Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two

Book Description

The United States is at war, and sixteen-year-old Ned Begay wants to join the cause—especially when he hears that Navajos are being specifically recruited by the Marine Corps. So he claims he's old enough to enlist, breezes his way through boot camp, and suddenly finds himself involved in a top-secret task, one that's exclusively performed by Navajos. He has become a code talker. Now Ned must brave some of the heaviest fighting of the war, and with his native Navajo language as code, send crucial messages back and forth to aid in the conflict against Japan. His experiences in the Pacific—from Guadalcanal to Iwo Jima and beyond—will leave him forever changed.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book!!.......2007-10-10

This is a great book. Not much else to say. 5 stars!! especially if you are into fictional stories based on real historical events!

Terrific book.......2007-09-28

Bruchac has created a terrific historic novel that has enough action for young male adults and enough history and research to appeal to an adult audience. Bruchac does a wonderful job of giving a sense of the complexities of growing up on a Navajo reservation in the first half of the book. The irony of a nation trying to wipe out the Navajo language but using it as a crucial means of communication during 20th century wars should not be lost on the reader while reading the second half of the book. Bruchac's narrator tells this tale in an even-keeled, even-tempered manner. The reader is allowed to gain his own sense of injustice our nation has inflicted upon its Native American population. Bruchac's description of the progression of America's involvement in World War II's Pacific campaign is well laid-out and dramatically presented. Highly recommended.

Fantastic book to read aloud.......2007-09-25

We read this book aloud while on a driving vacation through Navajo country in New Mexico and Arizona. My children (girl 10, boy 8 and girl 5) were completely enthralled with both the story and the insight into the Navajo people. Although a work of fiction, the book reads very convincingly as a memoir. The author succeeds admirably in relating the cultural challenges faced by patriotic Native Americans serving in the military as well a giving a non-romanticized portrayal of the realities faced by the soldiers who waged battle in the Pacific. We particularly appreciated the lighter moments -- one tale of boot-camp swimming "lessons" had the kids screaming with laughter. A great read pure and simple, but also one with good lessons to be learned.

The Code Talker Review.......2007-04-06

This book is a great part of history that makes you want to read more and more after every chapter. It teaches you about the Navajo marines of World War 2. Two words; spontaneous and action packed. I loved it when it was talking about the Kamikaze airplanes, atomic bomb, and the Pearl Harbor attack. I give it a 4 out of 5 stars.

A Good Book All Around!.......2007-03-08

I suggest reading this book if you are interested in the Navajo Code Talkers. I would rate it as 4 out of 5. The book has somewhat of a language conflict, because of the different languages spoken. To completely understand the book, you will want to read it twice.

The book tells of a Navajo who was forced to learn English as a young child. He was assigned an English name and was never aloud to speak Navajo. As he aged and went through High School the Japanese were starting a war with the United States. Because the Japanese would intercept all of the Americans messages there was no way to communicate. The U.S. started to recruit Navajo's because of the language they spoke: Navajo.

The author tells us of his journey through WWII and his heroic story of courage and bravery while fighting to communicate with the "Main land". As the story progresses the author meets new friends and finds buddies from home. He describes war very thoroughly. He also describes the loss of a friend and how devastating it can be, especially during war.

There is a long introduction to the book (about 70 pages) in which reads very slowly. After you get past the beginning it is a page turner. I have recommended this book to my whole class because of the authors stunning ability to compel thoughts and emotions during war and hard times.

This is a short read with lots of interesting facts that have never been aloud to be spoken. The book would be considered Historical-Fiction because of its small amount of fictional content. I liked this book a lot and think that you would too. If you like anything to do with history, I would suggest that you read this book.

