Navajo Code Talkers (We the People: Modern America)
Grade 4-6–According to Marine Major Howard Connor, "Were it not for the Navajo, the Marines would have never taken Iwo Jima." During that battle, "six code talkers worked day and night to send more than 800 messages. They made not a single mistake." The code, based on the Navajo language, was so successful that the enemy never broke it. Consequently, the army did not want to reveal its existence, and it was not until 1969 that the Navajo contribution began to be acknowledged; Presidents Reagan, Clinton, and Bush have honored these men with a holiday, an act of Congress, and Congressional gold medals in retrospect. Their story is told with brevity and directness and illustrated with archival war photos, a sample of the code, and other documents and maps. This is a high-interest topic and a good first source that will certainly spark imaginations. Nathan Aaseng'sNavajo Code Takers(Walker, 1992) and Deanne Durrett'sUnsung Heroes of World War II: The Story of the Navajo Code Talkers(Facts On File, 1998) are for older readers but could be used in conjunction with this title.–Dona Ratterree, New York City Public SchoolsCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.--This text refers to theLibrary Bindingedition.