"CNN: Why was it important for you to tell your own story instead of someone writing it for you?

Nez: I told my story at length to Judith Avila, and she recorded it and then wrote it down. It was important that the story come from me, since I want this memoir to accurately depict my Navajo people and the contributions made by the code talkers. Judith and I reviewed the book “Code Talker” together many times to ensure this accuracy.

CNN: What do you think is the central lesson of this book?

Nez: My wartime experiences developing a code that utilized the Navajo language taught how important our Navajo culture is to our country. For me that is the central lesson: that diverse cultures can make a country richer and stronger.

CNN: How did becoming a code talker change your life?

Nez: Our Navajo code was one of the most important military secrets of World War II. The fact that the Marines did not tell us Navajo men how to develop that code indicated their trust in us and in our abilities. The feeling that I could make it in both the white world and the Navajo world began there, and it has stayed with me all of my life. For that I am grateful."

Get the Story:
Decoding history: A World War II Navajo Code Talker in his own words (In America / CNN 12/4)

Related Stories:
NPR: Chester Nez shares experiences as a Navajo Code Talker (11/29)