Navajo Weapon: The Navajo Code Talkers (Native American Culture)

Average customer rating:

Wider focus than advertised
Solid account
Lifeless
Good overview of the heroic Navajo Marines in WWII

Navajo Weapon: The Navajo Code Talkers (Native American Culture)
Sally McClain
Manufacturer: Rio Nuevo Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ASIN: 1887896325

Book Description

Read the true story that inspired Windtalkers, a major summer 2002 release that honors the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II, directed by John Woo (Mission: Impossible 2) and starring Nicholas Cage and Adam Beach. Based on first-person accounts and Marine Corps documents, this newly revised edition of Navajo Weapon: The Navajo Code Talkers describes how the U.S. Marine Corps recruited young Navajo warriors to create a secret code, using their native language that many of them had once been forbidden to speak. The Navajo Code Talkers played decisive roles in the Pacific Theater and helped turned the tide in the bloody battles for Bougainville, Cape Gloucester, New Britain, Saipan, Guam, Peleliu, and Iwo Jima. Their unbreakable code helped save countless American lives and earned the Navajo Code Talkers the undying respect of their comrades in arms. 54 rare, historic photographs and maps.

Customer Reviews:

Wider focus than advertised.......2005-08-01

This book does an excellent job at looking at how and why the Navajo Code Talkers were created, but the greater part of the book was descriptions of the battles in which they took part, rather than how the code talkers experienced the battles. I recognize that some description of the battles was necessary for context, but I felt that it overshadowed her emphasis on the code talkers. Despite this, the author's reliance on interviews with code talkers and others who worked with them and her use of first person memories made the book a glimpse into the code talkers view of the war and their part in it. The epilogue, with its look at what happened for the code talkers on their return home and later recognition by the soldiers they served with, was a wonderful wrap up to an important story.

Solid account.......2003-11-13

Except among students of history and military buffs, the story of the Navajo code talkers - Marines who were recruited from the Navajo reservations in Arizona and New Mexico - remained relatively unknown until last year's movie, Windtalkers. Unfortunately, the actual history of the code talkers got buried in the shoot-em-up special-effects extravaganza filmed by action director John Woo, who was way out of his league. In that movie, the brave and inventive contributions of the code talkers merely served as a plot device for the white hero's (played by Nicholas Cage) ultimate redemption.

However, those interested in the rarely-told real story need only to open the pages of this informative book.

Author McClain follows the story of the almost 400 Navajos who volunteered for service during World War II and served in all six Marine divisions. These enlistees adapted their native tongue, Dineh, into an unbreakable code that would keep Japanese radio operators and cryptologists entirely baffled during the length of the war.

The obscure origins of the Navajo code talker program date back to World War I. After American entry in that war, the signal corps learned that Central powers were listening in on orders relayed on that new communication tool, the radio. They then engaged Choctaw Indians as radio operators in order to safely transmit information. It worked like a charm.

However, after war's end, the German government sent numerous "scholars" to the United States in order to "study" the lives and societies on many American Indian nation reservations. Actually, the so-called students were intelligence agents there to learn native languages.

After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the need for a absolutely secret code was vital. Marine Maj. Gen. Clayton B. Vogel and civilian Philip Johnston, a white man who grew up on the Navajo reservation at Leuppe, Ariz., concluded that Navajo would be an ideal code language because many Navajo were educated in English at Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) schools, and especially since no German scholars had been sent to Navajo reservations. This secret code would be instrumental in keeping Corps operations secure and, most importantly, its men alive.

On May 4, 1942, the Marines had recruited 29 Navajos, which formed the 382nd Platoon, a trial unit that would go through the rigors of boot camp at the Marine Depot at San Diego. Although attrition levels for this period were between five to ten per cent, not one Navajo dropped out of the training.

Up until graduation from boot camp, the "first 29" (as they would later be known as) had no idea for what special duty they had been recruited. Upon arrival at Camp Elliott, outside of San Diego, they were informed that their mission was to devise a code for secret and rapid radio transmission based on their native tongue. Code talker Eugene Crawford recalled the irony of the situation: Having been forced to speak only English in the BIA schools he attended, "he could almost taste the harsh brown soap the teachers forced him to use to scrub out his mouth when he was caught speaking Navajo." Now, his government was ordering him and his fellow Marines to use Navajo to defeat the enemy!

