World War II sits in our collective memory as the "Good War" the one where the sides were clear and the sacrifices great. Literature and film have produced very few images of a certain group of heroic soldiers who died on foreign beaches, fields and jungles. The African American soldier, in segregated units, fought and died on those battlefields, and for the most part, their contribution has been largely overlooked. The story of William A. Morris Jr.'s service in the all black 369th Coast Artillery Regiment and the 4251st Trucking Company during World War II is a story of a black soldier from a small town fighting for a country that is still wrestling with the ugliness of racism. At the core of this soldier's story, there is a miracle. Morris' unique story has a real heroine, a dog named Trixie. This little terrier mutt found him in England just before D-Day and stayed with him throughout the war, from Omaha Beach to the Battle of the Bulge. He saved her life and she saved his. This book follows William and Trixie's journey from the horrors of war in Europe to the arms of Morris' family back home. It is a story of hope, courage, faith and love. More than just a story of a black soldier and his dog, The Soldier That Wagged Her Tail holds a universal message that inspires all of us.
