This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt. You may receive a partial or no refund on used, damaged or materially different returns.

Read full return policy

Payment

Secure transaction

Payment

Secure transaction

We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more

Details

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime

FREE delivery Friday, April 5 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35

Select delivery location

Used: Good | Details

Sold by koffeeeone

Fulfilled by Amazon

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

Other Sellers on Amazon

Added

Not added

$9.95
+ $4.25 shipping

Sold by: Global Brands Intel

Added

Not added

$15.18
FREE Shipping on orders over $35.00 shipped by Amazon.

Sold by: LC HAWAII LLC

Added

Not added

$28.99
FREE Shipping on orders over $35.00 shipped by Amazon.

Sold by: Amazon.com

Image Unavailable

Image not available for
Color:

To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

Chris DeRose

Follow

The Fighting Bunch: The Battle of Athens and How World War II Veterans Won the Only Successful Armed Rebellion Since the Revolution Hardcover – November 3, 2020

by Chris DeRose (Author)

371

See all formats and editions

Great on Kindle

Great Experience. Great Value.

Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the Kindle edition of this book. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories.

View Kindle Edition

{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$11.98","priceAmount":11.98,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"11","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"98","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"Q4RayqArS3k0T7QFOo8DNHIL3rdFypC8WWNu1qQ07i9m6Q2eJSGYn%2F5lRg5PGmp%2FLmJjVGPnNQOSYWKPr%2BrHV1gN%2BZe8SE7tcIBZv5tB3DBqk6FplN99kUktVdmZanu4a%2FJzaI6h15jPR5FXDKGoJ3oPSmb%2BoeYmBYVDG0NfgZRFwApz8Huagg%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$10.99","priceAmount":10.99,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"10","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"99","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"Q4RayqArS3k0T7QFOo8DNHIL3rdFypC8B%2BzSqxNDR9IkhIWdQ6dBoc%2BJFtGT6%2Bgh%2FQkk80WW%2BNHC1Y1BUJMjw2DBv3nJZt2%2BEax7AkmhvEs2PjnK%2BlDzUQ%2FMV3%2BRfjx7z62DdshMzUVfV3De5EuWCNBdGoTLOoL79fMvYeLa0PCWO6LB6228Kw%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

In The Fighting Bunch: The Battle of Athens and How World War II Veterans Won the Only Successful Armed Rebellion Since the Revolution, New York Times bestselling author Chris DeRose reveals the true, never-before-told story of the men who brought their overseas combat experience to wage war against a corrupt political machine in their hometown.

Bill White and the young men of McMinn County answered their nation's call after Pearl Harbor. They won the freedom of the world and returned to find that they had lost it at home.

A corrupt political machine was in charge, protected by violent deputies, funded by racketeering, and kept in place by stolen elections - the worst allegations of voter fraud ever reported to the Department of Justice, according to the U.S. Attorney General.

To restore free government, McMinn's veterans formed the nonpartisan GI ticket to oppose the machine at the next election.

On Election Day, August 1, 1946, the GIs and their supporters found themselves outgunned, assaulted, arrested, and intimidated. Deputies seized ballot boxes and brought them back to the jail. White and a group of GIs - "The Fighting Bunch" - men who fought and survived Guadalcanal, the Bulge, and Normandy, armed themselves and demanded a fair count. When they were refused the most basic rights they had fought for, the men, all of whom believed they had seen the end of war, returned to the battlefield and risked their lives one last time.

For the past seven decades, the participants of the "Battle of Ballots and Bullets" and their families kept silent about that conflict. Now in The Fighting Bunch, after years of research, including exclusive interviews with the remaining witnesses, archival radio broadcast and interview tapes, scrapbooks, letters, and diaries, Chris DeRose has reconstructed one of the great untold stories in American history.

Print length

352 pages
Language

English
Publisher

St. Martin's Press
Publication date

November 3, 2020
Dimensions

5.69 x 1.27 x 8.54 inches
ISBN-10

125026619X
ISBN-13

978-1250266194
See all details

Frequently bought together

The Fighting Bunch: The Battle of Athens and How World War II Veterans Won the Only Successful Armed Rebellion Since the Revo

$11.98

Get it Apr 9 - 10

Only 20 left in stock - order soon.

Ships from and sold by 8 trax media.