Once the code was in place, code talkers were sent to the Pacific and were key in assisting U.S. forces to victory in its island-hopping campaign in battles such as Bougainville, Cape Gloucester, New Britain, Saipan, Guam and Iwo Jima. Because they were all proficient in both English and Navajo, the code talkers lent an element of speed previously unavailable in decoding. Translation from English to Navajo back to English was instant; prior to that, it took hours to decode cryptographic messages and recode the replies. This was a crucial element in the swiftness of battle that left Japanese forces reeling.

Marine cipher specialist Richard Bonham remarked on the Navaho code: "The efficiency that the Navajo developed themselves, to write it down immediately and exactly, was something we marveled at. When you needed an artillery strike, you want it to start now!"

Most importantly, countless American lives were saved by the code talkers. They were regarded as so essential that fellow Marines were assigned as their bodyguards, to keep them out of enemy hands. Strangely, the code talkers were occasionally the targets of their fellow Marines, as they were sometimes mistaken for Japanese soldiers in disguise.

After war's end, the code talkers returned to the reservation heroes, but did not receive a hero's welcome. Yet, they stayed true to their oaths to keep the code secret. Their mission was classified and not until 1969 would they receive public recognition for their exploits. Thanks to the efforts of Congressman Lee Cannon - who had fought at Iwo Jima with the 4th Marine Division - the Navajo code talkers were honored during the 4th Marine Division Association's reunion in Chicago that year. After the last code talker was honored, Cannon lauded them, "these men are quiet; they kept their trust; they are Fourth Division heroes - every one of them!"

Author McClain tells the code talkers' story matter-of-factly, relying on a wealth of information from declassified military documents, valuable oral history from the Doris Duke collection (Duke was the first to systematically interview the Navajo code talkers) and numerous interviews conducted by the author herself. Although the history is recounted somewhat dryly, this is a thoroughgoing and honest effort. She lets the book's heroes do much of the talking: There is a treasure trove of personal anecdotes and first-person eyewitness accounts. Although not the most polished history I've read (often, rank is not cited), it does give the reader that "you are there" feeling.

The spirit of these proud people's exploits can be summed up in the words of code talker Carl Gorman:

"Many people ask me why I fought for my country when the government has treated us pretty bad. But, before the white man came to this country, this whole land was Indian country and we still think it's our land, so we fight for it. I was very proud to serve my country."

Lifeless.......2003-07-08

"Navajo Weapon" is the story of the approximately 380 tribesmen utilized by the United States Marine Corps for a special World War 2 project. That project was to deliver vital encoded communications in combat during the war in the Pacific. These Marines used a special code-their very own language-which the Japanese were unable to break. NW follows these Native Americans from their initial recruitment through boot camp at Camp Pendleton, CA to the island by island campaign against Japan. All the major combat sites are covered: Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Saipan, Guam, Iwo Jima, Okinawa etc. This reviewer would have been happy to report that NW is a stirring, gripping, action packed tale of patriotic Native American men in combat. It is not. NW is wafer thin, almost antiseptic in tone. One could very accurately state that it takes distant, arms length approach. With the exception of the pages devoted to Iwo Jima, no excitement is generated. One wonders if the author has any familiarity with the military, if only in peacetime. The maps are virtually useless (as they all too frequently are in such books), the photos are too small and the frequent "notes" serve no apparent purpose. One could further wonder, perhaps cynically, if the true force behind NW was a government grant given to authors who write about Native Americans. This negative review is in NO WAY meant to be disrespectful to the Navajos who served their country so bravely either in the Marines or any other branch. The bottom line is that NW fails to tell their story in the lively fashion that it deserves. Perhaps a future author will emerge to do just that.

Good overview of the heroic Navajo Marines in WWII.......2003-07-04

This is the second code talker book I've read and by far the better of the two. It gives good detail of the origins of the war in the Pacific and an interesting and terrifying account of the progress through the Pacific islands with the code talkers pivotal role displayed very well. This book gave me exactly what I wanted. I didn't want to get to bogged down in minute details but wanted a good overview of the Navajo contribution. This book delivers and is very easy and pleasant to read.

