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Sergeant Andrew Jackson Tozier's seizing of an abandoned rifle to defend the 20th Maine's national flag at his lone, advanced position would earn him a Medal of Honor. As Tozier left no personal diary, or personal letters written during the war, scholars must instead turn to archival military records, published regimental histories, contemporary newspaper accounts, and the diaries and letters of Tozier's regimental comrades. Using these sources, the article herein sketches a portrait of the man General Joshua Chamberlain lauded as "an example of all that was excellent as a soldier." More broadly, perhaps, if depicts the experiences of a subset of young Maine men-Tozier's contemporaries-who volunteered to go to war in the early 1 860s. James Christian holds degrees from Harvard College and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. He resides in Montgomery County, Maryland, where he works as an occupational medicine physician, certifying the fitness and managing the injuries of public safety employees, among other duties. His frequent work with veterans has given him an appreciation for the special problems of those who have seen combat and, like Tozier, are left to struggle with war-related disabilities long after the guns have silenced. Christian credits these veterans, as well as the Civil War scholarship of historian Thomas Desjardin, for providing the inspiration for this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A biography of North Carolinian soldier Jesse Sharpe Barnes is presented. He was born on June 18, 1838, fourth child of affluent farmer in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. It offers information about Barnes' nine siblings, along with their educational attainments. Particular focus is given to the impact of Barnes' upbringing and the changing political situation on his beliefs in secession, along with his life in the military.

A biography of U.S. corporal Jacob B. Funk is presented. Funk was born on November 23, 1841, in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. At the age of 19, he volunteered to be enlisted in a military troop, thus taking part in the American Civil War. His experience in the war is described through letters that Funk had sent to one of his friends, including his participation in engagements in Virginia and that he was chosen to carry the flag in battle. He was killed during the war.

A biography of Percy Adams Rideout, one of the men of the first chemical warfare unit, the First Gas Regiment, in the U.S. is presented. Rideout was born on October 16, 1888 in Ashburnham, Massachusetts and moved to Concord where he attended high school. After graduation from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a degree in civil engineering, he went to work for road construction projects. He was one of the two men of the First Gas Regiment who was honored when he was recommended for the Distinguished Service Cross.

A biography is presented of West Funk, an American soldier. He was born in Massachusetts and raised in the Keystone State. Funk served a one-year enlistment as a private in the 19th Pennsylnsnis before joining the 121st as sergeant major. Funk was recognized with a brevet rank of lieutenant colonel for his service in American Civil War. He received the nation's highest military honour for the capture of the flag on October 15, 1872.

A biography of American solider William T. Sherman is presented. He was born on February 8, 1820 in New Lancaster, Ohio and studied law and received the first Bachelor of Arts degree in the Northwest Territory. He was the superintendent of an academy in Louisiana and married with six children. He became a colonel after leaving the academy in May 1861.

A biography of Swedish American and U.S. Army brigadier general Charles John Stolbrand is presented. He was born Carl Johan Möller on May 11, 1821, in Kristianstad, Sweden. He changed his name in 1839 and was a cadet in the Swedish Royal Vendes Artillery Regiment. He married Marie Sophia Petersson and moved to Chicago, Illinois. He volunteered for the Second Illinois Light Artillery Regiment during the U.S. Civil War. He participated in Republican Party politics. He died on February 3, 1894.

A biography of Lieutenant Colonel John C. Groome of the U.S. Army Signal Corps is presented. He was born on March 20, 1862 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was educated in Philadelphia and had various jobs there. He married Agnes Roberts and had three children with her. He joined the First Troop Philadelphia City Calvary (FTPCC) in which he was appointed to various designations including a brief appointment as provost marshal general (PMG) of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF).

Features U.S. Army Specialist 5 Franklin D. Racine. Importance of his role as a military helicopter crew chief during the war; Details of the fighting between U.S. special forces and Vietnamese forces in October 1965 where he died.