The Navy Cross: Extraordinary Heroism in Iraq, Afghanistan and Other Conflicts (Hardcover)

~ James E. Wise; Scott Baron (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This collection of profiles in courage highlights the Sailors and Marines awarded the U.S. Navy's highest honor for valor, the Navy Cross. It is the first book to focus on the stories of those recognized for their heroic actions while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan--twenty-one in all, including a Marine sergeant who received his Cross on 19 January 2007. Unknown to most, they have been honored for putting their lives on the line to save others. The book also includes selected profiles of Navy Cross recipients from previous wars whose stories stand out as the best among an elite group. Coauthors James E. Wise and Scott Baron, whose previous collaboration cited exceptional women at war, wrote this book to call attention to those who have done extraordinary things to ensure the freedom of future generations of Americans.

The descriptions of bravery read like the scripts of Hollywood action films, but these are actual events about real people. Readers will be awestruck by the incredible courage shown by the Marines and Sailors during hellish firefights against the insurgents in Baghdad, Nasiriyah, Fallujah, Mazar-i-Sharif, and Kandahar. Yet the recipients remain modest about their actions, saying they were merely doing their duty as would any other Marine or Sailor. Among the recent Navy Cross recipients included are Chief Petty Officers Stephen Bass and Britt Slabinski, both Navy SEALs, and the "Fallujah Seven" Marines: Capt. Brent Morel, Sgt. Willie L. Copeland III, 1st Sgt. Bradley Kasal, Sgt. Robert J. Mitchell, Cpl. Jeremiah Workman, Sgt. Jarrett Kraft, and Lance Cpl. Dominic D. Esquibel.

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: The Final Journey, among many others. He lives in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

SCOTT BARON, a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War and former law enforcement officer in California, is the author of They Also Served: Military Biographies of Uncommon Americans and coauthor, with Wise, of Women at War: Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Conflicts.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Naval Institute Press (October 7, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591149452
• ISBN-13: 978-1591149453
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #910,598 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 Stories of Brave Americans in Battle!, December 13, 2007

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

The Navy Cross is second only to the Medal of Honor. The medal has been awarded over 6,900 times since 1919 for "extraordinary heroism not justifying an award of the Medal of Honor." The combat exploits of 41 winners of the Navy Cross are detailed in this new book from the Naval Institute Press.

Of the 41 winners covered by authors James Wise and Scott Baron, 20 won their awards in Afghanistan and Iraq, six in Vietnam, three in Korea, 10 in World War II and two in World War I. Curiously the authors present the stories in a reverse chronological order, starting off with the Iraq/Afghanistan awards. I don't understand the reason for this arrangement though Wise and Baron, in their preface, make the point that the troops fighting in those areas weren't receiving the media coverage they deserved. Whatever the reason, I found the reverse chronological approach made for a clumsy read.

Though some of the winners, such as 'Chesty' Puller, Roy Davenport, 'Manila John' Basilone and 'Pappy' Boyington, have been previously chronicled, many others have received little coverage, an injustice the book rectifies. Having said that, I wonder why the book relates the actions of all seven troopers who won Navy Crosses in Fallujah but only details the exploits of six of the nine men who won medals at Wake Island.

Recommended...with a few reservations.

4.0 out of 5 stars The Navy Cross, August 11, 2009

By	Jen Stringfellow "Jen Stringfellow" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a well written and easy to read account of the extrodanary young men that went above and beyond the call of duty while in harms way.

The accounts of heroism will touch your heart and give you a feeling of connection to these young soldiers. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the military.