What happens
to members of the United States Armed Forces after they die? Why do soldiers
endanger their lives to recover the remains of their comrades? Why does
the military spend enormous resources and risk further fatalities to recover
the bodies of the fallen, even decades after the cessation of hostilities?
Soldier Dead is the first book to fully address the complicated
physical, social, religious, economic, and political issues concerning
the remains of men and women who die while serving their country. In doing
so, Michael Sledge reveals the meanings of the war dead for families,
soldiers, and the nation as a whole. Why does recovering the remains of
service people matter? Soldier Dead examines this question and
provides a thorough analysis of the processes of recovery, identification,
return, burial, and remembrance of the dead. Sledge traces the ways in
which the handling of our Soldier Dead has evolved over time
and how these changes have reflected not only advances in technology and
capabilities but also the shifting attitudes of the public, government,
and military. He also considers the emotional stress experienced by those
who handle the dead; the continuing efforts to retrieve bodies from Korea
and elsewhere; and how unresolved issues regarding the treatment of enemy
dead continue to affect U.S. foreign relations. Skillfully incorporating
excerpts from interviews, personal correspondence and diaries, military
records, and journalistic accounts-as well as never-before-published photographs
and his own reflections- Michael Sledge presents a clear, concise, and
compassionate story about what the dead mean to the living. Throughout
Soldier Dead, the voices of
the fallen are heard, as are those of family members and military personnel
responsible for the dead before final disposition. At times disturbing
and at other times encouraging, they are always powerful as they speak
of danger, duty, courage, commitment, and care.
Order Mike's
book and experience what the Washington Post, Foreign Affairs
and The Armed Forces Society are raving about.
Missouri
Post-Dispatch
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