The 7th Infantry’s motto, “Willing and Able,“ speaks volumes about its past. Throughout America’s history, the soldiers of this regiment have proven through their sacrifice, their bloodshed, and their sweat that they are willing and able to fight America’s wars. At practically every crucial moment in America’s wars, the 7th has been there, shaping the future of the country and, by extension, the world.

Acclaimed historian John C. McManus takes us through the amazing history of this ever-present regiment in modern warfare, from Korea to our current toils in the Middle East. More than anything, McManus’ narrative tells the tale of those ordinary infantrymen who have always made up the 7th. These soldiers have usually been unremarkable, ordinary individuals, but they have always been, and probably always will be, the heart and soul of the United States Army.

The 7th is a vital part of our military tradition. And McManus gives a complete account of their struggles, anguish, fears, sacrifices, triumphs, and pride. McManus’s narrative of the 7th provides a compelling glimpse of not only the infantryman’s journey through American history, but the shaping of our nation as a whole.

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JOHN C. MCMANUS is a professor of military history at the University of Missouri--Rolla. He resides in St. Louis, Missouri.