Synopses & Reviews
and#147;A wonderful American story of the extraordinary sacrifices made by a group of Mexican Americans . . . A shining example of patriotism at its best.and#8221;and#151;Former U.S. Representative Tom Railsback
They came from one street, but death found them in many places. . . in a distant jungle, a frozen forest, and trapped in the flaming wreckage of a bomber blown from the sky. They all came from a single street in Silvis, Illinois, a dirt road barely a block and a half long, with an unparalleled history.
The Mexican-American families who lived on that one street sent fifty-seven of their children to fight in World War II and Koreaand#151;more than any other place that size anywhere in the country. Eight of those children died. Itand#8217;s a distinction recognized by the Department of Defense, one that earned that strip a distinguished name: Hero Street.
This is the story of those brave men and their families, how they fought both in battle and to be accepted in a society that remained biased against them even after they returned home as heroes. Based on interviews with relatives, friends, and soldiers who served alongside the men, as well as personal letters and photographs, The Ghosts of Hero Street is the compelling and inspiring account of a street of soldiersand#151;and menand#151;who would not be denied their dignity or their honor.
INCLUDES PHOTOS
Review
"From Guadalcanal through Bougainville to Peleliu, Nez relates a riveting tale of jungle combat and his personal struggle to adapt to civilian life following the most cataclysmic war in our nation’s history. Gripping in its narrative,
Code Talker is history at its best."-- Colonel Cole C. Kingseed, U.S. Army (Ret.), co-author of
Beyond Band of BrothersReview
"A fascinating inside look at one of WWII’s most closely guarded secrets…This is an important book, a previously untold piece of our history."-- Marcus Brotherton, author of
Shifty's WarReview
"You don’t need to be a fan of World War II literature to appreciate this memoir…a fascinating melange of combat in the Pacific theater, the history of the Navajo people and the development of a uniquely American code."-- The Associated Press
Review
"A unique, inspiring story by a member of the Greatest Generation." -- Kirkus Reviews
Review
andldquo;In my judgment, no combat veteranandrsquo;s memoir is better . . . and only a handful are equal.andrdquo;andmdash;Stephen E. Ambrose
andldquo;Chuck Tatum was there, a participant in and a witness to history. If it is possible to answer the question andlsquo;What was it like?andrsquo;, he tells you in this book.andrdquo; andmdash;Tom Hanks
Review
and#8220;[An] important story of the brave young Mexican-Americans from western Illinois who left their immigrant families behind and volunteered to serve their country during World War II. While many made the ultimate sacrifice and died fighting to preserve the freedom of our great nation, the story of Hero Street is also about the perseverance and values of the families and community they left behind in Silvis.and#8221;and#8212;Congresswoman Cheri Bustos
and#8220;A shining example of patriotism at its best. At a time when there is still name calling about some of our immigrants, it is a story that needed to be told.and#8221;and#8212;Former U.S. Representative Tom Railsback
and#8220;When our servicemen and women risk their lives for the security of our families and communities, we must stop and reflect on the immensity of their sacrifice. The Ghosts of Hero Street reminds us why we must be appreciative, and teaches us how we should say thank you.and#8221;and#8212;Former HUD secretary and San Antonio mayor Henry Cisneros
and#8220;The documentation of the incredible stories of real-life heroes of a small neighborhood in America is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the patriotism of Americans of Hispanic origin...At last we get to read about whatand#8217;s good in America.and#8221;and#8212;Ambassador Raul Yzaguirre, President Emeritus, National Council of La Raza
and#8220;Versatile journalist and author Harrison explores the moving microcosm of pride and patriotism within a Mexican-American Illinois railroad community. . . . Harrison deftly marshals the intricate details of battle, hardship, and victory.and#8221;and#8212;Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
The first and only memoir by one of the original Navajo code talkers of WWII-includes the actual Navajo Code and rare photos.
Although more than 400 Navajos served in the military during World War II as top-secret code talkers, even those fighting shoulder to shoulder with them were not told of their covert function. And, after the war, the Navajos were forbidden to speak of their service until 1968, when the code was finally declassified. Of the original twenty- nine Navajo code talkers, only two are still alive. Chester Nez is one of them.
In this memoir, the eighty-nine-year-old Nez chronicles both his war years and his life growing up on the Checkerboard Area of the Navajo Reservation-the hard life that gave him the strength, both physical and mental, to become a Marine. His story puts a living face on the legendary men who developed what is still the only unbroken code in modern warfare.
