Those who have borne the battle : a history of America's wars and those who fought them / James Wright.

"At the heart of the story of America's wars are our 'citizen soldiers'-- those hometown heroes who fought and sacrificed from Bunker Hill at Charlestown to Pointe du Hoc in Normandy, and beyond, without expectation of recognition or recompense. Americans like to think that the service of its citizen volunteers is, and always has been, of momentous importance in our politics and society. But though this has made for good storytelling, the reality of America's relationship to its veterans is far more complex. In Those Who Have Borne the Battle, historian and marine veteran James Wright tells the story of the long, often troubled relationship between America and those who have defended her-- from the Revolutionary War to today-- shedding new light both on our history and on the issues our country and its armed forces face today"--Provided by publisher.