by Tom Mueller
First published 2013
Tom Mueller opens his investigation into Wisconsin's military sacrifice with a stark number: nearly 27,000 residents have died in the nation's wars. His reporting spans three decades and covers conflicts from the Civil War through Afghanistan. Mueller examines communities across the state, from Oak Creek to Menomonie, from Marshfield to Milwaukee. He focuses extensively on World War II casualties and devotes two full chapters to Wisconsin's 37 Vietnam MIAs, providing their most comprehensive treatment in decades. The book reveals how seven Civil War veterans later became Wisconsin governors and uncovers unexpected details about the state's World War I service members. Mueller also tracks the sharp recent increase in women making the ultimate sacrifice. Through interviews with more than three dozen veterans from World War II to Afghanistan, he builds a portrait of Wisconsin's military legacy that spans generations and geography.
Genres: 20th-century, non-fiction, 21st-century, military-history, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, investigative-journalism
Setting: Oak Creek, Menomonie, Marshfield, Milwaukee
Period: Civil War, World War I, World War II, Vietnam War, Afghanistan
322 pages · Paperback · Dog Ear Publishing, LLC