Code Talker

Chester Nez recounts his experiences as one of the original Navajo Code Talkers who served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. His memoir details his early life on the Navajo reservation, his time at government boarding schools, and his military service in the Pacific Theater. The book chronicles how Nez and fellow Navajo Marines created an unbreakable military code based on their native language, which proved crucial to American victory in the Pacific. Nez describes his combat experiences on Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Guam, and Peleliu while maintaining the secrecy of the code-talking mission. The narrative provides firsthand insight into Navajo culture and traditions, including the spiritual practices that sustained Nez during combat. Through his personal story, Nez captures a unique intersection of Native American heritage and American military history, exploring themes of identity, duty, and cultural preservation in wartime.

Readers appreciate the firsthand historical account from one of the original Navajo code talkers, offering details about both military operations and Navajo culture. Many note the straightforward, humble writing style matches Chester Nez's personality. Readers highlight: - Clear explanations of how the code worked - Descriptions of Navajo traditions and boarding school experiences - Combat stories from Guadalcanal and other Pacific battles - Personal perspective on discrimination faced by Native Americans Common criticisms: - Repetitive passages, especially about military training - Limited emotional depth in some sections - Some readers wanted more details about code development Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (1,900+ ratings) Representative review: "Nez presents his story without anger or resentment about past injustices. The matter-of-fact telling makes the discrimination he faced even more impactful." - Goodreads reviewer

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🔓 Chester Nez was the last surviving member of the original 29 Navajo Code Talkers, passing away in 2014 at age 93. 🗣️ The Navajo code was the only unbreakable code used in modern warfare, and remained classified until 1968. 🌟 Despite their crucial role in WWII, the Code Talkers were sworn to secrecy and couldn't share their experiences—even with family—for more than two decades after the war. 📚 Nez had to hide his Navajo language and culture while attending government-run boarding schools, only to later use that same forbidden language to help win WWII. 🎖️ In 2001, all original 29 Navajo Code Talkers were awarded Congressional Gold Medals by President George W. Bush, recognizing their exceptional service to the nation.