Our Year of War: Two Brothers, Vietnam, and a Nation Divided

CSIS cordially invites you to a book launch for Our Year of War: Two Brothers, Vietnam, and a Nation Divided.

Featuring a discussion with
Chuck Hagel
24th U.S. Secretary of Defense

Much like the rest of America in 1968, brothers Chuck and Tom Hagel had different opinions regarding Vietnam. Chuck Hagel supported the war; his younger brother, Tom, hated it. Together they fought in the Tet Offensive, battled snipers in Saigon, chased the enemy through the jungle, and each saved the other’s life under fire. Daniel P. Bolger’s Our Year of War reveals the story of a family and a country during the most tumultuous and consequential year in the last half century.

Our Year of War shares the story of Chuck Hagel, who went on to become a Nebraska senator for twelve years and Secretary of Defense from 2013 until 2015, and his brother Tom, a law professor at University of Dayton in Ohio since 1982—men who epitomized the best and lived through the worst. Following the brothers’ paths from the prairie heartland through a war on the far side of the world and back to a splintered America, Our Year of War tells the story of two brothers in battle.

Peppered with details about prominent American military icons—like General Curtis E. LeMay, who led American bomber crews in World War II, and General William Childs Westmoreland, the committed and controversial commander of U.S. forces in Vietnam for much of the war—Our Year of War sheds light on some of the most influential people of the Vietnam era while chronicling how two brothers fought together in a war only one of them believed in.

Daniel P. Bolger served in the Army for thirty-five years, retiring as lieutenant general. He commanded troops in both Afghanistan and Iraq, earning five Bronze Star medals (one for valor) and the Combat Action Badge. He is the author of eight previous books, a contributing editor for Army magazine, and currently teaches history at North Carolina State University. He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Agenda:

5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Pre-Event Reception
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. - Event

Bookselling and signing to follow the event.

This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.