+

Star Spangled Scandal: Sex, Murder, and the Trial that Changed America

$23.19

Get it as soon as Thursday, Apr 4

Only 1 left in stock - order soon.

Sold by plury and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.

+

Founding Rivals: Madison vs. Monroe, The Bill of Rights, and The Election that Saved a Nation

$15.38

Get it as soon as Friday, Apr 5

Only 1 left in stock - order soon.

Sold by Z&Z STORE and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.

Total price:

To see our price, add these items to your cart.

Try again!

Details

Added to Cart

Some of these items ship sooner than the others.

Show details Hide details

Choose items to buy together.

Rozetta Mowery
212
Paperback
21 offers from $13.80
Tyler L. Boyd
18
Hardcover
39 offers from $22.42
Chris DeRose
134
Hardcover
51 offers from $1.44
164
DVD
7 offers from $8.85
Mario Cacioppo
1
Paperback
1 offer from $6.94
Chris DeRose
131
Paperback
41 offers from $1.99

Editorial Reviews

Review

In "The Fighting Bunch," Chris DeRose unearths a fascinating and incredibly timely piece of American history. This lively and well-researched account of American GIs and their people-powered revolution is a lesson for us all - and a warning for those tempted by power or complacency to forget the role that justice and fairness play in this country. Or to put it as one of the heroes might have (outside of polite company): Don't screw with democracy, the ballot box, or angry GIs.

It's another reminder that the men and women who endured World War II were in fact members of the Greatest Generation.

- Jim DeFelice, #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of "American Sniper" and "Every Man a Hero."

This is an especially timely tale in a year of social and political turmoil. The pulse-pounding narrative of 'The Fighting Bunch' takes us to a place in America where the struggle against evil did not end when the war did and once more people of good will had to take a courageous stand.

- Tom Clavin, New York Times bestselling author of "Tombstone" and "Dodge City."

In a remarkable feat of dogged fresh reporting, historical research and narrative aplomb, DeRose breathes new life into the little-remembered saga of the 1946 Battle of Athens, Tennessee, when a force of angry men, led by recent World War II veterans with the "stamp of combat in their eyes," mounted a successful armed rebellion against entrenched municipal corruption and police brutality.

- Joe Sharkey, New York Times bestselling author of "Above Suspicion."

History's best lessons are sometimes forgotten, and it's up to authors like Chris DeRose to resurrect them. He does so elegantly in The Fighting Bunch, the astonishing story of how, in August 1946, a band of World War II veterans summoned all their courage and fighting skills to stand up to and destroy a corrupt political machine. It's likely you never knew about it before - but once you've read this book, their act will resonate in your mind forever.

- Jeff Guinn, New York Times bestselling author of "Manson," and "The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple"

Men who went overseas to defend the freedom of the world returned home to discover they had lost it here. How they fought to reclaim it is a riveting story that should remind every American of how precious and fragile are the freedoms we too often take for granted.

- John Bicknell, author of "Lincoln's Pathfinder: John C. Fremont and the Violent Election of 1856 and America 1844"

About the Author

CHRIS DEROSE is the New York Times bestselling author of Founding Rivals: Madison vs. Monroe, the Bill of Rights, and the Election that Saved a Nation, and The Presidents' War: Six American Presidents and the Civil War That Divided Them. Chris DeRose is the New York Times Bestselling Author of five books. He was formerly Senior Litigation Counsel to the Arizona Attorney General, a Professor of Constitutional and International Law, and Clerk of the Superior Court, where he led a team of 700 in serving America's fourth largest county. chrisderosebooks.com

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Martin's Press; First Edition (November 3, 2020)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 125026619X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250266194
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.04 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.69 x 1.27 x 8.54 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #360,847 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,575 in American Military History
- #2,909 in World War II History (Books)
- #4,760 in U.S. State & Local History

Customer Reviews:
371

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Videos

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload your video

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Chris DeRose

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

www.chrisderosebooks.com

Chris DeRose is the New York Times Bestselling author of "The Fighting Bunch" (St. Martin's Press, 2020) and four other books.

DeRose’s writing on American history is firmly grounded in over 20 years of political experience across five different states.

