ALEXANDRA HARRIS and MARK HIRSCH are senior editor and historian, respectively, at the National Museum of the American Indian. Other contributors include Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Northern Cheyenne), Representative Deb Haaland (Pueblo of Laguna), Representative Markwayne Mullin (Cherokee Nation), Kevin Gover (Pawnee), Jefferson Keel (Chickasaw), and Herman Viola.
KIRKUS REVIEWS
Starred Review. "In a beautifully produced and illustrated volume
commemorating the National Native American Veterans Memorial,
Harris, senior editor and writer at Smithsonian’s National Museum
of the American Indian, and Hirsch, a historian at the museum,
offer probing, informative essays examining Native Americans’
participation in the armed forces. Drawing on interviews and
historical documents, the authors show how motivations to serve
were complex and varied [...] Although the authors write that the
book is “a chronicle of ordinary men and women doing extraordinary
things under often unforgiving circumstances,” many profiled seem
far from ordinary."
BOOKLIST
This lavishly illustrated volume from the Smithsonian National
Museum of the American Indian celebrates the dedication of the
National Native American Veterans Memorial. Harris and Hirsch
address the federal government's war against Native American
tribes, which, later, did not prevent Native Americans from serving
in the military. Though this is not a comprehensive history of
Native American military service, it does cover a great deal of the
stories, characters, and motivations behind it. As the main authors
and other contributors, including Native Americans, delve into the
complex relations between tribal nations and the U.S. in both
chapters and many illuminating sidebars, they arrive at the
inescapable conclusion that when called to service, Native
Americans answered in numbers disproportionate to the population,
and served with great bravery and honor. This many-faceted
chronicle also contrasts the stereotype of a warrior culture
held by white Americans with the facts about martial traditions,
ceremonies, and the undeniable effectiveness of indigenous service
members. This is a unique, handsomely produced, deeply
enlightening, and invaluable volume ideal for public library
collections.
ARMY MAGAZINE
"This incredible heritage of more than two centuries of service
comes to life in the pages of Why We Serve with its first-person
accounts of the wartime experiences of the Native Americans who
served. The rich narrative is augmented by a superb and expansive
collection of photographs, maps, paintings and illustrations
reflective of the people and their service."
THE JOURNAL OF AMERICAN MILITARY PAST
"The book does an excellent job of highlighting Native
American service in the armed forces, and it is attractively
laid out, with scores of illustrations."
NATIVE AMERICAN AND INDIGENOUS STUDIES
"Why We Serve is unique; it brings together in one place an
authoritative, well-researched text that tells the collective story
of Natives in military service to the United States. It presents an
impressive collection of artwork and photographs and is footnoted
extensively for further reference and reading. The book cover is
eye-catching for this topic. Why We Serve is well worth the read."
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