60 pages • 2 hours read
Judith Schiess Avila, Chester NezCode Talker: The First and Only Memoir By One of the Original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2013A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Key Figures
Chester Nez
Chester Nez (1921-2014), the author of Code Talker, co-wrote his memoir with journalist Judith Schiess Avila to shed light on a pivotal chapter in Native American and military history. As one of the original 29 Navajo code talkers, Nez played a vital role in developing the unbreakable code that helped secure an Allied victory in World War II.
Chester Nez was born to the Navajo Nation’s Black Sheep Clan (Dibéłizhiní) near Chichiltah, New Mexico. His early education took place in government-run boarding schools, including Fort Defiance, where forced assimilation policies actively suppressed his native language and traditions. Despite these challenges, Nez excelled academically and became fluent in English while maintaining his Navajo language skills—a combination that would prove crucial to his later military service.
During World War II, Nez joined the US Marine Corps and became one of the elite code talkers tasked with creating and using a classified code based on the Navajo language. He and his fellow code talkers continuously worked on enhancing the code, and it was never cracked by enemy forces. It became a cornerstone of Allied success in the Pacific theater.
Following his military work, Nez pursued higher education through the GI Bill. He attended Haskell Institute in Kansas and later studied fine arts at the University of Kansas. His artistic talents found expression in his work at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Albuquerque, where he created murals incorporating traditional Navajo spiritual elements. This blend of traditional and modern artistic expression reflected his ability to bridge cultural divides.
Nez’s commitment to preserving the code talkers’ legacy intensified after the program’s declassification in 1968. He became an important public speaker and cultural ambassador, sharing his experiences at venues ranging from local schools to Harvard University. His collaboration with Avila on Code Talker preserves and celebrates the Navajo code talkers’ experiences and contributions.
Judith Schiess Avila
Judith Schiess Avila is the co-author of Code Talker. She brings a diverse professional background and deep cultural sensitivity to her collaboration with Chester Nez. Avila grew up in Thornwood, New York, and graduated from Westlake High School before earning her BA from Duke University. Her career path took several turns before she discovered her calling as a writer; previously, she worked as a social worker, an air traffic controller, and a computer consultant. This varied experience honed her analytical and communication skills, enabling her to convey complex topics—such as the intricacies of the Navajo code and military operations—to a broad audience with clarity and depth.
Relocating to New Mexico proved transformative to Avila, who found herself immersed in a rich cultural landscape that she has described as a blend of Native American, Hispanic, Black, and white populations. This multicultural environment provided an important context for her work with Nez. Their collaboration began when she met Chester Nez and his son Mike four and a half years before the book’s 2011 publication, leading to an extensive interview process that would transform into their joint memoir project.
The collaboration between Nez and Avila faced unique challenges, including the need to navigate cultural differences and address sensitive historical topics. Their work together spanned several years, during which they worked to preserve both the historical accuracy of events and the authenticity of Nez’s voice. The project was particularly significant as it represented the only memoir ever written by one of the original Navajo code talkers, making it an invaluable primary historical source.
More than a military memoir, Code Talker is an important document of culture and history. While the book details Nez’s crucial role in developing and implementing the unbreakable Navajo code during World War II, it also chronicles his life journey. Through Nez’s experiences, the book documents traditional Navajo customs and describes how his generation navigated the transition into modern American life. Avila’s role was to help shape these varied elements—from Nez’s childhood experiences herding sheep to his classified wartime service—into a coherent narrative that would resonate with a broad audience while maintaining historical and cultural authenticity.
