Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Songs for heroes unsung, May 25, 2006
Having read "Home of the Brave" I'd categorize the book as an essential component to any complete study of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. The stories of the men and women contained in those pages should be well known. They are far more representative of the caliber of my fellow Iraq war veterans than most of those whose names have unfortunately become household words - fixed forever with the places (Abu Ghraib) they made notorious. Regarding the Publisher's Weekly review above, "The fault lies with the liberal media, they add..." But Hall and Weinberger aren't alone in this criticism. The New York Times has acknowledged the same shortfall in coverage. (Though it's only fair to note that local papers do a wonderful job of covering the stories of heroes - and aren't afraid to call them heroes. But the review above brings an entirely different tone to the debate - sneering at the "breathless prose" used to describe those who "believe absolutely that America's cause ("defending freedom") is just". "Readers searching for a deeper understanding of the war will end up no wiser" - true, if "deeper understanding" is code for validation of their own misconceptions. This is exactly the sort of book that people seeking a full understanding of the war should read - along with many others that deal with other specifics - and I'm curious as to why Publisher's Weekly seems so frightened by the prospect that they might. It's no surprise that the media will fixate on their own brief mention in this book, but those who actually read it will discover it's about heroes - not reporters.
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24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nineteen Unforgettable Heroes, May 24, 2006
I've mentioned to all of my friends and family, that Home of the Brave: Honoring the Unsung Heroes in the War on Terror is a must read. Liberal critics will hate it, but people that support our troops and that want to know about the good that our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines are doing will absolutely love this book. In fact, many of the heroes in Home of the Brave will be known to readers of MilBlogs. There are nineteen heroes featured by Cap Weinberger and Wyn Hall. They represent all services and are among the highest decorated individuals from the War on Terror. Right out of the gate, Home of the Brave talks about the heroism of Captain Brian Chontosh, featured before on Blackfive.net, whose Marine team slid into a trench full of Iraqi Soldiers during the invasion, using enemy weapons after they ran out of ammo. Rafael Peralta is featured in the book. Peralta, a Mexican immigrant who enlisted in the Marines, was hit by enemy fire and then used his body to absorb the blast of an enemy grenade to save his fellow Marines. And Sergeant Leigh Ann Hester, the first woman to receive the Silver Star since WWII, is included too. Cap Weinberger and Wynton Hall do more than just retell these tales of heroism, they interview the survivors of the engagements and their family and friends, and they put humanity into words like valor and courage... If you are regular visitor of MilBlogs or you just want to know more about the heroes from the War on Terror, you will love Home of the Brave.
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22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Read, May 19, 2006
As the wife of a deployed soldier, I'm often dismayed by the media coverage of the War on Terror, which is long on violence and short on reality. Home of the Brave gives us a chance to turn our attention to the the exceptional heroism, bravery and courage of our troops who are putting their lives on the line each and every day to defend freedom worldwide. The stories of these nineteen heroes are nothing short of amazing. This book is written in such a powerful fashion that I felt as if I were on the battlefield alongside our troops. After you read this book, you will be left with a sense of pride that we have such incredible men and women in our Armed Forces. Men and women who represent the finest that America has to offer. Sean Hannity says this book is one of the most important books written on the War on Terror. I couldn't agree more. Most of us have been clamoring for more literature like Home of the Brave. It's long overdue, but now we have it. Do yourself a favor, buy a copy of Home of the Brave, and tell your friends about it. I feel very lucky to have "met" nineteen heroes, and I thank Wynton Hall (and the late Casper Weinberger) for giving me the opportunity.
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