Why We Serve

"Why We Serve: Native Americans in the United States Armed Forces" examines the long and often overlooked history of Indigenous military service in the United States. Published in association with the National Museum of the American Indian, the book accompanies the museum's National Native American Veterans Memorial, which opened in Washington, D.C. in 2020. The text draws on the research and contributions assembled for that memorial project, offering readers a wide-ranging look at why Native Americans have served in the armed forces at disproportionately high rates throughout American history, despite centuries of displacement, broken treaties, and unequal treatment by the federal government.

The book moves chronologically and thematically through different eras of conflict, from early military engagements through the twentieth century and into more recent service in Iraq and Afghanistan. It highlights the roles of Native service members in major conflicts, including World War I and World War II, where contributions such as the Navajo Code Talkers have become widely recognized symbols of Indigenous military ingenuity. The book situates these well-known stories alongside lesser-known accounts, giving a fuller picture of the breadth of Native participation across different branches of service and different tribal nations.

One of the strengths of this work is its attention to the cultural and spiritual dimensions of service. Rather than treating military participation as simply a matter of patriotism or economic necessity, the book explores how many Native communities understand service as an extension of warrior traditions, community responsibility, and intergenerational duty. This framing helps explain the complexity of Native enlistment, especially given the historical tension between serving a government that dispossessed Native lands and peoples while also honoring long-standing traditions of defending one's community and homeland.

The book also addresses the irony and complexity inherent in this history. It does not shy away from acknowledging the contradictions of Native Americans fighting for a nation that imposed assimilation policies, boarding schools, and land seizures on their own communities. By presenting these tensions directly, the book avoids a simplistic or purely celebratory narrative, instead offering a more nuanced account that respects the difficult choices many Native families and communities have faced.

Visually, the book incorporates photographs, artifacts, and personal narratives that bring individual stories to the forefront. These first-person accounts and archival images help humanize the historical overview, allowing readers to connect broader historical trends with the lived experiences of specific veterans and their families. The combination of historical context and personal testimony gives the book an accessible structure, appropriate for general readers as well as those with more specialized interest in Native American history or military history.

The organization of the book makes it easy to follow, moving through different time periods while maintaining a consistent focus on honoring service and documenting sacrifice. Alexandra N. Harris writes in a tone that is respectful and clear, avoiding unnecessary embellishment while still conveying the significance of the subject matter. The prose is accessible without oversimplifying the historical complexities involved, making the book suitable for readers who may not have extensive background knowledge of either Native American history or U.S. military history.

This book serves as both an informative historical resource and a tribute to a community whose military contributions have often been underrepresented in mainstream narratives of American history. It provides valuable context for understanding the National Native American Veterans Memorial and expands on the stories represented there, offering readers a chance to engage more deeply with the material beyond a single visit to the memorial itself.

Overall, "Why We Serve" succeeds in illuminating an important but often underexamined aspect of American history. It balances historical analysis with personal narrative, creating a resource that is both educational and respectful of the individuals and communities it portrays. Readers interested in military history, Native American studies, or broader questions of identity and service will find this book to be a thoughtful and well-researched contribution to the subject.