Stephen A. Swails: Black Freedom Fighter in the Civil War and Reconstruction

Stephen Atkins Swails served with distinction in the 54th Massachusetts Infantry and became the first African American commissioned as a U.S. combat officer. After the Civil War, he stayed in South Carolina, playing a key role in politics and civil rights. Through later erased from history, Gordon C. Rhea's biography revives Swails' powerful legacy - a story of resilience, leadership, and the ongoing fight for racial equality. 
 

Dearest Mama: The Lost Letters of a Fallen Soldier and the Stories of those He Left Behind

William S. Walker never met his uncle, Fletcher "Bud" Blanton, who was killed in World War II before Walker was born. Bud was just a faded memory until Walker discovered a forgotten paper sack in the attic with the note, "Go through before you throw away." Inside were family photos, postcards, and letters Bud had written from the frontlines, the first one beginning with "Dearest Mama." Dearest Mama tells Bud's story and serves as a deeply personal family chronicle that resonates for all those left behind when service members do not return home from combat. 
 

Military Appreciation Month Reading List

Military Appreciation Month honors both current members and veterans of the United States Military. South Carolina has a strong military history, with many people who have served, important military bases, and key events that helped shaped the nation's history.

Below is a select reading list highlighting South Carolina's contributions to our military and military history through biographies and memoirs, our regiments and military schools, and our military installations.