Medal of Honor: Profiles of America's Military Heroes from the Civil War to the Present [Hardcover]

Allen Mikaelian (Author), Mike Wallace (Introduction)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0786866624 | ISBN-13: 978-0786866625 | Publication Date: May 15, 2002 | Edition: 1st

The Congressional Medal of Honor is Americas highest military award. In this remarkable work, the first of its kind, acclaimed 60 Minutes reporter Mike Wallace looks at the lives of the recipients of the medal and explores what it is that drove them to go so far above and beyond the call of duty. Wallace examines not only their extraordinary feats in battle (plunging into heavy fire, throwing themselves on live grenades, attacking enemy regiments single-handed), but also their lives before and after. Throughout the book, and particularly in his moving introduction, he meditates on the meaning of courage and shows what we can learn from the lives of those who perform amazing acts of selflessness and bravery.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Congressional Medal of Honor, established during the Civil War, pays tribute to a person who has "distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty." Washington Literacy Council board member Mikaelian spotlights 11 of the 3,456 soldiers who have received this legendary honor, while 60 Minutes' Wallace supplies historical context with his introduction and brief, general commentaries on various U.S. wars. The book's lively vignettes not only describe the battles faced by the men (and one woman), but also trace the ways the Medal affected their later lives. The book profiles Hiroshi Miyamura, a Korean War marine who fought back Chinese soldiers when he and fellow troops were isolated in a mountain pass on the Chinese-Korean border; as well as Dwight Johnson, a celebrated Vietnam vet deeply conflicted about his role in the war and especially about his recruitment of fellow young black men into the armed services. The practice of Mary Edwards Walker, a Civil War doctor who is the only woman to have won the Medal, fell into controversy after the war, leading the government to revoke her Medal toward the end of her life when she was an isolated eccentric and, literally, a sideshow curiosity. This absorbing set of accounts should appeal to military history enthusiasts and anyone interested in the heroic exploits of ordinary Americans.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Allen Mikaelian received his M.A. in history, with distinction, from the University of London's Institute for English Studies. He lives in Washington, DC, and serves as a board member and adult literacy tutor with the Washington Literacy Council.

Mike Wallace is a leading force behind CBS's "60 Minutes," which has ranked among Nielsen's top ten highest-rated primetime programs for twenty-three consecutive seasons -- a record no other program has approached. He has won nineteen Emmy awards and countless other professional honors. He lives in New York City.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 300 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; 1st edition (May 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786866624
• ISBN-13: 978-0786866625
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #914,227 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tales of Valor, August 28, 2002

By 

Jack D. Brownlee "kruzkontrol" (Tampa, Florida USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Medal of Honor: Profiles of America's Military Heroes from the Civil War to the Present (Hardcover)

A fascinating collection of stories based around 11 individual Americans prestigiously awarded the Medal of Honor. This is a light and fast paced read. Each story is adequately detailed and very interesting.

I thought the book had enough merits on it's own without Mike Wallace's commentary. In other words...Mike's contribution added no value to the book in my opinion. I would like to see the author write another book covering another dozen or so MOH awardees in a future volume, and perhaps follow up with additional volumes after that.

J.B.Kruz
KruzKontrol

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A MIRROR OF LIFE FOR THE FEW, September 25, 2002

By 

Brady L. Buchanan (Henderson, Nevada United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Medal of Honor: Profiles of America's Military Heroes from the Civil War to the Present (Hardcover)

Like everything else in life, this book tells about sad times and happy times due to the fact that a military man was awarded the highest honor for valor this nation offers. This book gives descriptions of the battle event that was reponsible for the medal for a number of veterans from the Civil War through Viet Nam. The writing is interesting and points out what some men are capable of when their back is against the wall. If you like war stories, this is a winner.

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A major disappointment, July 15, 2002

By 

Penelope A. Blake (Roscoe, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Medal of Honor: Profiles of America's Military Heroes from the Civil War to the Present (Hardcover)

I couldn't wait to read this book. Any book which honors the actions of our veterans is a "must read" for me. But I was greatly disappointed by this work. While I enjoyed Mr. Wallace's introductory essays, I was confused by the politically correct agenda he presented in the selection of some those who earned the Medal of Honor. Also, Mr. Mikaelian's prose is awkward and laborious: I didn't think it possible to take such incredible acts of bravery and make them almost tedious, but this is exactly what happens here. Spend your valuable time reading well-written books like "Flags of Our Fathers" or "Ghost Soldiers," which give proper homage to the legacy of American heroes. Mikaelian's book does not do them justice.