These compelling, enlightening, and often highly personal experiences tell stories of average citizens as well as historical figures who made huge sacrifices by serving in the military, giving the reader new perspectives on war, and its real costs.

Wars are generally started by those holding power-those whose names are recorded in history books-yet they are fought by the average citizen. In wartime, a single person's action can change the course of history. From Bunker Hill to Baghdad: True Stories of America's Veterans presents stories told by just a handful of the limitless number of men and women who put their lives on the line for the lives of others in every major American military conflict from the Revolutionary War to the present. A fantastic resource for storytellers, this collection can also be used for student research as well as for read-alouds.

Many of the informative, entertaining, and uplifting stories in this book are derived from the interviews author and storyteller Pat Mendoza conducted with veterans or family members of veterans during his travels throughout the United States. The book introduces general readers and those interested in the experiences of war veterans to a diverse selection of individuals who fought in America's wars-military service people and others-and to their amazing experiences, some of which have never been previously published. For educators who work with students in grade four to the college level, these poignant, real-life stories of American military history will serve to supplement curricula and help make their students' studies come to life and gain meaning and relevance.

Patrick Mendoza was an accomplished storyteller, author, and musician.