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

Allen Mikaelian (Author), Mike Wallace (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 14, 2003 | ISBN-10: 0786885769 | ISBN-13: 978-0786885763

"We Americans have gone off to war in a spirit of optimism that had little to do with the reality we would soon have to face." --Mike Wallace

Medal of Honor portrays 11 recipients of this sacred U.S. military decoration, from the Civil War through the Vietnam War, and examines what drove them to go so far above and beyond the call of duty. Among the stories is an account of the life of the only woman ever to receive the medal; of an officer who staged a daring escape from a German POW camp in WWI; and of a soldier from the legendary WWII Japanese-American 442nd, who went on to earn the medal in the Korean War. The book tells not only of astonishing military actions but also, significantly, of the recipients' lives before and after their wartime experiences.

In his moving commentary, acclaimed 60 Minutes reporter Mike Wallace places these actions in historical context and relates his own personal experiences in WWII and as a journalist covering recent wars. He also meditates on the meaning of courage and shows what we can all learn from these extraordinary individuals.

"The President may award, and present in the name of Congress, a medal of honor of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to a person who, while a member of the Army, Navy, or Air Force distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty." --The United States Congress

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this lively account, Mikaelian traces the history of the Medal of Honor, the highest military distinction awarded in the United States, and the lives of several of those who have earned it in the years since it was established by President Lincoln during the Civil War. He focuses not only on their heroic feats, but also on what became of them in the wake of their deeds and the honor the medal earned them. This recording is augmented by readings by Wallace, who tells of his own wartime experiences and supplies historical context with the same timbre and excellent gift for timing and dramatic buildup that many will recognize from his work on 60 Minutes. The stories themselves are read by a rotation of three other readers, although Chase, Culp and McLarty have very similar voices and approaches. While their performances get the job done, they somewhat pale when juxtaposed with that of Wallace, and their tone and style occasionally bring to mind educational films from high school history class. The production that accompanies them is pronounced, but not over the top. It doesn't include bugle calls or the muffled clap of cavalry, but it doesn't shy away from the occasional drum roll or a few bars of "When Johnny Came Marching Home," either. Above all, though, the engrossing stories themselves will keep listeners engaged if not fascinated. Based on the Hyperion hardcover.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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, D.C., and serves as a board member and adult literacy tutor with the Washington Literacy Council. Mike Wallace is a leading force behind CBS News' 60 Minutes, which has ranked among Nielsen's top 10 highest-rated primetime programs for 23 consecutive seasons -- a record no other program has approached. The winner of 19 Emmy Awards and countless other professional honors, he lives in New York City.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (May 14, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786885769
• ISBN-13: 978-0786885763
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,129,436 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.