Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
George Wahlen is the personficiation of what a genuine Hero is., April 13, 2006
Afber purchasing many books on Medal Of Honor holders and finding nothing written about George Wahlen, I am extremely joyed that his life's story has been committed to print. The generations of people born after "The Greatest Generation" will now have a history of the men and women who won WW II. Mr. Wahlen had a deep fear that he would not be able to perform his duties as a Navy Medic assigned to the Marine Corps and save his buddies lives. His refusal to be evacuated off Iwo Jima after each of 2 times he was wounded because he felt he was still mission capable and the lives of his buddies depended on him. Only after his 3rd wound and breaking his leg, and committing the heroic action of dragging himself to a wounded marine on the battle field, under fire, administering aid, and bringing the wounded man back to the safety of friendly forces did he allow himself to be evacuated. He felt he "Was just doing his job...." Mr. Wahlen is to be held in the highest esteem for his service to his Marine buddies, the Navy, and the USA. This book is a "Must Read" to understand the committment he had made to himself and his buddies.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
George E. Wahlen is a bonafide American hero, April 10, 2006
George E. Wahlen is a bonafide American hero. This book documents his life, especially his heroic actions as a Navy Corpsman assigned to support a platoon of Marines in the horrendous battle for the strategically important island of Iwo Jima in WWII. George served as a civil servant in the Army Air Corps, As a Navy Corpsman with the Marines, as an Army enlisted man and officer in Korea and Vietnam. After retirement in 1969 from the Army, he served as a civil servant with the Veterans Administration.
The author has chronicled George's modesty and his life, focusing especially on his training and battle actions, where he spent two weeks under heavy enemy fire while tending to his Marines' wounds and just holding and comforting those who were breathing their last. He was wounded multiple times but refused to be evacuated. Even when his leg was broken, he gave himself morphine and crawled 50 yards in front of friendly lines to bring back another wounded Marine. Senators Dole and Hatch's eloquent words demonstrate the degree of honor attributed to this quiet man. The author uses a matter of fact style that both chronicles and explains the forces and context which shaped George's life and actions. Military history buffs and those interested in Americans who have especially meaningful lives will love this book. We rated it five hearts.
Heartland Reviews
http://www.heartlandreviews.com/NonFiction.html
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wow... Could George Wahlen be the greatest living American Veteran?, August 15, 2006
With just a small note in the Epilogue, it was noted that George E. Wahlen is the "Quintessential American Veteran." Few people may notice (see page 207... because not everyone reads the epilogue) where it states that Mr. Wahlen served tours of duty in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. He also served all four branches of the military (He worked as an aircraft mechanic for the Army Air Force, was drafted into the Navy and became a corpsman, volunteered for combat with the Marines, and after WWII, re-enlisted in the Army and retired as a Major), He survived Iwo Jima, what many agree is the greatest battle of the modern era. (It was the only battle of WWII where the U.S. suffered more casualties than the enemy). To top it off, he is the recipient two Purple Hearts, and the Medal of Honor, the highest award this country can bestow on any American. Could any veteran make such a claim? I doubt it.
This book is well done and compelling. I read it in 17 hours straight, and just couldn't put it down. It is well illustrated with many unique archival photographs, many that I've never seen in any other battle account. I highly recommend it!
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