American War Heroes, Encyclopedia of (Facts on File Library of American History) [Hardcover]

Bruce H. Norton (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This volume includes almost 400 entries featuring men and women who fought and, in most cases, died during military service to the U.S. Many of the individuals profiled were awarded one or more citations for their heroic achievements, for example, the Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, and the Bronze Star. An introduction, which describes the criteria the editor used for selecting entrants, is followed by a section explaining the different citations. Coverage is extensive, going back to 1675 and extending to the present.

The entries are arranged alphabetically by the individual's last name and include rank, branch of service, and the circumstances resulting in citations. All branches of the military (the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force) are included, as well as Native Americans and Confederate soldiers. Most of the entries are a few paragraphs in length. Some of the records consist solely of a verbatim quoting of the actual citation. Each entry concludes with a section citing source material and additional reading. A few entries are accompanied by photographs.

The encyclopedia winds up with an appendix of American war statistics, a bibliography of print and online sources, and a general index. An index providing access to entrants by war or battle would have been useful for students. Still, this encyclopedia would be a valuable addition for public, high-school, and academic libraries, as there is nothing else quite so extensive. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Checkmark Books (September 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816046379
• ISBN-13: 978-0816046379
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,756,043 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "wake-up" call for American youth!, November 11, 2002

By 

Bradford Wiley (Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: American War Heroes, Encyclopedia of (Facts on File Library of American History) (Hardcover)

There is little doubt that the United States will soon be engaged in a land, sea and air war with Iraq. The current operational information given to us civilians will have a "green light" for action by mid-March. I would hope that anyone giving serious thought to serving in our Armed Forces would take the time to read what it takes, in the form of personal courage to being an infantry-man or Marine.
This encyclopedia is full of the descriptive citations which detail hazardous situations. The thought of having to sacrifice
one's life to save fellow soldiers is vividly described in this fine work.
I would hope that this book is bought and circulated through every high-school library in the USA. It not only describes what it takes to become a "war hero," but it transcends four hundred years of American guts and glory on the battlefield.
There are numerous accounts of individual heroism that literally bring tears to my eyes. The price these men and women have paid is unbelievable.
I, for one, am glad the Major Norton has taken the time to remind us of exactly what it takes to become an American war hero.
I highly recommend this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At a Time When We Need to Learn About Heroes!, October 10, 2002

By 

Bradford Wiley (Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: American War Heroes, Encyclopedia of (Facts on File Library of American History) (Hardcover)

I have just finished re-reading Encyclopedia of American War Heroes, by Major Bruce Norton, USMC, (Ret.), and I must say that I will read it again and again. This book describes the heroic deeds of American men and women in mortal combat from 1600- to present. Some names will not be new, but there are many individuals cited who are not generally known to the American public. This is the kind of book that will be on every American veteran's coffee-table for years to come. While we have been inundated, lately, with images of "heroes" (police and fire-fighters) surrounding the 9/11 trajedy, this work covers 300 years of heroic achievement by our Nation's military. Many of the citations will make the reader pause and think about what it takes to be a "real" hero. The incredible exploits of men such as Chamberlain, Coffman, Day, Fox, Millett, Paige and Williams will bring tears to eyes of any proud American veteran. Major Norton has done a valuable service in creating this marvelous book. I hope that there will be additional volumes to come. A great and valuable book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "Must Have" for every American Veteran!, September 12, 2002

By 

Bradford Wiley (Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: American War Heroes, Encyclopedia of (Facts on File Library of American History) (Hardcover)

I have just finished reading Encyclopedia of American War Heroes and I'm very pleased to have bought it. Major Norton has done a great job in presenting a "historic sampling" of many of our Nation's military heroes. With approximately 400 entires and numerous photographs to support the work, this reference book will be a welcomed addition to any military reader's library. The names and faces of many selected heroes are new and interesting. Major Norton has produced a "fair-share" of soldiers, sailors, Marines and Airman. The work covers entries from as early as 1650 through 2001. Additionally, those entries include, female Union/Confederate spies, Native Americans, Mexican-Americans, Hispanics and African-Americans.
While we have been inundated, lately, by media coverage of recent "heroes;" those NYPD, FDNY and Emergency Medical Technicians who were killed on 9/11, this encyclopedia is a refreshing addition and a historical tribute to those brave men and women who dared to do great things on our Nation's battlefields during the last 400 years. These military men and women are the real "role models" that the youth of America should recognize and salute.
I know that this reference book will be well-received, as it should make every veteran proud of his or her military heritage. Another well-written and well-researched book by Major 'Doc' Norton, USMC. Well done!