
The Dead Drink First
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Narrated by:
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Dale Maharidge
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By:
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Dale Maharidge
Like many veterans of his era, Sgt. Steve Maharidge never talked about “the good war.” On the surface, the Maharidges were a normal working-class family in the suburbs of Cleveland. But behind closed doors, even the most mundane moments could trigger Steve’s violent, traumatic episodes, which left his son Dale searching for clues to his past. And yet, there was only one: a black-and-white photograph of Steve with another soldier that hung permanently on the wall in the basement.
In The Dead Drink First, Dale Maharidge, now a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist, recounts his 18-year quest to learn everything he could about the man in the photo with the hopes of discovering a side of his late father he never knew. The result was something Dale never expected: Not only would he learn the man’s name - Herman Walter Mulligan - but he would help locate his remains and ultimately bring him home 74 years after he was killed in action.
In this deeply personal audio documentary, Dale retraces his journey through never-before-heard conversations with WWII veterans, their children, and the team of strangers that assembled to find Mulligan and bury him on American soil. In an epic search for a lost Marine, Dale finds forgiveness, lifelong friendships, and uncovers the rich, uniquely American truth about how and why we repatriate our fallen soldiers.
Please note: This story features explicit language and references to domestic abuse, violence, and war that may be upsetting to some listeners. Discretion is advised.
©2019 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2019 Audible Originals, LLC.Listeners also enjoyed...




















Go Behind the Scenes with Dale Maharidge on The Dead Drink First
War trauma lingers long after the fighting stops
History has an uncanny way of providing answers to the tough current questions humankind faces. In a decade-long journey to bring back one of our own from Okinawa, Pulitzer Prize-inner Dale Maharidge does just that. In his first Audible Original, The Dead Drink First, he reflects on his childhood as the son of a World War II veteran—a veteran whose brain injury acquired in the Pacific theater is just now starting to truly be understood. Maharidge reframes the way we look at "the Greatest Generation," and his words serve as a cautionary tale for those returning from their tours of duty today.
Our favorite moments from The Dead Drink First

About the Creator and Performer
Dale Maharidge is a professor at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. He’s published ten books, including And Their Children After Them, which won the Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction, and Journey to Nowhere, which inspired Bruce Springsteen to write the song "Youngstown." He has been a journalist for over 40 years.
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Amazing
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Helps you understand PTSD.
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It also speaks deeply to my interests in (1) the causes & consequences of wartime TBI (traumatic brain injury), (2) historic PTSD, and (3) WW2 history.
Six (6) stars!
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Anyone who has ever served or has had family that has served I think will find a connection with this story. It had me in tears in a few different parts because I could relate to the loss, the stories, and dealing with a family member coming home who just are not the same.
Thank you to the author and everyone that helped you bring this together and made this possible. I enjoyed it immensely!
I never give reviews.
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Awsome!
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Simply the best...
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Interesting look at WWII impact
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Brilliant
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Great memoir and journalism
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Amazing
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