Highlights Archives
A Salute to Our Newest Veterans
As Veterans Day approaches, we wish to honor all Wisconsin's men and women who have served and currently serve in our nation's armed forces. The newest U.S. war veterans, serving as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, all have stories from their combat experiences, adding their voices and memories to the hundreds of thousands who have been deployed on behalf of the nation over the decades. Private Soldiers: A Year in Iraq with a Wisconsin National Guard Unit, a new book published by the Wisconsin Historical Society Press, brings the experiences of some of Wisconsin's newest veterans, the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 2-127th Infantry Battalion, to life in pictures and words. Written and photographed by three battalion members, the book provides a rare firsthand account of war and life in Iraq.
 Troops arriving home from Iraq The soldiers of the 2-127th came from all over Wisconsin. They were (and are) citizen soldiers, with civilian jobs and families unaccustomed to long separations. Private Soldiers tells their story through letters and emails home, personal interviews, and photos of heartrending clarity and perspective. These are not stiff, official pictures of awards ceremonies, but images of soldiers tossing horseshoes, playing street hockey and hanging out in their tents. Author Ben Buchholz of Brandon and photographers Joseph Streeter of Madison and Nathan Olson of Columbus open a window onto the human side of the Iraq war and, in particular, what it is like to experience it as a Wisconsin soldier.
Meet the authors and celebrate all Wisconsin veterans this November as Buchholz, Streeter and Olson talk about their book at the Wisconsin Historical Museum on Tuesday, November 20, at 12:15 p.m. The authors will also speak at libraries and bookstores around the state this fall. Check the events listings for dates and times.
Happy Veterans Day!
:: Posted November 9, 2007
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