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

Compare and contrast the treatment of Navajo code talkers before, during, and after World War II. How does Nez’s account illustrate changing attitudes toward Native American service members?

Analyze how Nez’s understanding and practice of the Navajo concept of “walking in beauty” influenced his actions and decisions throughout his military service and later life.

Evaluate the significance of secrecy in Code Talker, both in terms of the military code and the decades-long silence about the code talkers’ contributions. How did this enforced secrecy affect the participants and their communities?

Examine how Nez portrays the relationship between language and identity throughout his memoir. How does his attitude toward both Navajo and English evolve over time?

Analyze the role of traditional Navajo ceremonies and beliefs in helping Nez and other code talkers cope with their wartime experiences. How did these cultural practices support them?

How does Nez’s memoir contribute to the historical record of World War II? What unique perspectives does it offer that might be missing from other military accounts of the Pacific theater?

Analyze the role of family and community in Nez’s story, from his early life on the reservation through his military service and beyond. How do these relationships shape his experiences and decisions?

Examine how Nez’s memoir addresses the concept of loyalty—to his Navajo heritage, to the United States, and to his fellow service members. How does he reconcile these potentially competing loyalties?