The Navajo Code Talkers (25th Anniversary Edition)

Average customer rating:

The Navajo Code Talkers
Amateurishly written
The Original Code Talker Resourse, and Still the Best
Resource for the new movie WINDTALKERS
Duty, and Honor without question

The Navajo Code Talkers (25th Anniversary Edition)
Doris Atkinson Paul
Manufacturer: Dorrance Publishing Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0805945903

Book Description

An intriguing account of a select platoon of Marines known as the Navajo Code Talkers, the subject of the upcoming John Woo / Nicholas Cage movie 'Windtalkers.'

During World War II, the Navajo Code Talkers devised and employed a secret code using their native tongue, a code which proved totally undecipherable to the enemy, enabling American forces to prevail in the South Pacific.

The Navajo Code Talkers is the single most comprehensive account of the contribution of the Navajo native Americans in World War II. It's authentic photos and illustrations have been featured on CBS Television's "An American Portrait" series, and the book itself has been profiled on the ABC Nightly News. It is also among the select 10 perecnt of all books written by white men or women on the native Americans to be chsoen by the Navajos for display in their tribal museum.

Customer Reviews:

The Navajo Code Talkers.......2006-08-21

For those who were not aware of the Code Talkers, this book was an excellent first source once the information was declassified in 1968. As far as accuracy, I can assure the readers that the material is very accurate, as my father was one of the major sources quoted in the book. He was with the 4th Signal Company, Headquarter Bn, 4th Marine Division, and made all four campaigns that the 4th Marine Division was engaged in. As a squad leader, he worked with quite a few of the Navajo Code Talkers. He was always impressed with their dedication to the job, even when under heavy enemy fire. Please note that the movie "Windtalkers" was very inaccurate in regard to the Code Talkers and the battle of Saipan (the Code Talkers were never guarded as in the movie, with orders that they be shot if captured - however, they often had Anglo's with them since they were often suspected as being Japanese). Hopefully the Eastwood movie coming out soon, and based on "Flags of our Fathers", will be more accurate. Enjoy the book!

Amateurishly written.......2003-10-17

I have read every book written on the subject of Navajo code talkers and while this deserves kudos as being among the first, it is without question the most poorly organized and written. Also, there is a great deal of misinformation within these pages.

Do yourself a favor, read Navajo Weapon by Sally McCain instead. It is the best on the subject...well written and very well researched.

The Original Code Talker Resourse, and Still the Best.......2002-06-13

If the release of the Code Talker-based movie was raised your interest in this subject, look no further than The Navajo Code Talkers by Doris A. Paul. This book was first published in 1973 and was the first, and is still the best, source of information on this subject. Learn the story behind the story. This is a must-read book. Do not accept imitations (or imitators)!

Resource for the new movie WINDTALKERS.......2002-04-26

I work for the publisher of this book. There aren't a lot of our books that I get a chance to read, but this one has been a best-seller for 25 years now. So, of course, I have also read and enjoyed it. I'm pleased to spread the word that this book was a resource for the upcoming MGM movie, WINDTALKERS. Of course, the movie is a story, but the book is a historical account of how the intelligent, fierce-fighting Navajos became an invaluable resource to our military during WWII. Indeed, they helped go a long way toward swinging the tide of the war in the favor of the US.

Duty, and Honor without question.......2001-09-25

To say that the United States mistreated the Native Americans has already been established. This book shows that regardless of any mistreatment, the Navajo code talkers fulfilled their duties with honor and without question. This book shows the reader clearly how the Navajo language was used to help the United States defeat Japan during WWII. The recollections of their service to the United States are honest as well as very descriptive of the Navajo Indian's experience in WWII. This book is a must read for anyone who is interested in this often neglected chapter of WWII.

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The fascinating story of the Navjao Code Talkers of World War II

Navajo Code Talkers (We the People)
Andrew Santella
Manufacturer: Compass Point Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

Military & Wars | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0756506115

Customer Reviews:

The fascinating story of the Navjao Code Talkers of World War II.......2006-04-06

Code Breaking was an important part of World War II. The success of the Allies against the Axis powers was due in part to the ability to break Japanese and Nazi codes. Of course, enemy code breakers were trying to do the same thing with Allied codes. During the war, about 400 Navajos who served in the U.S. Marines Corps were employed as code talkers, sending and receiving codes messages. The code they invented was never broken by the enemy and was based on the Navajo language. In a war that would be ended by the advanced technology of atomic bombs, the simple elegance of using a Native American language to befuddle Japanese code breakers is one of the most interesting footnotes of World War II.

