A Country Made by War Author:Geoffrey Perret Since 1775 no nation has had as much experience of war as the United States -- nine major wars in nine generations. And in between the wars have come other armed conflicts such as the Philippine insurgency and clashes in the Persian Gulf. America's wars have been like the rungs on a ladder by which it rose to greatness. No other country has triu... more »mphed so long, so consistently or on such a vast scale through force of arms. This book places the nation's military history as a constant factor in the evolution of American life. It is as important as geography, immigration, the growth of business, the separation of powers, the inventiveness of the people, or anything else that contributes strongly to America's unique identity among the nations of the Earth. The result is that no American can move without bumping into the country's military past.« less