How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
I reminded myself that my Navajo people had always been warriors, protectors. In that, there was honor. I would concentrate on being a warrior and protecting my homeland. (1.4)
This quotation shows us how Chester manages to reconcile his Navajo values with the values of America at large. As a Navajo, being a warrior and a protector means stepping up and defending his country.
Quote #2
"Always remember, you are defending both your country and your families. The Japanese attacked your land, your home, and now you will make your country proud." (1.30)
These are the words spoken by a senior officer before Chester's (and the other Marines') first landing on the island of Guadalcanal. It emphasizes what a great responsibility Chester and the Marines face.
Quote #3
We, like other Native Americans, had been born to the warrior tradition. Like other Navajos, we saw ourselves as inseparable from the earth we lived upon. And as protectors of what is sacred, we were both eager to protect our land. (9.27)
Chester tells us here what motivated him and his friend Roy Begay to join up with the Marines. Again, we see him making a link between the values of his Navajo culture and his duty to defend his country.
Quote #4
At Fort Wingate, we ate lunch and were sworn in as United States Marines. (9.15)
Chester and his buddies are officially sworn in as U.S. Marines. This marks their formal commitment to defending their country (and they get a yummy lunch to mark the occasion).
Quote #5
"When the time comes that you go to battle with the enemy, I know that you will fight like true Navajos, Americans and Marines." (9.68)
These are the words of the commanding officer of the base where Chester and his Navajo buddies complete their basic training. The officer's words present the Navajos' three identities—Navajos, Americans, and Marines—as in sync. There's no contradiction between these identities.
Quote #6
We Marines cheered our Naval brothers in arms. On shipboard, Navy men and Marines often harassed each other [...] That day, though, all of the rivalries were forgotten. We thanked God for our sailors. (14.92)
Just because everyone fights on the same side doesn't mean that they all get along. Chester's comments here make it clear that there are conflicts within the U.S. troops, but when push comes to shove, they're rooting for one another.
Quote #7
We took the island [of Guam] just three week after our July 21 landing […] The Navajo code, still unbroken, had allowed United States troops to move and attack, secure in the secrecy of their plans. (15.40)
Chester emphasizes here just how crucial the code is in winning the war against the Japanese in the Pacific. How could the Americans have won if the Japanese had managed to figure out what they were up to? It's the code that prevents them from finding out.
Quote #8
Marine Henry Hisey Jr. remembers, "The Navajos were extremely dependable. They were the kind of guys you wanted in your foxhole, so I always tried to choose them when something had to be done." (15.43)
This is a non-Navajo Marine talking about the Navajos. Clearly, the other Marines appreciate the fact that the Navajo Marines are reliable. The Navajos aren't chickens: they step up to the most difficult tasks.
Quote #9
I was a Marine who had fought for my country, a Marine who had contributed in a most unusual way to the war effort. The code I had helped to develop had never been cracked. (17.15)
On his way back to America after the war, Chester reflects on his service. He's pretty confident that he's done his patriotic duty: he's helped defend his country to the best of his abilities. We see here how important the value of patriotism is to Chester.
Quote #10
My father was very quiet when I told him that I had been a code talker. I saw the emotion in his face, and it took him a long time to say anything. He was so happy and so proud. After our work was declassified, he used to kind of show me off. (21.2)
Twenty-three years after the war, the Navajo code is declassified, and Chester can finally tell his dad what he really did in the Pacific. Chester's words here suggest that his dad's pride and happiness are a huge reward. And aren't we impressed that he managed to keep the secret from him for twenty-three years? Chester is a seriously disciplined guy.