Watching and Waiting on the Border offers a frontline look at America’s urgent push to ready itself for war along the Mexican frontier.
This memoir pairs personal experience with sharp observations about the state of the National Guard, regular forces, and the challenges of mobilization in 1916–1917. It draws vivid scenes from camps, training fields, weather-wracked days, and the rhythms of life on the edge of conflict, all while asking tough questions about preparation, policy, and national safety.
- Firsthand accounts of drill life, orders, and the rough humor that keeps soldiers going
- A critical look at how quickly the guard and reserves could be turned into a fighting force
- Life at camps near El Paso, the Rio Grande, and the broader Southwest landscape
- Reflections on politics, preparedness, and the American mindset during a era of global tension
Ideal for readers of military history and social history, as well as those interested in how ordinary soldiers experienced a pivotal moment in U.S. defense.