The book begins with Chester Nez's life as a young boy growing up in the Checkerboard area of the Navajo Reservation. His family raised sheep and goats on the land and these animals were Chester's best friends. The story tells of many of the Navajo beliefs and the part they played in their lives. Nature was important to these people. Chester tells of how not hearing the screeching owl last night was good because the previous night it had awakened everyone. If the owl followed them, it meant there was trouble. Chester describes his slingshot that was made from the tongue of a shoe, cut off when his grandmother wasn't looking. The many stories of his early life are so informative and tell so much about the Navajo culture and customs.
Young Navajo children were sent to boarding school. Chester tells of how they were treated at school. Often they received little to eat. He told of once receiving only milk and one thick cracker upon arriving at school. The children were required to only speak English while at school. They were punished if they spoke their native Navajo language. At school the children were also forced to get their hair cut. The Navajo believed in witchcraft and the proper disposal of the hair was a must. When the schools did not do this it worried the children as they knew these things could be used to invoke bad medicine against the owner.
Chester also told about the great livestock massacre. One day they heard the rumble of heavy equipment. Men drove heavy bulldozers onto their land and a huge trench was dug. There was no explanation given for what was taking place. About a week later the Navajo were ordered to round up their sheep and goats and herd them into the trench. Then a flammable material was sprayed on the animals and they were set on fire. This act devastated the many families on the reservation. This is just one story of how the government treated the Navajo.
In April of 1942, Marine recruiters arrived to talk to a group in Tuba City. The recruiters announced that they wanted Navajo men who spoke both English and Navajo fluently. The men were needed for a special project. This intrigued Chester and his friend Roy. They knew this decision could change their lives forever. Even though the government had treated them poorly in the past, the young men wanted to defend their country and decided to apply for the special project. Each applicant was interviewed and only 30 were selected. Finally word came that Chester and Roy had been selected. Soon they were given the assignment to come up with a code. To prove this code would work they performed several demonstrations showing how current codes took an hour to transmit and receive while the Navajo code took only 40 seconds.
Chester was a member of General Vandergrift's First Marine Division that sailed for Guadalcanal. Chester goes on to share many stories of battle, some with great detail. He shared how they transmitted and received messages that helped to determine the outcome of the war. Even the code talker's shipmates didn't know of the secret communication mission these men were to embark as the code talkers were always part of the offensive. These men endured many hardships of battle. They often were not given R&R because there was no one to take their place and their services were of utmost importance. Chester tells of how often they were wet and in terrible conditions and battled for hours without sleep.
The memoir concludes with Chester's life after WWII. I found this a fascinating book. I enjoyed learning about the Navajo customs as much as the incredible service these men provided in defending our country. Many of the things the men were asked to do went against Navajo customs, but they performed to the highest level. I learned a great deal about how the code was developed and what the men endured.
Sterling Public Library will be hosting the first book discussion of "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand, also a story of a WWII hero, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9, in the Community Room. Steve Cramer will be leading the discussion of this remarkable story.
Sandy Van Dusen is Library Superintendent at Sterling Public Library.
By Chester Nez
This book is available at Sterling Public Library.