The fighting bunch : the Battle of Athens and how World War II veterans won the only successful armed rebellion since the Revolution

The Resource The fighting bunch : the Battle of Athens and how World War II veterans won the only successful armed rebellion since the Revolution
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The fighting bunch : the Battle of Athens and how World War II veterans won the only successful armed rebellion since the Revolution
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the Battle of Athens and how World War II veterans won the only successful armed rebellion since the Revolution
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Chris DeRose
Title variation
Battle of Athens and how World War II veterans won the only successful armed rebellion since the Revolution
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Language
eng
Summary
  • "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
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Provided by publisher
Biography type
contains biographical information
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DLC
Dewey number
976.8/865
Illustrations
  • illustrations
  • plates
Index
index present
LC call number
F444.A75
LC item number
D47 2020
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
bibliography

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Context of The fighting bunch : the Battle of Athens and how World War II veterans won the only successful armed rebellion since the Revolution

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