Calling the Brands tells the story of the, "range detectives," "stock detectives," and "inspectors," who usually worked completely alone, courageously capturing or killing livestock rustlers in order to assure the survivability of the ranchers. The detectives and inspectors had to be proficient in "calling the brands," which meant being able to read a brand and identify its owner. While most western lawmen's titles and many of them are familiar, less well known are the various titles and names of those who protected the cattle industry from being carted away lock, stock and barrel by the unscrupulous and who helped shaped the West as we know it.

The fascinating account of U.S. Navy ships named Nebraska comes to life with "I Christen Thee, Nebraska." Author Monty McCord deftly illustrates the historical significance of these ships in the Navy.Even as early as the Civil War, three ships carried the name Nebraska. Over forty years later in 1907, the USS "Nebraska" (BB-14) was one of sixteen battleships that steamed around the world with President Theodore Roosevelt's Great White Fleet (1907-1909). McCord re-creates daily life on these ships with accounts of operations, the sailors' hardships, recreation, and humor in the early steel Navy.During the 1970s, construction began on a new class of ballistic missile submarines that would include the USS "Nebraska" (SSBN-739). The "Nebraska" (BB-14) was the fourteenth battleship built, and, coincidentally, the submarine "Nebraska" was the fourteenth of its class. This massive submarine was commissioned in 1993 and continues to serve a deterrent mission. McCord also delves into the colorful histories of other Navy ships named after Nebraska people and places, offering a distinct look at a relatively unknown piece of American history.