Code Talker: The First And Only Memoir By One Of The Original Navajo Code Talkers Of WWII (2011) - Plot & Excerpts
I find this story very heartfelt as it goes into depth of the Navajo Code Talkers and their experience of going into war. The Navajo Code Talkers earned their name in World War ll as they go to fight foor ther freedom using a code. This code was used for the Navajo's only, the men who were at war. The code was used for the Navajo's that knew the language fluently and had words in the language that only they knew. They used these code words for certain signals that they would call over the radio when they were in trouble. Chester Nez, age eighty-nine of the original twenty-nine code talkers states in this story that he was alive during the time that this book was written. As being part of the the Navajo tribe, I find this story very important for our tribe to know, our language then got recognized and today our language is going away with each generation. Chester Nez passed away this pass year in the summer of 2014 of June. He was highly recognized for the years that he served in the military for his country. Being a code talker was a very big responsibility that he took on, he took his tradition very seriously along with it. The story does not have much illustrations but is put in terms of which young readers would understand. I think that this book should be read to junior high students, so they are aware of some sort of Native American history that has taken place. It has put a big impact on many readers as they go into the world of a autobiography of what Chester Nez went through in the war as a code talker. It holds educational value and historical background which is very useful. I think that this is age appropriate not only for junior high but also high school students, very useful in classroom settings! I didn't actually expect to read all of this--was just curious. Read all of it and found it fascinating. It turned out to be what I was hoping for when the movie Windtalkers came out. Lots of information about growing up Navajo and the contrast in custom and expectation when a Navajo boy becomes a Marine in WWII. The movie, understandably, emphasized the war dangers and heroics rather than the culture and linguistic aspects of using Navajo language (and people) as sophisticated communications devices to support the Marines in the South Pacific. The book does both, but gives a very satisfying look at Nez's life before and after the war. Brief explanations of how the code based on Navajo language developed.
What do You think about Code Talker: The First And Only Memoir By One Of The Original Navajo Code Talkers Of WWII (2011)?
Would've loved it to focus more on the making and using of the code, but a good book non-the-less.
—florin_a_marin
Good to read first hand what these Code Talkers went through.
—vpvaperni
Thorough storytelling. Strong book. Worth the read.
—elynn
