A dramatic and moving tribute to the military’s unsung heroes,
American Patriots tells the story of the black servicemen and women
who defended American ideals on the battlefield, even as they faced
racism in the ranks and segregation on the home front. Through
hundreds of original interviews with veterans of every war since
World War I, historic accounts, and photographs, Gail Buckley
brings these heroes and their struggles to life. We meet Henry O.
Flipper, who withstood silent treatment from his classmates to
become the first black graduate of West Point in 1877. And World
War II infantry medic Bruce M. Wright, who crawled through a
minefield to shield a fallen soldier during an attack. Finally, we
meet a young soldier in Vietnam, Colin Powell, who rose through the
ranks to become, during the Gulf War, the first black chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Fourteen years in the making, American
Patriots is a landmark chronicle of the brave men and women whose
courage and determination changed the course of American
history.