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Code Talker
Code Talker | Chester Nez
He is the only original World War II Navajo code talker still alive and this is his story . . . 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. "
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alysonimagines
Code Talker | Chester Nez
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I also read this title for my book club‘s (#LitsyATXReadersSociety) espionage theme. This is the fascinating true story of the Navajo code talkers, a cohort of Navajo men recruited to the U.S. Marines during WWII to develop a code from their own language that the Japanese military would be unable to break. The author also gives readers a vivid glimpse of Navajo culture through his own memories.🔸#marchreads2021

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Bookwormjillk
Code Talker | Chester Nez
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Pickpick

This book was so interesting. The only unbreakable code turned out to be the Navajo language. The pride that Nez felt at serving our country in that way was evident on every page. My 12 year old son enjoyed this as well. #TeamReadNoseReindeer #WinterGames2020

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BarbaraJean
Code Talker | Chester Nez
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Mehso-so

Belated review—this was my library book club‘s pick for November. I‘m torn on this one, because it‘s such a fascinating topic and an important story to be told, but the writing felt so flat. It‘s an “as told to” book, mostly a straightforward summary retelling of events, with a few sections where it seems the writer felt more info would be helpful, so she did some research and then shoehorned it in at the applicable spot in Chester‘s narrative. ⤵️

BarbaraJean With memoir or autobiography, I like to have more reflection on the meaning of the events being related, something beyond just “this is what happened.” That‘s what was missing from this—and while I‘m glad I read it, because it‘s a fascinating piece of history, I wish it had been handled by a more skilled writer who could have shaped Chester‘s story a bit more thoughtfully and reflectively. 6y
34 likes1 comment
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BarbaraJean
Code Talker | Chester Nez
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Afternoon plans: sit on the patio enjoying the beautiful weather, finish Code Talker, make a dent in Secret Keeper. 👍🏼

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BarbaraJean
Code Talker | Chester Nez
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My library book club‘s pick for November is this memoir from one of the Navajo “code talkers” of WWII. They developed an unbreakable code based on the Navajo language, helping to assure the US victory in the Pacific. With travels & other schedule conflicts, I haven‘t made it to a library discussion since July, so I‘m really excited I‘m able to attend on Monday! I‘m enjoying this so far—the writing is a bit bland, but it‘s such an important story.

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TelevisionNeighbor
Code Talker | Chester Nez
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Pickpick

Been in a reading slump lately but finally finished this. Must read for WW2 enthusiasts.

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KrystleTheBookSlayer
Code Talker | Chester Nez
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Day 9: #NativeandIndigenousReads #riotgrams
My collection is a bit sparse at the moment. Before donating them, I also used to have Being Lakota: Identity and Tradition on Pine Ridge Reservation by Larissa Petrillo, My Grandfather's Knocking Sticks: Ojibwe Family Life and Labor on the Reservation by Brenda J. Child, & Waheenee: An Indian Girl's Story by Gilbert Livingston Wilson @bookriot

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bookishbitch
Code Talker | Chester Nez
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Pickpick

An amazing look at the life of some of the Navajo Native Americans who served our country in WW2. It is very well written and quite sad in parts. It includes the horrible treatment of them as children as our country tried to convert them, and their families, to Christianity. For anyone interested in history be it Military, Native American, or American, I highly recommend this book. It is an amazing story.

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FairyHighRoad
Code Talker | Chester Nez
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This was a really interesting read of the work the Navajo did during the war. #indigenousauthors #junebookbugs

23 likes2 stack adds
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teebe
Code Talker | Chester Nez
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Some memoirs that are all very memorable for very different reasons #booktober #memorablememoirs

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Nebklvr
Code Talker | Chester Nez
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Pickpick

Book riot's Amanda just recommended another of my favorite histories!

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reVayl.3
Code Talker | Chester Nez
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Expanding my horizons with our Theta Nu Xi book club book. #thetanuxi #scholarship

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LauraJ
Code Talker | Chester Nez
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Pickpick

Great memoir about Chester Nez, the last living Navajo code talker of WWII. Nez's recollections of the South Pacific battles left me in awe of his physical and mental abilities and fierce determination. Nez died in 2014.

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LauraJ
Code Talker | Chester Nez
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Doing a little reading for CFI book club while waiting for the drugs to kick in at the doc's office.

10 likes2 stack adds