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These compelling, enlightening, and often highly personal experiences tell stories of average citizens as well as historical figures who made huge sacrifices by serving in the military, giving the reader new perspectives on war, and its real costs.Wars are generally started by those holding power-those whose names are recorded in history books-yet they are fought by the average citizen. In wartime, a single person's action can change the course of history.
From Bunker Hill to Baghdad: True Stories of America's Veterans presents stories told by just a handful of the limitless number of men and women who put their lives on the line for the lives of others in every major American military conflict from the Revolutionary War to the present. A fantastic resource for storytellers, this collection can also be used for student research as well as for read-alouds.
Many of the informative, entertaining, and uplifting stories in this book are derived from the interviews author and storyteller Pat Mendoza conducted with veterans or family members of veterans during his travels throughout the United States. The book introduces general readers and those interested in the experiences of war veterans to a diverse selection of individuals who fought in America's wars-military service people and others-and to their amazing experiences, some of which have never been previously published. For educators who work with students in grade four to the college level, these poignant, real-life stories of American military history will serve to supplement curricula and help make their students' studies come to life and gain meaning and relevance.
List of contents
Foreword
Preface
Introduction
REVOLUTIONARY WARChapter 1 "The Devil Himself Could Not Catch Him": Francis Marion
WAR OF 1812Chapter 2 The Voodoo Queen and the Pirate: Marie Leveau and Jean Lafitte
MEXICAN WARChapter 3 For God? Or for Country?: John Riley and the San Patricios of the Mexican War
THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATESChapter 4 It All Started in His Front Yard: Wilmer McLean
INDIAN WARSChapter 5 To Serve Proud and Free: Isaiah Mays
SPANISH AMERICAN WARChapter 6 To Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick: Theodore Roosevelt
WORLD WAR IChapter 7 To Vanish in the Morning: Blanche Hennebery and George MacCrae
Chapter 8 We Laid Aside the Citizen: Joe Angelo and the Veterans' Bonus March
Chapter 9 The Fighting Quaker: Smedley Darlington Butler
Chapter 10 A Miracle in the Trenches: Robert Hulse
WORLD WAR IIChapter 11 The Last Acoma: Sam Antonio
Chapter 12 The First Son and the Second Marines: James Roosevelt and Carlson's Raiders
Chapter 13 From the Navy Hymn to Davy Jones' Locker: Gordon Skinner
Chapter 14 In the Shadow of Giants: Ray Bauml
KOREAN WARChapter 15 No Greater Love: Bryant Womack
Chapter 16 A Nurse's Story: Jonita Ruth Bonham
VIETNAM WARChapter 17 The Day "Doc" Goss Became a Nurse: Jim Goss
Chapter 18 Pardo's Push: Bob Pardo
Chapter 19 The Sailor: Michael Peters
IRAQ AND AFGHANISTANChapter 20 Immigrant Soldier: Cecelia Vivar
Sources
Index
About the author
PATRICK M. MENDOZA is an author, singer, composer, musician, humorist, photographer, and nationally known storyteller from Denver, Colorado.