Synopsis
The first and only memoir by one of the original Navajo code talkers of WWII. His name wasn't Chester Nez. That was the English name he was assigned in kindergarten. And in boarding school at Fort Defiance, he was punished for speaking his native language, as the teachers sought to rid him of his culture and traditions. But discrimination didn't stop Chester from answering the call to defend his country after Pearl Harbor, for the Navajo have always been warriors, and his upbringing on a New Mexico reservation gave him the strength--both physical and mental--to excel as a marine.
During World War II, the Japanese had managed to crack every code the United States used. But when the Marines turned to its Navajo recruits to develop and implement a secret military language, they created the only unbroken code in modern warfare--and helped assure victory for the United States over Japan in the South Pacific.
INCLUDES THE ACTUAL NAVAJO CODE AND RARE PICTURES
Synopsis
He is the only original World War II Navajo code talker still aliveand this is his story . . .
His name wasnt Chester Nez. That was the English name he was assigned in kindergarten. And in boarding school at Fort Defiance, he was punished for speaking his native language, as the teachers sought to rid him of his culture and traditions. But discrimination didnt stop Chester from answering the call to defend his country after Pearl Harbor, for the Navajo have always been warriors, and his upbringing on a New Mexico reservation gave him the strengthboth physical and mentalto excel as a marine.
During World War II, the Japanese had managed to crack every code the United States used. But when the Marines turned to its Navajo recruits to develop and implement a secret military language, they created the only unbroken code in modern warfareand helped assure victory for the United States over Japan in the South Pacific.
Synopsis
In 1944, the U.S. Marines were building the 5th Marine Divisionandmdash;also known as andldquo;The Spearheadandrdquo;andmdash;in preparation for the invasion of the small, Japanese-held island of Iwo Jima. . .and#160; When Chuck Tatum began Marine boot camp, he was just a smart-aleck teenager eager to serve his country. Little did he know that he would be training under a living legend of the Corpsandmdash;Medal of Honor recipient John Basilone, who had almost single-handedly fought off a Japanese force of three thousand on Guadalcanal.
It was from Basilone and other sergeants that Tatum would learn how to fight like a Marine and act like a manandmdash;skills he would need when he hit the black sand of Iwo Jima with thirty thousand other Marines.
Red Blood, Black Sand is the story of Chuckandrsquo;s two weeks in hell, where he would watch his hero, Basilone, fall, where the enemy stalked the night, where snipers haunted the day, and where Chuck would see his friends whittled away in an eardrum-shattering, earth-shaking, meat grinder of a battle.
This is the island, the heroes, and the tragedy of Iwo Jima, through the eyes of the battleandrsquo;s greatest living storyteller, Chuck Tatum.
Synopsis
In 1944, the U.S. Marines were building the 5th Marine Divisionandmdash;also known as andldquo;The Spearheadandrdquo;andmdash;in preparation for the invasion of the small, Japanese-held island of Iwo Jima. . .and#160; When Chuck Tatum began Marine boot camp, he was just a smart-aleck teenager eager to serve his country. Little did he know that he would be training under a living legend of the Corpsandmdash;Medal of Honor recipient John Basilone, who had almost single-handedly fought off a Japanese force of three thousand on Guadalcanal.
It was from Basilone and other sergeants that Tatum would learn how to fight like a Marine and act like a manandmdash;skills he would need when he hit the black sand of Iwo Jima with thirty thousand other Marines.
Red Blood, Black Sand is the story of Chuckandrsquo;s two weeks in hell, where he would watch his hero, Basilone, fall, where the enemy stalked the night, where snipers haunted the day, and where Chuck would see his friends whittled away in an eardrum-shattering, earth-shaking, meat grinder of a battle.
This is the island, the heroes, and the tragedy of Iwo Jima, through the eyes of the battleandrsquo;s greatest living storyteller, Chuck Tatum.
About the Author
Carlos Harrison is a Pulitzer Prizeand#150;winning journalist, editor, and writer of more than a dozen books available in English and Spanish. A former reporter for Miamiand#8217;s NBC affiliate and a national and international correspondent for the Fox News Channel, Harrison has optioned multiple screenplays, written two award-winning television documentaries, and published hundreds of newspaper articles and magazine pieces in a wide variety of media, from the Huffington Post and Southern Living to a number of travel, celebrity, and business publications. As a reporter for the Miami Herald, Harrison shared the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Spot News, covering the arrest of Yahweh Ben Yahweh, a national religious cult leader accused of ordering the murder of one of his followers.