Why We Serve Native Americans in the United States Armed Forces

Rare stories from more than 250 years of Native Americans' service in the military

Why We Serve commemorates the 2020 opening of the National Native American Veterans Memorial at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, the first landmark in Washington, DC, to recognize the bravery and sacrifice of Native veterans. American Indians' history of military service dates to colonial times, and today, they serve at one of the highest rates of any ethnic group. Why We Serve explores the range of reasons why, from love of their home to an expression of their warrior traditions.

The book brings fascinating history to life with historical photographs, sketches, paintings, and maps. Incredible contributions from important voices in the field offer a complex examination of the history of Native American service. Why We Serve celebrates the unsung legacy of Native military service and what it means to their community and country.

ALEXANDRA HARRIS and MARK HIRSCH are senior editor and historian, respectively, at the National Museum of the American Indian. Other contributors include Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Northern Cheyenne), Representative Deb Haaland (Pueblo of Laguna), Representative Markwayne Mullin (Cherokee Nation), Kevin Gover (Pawnee), Jefferson Keel (Chickasaw), and Herman Viola.