Why We Serve

October 1, 2020

After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, it is estimated that between five to ten percent of the Native population in the United States enlisted in an effort to help a country that often discriminated against them, through boarding schools and legislation. Their sacrifices within the American military are often overlooked, even though they continue to enlist at higher rates than other populations and although generations of Natives have been part of the military. Published in conjunction with the dedication of the National Native American Veterans Memorial in Washington DC, this book by Smithsonian employees Harris and Hirsch covers the involvement of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Readers will find not only a correction to the historical records, but also personal stories of those who served. The resource is heavily illustrated with historical photos of the men and women who wore the uniform of the United States while maintaining a connection to their tribes. VERDICT This highly recommended book provides a necessary view of overlooked history, and stands as a powerful reminder of those who have served a country that has rarely served them.--John Rodzvilla, Emerson Coll., Boston

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2020
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.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

Starred review from July 15, 2020
A history of Native American military service, which began even before the Revolutionary War. In a beautifully produced and illustrated volume commemorating the National Native American Veterans Memorial, Harris, senior editor and writer at the 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: Some individuals wanted "to learn a trade, get an education, experience the thrill of piloting a jet, explore new life horizons, strike a blow for gender equality, or uphold family traditions of military service that stretch back for generations." Some were drafted; for others, the military "meant a job, meals, and stability that could not be found at home." Sometimes, the decision to align with the U.S. military was complicated by treaty alliances or tribal rivalries: "defense of territory, revenge, resources, and challenge to traditional enemies." In the cases of the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War, Native Americans--who were not U.S. citizens and realized that the government was hostile to tribal autonomy and covetous of tribal lands--were forced to choose sides or remain neutral. During the Civil War, some tribes aligned with the Union, others with Confederates; all hoped to renegotiate treaties once the war was over. The authors focus chapters on Native American warrior traditions, participation in the Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam, and conflicts in the Middle East. They examine Native American service as scouts, interpreters, and intermediaries and offer many vivid profiles of individuals, personalizing the larger historical narrative. 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. A welcome and well-informed perspective on a significant aspect of the Native experience in the U.S.

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