In "Navajo Code Talkers," Andrew Santella begins with how Pearl Harbor got the United States into the war and how being able to communicate battle plans and information over long distances was crucial to military success. The Japanese listened in to American military radio messages (there is even a photograph of them doing this) and the American military had developed codes that were so complex they took hours to translate messages. Then Philip Johnson, a Los Angeles engineer who was the son of missionaries who had worked the Navajos, came up with the idea of using the Navajo language to make a simple code that would be almost impossible to break. Santella explains how the pronunciation and tone of each syllable is crucial in Navajo, and how the Army had used Native American languages in both World War I and World War II (File this under the "I did not know that" category). I always thought the Navajo simply spoke in their own language, but indeed a code was developed based on the language.

After providing a section on the history of the Navajo, Santella looks at the training of the original 29 Navajos as code breakers, emphasizing the clash with Navajo traditions. Then we get to the interesting section, which explains how the code was created. Basically, they used Navajo words to represent each English letter, from Wol-la-chee (ant) for "A" to Besh-do-tilz (zinc) for "Z." Because some English letters could be represented by as many as three different Navajo words (e.g., be-la-sana for apple and tse-nill for axe), the code could be complicated by simple means. They also used Navajo words for English words, such as Gini (chicken hawk) for dive-bomber and Ne-hem-ah (Our mother) for America. I can see a bunch of school children across the country are going to use the material in this book for a poster presentation (those are getting a lot more complicated than they were in my day, that is for sure).

The rest of the book look at how this worked on the battlefields of most of the major battles fought in the Pacific theater, what happened when the Navajos returned home after the war. It was not until 2001 that Congressional gold medals were presented to each of the 29 original code talkers, only five of who were still alive. Silver medals were awarded to all of the Navajo code talkers later in 2001. This goes in the better late than never category, but this We the People book makes it clear the honor is richly deserved. Even young students who are not particularly interested in books about war will find this story fascinating. In the back of the book Santella provides the names of a couple of books, a safe web search engine to use for an Internet search, an address for the official group that represents the Navajo code talkers, and a trio of sites in New Mexico and Maryland that young readers can actually visit.

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"Navajo Code Talkers" Disappointment Beyond Belief
"Navajo Code Talkers" Disappointment Beyond Belief
the best auction book ever
Great book
Great book to read in these times

Navajo Code Talkers
Nathan Aaseng
Manufacturer: Walker Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0802776272

Book Description

On the Pacific front during World War II, strange messages were picked up by American and Japanese forces on land and at sea. The messages were totally unintelligible to everyone except a small select group within the Marine Corps: the Navajo code talkers-a group of Navajos communicating in a code based on the Navajo language. This code, the first unbreakable one in U.S. history, was a key reason that the Allies were able to win in the Pacific.

Navajo Code Talkers tells the story of the special group, who proved themselves to be among the bravest, most valuable, and most loyal of American soldiers during World War II.

Customer Reviews:

"Navajo Code Talkers" Disappointment Beyond Belief.......2006-02-10

Author Nathan Aaseng published Navaho Code Talkers. I thought he crafted the book horrifically from the start since he did nothing to pull the reader in. He just started off with too many facts. This was not a book that makes you want to stay up on school nights and read even when your parents tell you to go to bed. This book is the kind of book you may want to stop and not continue. The kind books you will be glad to finish reading. He did a great job of giving the facts but they where not organized in a way which interested you.

However I do truly under stand the code talkers where a big part in the war, but really he should have spoken about the war more than just the code talkers. After reading other books on the code talkers he really left out a lot of details that he should have included. It may just be me but I will never read one of Nathan Aaseng's books again.

I recommend this book for any one who only wants to learn about the Code Talkers but if you want the full package on the war pick another book.

