Courage in Combat: Stories By and About Recipients of the Nation’s Highest Decorations

by Joseph Galloway (Foreword), Richard Rinaldo (Editor)

Published in conjunction with the Legion of Valor of the United States of America, this book tells stories about our military heroes from the Civil War onward. They relate personal accounts and reflections on combat and war from members of the Legion of Valor of the Unites States of America, Inc. and their friends. Courage in Combat explores the concept of courage through aspects of the lives, thoughts, and actions of this elite group. They are recipients of the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, and the Air Force Cross. Their awards are our nation’s highest military decorations, given only to one in 20,000 combatants. Among them are sergeants and generals as well as corpsmen, civilians, engineers, “grunts,” and paratroopers. There are men and women, a mess attendant, aviators, spies and POWs, a cavalry scout, candidates for sainthood, and a President of the United States.

This book also includes a short history of this unique group, America’s oldest military service organization, and an extensive list of its members, past and present.

Courage in Combat discusses the nature of courage, explores the different ways in which courage is shown, and celebrates the courage shown by these recipients, most of whom would say, “I was just doing my job.”

Table of Contents

Foreword Joseph L. Galloway
Acknowledgements
Preface
Golden Deeds

OF HEROES AND COMBAT
Heroism
Karl Marlantes, Navy Cross

Heroes of the Vietnam Generation
James Webb, Navy Cross

The Context of Courage for Infantry in Vietnam
Lieutenant Colonel Barry D. Gasdek, USA Ret., Distinguished Service Cross

Battle at Camp A Shau 1966
Bennie G. Adkins, USA, Medal of Honor

Taming the Wild West
William Frederick Cody, “Buffalo Bill,” Medal of Honor

Hit, Hit, and Hit Again
S. Donald Singelstad, Distinguished Service Cross

Days of An Inside Account of the Bloodiest Six Months of the Vietnam War
Robert L. Tonsetic, Distinguished Service Cross

To Serve, and To Sacrifice
Jared C. Monti, USA, Medal of Honor

Vietnam Letters
Daniel P. Garcia and General Barry R. McCaffrey, USA Ret., Distinguished Service Cross

Memories of Dai Do
Brigadier General William Weise, USMC Ret., Navy Cross

Combat
Lieutenant Colonel Richard J. Rinaldo, USA Ret., Distinguished Service Cross

Revenge
William E. Davis III, USNR, Navy Cross

Millett’s Charge
J. C. Bean

George S. Patton As We Knew Him
Brigadier General John C. “Doc” Bahnsen, USA Ret., Distinguished Service Cross

The Unknown Legend
Colonel Peter J. Ortiz, USMC, Navy Cross With Gold Star
Lance Corporal Benjamin Harris

Fighting on the Long, Hard Road
James Megellas, Distinguished Service Cross

Operation Red Wings
Michael P. Murphy, USN, Medal of Honor

Keep Your Boots On
Jill Jorden Spitz

Valor at Oahu
Tim Frank

The Silver Cross for Valor

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
“Gallantry and Intrepidity”
Valor Decorations in Current and Past Conflicts
Eileen Chollet

Recognizing Valor
Lieutenant Colonel Richard J. Rinaldo, USA Ret., Distinguished Service Cross

A Medal of Honor for a Vietnam-era Air Force Pilot?
Fred L. Borch

Cherishing Valiant Deeds
Honorary Member B. G. Burkett

Introduction to the Army and Navy Legion of Valor of the United States of America
Frank La Fayette Anders, Medal of Honor

FIDELITY
History of the American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.
Judy C. Campbell

Repatriation of a Hero from Korea
Lieutenant Colonel Donald C. Faith, Medal of Honor
David Vergun

America Needs the Legion of Valor
Vice Admiral J. Paul Reason

Preserving the History of Valor Awards
Honorary Member C. Douglas Sterner

Making D-Day Work
Leonard G. “Bud” Lomell, Distinguished Service Cross

America’s Greatest Female Spy of World War II
Virginia Hall, Distinguished Service Cross

The Admiral’s Legacy
Jeremiah Denton’s life and work
Commander Joseph McInerney

Leading and Inspiring Prisoners of War
Admiral James B. Stockdale, Medal of Honor

Rocky the Reactionary
Captain Humbert R. Versace, Medal of Honor
C. Douglas Sterner

Determined Assault on Hill 329
Willis Jackson, Distinguished Service Cross

Father of the Disabled American Veterans
Robert S. Marx, Distinguished Service Cross

Pioneer, Fighter, Trainer
Kurt Chew-Een Lee, Navy Cross

Six Seconds
Lieutenant General John F. Kelly, USMC

Returning Fire at Pearl Harbor
Doris Miller, Navy Cross

The Roosevelt Medals of Honor

Fighter Ace and Prisoner of War
Robinson Risner, Air Force Cross

Taking Charge of Tough Jobs
Harvey C. Barnum, Jr., Medal of Honor

Ranger Hall of Fame
Richard D. “Tex” Wandke, Distinguished Service Cross
Robert L. Tonsetic, Distinguished Service Cross

Volunteers at the “Home of the Legion of Valor”

FORTITUDE
Medics, Medevacs, and Chaplains
Lieutenant Colonel Richard J. Rinaldo, USA Ret., Distinguished Service Cross

Combat Medic’s Requiem
John J. Duffy, Distinguished Service Cross

Incredible Medevacs in Vietnam
Michael J. Novosel, Medal of Honor
Peter Dorland

Army Chaplain Who Saved Prisoners of War
Father Emil J. Kapuan, Medal of H...

Genres: History

400 pages, Paperback

Published March 2, 2017

Reviews

[Selena]

Truly amazing stories of courage! Everyone should read this book. This book is a once in a lifetime chance to see how people from all over the world have risked their lives for us to keep America safe. Such beautifully detailed stories. Truly a work of art! I hope you do another Courage In Combat book 2.

[patrick Lorelli]

This is a wonderful book from the introduction to the end. Some of the stories that are in the book I have the actual book they were from. I did know most of the stories. I will say growing up in a military town, home and going to VFW meetings when I was young just made me remember a time of my grandfather and his WWI men, my father and his WWII and Korean stories along with my uncle in Vietnam. A good book that honors all men and women across the branches and in this time makes you realize what has been sacrificed over hundreds of years for your freedoms. An excellent book and I hope many people will take the time and discover these stories inside of ordinary people doing extraordinary things to save others. Very much worth the time. I got this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com

[Karla]

interesting read

[Tena]

I won this ARC in a GOODREAD giveaway - Courage in Combat: Stories By and About Recipients of the Nation's Highest Decorations by Richard J. Rinaldo - Thanks to Casemate Publishers for this book! It was an honor to be allowed to preview it! The book description may tell it all but READING IT was so much more!