It is our duty to keep their memories alive, to speak their names, and to honor their legacy as if they were still standing beside us.

Diego Pongo and Moises Navas are more than names etched into history—they are symbols of valor, commitment, and the enduring spirit of the Raider community. We will never forget them.

Was born in 1921 near Lukachukai, Arizona, on the Navajo reservation. He became accustomed to hardship from an early age - his father died while he was still an infant, and he later lost a younger brother. While still young, he was given responsibility for caring for his younger siblings, as well as the family livestock. His given Navajo name translates roughly as "leader and powerful speaker" - a fitting name given his later accomplishments as a Code Talker and educator. He went to boarding school in Fort Defiance for two years, and remembers his time there as marred by bullies, severe discipline, inadequate food, and struggling to learn English. He then moved to St. Michael Indian School, which he remembers much more fondly, and where he credits the religious ceremonies for helping him to learn English. He went to high school first in Fort Wingate, and then at St. Catherine Indian School in Santa Fe, from where he graduated in 1942. Kinsel was a member of the second cohort to be trained as Code Talkers, and he remembers working together with some of the “First Twenty-Nine” to develop additional code terms. Kinsel went through boot camp and Code Talker training with fellow VHP participant Joe Hosteen Kellwood, who remembered Kinsel as a tough and driven individual who was selected to assist the instructors and demanded that the other trainees meet his high professional standards. Kinsel was assigned to the 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, where he served together with Bill Toledo and his first stop overseas was for eight months of training in New Zealand, a time and country that he remembers fondly. His first combat experience came during the Battle of Bougainville, where he recalls the intensity of jungle fighting but also the camaraderie of celebrating Thanksgiving with his fellow Marines (Video interview, 19:39). Next came the Battle of Guam, where Kinsel and the rest of the 3rd Marine Division faced heavy resistance on the beaches and throughout the island. Kinsel also remembers finding Guamanian civilians who had been murdered by Japanese soldiers (Video interview, 30:01). In February 1945, Kinsel took part in the Battle of Iwo Jima, where he and his regiment landed as reinforcements on D+5. He has vivid memories of Iwo Jima, including having to sprint across Motoyama Airfield No. 2 under intense fire. On his sixth day on the island, Kinsel was wounded by falling rock after the Japanese set off a large explosion inside a cave network. He had to wait on the beach for a day for medical evacuation, but once he was safely onboard a Navy hospital ship, a fellow Navajo who worked onboard brought him cake and ice cream.

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Hello, hope everything's going good! I just saw the post about honoring the fallen. I wanted to put in a good word on a recently fallen friend of mine. She unfortunately became one of the 22 a day a few weeks ago. Sgt Travissa Wrangler from the NM National Guard is a 91B (Diesel mechanic). She was one of my first connections as a mentor when I was fresh out of AIT getting ready to deploy overseas in Africa. She was always smiling, sarcastic and a down to earth type of person. She was an NCO for the maintenance section for the 226th MP Battalion, 126th MP Company in a detachment in Farmington, NM. Our battalion just went to the range this weekend, where we also did a formal military honors memorial service for her. Her mom, brother and I believe her adopted daughter were chauffeured onto the range to partake in saying farewell to a great friend, stellar NCO, amazing mother and Daughter.

Sgt. Ernest Lofton born October 18, 1943 in Simonton, Texas was drafted into the Vietnam War. Ernest Lofton received the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart for wounds received while fighting in Vietnam. Sgt. Lofton passed away April 29, 1999 due to complications from being exposed to Agent Orange while serving in the Vietnam War and being exposed to asbestos. Sgt. Lofton passed away a beloved Husband, Father, and Grandfather and will forever be remembered and loved.

Message from the owner of MSC to Sgt. Ernest Lofton:

Paw Paw, I love you so much and you will always be remembered, I remember when you would sit me on your knee when I was a young boy and you would move your leg around as if I was riding a horse, I remember the way you would wear your trucker hats on your head not all the way on but it would just sit right on top of your head, I remember your old white pick up truck that you would let me play in the bed of, I remember you right behind me as I was in my diapers and no shoes running up and down the street. I love you Paw Paw.