"Navajo Code Talkers" Disappointment Beyond Belief.......2006-02-10

Author Nathan Aaseng wrote Navaho Code Talkers. I thought he crafted the book horrifically from the start since he did nothing to pull the reader in. He just started off with too many facts. This was not a book that makes you want to stay up on school nights and read even when your parents tell you to go to bed. This book is the kind of book you may want to stop and not continue. The kind books you will be glad to finish reading. He did a great job of giving the facts but they where not organized in a way which interested you.

However I do truly under stand the code talkers where a big part in the war, but really he should have spoken about the war more than just the code talkers. After reading other books on the code talkers he really left out a lot of details that he should have included. It may just be me but I will never read one of Nathan Aaseng's books again.

I recommend this book for any one who only wants to learn about the Code Talkers but if you want the full package on the war pick another book.

the best auction book ever.......2005-03-12

Summary: Navajo code talkers, is about marines using Navajo language to get messages to the frontline to where ever. The commanders where so impressed with the Navajo's speed of translation and accuracy they went to reservations to get any Navajo volunteer who wanted to join. It is also about the Navajo trusting the United States after the long walk. This is related to World War 2 because it is in the same time as Pearl Harbor was bombed. I liked the book because of the movie I watched about code talkers. The edgy title got me interested to. I also like to study World War 2.

Great book.......2004-10-11

Navajo Code Talkers is fascinating.

About a group of Indians who we as American's owe a lot to.

Great book to read in these times.......2001-11-21

After traveling to Northern Arizona last summer, I wanted to learn more about the Navajo. I found this book which tied in with my interest of WWII. It was a fast read and very informative.

Average customer rating:

Photographic testament to native American veterans of WW2
Nice photographic project

Warriors: Navajo Code Talkers
Kenji Kawano
Manufacturer: Northland Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0873585135

Amazon.com

"When I was going to boarding school, the U.S. government told us not to speak Navajo," recalls Teddy Draper Sr. of Chinle, Arizona, "but during the war, they wanted us to speak it!" Speaking their native language--which the Japanese could not decode--Navajo soldiers were instrumental in U.S. marine victories in the Pacific during World War II, relaying vital information between the front lines and headquarters. Kenji Kawano, a native Japanese photographer whose black and white images of surviving "code talkers" are unusual for their sensitivity, notes with some irony that these soldiers were his father's enemies at one time.

Customer Reviews:

Photographic testament to native American veterans of WW2 .......2004-09-29

I've never had much interest in the Second World War - tv documentaries about it leave me cold. However, a recent visit to Utah (and a museum display in a Burger King branch) triggered my interest in the "Code Talkers".

Japanese photographer Kawano has taken portraits of all the Navajo veterans he could find. These are the native Americans who were recruited by the marines to use their native language in transmissions behind enemy lines in the Far East. It proved to be the only unbreakable spoken code in military history.

These black and white pictures are a poignant and eloquent testament to their heroism. A short introduction and occasional quotes from the subjects help set the context. It is a remarkable achievement, fusing art and history

Nice photographic project.......2003-03-09

"Windtalkers" was not the only cultural project to document a phenomenon about which more Americans should learn. Here is a book of actual pictures of Navajo veterans that served during World War II. The photos prove that there were more than just a few of them. Additionally, many of the men (and I don't recall seeing any Navajo women vets in this book) wear their veterans hats. This illustrates how many Native Americans are quite patriotic despite what the government did to their ancestors, and potentially still does with many tribes. There is a history of non-Natives photographing Natives which only serves to exoticize and de-humanize them. I doubt that's being done here; still, critical thinkers may want to be wary when evaluating this work. My one critique of this book is that there is very little text included. Besides photos, there is nothing much here. Still, I can't criticize a photographer for not being an academic. But be warned that this is just a coffee table book. I'd like to see more complex works being written about these brave individuals. Still, this was pretty excellent.

