[3] Willeto joined the 6th Marine Division, serving in the Pacific Theater in Saipan and Okinawa as a Navajo code talker.

[1][3] Together, Bluehouse and Willeto ran as running mates for a full, four-year term in the November 1998 presidential election.

In 2008, Willeto gave the blessing to mark the start of construction on the USS New Mexico (SSN-779) nuclear submarine in Newport News, Virginia.

[2] He was also invited to the White House to witness the signing of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 by U.S. President Barack Obama.

[2] Most recently, Willeto appeared as a panelist for the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs' "The Way of the Warrior: Native Americans' Commitment to Country, Community, and Communication" panel on November 16, 2011, as part of National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month.

[1][2][3] New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez ordered flags to be flown at half-mast in Willeto's honor.