From KERA in Dallas, this is Think.

I'm John McKay, in for Chris Boyd.

Dwight Skip Johnson went from a kid growing up in the poorest sections of Detroit to a Vietnam-era military hero honored

at the Lyndon Johnson White House. More than once, while in Vietnam, he both saw death and caused death.

For his heroic actions in one instance, Johnson was awarded the Medal of Honor, but life

changes when he came home overwhelmed him, and he was shot and killed.

While Dwight Johnson was fighting in the war, Corretta Scott King, wife of Dr. Martin Luther

King Jr., was fighting to stop it, the leading voice in the anti-war movement.

They never met, but their dual stories are the subject of a new book about the war's impact on African Americans.

Until the last gun is silent, a story of patriotism, the Vietnam War, and the fight to save America's soul is the book.

Matthew Delmont is the author. He is the Sherman Fairchild Distinguished Professor of History at Dartmouth.

He joins us this hour.

Matthew, welcome back to think.

It's great to talk to you again, John.

Thanks for having me.

I say welcome back because we chatted a couple of years ago

when your book Half American came out,

which detailed the perspective of some courageous

black men and women who served during World War II. Now, this book,

until the last gun is silent, this is really an excellent follow-up because it marks the time

military service in Vietnam. But this idea originated, you say, from your dad, right?

That's right.

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