Unsung Heroes of World War II: The Story of the Navajo Code Talkers

By Deanne Durrett

Book Overview

On February 23, 1945, U.S. Marines claimed victory in the battle of Iwo Jima, one of the most important battles in the Pacific islands during World War II. Instrumental to this defeat of Japanese forces was a group of specialized Marines involved in a secret program. Throughout the war, Japanese intelligence agencies were able to intercept and break nearly every battlefield code the United States created. The Navajo Code Talkers, however, devised a complex code based on their native language and perfected it so that messages could be coded, transmitted, and decoded in minutes. The Navajo Code was the only battlefield code that Japan never deciphered. Unsung Heroes of World War II details the history of the men who created this secret code and used it on the battlefield to help the United States win World War II in the Pacific. Deanne Durrett has published numerous nonfiction books and biographies for children and young adults, plus two "as told to" memoirs for adult readers. For more information about Ms. Durrett's books please visit her Web Site at http: //www.deannedurrett.com.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0803224567
• ISBN13: 9780803224568
• Release Date: July 2009
• Publisher: Bison
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.9" x 8.9"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Navajo Code Talkers exemplify "Semper Fidelis"

"Unsung Heroes of World War II: The Story of the Navajo Code Talkers" is a book I would highly recommend to anyone interested in the Marines' fight or special operations during the Pacific war. Also, this book would serve anyone well who is interested in the general history or contributions of the Navajo nation to the US war effort. In my opinion, the code talkers as well as the Navajo nation exemplify the Corps' motto of "Semper Fidelis - Always Faithful" by not only serving as Marines in a critical operation during combat but, also supporting a nation and government that had previously alienated and uprooted them from their homes and livelihood. This book skillfully depicts the history, situation, training, and critical operations of the Navajo Code Talkers during the U.S. Marine Corps' Pacific campaign in World War 2. It covers in greater detail, actions by the code talkers at Guadalcanal, Pelieu, Guam, and especially Iowa Jima.