Inside the Fighting First: Papers of a Nebraska Private in the Philippine War

by Thomas Solevad Nielsen, Henry O. Thompson

This book consists of the diary of Henry Thompson, the letters he wrote home, and a selection of those that he received as the Spanish American War wound down and the Philippine War revved up. Thompson, the son of Danish immigrants living near St. Edwards, Nebraska, wrote in English but his parents' letters (translated) were written in Danish. His letters have been skillfully edited and placed in the proper relationship to diary entries. The historical context has been ably provided by Matthew Plowman whose commentary offers most Americans their first knowledge of this little known war. The work, which includes numerous photographs from the Thompson collection is appropriate for a wide audience and conveys an interesting insight into the differing mentalities of a combatant and those on the home front.

188 pages, Paperback

First published October 12, 2001