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Author Riseman, Noah J., author

Title Defending whose country? : Indigenous soldiers in the Pacific war / Noah Riseman
Published Lincoln : University of Nebraska Press, [2012]
Lincoln, Nebraska : University of Nebraska Press, 2012
©2012
©2012

Copies

Location Call no. Vol. Availability
 W'PONDS  940.5404 Ris/Dwc  AVAILABLE
Description xii, 304 pages, 18 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, maps, portraits ; 25 cm
Contents 1. An exception in the equation? Donald Thomson and the NTSRU -- 2. Allies at war : De Facto Yolngu soldiers -- 3. Black skins, black work : Papuan and New Guinean labor -- 4. Guerillas for the white men -- 5. The Navajo code talkers -- 6. When the war was over -- Conclusion: The soldier-warrior in modern war
Summary In the campaign against Japan in the Pacific during the Second World War, the armed forces of the United States, Australia, and the Australian colonies of Papua and New Guinea made use of indigenous peoples in new capacities. The United States had long used American Indians as soldiers and scouts in frontier conflicts and in wars with other nations. With the advent of the Navajo Code Talkers in the Pacific theater, Native servicemen were now being employed for contributions that were unique to their Native cultures. In contrast, Australia, Papua, and New Guinea had long attempted to keep indigenous peoples out of the armed forces altogether. With the threat of Japanese invasion, however, they began to bring indigenous peoples into the military as guerilla patrollers, coastwatchers, and regular soldiers. This is a comparative study of the military participation of Papua New Guineans, Yolngu, and Navajos in the Pacific War. In examining the decisions of state and military leaders to bring indigenous peoples into military service, as well as the decisions of indigenous individuals to serve in the armed forces, Noah Riseman reconsiders the impact of the largely forgotten contributions of indigenous soldiers in the Second World War
Analysis Australian
Notes Formerly CIP. Uk
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (pages [271]-296) and index
Notes Print version record
Subject Thomson, Donald F. (Donald Fergusson), 1901-1970.
Navajo code talkers.
World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, Australian.
World War, 1939-1945 -- Cryptography.
World War, 1939-1945 -- Participation, Aboriginal Australian
World War, 1939-1945 -- Participation, Indian.
Yolngu (Australian people) -- Warfare.
Yolngu (Australian people) -- Australia -- Arnhem Land (N.T.)
SUBJECT Australia -- Armed Forces -- Aboriginal Australians. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh94005586
United States -- Armed Forces -- Indians. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85065539
Genre/Form Personal narratives.
LC no. 2012015594
ISBN 0803237936 (hardback)
9780803237933 (hardback)
Other Titles Indigenous soldiers in the Pacific war : defending whose country?