The papers, originally from the University of North Texas's annual Military History Seminar, are organized chronologically from World War II to the present day, making this a modern war reader of great use for the professional and the student. Scholars and topics include David Glantz on the Soviet Great Patriotic War, 1941-1945; Robert Divine on the decision to use the atomic bomb; George Herring on Lyndon Baines Johnson as Commander-in-Chief; and Brian Linn comparing the U.S. war and occupation in Iraq with the 1899-1902 war in the Philippines.

Veterans and their topics include flying with the Bloody 100th by John Luckadoo; an enlisted man in the Pacific theater of World War II, by Roy Appleton; a POW in Vietnam, by David Winn; and Cold War duty in Moscow, by Charles Hamm.

This book pairs eminent military historians and veterans discussing key military engagements and themes, from World War II to the present. Inside are such illustrious names in military history as David Glantz (Soviet warfare in WWII), Robert Divine (decision to use atomic bomb), George Herring (Johnson as commander-in-chief), and Brian Linn (comparing occupation in Philippines 1899-1902 with current occupation in Iraq). Within each military period in question is a veteran's narrative account, giving an "I was there" perspective of the war being discussed.