Beyond Valor

Previous books have promised to describe the combat experience of the World War II GI, but there has never been a book like Patrick O'Donnell's Beyond Valor. Here is the first combat history of the war in Europe in the words of the men themselves, and perhaps the most honest and brutal account of combat possible on the printed page. For more than fifty years the individual stories that make up this narrative -- shockingly frank reflections of sacrifice and courage -- have been bottled up, buried, or circulated privately. Now, nearing the ends of their lives, our WWII soldiers have at last unburdened themselves. Beyond Valor recaptures their hidden history. A pioneering oral historian, Patrick O'Donnell used his award-winning website, The Drop Zone, to solicit oral- and "e-histories" from individual soldiers. Gradually, working from within the community, O'Donnell convinced some of the war's most battle-hardened soldiers to tell their stories. The result is WWII seen through the eyes of the men who saw the most intense of its action. O'Donnell focuses on the elite units of the war -- the Rangers, Airborne, and 1st Special Service Force -- troops that spearheaded the most dangerous operations and often made the difference between victory and defeat. From more than 650 interviews O'Donnell has chosen oral- and e-histories that form a seamless story line, a pointillistic history of the war in Europe from the first parachute drops in North Africa through the final battles in Germany and the long trip home. It is the story of the war not discussed in polite company. O'Donnell presents the wreckage of entire battalions nearly annihilated, invisible personal scars, and haunting revelations of wartime atrocities. But more important are the men who recount lives risked without hesitation for comrades and cause, and those who did not return: the friends who died in their arms. Their stories remind all of us that victory came only at the highest price. Remembering the infamous cliffs at Pointe-du-Hoc, bloody Omaha Beach, the bitter fighting at the Battle of the Bulge, and Hill 400 in the Hürtgen Forest, the soldiers reveal war as seen, heard, and smelled by the GIs on the front line. Also included is the unique story of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, and the trailblazing African-American "Experimental" Test Platoon that had to fight its own battle behind the lines. Beyond Valor captures the truths that exist among soldiers. It is one of the most inspiring accounts of the war ever produced.

On April 12, 1945, a fleet of American B-29 bombers flew toward Japan. Their mission was simple: Stop World War II by burning the cities, factories, and military bases of the Japanese em­pire, thereby forcing an unconditional surrender. But it didn't go as planned. Beyond Valor is one soldier's extraordinary tale of bravery, faith, and devotion. Onboard one of the B-29s, the City of Los Angeles, a phosphorus bomb detonated inside the plane. Staff Sergeant Henry E. "Red" Erwin absorbed the blast of burning phosphorus and managed to throw the still-flaming bomb overboard be­fore collapsing from the third-degree burns that covered his body. Breaking protocol, the plane diverted to a military hospital at Iwo Jima. President Truman quickly ordered that Erwin be awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest honor of the American military. Drawn from in-depth interviews with eyewitnesses and deep archival research, Beyond Valor tells the gripping story of Erwin's life--from his upbringing in the suburbs of Birmingham, Alabama to his enduring commitment to supporting veterans. Beyond Valor gives you a front-row seat to Erwin's amazing life and legacy. Along the way, you'll learn: How Erwin's childhood in Birmingham shaped his faith and his family How a split-second decision changed the course of his life The countless ways that Erwin chose to give back to his fellow veterans after he returned home Beyond Valor is about more than that fateful day in April 1945. It's a story of one man's journey from the ultimate despair to a place beyond service, beyond honor, and beyond valor: a life illuminated by the light of God's love.

"Luke Collier knows his duty. A marine corps combat medic, his job is to save lives--not satisfy his own desires. Megan Trayhern is his corpsman, but the beautiful redhead can't be anything more. Megan has her own mission. While she doles out medical care in the nearby village, she's also gathering intel. ... She needs to focus--and be careful--and the growing passion she feels for Luke can only put them both at risk. Honor binds them both, but the heart gives its own orders"--P. [4] of cover.

Major Mitchell Barraka is ordered to lead a group of Italian partisans in a desperate attempt to rescue 300 Jews from the Nazis

Charlie wants a normal life, to just be one of the guys, and he thinks he's learned to balance his magical nature. He's making friends and enemies at the Naval Academy, and while he has problems, they all seem mundane in nature, but his magic has needs of its own. Needs it makes known with a vengeance when he leaves the zone to do his first tour on an aircraft carrier.Unable to reach him, the magic tries to make another warrior; first through the magical lightning that transformed them, and then the old-fashioned way. But the magic doesn¿t know how to make a baby and its attempts end in disaster.And Charlie learns actions and inactions have consequences¿And when you possess magic, those consequences can change the world.

In Beyond Valor lies the truth. In the city known as Etin, people come to be at peace and make an honest living under the queen's rule. At the edge of this city, in a tavern deep in the forest, the queen sets an appointment with one of her loyalists: Bandit Shadow, known to many for his skills in battle. His name comes hard earned, even stolen from some of his victims. This meeting produces two more knights, Exo and Strawberry, and together they hunt for the elusive Templars to help restore the kingdom to its former glory. But this journey to find the most elite of knights is anything but smooth sailing. Betrayal, love, and other obstacles must be overcome on their way to the palace of the king. Many do not want the Templars resurrected, but these brave knights would give their all, if needed, to be of service to their queen.

VALOR BEYOND MEASURE tells the story about a young boy who resists doing a homework assignment about the war. Yet, in doing this project, he discovers some undisclosed truths about his elderly grandfather. What he learns from his assignment not only provides insights into the gentleman's life previously unknown to other members of his family but also affects the boy's life profoundly as well. As a result, they are treated to an exciting saga about his extensive and repeated acts of heroism during World War II which he reveals for the first time in more than sixty years. This tale goes beyond relating a story of extraordinary courage. It delves into the internal conflicts faced by a warrior who finds himself thrust into harm's way on an almost continual basis. Furthermore, it deals with the way in which he keeps his almost debilitating fear from interfering with his pursuit of duty, honor, and gallantry.