Navajo Code Talkers

 
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
ISBN: 0805945903 

The Unbreakable Code
by Sara Hoagland Hunter, Julia Miner (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
(Hardcover)

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
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

Windtalkers: The Making of the John Woo Film about the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II (Newmarket Pictorial Movebooks) by Antonia Felix, Stephen Vaughan, Jeff Bingaman, John Woo, Timothy Shaner Hardcover from Newmarket Press

 

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