Chester Nez (1921–2014)

Chester Nez was a Navajo who grew up in the Checkerboard surrounded by a loving, traditional clan. He learns English and white ways when he is sent to boarding school. When WWII breaks out he joins the Marines and is assigned to the Code Talkers. They were involved in the most intense fighting in the Pacific and were instrumental in the Japanese defeat with the use of their code. Chester lived a very interesting life and did his best to keep the old ways alive. Very interesting life, well told.

I was vaguely familiar with the Code Talkers prior to reading this book. I found it extremely interesting to read Chester Nez's memoir: the story about his Navajo youth at home and the beliefs engrained by his family, his life adjustments and education at boarding school, the origins of the code talkers, his strong sense of duty on-the-ground as a Marine in some of the most deadly battles in the South Pacific during WWII, and his life afterwards.

This was a captivating, page turner.

This is a great book to teach our students about multicultural topics. Also this book shows history and contributions of Native Americans in
World War II. Students will be able to learn part of the story that sometimes is not even taught or included in the curriculum.

As uncomfortable as history can be for us this is an important book to read. The history of the war filled with the personal history of the author was well put together and had a good pace to the reading. A good change from the usual US History class books that are assigned to students.