Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir By One of the Original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII

4 out of 5 stars I think this was an extremely interesting book. At first I questioned the detour into growing up on the reservation and going to boarding school (although I do think the whole forced boarding school thing is an under-addressed atrocity in this country's history) but it made sense later on in reinforcing his bilingualness. The story about the Livestock massacre also served to illustrate the Navajo people's character and that they did not hold a grudge and allow America's mistreatment of them to affect their loyalty and desire to serve their country in the military. I am not a fan of war books or movies, and grew a little battle weary of the long passages of battle experience, but they were still interesting and I did not find myself distracted and putting down the book for other pursuits during these scenes. They were well written and engaging. I did audibly gasp when Chester was sent home right before Iwo Jima. This is a fascinating man, a fascinating story and a good read. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11437988-code-talker The November selection for the MPL History Buff Book Club