The modern US Army has its roots in the Continental Army, which was formed in 1775 during the American Revolutionary War. Forged in the crucible of the fight for independence, the US Army has always guaranteed America’s autonomy and territorial integrity, and represented American interests overseas.
The Army came of age during the Civil War, when the Union Army was able to defeat the highly-experienced Confederates; in 1917 the US sent hundreds of thousands of troops to fight on the Western Front; while in World War II the Army proved its expertise and valour during the Normandy Landings, the Battle of the Bulge, the campaign in Italy, and at Guadalcanal. During the Cold War, the Army stood as a bulwark against communist aggression and defender of the free world, with troops stationed from Korea to Germany to Panama, and every point in between.
The Army is a colorful guide to America’s leading military arm, a half-million-strong force with a glorious history that continues to play a key role in US defense and overseas operations today.
The book includes photographs from the Civil War up to the present, with a particular focus on recruitment, weaponry, and modern training methods, as well as soldiers on tour during the recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Highly illustrated with more than 200 photographs, The Army is a colorful celebration of America’s primary fighting force.