Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code: A Navajo Code Talker's Story

by Joseph Bruchac
Illustrated by Liz Amini-Holmes
2019-20 Star of the North Nominee

As a young boy, Chester Nez was sent to a boarding school where he was instructed to use only English and to forget his native Navajo language because it was useless.  Chester struggled with this as he felt strong ties to his Navajo language and culture.  He did his best to navigate both worlds and both languages.  When the United States entered WWII, the military needed a new code to communicate with its forces around the world. They needed a code that could not be broken.  After many unsuccessful attempts, someone suggested using the Navajo language.  Chester became a code talker and he and others in Platoon 382 helped win WWII.

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