Winds of Freedom: The Story of the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II

Average customer rating:

Freedom of a Nations Roll
Navajo history - honest book and very factual
American Indians heed the call during WW2
A well written book about a little known segment of WW II

Winds of Freedom: The Story of the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II
Margaret T. Bixler
Manufacturer: Two Bytes Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ASIN: 1881907015

Customer Reviews:

Freedom of a Nations Roll.......2001-11-13

Winds of Freedom; The Story of the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II, is a clear-cut must read book. There is a lot to be learned in this book. The Winds of Freedom is an overall memorable story of the Navajo People who played a significant roll during World War II. A mesmerizing experience written by Margaret Bixler, who took over eleven years to do fieldwork and research to learn about the Navajo people remarkable part in World War II. You gain so much knowledge of a tacit tribe. Overall, I found that the Bixler's book was captivating to read and reserved one's mind all the time.

Navajo history - honest book and very factual.......2001-11-06

I shared this book with Navajo friends who said it was very true and real and reminded them of stories from their grandparents..... things that were not previously discussed outside of the Navajo communities, things that were hidden stories and songs, as well as certain traditions, were brought to light.
The depiction of the marine and what hapened when he revealed some of these discussions was very real and the consequences he faced after revealing the truths..... sometimes personal information should not be too exposed.....
Overall, the book was fascinating to read and kept one's attention.... because the code talkers were told to remain silent about their special duties, America lost decades of being able to honor and admire them. Almost 50 years later, the remaining living Navajo men are finally receiving due praise.

This is a definite must read for those who enjoy suspense, mostly non-fiction reading and an overall memorable story. It was fascinating to learn so much about an unspoken tribe.

American Indians heed the call during WW2.......1998-06-09

An interesting and fascinating book on the use of an unknown language, yet part of the American Heritage, which helped defeat the enemy in World War II. A unique outlook on how those that we defeated in the "Indian Wars" actually came to the rescue of our country 100 years later.

There is a lot to be learned in this book for all. My father (WW2 Navy) spoke of these men in hushed and respectful tones. A story that must be preserved as part of our history. Bill says, "read it"!

Bill Cereske

A well written book about a little known segment of WW II.......1997-12-20

In Winds of Freedom, Margaret Bixler tells of the part the Navajo Indians played in the Pacific campaign of World War II. It is a very interesting work since it deals with the ONLY unbroken code of the war. There are also interviews with some of the original "code talkers". Some are still hesitant to talk of their experiences. I highly reccommend this book to all who are the least bit interested in World War II.

Windtalkers: The Making of the John Woo Film about the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II (Newmarket Pictorial Movebooks)

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Windtalkers: The Making of the John Woo Film about the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II (Newmarket Pictorial Movebooks)

Manufacturer: Newmarket Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1557045151

Book Description

With more than 100 dramatic movie and historical photos, the official tie-in to the film starring Nicolas Cage, based on real events about the Navajo Marine code talkers, who developed the only American code the Japanese never cracked—from MGM in June 2002. In the first movie made on the subject, director John Woo (Mission: Impossible 2, Face/Off) reveals the invaluable actions of the Navajo code talkers during the war in the Pacific, heroes whose bravery earned them the Congressional Medal of Honor. The code talkers transmitted radio messages using a secret, efficient, unbreakable code based on their native language. The film's gripping climax takes place during the Battle of Saipan, when the Marines, fighting off the Japanese, must risk their lives to safeguard the code. This full-color companion book tells the fascinating story behind the movie—from facts about the code's creation to historical background of the Navajo nation; from a glimpse into the rigorous code talker training program to production details about transforming a Hawaiian landscape into a Saipan battlefront. The pages are filled with captivating color images from the film and historic photographs from the U.S. Marines and the National Archives, as well personal reflections by Woo and Senator Jeff Bingaman, screenwriters, producers, and actors—plus samples and translations of the Navajo code. Approx. 100 color photos.

Arizona Highways, February 1989, Navajo Code Talkers, Mineral Show at Tucson, Bisbee, Quadrille De Mujeres

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Arizona Highways, February 1989, Navajo Code Talkers, Mineral Show at Tucson, Bisbee, Quadrille De Mujeres
Various
Manufacturer: Arizona Highways
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NDHA6Q

Philip Johnston and the Navajo Code Talkers

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Philip Johnston and the Navajo Code Talkers
Syble Lagerquist
Manufacturer: Council for Indian Education
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0899921396

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