Freedom is not free. No place in the country knows that better than Webster County, Missouri. Meet 120 honorable men, all with a connection to Webster County, who died while serving in the United States military.

In southwestern Missouri lies Webster County, probably best known for being the birthplace of astronomer Edwin Hubble. However, there were also 120 valiant men, all with a connection to Webster County, who died while serving in the United States military. A monument erected in the county seat of Marshfield stands in honor of these heroes, their names etched in stone as a reminder of the sacrifices they made to ensure freedom for Americans and those around the world. This book goes a step further and tells their incredible stories.

Carmelita Tieskotter was born and raised in Iowa. A city girl at heart, she and her husband, John, retired in 2008 to a rural acreage in the Missouri Ozarks. They are the parents of five children, thirteen grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren … as well as two dogs, one cat, and a Missouri mule. In Webster County, Missouri, her family roots run deep. She is descended from some of the earliest pioneers to the region – hardworking and resilient people whose vision turned a vast wilderness into thriving communities. As a young girl, her fascination over a framed picture of a young soldier would grow into a lifelong love of genealogy, history, and country. She also enjoys reading historical nonfiction, traveling with her husband, scrapbooking, and shopping for hats.