DeRose was formerly the Senior Litigation Counsel to the Arizona Attorney General, trying complex and Constitutional cases, prosecuting serious crimes on appeal, and enforcing public corruption laws. He was formerly a law professor, teaching Constitutional Law, Election Law, and International Law, among other classes. He was named “Professor of the Year” by students in 2016.

DeRose has been highlighted in the New York Times, Washington Post, National Public Radio, Christian Science Monitor, Human Events, and four installments of C-SPAN “BookTV.”

DeRose is a featured speaker at venues throughout the United States, having recently addressed members of Congress at the U.S. Capitol and spoken to a capacity crowd in New York’s Bryant Park. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Scholarly Advisors for President Lincoln’s Cottage, the first presidential retreat. A native of Chicago, DeRose lives in Phoenix, Arizona.

www.chrisderosebooks.com

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5

371 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Reviews with images

See all photos

Sort reviews by

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Robin Phillips

Battle of Athens

Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2024

Verified Purchase

This was a great book

Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2022

Verified Purchase

I have just finished a non-fiction book and I found it a terrifically engaging read…

‘The Fighting Bunch’ by Chris DeRose is about the Battle of Athens. Not in Ancient Greece, but McMinn County Tennessee in 1946.

Yes, TENNESSEE! 1946!

GIs returning home from war encountered a well-entrenched political machine getting rich off of the citizenry it had sworn to serve and staying in perpetual power by terrorizing them at the ballot box. After the equally corrupt state government refused to intervene, the same veterans formed an independent party to depose the machine sheriff, his thuggish deputies, and the ‘good-ol’-boys’ enabling them.

And when the machine tried the same hostile tactics on the GIs, the ‘good-ol’-boys’ got an unpleasant surprise.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I recommend it whole-heartedly!

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Digger

True Story

Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2023

Verified Purchase

I’m about half way thru the book, I love that it’s a true story in Tennessee and maybe the citizens of our country will come thru and we can eliminate the corruption.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Michael Booker

Amazing salute to America's Best

Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2022

Verified Purchase

I was in the Tennessee Army National Guard in Athens many years ago and I never hear this story. This book shows us just how awful and feckless the government (at many levels) can be and the astonishing heroism of the Greatest Generation. The story is painstakingly researched and carefully constructed - there are a lot of names, but you get to know the major players pretty well. The most amazing part of the story is how it all ends. I won't give away more than that, but read the ending carefully and get ready to be shamed by how great these people were.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

M.T. Fisher

Truly They Were the Greatest Geneation. Kudos to DeRose for Reminding Us!

Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2021

Verified Purchase

This is one of the great tales of American history, and DeRose has done a splendid job both in the fields of research and writing. You get into the spirit of things as you read along, and are alongside the characters. It's a tale of fighting injustice and more importantly, reconciliation. In short, what we need both of today. This is a rather timely tale, and once your read it, you realize once again why our grandparents were indeed the Greatest Generation.

As for the individual who rated the book one star, saying this story didn't deserve to be in a book. I'm sorry you feel that way about heroism. You have a lot of growing up to do.

5 people found this helpful

Helpful

Amazon Customer

Was there as an infant. The leader of the veterans Bill White was my uncle

Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2021

Verified Purchase

A little more detail about the events that led to the Battle of Athens than the first book about the Battle of Athens that I read. Swifter Than Eagles. It is scary how the 2020 election is comparable in many ways to the 1946 election.
Jim Bredwell

One person found this helpful

Helpful

bryan e.

It happened before, can it happen again?

Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2021

Verified Purchase

A compelling and true story starts with massive illegal actions surrounding boxes of ballots in TN in the mid 20th century elections.

The book is also very well written making it a great read. It renewed (some) of my faith in the underlying mettle of the average American to fight violent and illegal behavior by government officials who sow oppression and injustice for their "constituents".

But I hasten to add that we can all be so thankful that this type of brutal violence and criminality by armed agents of the state has been wiped off the face of the earth by now so we do not need to worry about something like this EVER occurring again in the good ole US of A.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Arcane Thought

So topical for today

Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2021

Verified Purchase

A small town in post WW2 America was going through what this country is today. Tyrants stealing elections, stuffing ballot boxes, and using force to keep the population silent and docile.

There is a lot to be learned in this book. Citizens need to stand up and take back their freedoms.

This book rings so true to what is going on in America today. It needs to be read and taken to heart.

One person found this helpful

Helpful