<div>Missouri can trace its military history back to the early exploreres Hernando de Soto and Robert de La Salle. The area that became the state of Missouri has been involved in every conflict in the nation’s history from the Revolutionary War?the British and their American Indian allies attacked St. Louis on May 25, 1780, the only battle west of the Mississippi in that war?to the present.<BR> The nineteenth century saw Missouri involved in many regional conflicts, such as the 1839 Iowa, or Honey, War over the disputed border between the two states and the unfortunate Mormon War which gave rise to the now infamous Extermination Order of Governor Lilburn Boggs, authorizing the forced eviction and killing of Joseph Smith’s followers. Missouri provided two regiments for service in the Mexican War, but it was the bitter border war with Kansas in the 1850s over slavery that began years of some of the most brutal fighting endured by any state in the Union. With the eruption of the Civil War, the conflict in Missouri took a fever pitch, with both the Union and the Confederacy desperately trying to keep the state and its citizens in their orbit. During the Civil War, African Americans saw battle for the first time at Island Mound, Bates County, in October 1863, months before Massachusetts organized its famous 54th Infantry Regiment. Missouri continued to support American military efforts, with tens of thousands of Missourians serving their country during World War I, including a young captain, Harry S Truman, commander of Battery D, 35th Infantry Division, and World War II. Missouri remains on the forefront of American military history with its National Guard providing exemplary service in both Iraq and Afghanistan.<BR> Complete with a list of historical sites and a comprehensive bibliography, <I>Missouri: A Military History </I>is an important reference for those interested in the role of the ?Show Me State” in our nation’s history.<BR><br> <B>Westholme State Military History Series </B><BR> Each state in the United States of America has a unique military history. The volumes in this series seek to provide a portrait of the richness of each state’s military experience, primarily defined by its borders, as well as the important contributions the state has made to the nation’s military history. Written by historians for the general reader, the volumes trace the history of conflict from the original native populations to today. The volumes are well illustrated and include specially commissioned maps, extensive bibliographies for further reading, lists of national and state historical sites, and detailed indexes.</div>