This is a relentless account of the fierce side of war written by one of the best military historians of his generation. Andrew Wiest, author of the valuable book Boys of ’67, tracks the experience of the 150th Engineer Battalion of the Mississippi National Guard during their deployment in 2005 in Iraq, focusing on the Dogwood base of operations.

Consisting of young people hoping to find an escape from crippling poverty, women seeking to break barriers, and patriots answering the call of their country after September 11, the 150th represented nearly all that America had to offer in 2005.

Amid the transformation of the American military in the 21st century, they were no longer destined to be weekend warriors but had become a sharp weapon of war. The soldiers grew up in the same communities, played sports, and served together. As Dogwood reveals, this offers a unique advantage but also amplifies the losses.

Defying poor equipment, a lack of specialized training, and crushing losses, the 150th endured the battles. They also implemented their own local counteroffensive policies that transformed a troubled area into a thriving community – one of the few success stories of the war. However, all had been forgotten.

Dogwood is set against a backdrop of a changing army, an evolving strategic situation, and an unpopular war, presenting an unchanging story that reveals the harsh reality of combat through countless firsthand accounts.