Our Hallowed Ground
World War II Veterans of Fort Snelling National Cemetery
From the sailors on the USS Ward who fired the first shots at Pearl Harbor to a Japanese-American army medic who served in a devastated Hiroshima, Stephen Chicoine chronicles the untold personal experiences of almost one hundred World War II heroes. Complete with archival and personal photographs, Our Hallowed Ground honors those of the greatest generation who served a nation in its darkest hour.
Although it would be nearly impossible to write about all the veterans buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Our Hallowed Ground honors the memory of each of the men and women who now rest there at peace.
Harry J. Herder, World War II veteran, Fifth Ranger Battalion
Fort Snelling National Cemetery is one of 120 national cemeteries across the country. More than 160,000 brave men and women from the Upper Midwestern states of Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Iowa lie beneath the field of white marble grave markers. While the acres of white stones are a deeply moving memorial to the strength and sacrifices of a nation, they do not reveal the individual stories of courage.
From the sailors on the USS Ward who fired the first shots at Pearl Harbor to a Japanese-American army medic who served in a devastated Hiroshima, Stephen Chicoine chronicles the untold personal experiences of almost one hundred World War II heroes, from all divisions of the armed services, in every theater. In Our Hallowed Ground we meet Raymond Maxfield from Mankato, Minnesota, who had been given up for dead when he crashed his plane near Bologna, Italy, until, much to everyone’s surprise, he walked into the headquarters of the 94th Fighter Squadron. James Carter from Minneapolis was part of the 93rd Division, an African-American unit that fought in the South Pacific at a time when most black Americans were not considered for combat because of racial prejudice. Incorporating information from military records, the National Archives, family members, and firsthand accounts, Chicoine also tells the peacetime stories of veterans who survived the war.
Complete with archival and personal photographs of courageous Americans who lived during this remarkable time, Our Hallowed Ground honors those of the greatest generation who served a grateful nation in its darkest hour.
Although it would be nearly impossible to write about all the veterans buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Our Hallowed Ground honors the memory of each of the men and women who now rest there at peace.
Harry J. Herder, World War II veteran, Fifth Ranger Battalion
Our Hallowed Ground is a reminder of the service and sacrifice of thousands of young men and women who defended our nation with valor in World War II. These stories should motivate us all to visit Fort Snelling National Cemetery to pay our respects to ‘the Greatest Generation.’
Glen H. Nelson, World War II veteran, 194th and 752nd Tank Battalions
For most who serve in combat, war is a personal experience and no two people come away with an identical ‘picture.’ Stephen Chicoine has blended the unique experiences of the many to effectively paint a landscape reaching from the British Isles to Africa, from the South Pacific to D-Day, and encompassing the entire war from Pearl Harbor to V-J Day. A most interesting read.
Norb McCrady, World War II veteran, Thirty-Fourth “Red Bull” Infantry Division
The book will be a great resource for some historians. It is a good read that chronicles some interesting stories.
Winona Daily News
Chicoine’s book recounts the stories of 87 World War II veterans who are buried at the Fort Snelling cemetery. Chicoine wants to honor the sacrifice of all, and preserve their legacy. Our Hallowed Ground is the fruit of Chicoine’s unique modus operandi: a combination of hunches, military knowledge and tenacious sleuthing.
Minneapolis Star Tribune
