"The incredible, untold story of the WWII vets who overthrew their corrupt hometown government--the only successful armed rebellion on US soil since the War of Independence. Corrupt politician Paul Cantrell was in complete control of McMinn County, Tennessee, his whims enforced by the violent Sheriff Pat Mansfield and his deputies. On Election Day, Cantrell and the sheriff seized the ballot boxes and brought them to the jail "to be counted" in secret. Soldiers came home from World War II to find their community in the grips of this corrupt political machine. These veteran soldiers, who became known as "The Fighting Bunch," armed themselves and lay siege to the jail as the National Guard closed in. After six hours of gunfire and dynamite blasts, Boss Cantrell and Sheriff Mansfield fled the state. The deputies surrendered. The ballot boxes were opened and counted. The GI slate was elected, and the story buried. This episode in U.S. history has never been more relevant, but has never been fully told. At the time of the rebellion, national news outlets jammed the phone lines into town, asking questions before the shooting had stopped. Journalists beat a path to Athens from across the country. MGM Studios signed people up to play themselves in the movie, but the film fell apart when the cast reconsidered. Rebuilding their community was the priority over fame and money. After years of research, including exclusive interviews with the remaining witnesses, archival radio broadcast and interview tapes, scrapbooks, letters, and diaries, author Chris DeRose has reconstructed one of the seminal--yet untold--events in American election history"-- Corrupt politician Paul Cantrell was in complete control of McMinn County, Tennessee, his whims enforced by the violent Sheriff Pat Mansfield and his deputies. Each Election Day Cantrell and the sheriff seized the ballot boxes and brought them to the jail "to be counted" in secret. On August 1, 1946, veteran soldiers armed themselves and lay siege to the jail as the National Guard closed in. After six hours of gunfire and dynamite blasts, Boss Cantrell and Sheriff Mansfield fled the state. The deputies surrendered. The ballot boxes were opened and counted. The GI slate was elected... and the story was buried. DeRose has reconstructed one of the seminal-- yet untold-- events in American election history. -- adapted from jacket. Provided by publisher.

In Search of History -- Home, Sweet Home -- On the Little Tennessee River -- Warrior Roots -- The Rise of Paul Cantrell -- The Best Fights of the Season -- Civics at McMinn High -- "Politicos in McMinn Split Over Vote Robots" -- The King of Tennessee -- "For the Duration of the National Emergency" -- Everything I Needed to Know About Geopolitics, I Learned from Frank Capra -- George the Ripper -- "We Were Like Young Tigers" -- "A Monstrous, Shocking, and Revolting State of Affairs." -- "High, Dry, and Bare Assed" -- "Six Indicted for Vote Fraud' -- "Come to the Rescue of a Helpless People" -- "Say a prayer for your pal on Guadalcanal" -- United States vs. Lattimore, et al -- "No Atheists on Tarawa" -- United States v. William Rucker -- From Athens to Normandy -- "I Don't Know Which Way Is Up" -- "Killed in the Service of his Country in Athens, Tennessee" -- "The American Way of Life" -- The Best Year of Their Lives -- In the Basement of the Robert E. Lee Hotel -- "A Thorn in the Flesh" -- The Ballad of Otto Kennedy -- Your Vote Will Be Counted as Cast -- "Do You Think They're Going to Let You Win This Election?" -- The Fourth of July -- "The Hearts and Votes of McMinn County" -- The Dark Corner -- The Battle of the Garage -- Democracy, Athens Style -- The Guns of August -- The Night Watch -- "Groping Back to Normalcy" -- Fort Athens -- Glorious Victory -- Unknown Subjects -- "Let Us Live Together and Love One Another.".