Silver Star: Navy and Marine Corps Gallantry in Iraq, Afghanistan and Other Conflicts (Blue Jacket Bks) (Hardcover)

~ James E. Wise Jr. (Author), Scott Baron (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The authors have compiled this stirring collection of profiles in courage to honor the Sailors and Marines awarded the Silver Star by the U.S. Navy while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. It documents the extraordinary, award-winning actions of young American men in the war against global terrorism. A companion volume to The Navy Cross (Naval Institute Press, 2007), this book also includes selected profiles of Silver Star recipients from previous wars whose stories stand out as the best among an elite group. It is the first book to recognize and preserve for future generations the selfless dedication shown by Silver Star medalists in their fight for freedom.

About the Author

JAMES E. WISE Jr., a former naval aviator, intelligence officer, and Vietnam veteran, retired from the U.S. Navy as a captain. His books include Stars in Blue and U-505, among many others. He lives in the Washington, D.C., area.

SCOTT BARON, a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War and former law enforcement officer in California, is the coauthor, with Wise, of The Navy Cross and Women at War.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Naval Institute Press (November 14, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591149304
• ISBN-13: 978-1591149309
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #552,183 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars New Stories of Brave Americans in Battle!, December 8, 2008

By	Michael OConnor "Wordsmith" (Wausau, WI USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Having chronicled USN/USMC winners of the Navy Cross, James Wise and Scott Baron shift focus to those Marines and sailors awarded the Silver Star in Afghanistan, Irag, Vietnam, Korea and World War II. Ninety-seven men - 24 sailors and 73 Marines - have been awarded Silver Stars in Iraq and Afghanistan as of March 2008. THE SILVER STAR recounts the exploits of 75 of those individuals and ten from the earlier conflicts.

As with their NAVY CROSS volume, Wise and Baron arrange the accounts alphabetically within each conflict. After presenting the official citation, they then recreate the action in narrative form. In some cases, several SS awards were made for the same action, 'Operation Phantom Fury,' for example, resulting in 10 awards. The most widely-known Afghanistan/Iraq SS winner is probably tank commander GySgt Nick Popaditch, who recently penned his autobiography ONCE A MARINE. Notables from the previous wars include Vietnam MoH-winner Jimmie Howard and WWII's FDR, Jr. and John Hamilton (aka actor Sterling Hayden).

Truth be told, the Iraq/Afghanistan accounts, which make up 70% of the book, have a depressing sameness to them; most being hellacious, in-your-face ambushes in narrow streets marked by dozens of RPG rounds and storms of AK fire. Time after time, superb training coupled with personal bravery and initiative made the difference.

While THE SILVER STAR is an inspiring chronicle of brave men in action, the Iraq sections leave you with a sense of sadness; all that bravery and suffering in an unnecessary war! And I still think the reverse chronological arrangement, first seen in NAVY CROSS, makes for a clumsy read. Recommended.