Average Bufph Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Chester Nez, Judith Schiess Avila
2012-08-07
The first and only memoir by one of the original Navajo code talkers of WWII.
His name wasn’t Chester Nez. That was the English name he was assigned in kindergarten. And in boarding school at Fort Defiance, he was punished for speaking his native language, as the teachers sought to rid him of his culture and traditions. But discrimination didn’t stop Chester from answering the call to defend his country after Pearl Harbor, for the Navajo have always been warriors, and his upbringing on a New Mexico reservation gave him the strength—both physical and mental—to excel as a marine.
During World War II, the Japanese had managed to crack every code the United States used. But when the Marines turned to its Navajo recruits to develop and implement a secret military language, they created the only unbroken code in modern warfare—and helped assure victory for the United States over Japan in the South Pacific.
INCLUDES THE ACTUAL NAVAJO CODE AND RARE PICTURES
Chester Nez’s story was mighty intriguing and something I reckon every American should know about. As an Uber driver, you get folks in your truck from all walks of life, and hearing about their experiences has always been part of the job. This book, though, really hit different. It was raw, heartfelt, and it really opened my eyes to the sacrifices made by the Navajo code talkers during World War II. It was like a breath of fresh air, combining military history with personal heroism. Definitely recommend for anyone who reckons they know everything about that era.
