Customer Reviews

Home of the Brave: Honoring the Unsung Heroes in the War on Terror

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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.

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.

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.

Cap Weinberger, with Wynton Hall, have left us with the most amazing tribute in honor of those who are protecting our freedom today. Why are we not hearing these stories in the media? I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to hear how the wars with the Iraqi Islamofacist and the Afghanistan Taliban was really fought and won. Every student, young and old, should read this. I have never been more proud of our armed services.

You hear a lot about the greatest generation and their exploits during World War II. This book offers a opportunity for the reader to learn about the incredible exploits of THIS greatest generation. I highly recommend it for historians, patriots, and young people.

This was a great tribute to the Men and Women who protect our Country. Finally, a book telling us what the media has failed to tell us. I would encourage everyone to read this book.

Every American needs to read this book. We can not come close to realize the sacrifices that the Men and Women of our Armed Forces make so that we can enjoy the freedoms of this great country. This book tells the story of America's true heroes. This is a must read!!!!!

My review is based on the review of David Forsmark which appeared in Frontpage.Com. In it he lists the nineteen heroes whose stories are the essence of the book. He points out how little space and attention have been given to the lives and stories of these people who risked and in some cases gave all for their country and for freedom.
I quote what Forsmark has to say about two of the greatest heroes of the Iraqi war.

"The authors save the highest praise for Army Sgt. Paul Ray Smith, the only Medal of Honor recipient since the Sept. 11 terror attacks, and Medal of Honor nominee Marine Sgt. Rafael Peralta, both of whom gave their lives to protect their comrades.
Smith's heroic last act was reminiscent of Audie Murphy -- he deliberately exposed himself to enemy fire to man a machine gun position and defend his unit from attack. And Peralta, who after being severely wounded in a firefight in Fallujah, threw himself onto a grenade, giving his life for his friends."

Every free person who is not on the frontlines owes a debt of gratitude to these heroes.

Discover some of the inspiring stories of true American heroes.

As a retired Officer of Marines and a senior editor of a defense-related online magazine, I found this book to be an incredibly inspiring tribute to nineteen, virtually unknown, brave men and women of our Armed Forces who have volunteered to go in harm's way in our war on terror. I give this book my highest possible recommendation for it speaks volumes about the honor, courage, and commitment of today's military in these most trying times.

Two quotes from the book were `pregnant with meaning' to me, and together they clearly described the value and importance of the authors' efforts:

"It would, of course, be impossible to write about all of the extraordinary members of our armed forces. But the heroism and valor of the nineteen individuals we write about - some of the most highly decorated in the U.S. military - are emblematic of the spirit that pulses through all who have ever worn the uniform. Their jaw-dropping acts of bravery represent but a fraction of the heroic actions that have been performed in the War on Terror. And yet, sadly, most Americans have never even heard their names or those of whose lives they saved."

"But after years of watching and reading coverage of the War on Terror, many citizens, including us, have been awestruck by the lack of balance and objectivity exercised by many American reporters and news executives. The dearth of hopeful or heroic stories reported has given viewers a lopsided perspective. It seems many in the media are willing to highlight only the actions of service members who can be portrayed as either victims or villains."

This book is a great testament to the love, respect, and support our troops deserve.