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liberrydude 's review for:
Glad this man's life has been told and it's an eye opening/revealing glimpse into a life of hardships and survival before, during, and after the war. Chester Nez is the last surviving code talker and his story is fascinating. We hear what it was like growing up during the 1920's and 1930's in rural New Mexico without electricity, running water, or even a modern building and being hungry, not eating for four days at at time. Then we are told of the killing of the Navajo goat and sheep herds by the government over concern about overgrazing after the Dust Bowl. Off to school where he was hit if he spoke Navajo. Indians couldn't even vote in NM at that time. Yet he signs up with enthusiasm to defend "his" country when the Japanese attack. I wanted to know more about his activities during the war as a code talker but I found the cultural background even more fascinating as he tried to live in two worlds that had dramatically different viewpoints. His service as a Marine was the stuff of legend yet he was not promoted beyond PFC and because of the unique nature of his job he never got R&R. He was in the thick of it continuously. He went to Guadalcanal in November 1942. When the 1st Marine Division went to Australia for R&R he was pulled back at the last minute to stay with the relieving 2nd Marine Division to mop up the island. When the 2d Marine Division left to go on R&R to Hawaii he was pulled at the last minute to go to the 3rd Marine Division and attack Bougainville. Then Guam and finally the worst of the worst, Peleliu, where he was back with the 1st Marine Division. He was headed for Iwo Jima when the points system cranked in and he was able to rotate home and miss that battle. Four island assaults left their toll on him as he struggled with what we call PTSD but Navajo rituals like the Enemy Way and others helped him as much as any psychiatric treatment. During the Korean War he was called back to active duty but did guard duty in Idaho among other things. He went to college in Kansas, married, divorced and lost three children in tragic circumstances. And oh, his top secret missions/job during WWII couldn't be mentioned as they were national security, at least until 1968! Chester takes great pride in his role in the Marine campaigns of the Pacific but it's not a braggadocio type of pride. It's the humble, self-effacing professionalism of a man who not only conquered the Japanese but his own demons. Walk in beauty Chester Nez. Thank you Judith Avila for telling his story.