The
Navajo Code Talkers
by Doris Paul
Amid the shelling and slaughter of World War II, patriots of virtually
every race and creed emerged to answer the call to sacrifice for the preservation
of freedom. Among the most vital, unique, and heroic of these people, and
perhaps the least heralded, were the members of the Navajo Indian Tribe,
first Americans who rallied together in a valiant defense of their nation.
Now, MGM Pictures has released the major motion picture Windtalkers,
directed by John Woo and starring Nicolas Cage, Adam Beach, Peter Stormare,
Noah Emmerich, Mark Ruffalo, Brian Van Holt, Roger Willie, Francis O'Connor,
and Christian Slater, presenting a fictionalized version of the code talkers'
story. The film was written by John Rice and Joe Batteer and produced by
Woo, Terence Chang, Tracie Graham, and Alison Rosenzweig. The epic film
is an action drama centered around several hundred Navajo Americans who
were recruited by the Marines and trained to use their language as a code
that proved totally indecipherable to enemy cryptographers. In this current
era of heightened patriotism, the story of these valiant men and those
charged with protecting them is sure to resonate with American audiences.
After viewing the dramatic portrayal of Windtalkers, many people will seek
to learn more about these real-life American heroes.
The critically acclaimed book The Navajo Code Talkers by Doris A. Paul
remains the single most comprehensive historical account of the contribution
of the Navajo Americans during World War II. First appearing in 1973, now
with more than 50,000 copies in print, The Navajo Code Talkers was one
of the first published efforts to tackle the fascinating subject of how
Navajo Marines developed a code based on their own language. Their code
was never broken by the Japanese.
From the code's inception by Los Angeles engineer Philip Johnston through
its development and ultimate battlefield implementation, The Navajo Code
Talkers presents the story of this crucial element of the war effort in
a well-organized, thoroughly researched manner abounding with excitement,
national pride, and poignant humor. This inspirational work is liberally
illustrated with photographs of the men in action in the South Pacific
and substantiated by excerpts from official documents, correspondence with
officers who worked with the Navajos, and interviews with code talkers.
On July 26, 2001, the United States Congress awarded the Congressional
Gold Medal to the twenty-nine code talkers who developed the heralded,
unbreakable military code. President George W. Bush presented the medals
to four of the five living code talkers and to family members of the original
twenty-nine who had passed away.
Doris Paul's story of heroism and staunch patriotism has forever immortalized
the bravery and ingenuity of the Navajo, and its timeless themes of pride
and sacrifice preserve its place as a classical contribution to Native
American history. The Navajo Code Talkers is a book for all times and people.
Paperback: 176 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.50 x
9.00 x 6.00
Publisher: Dorrance
Publishing Co, Inc; 25th Anniversary edition (July 1998)
ISBN: 0805945903
The
Unbreakable Code
by Sara Hoagland Hunter, Julia Miner (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
(Hardcover - May 1996)
Unsung
Heroes of World War II: The Story of the Navajo Code Talkers
by Deanne Durrett
Until 1969, when the Navajo Code was officially declassified by the
U.S. government, the 420 Navajo Code Talkers remained unacknowledged heroes
of the war. Initially, 29 Native American marines devised the code, using
the Navajo's complex, inflection-sensitive language. Their work was not
only indecipherable to the enemy but also remarkably fficient. What high-tech
machines did in four hours, the Code Talkers achieved in literally two
minutes. Roger Leslie - Booklist
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover - 128 pages (July 1998)
Facts on File, Inc.; ISBN: 0816036039
Winds
of Freedom : The Story of the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II
by Margaret T. Bixler (Introduction)
The Navajo code was used throughout the Pacific Theater and was never
broken.
Hardcover: 169 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.88 x
9.32 x 6.41
Publisher: Two Bytes Pub; (October 1992)
ISBN: 1881907007
Warriors:
Navajo Code Talkers
by Kanji Kawano
Paperback - 128 pages (November 1990)
ISBN: 0873585135
Windtalkers
by Max A. Collins
Mass Market Paperback from HarperEntertainment
Book Published: May, 2002 |
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