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Unknown Valor: A Story of Family, Courage, and Sacrifice from Pearl Harbor to Iwo Jima – The Uncommon Valor of Marines in the Brutal Pacific Theater of World War II
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER. In honor of the 75th Anniversary of one of the most critical battles of World War II, the popular primetime Fox News anchor of The Story with Martha MacCallum pays tribute to the heroic men who sacrificed everything at Iwo Jima to defeat the Armed Forces of Emperor Hirohito—among them, a member of her own family, Harry Gray. Admiral Chester Nimitz spoke of the “uncommon valor” of the men who fought on Iwo Jima, one of the bloodiest and most brutal battles of World War II. In thirty-six grueling days, nearly 7,000 Marines were killed and 22,000 were wounded.
Martha MacCallum takes us from Pearl Harbor to Iwo Jima through the lives of these men of valor, among them Harry Gray, a member of her own family. In Unknown Valor , she weaves their stories—from Boston, Massachusetts, to Gulfport, Mississippi, as told through letters and recollections—into the larger history of what American military leaders rightly saw as an eventual showdown in the Pacific with Japan. In a relentless push through the jungles of Guadalcanal, over the coral reefs of Tarawa, past the bloody ridge of Peleliu, against the banzai charges of Guam, and to the cliffs of Saipan, these men were on a path that ultimately led to the black sands of Iwo Jima, the doorstep of the Japanese Empire. Meticulously researched, heart-wrenching, and illuminating, Unknown Valor reveals the sacrifices of ordinary Marines who saved the world from tyranny and left indelible marks on those back home who loved them.
Martha MacCallum takes us from Pearl Harbor to Iwo Jima through the lives of these men of valor, among them Harry Gray, a member of her own family. In Unknown Valor , she weaves their stories—from Boston, Massachusetts, to Gulfport, Mississippi, as told through letters and recollections—into the larger history of what American military leaders rightly saw as an eventual showdown in the Pacific with Japan. In a relentless push through the jungles of Guadalcanal, over the coral reefs of Tarawa, past the bloody ridge of Peleliu, against the banzai charges of Guam, and to the cliffs of Saipan, these men were on a path that ultimately led to the black sands of Iwo Jima, the doorstep of the Japanese Empire. Meticulously researched, heart-wrenching, and illuminating, Unknown Valor reveals the sacrifices of ordinary Marines who saved the world from tyranny and left indelible marks on those back home who loved them.
336 pages, Paperback
First published February 25, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews
May 26, 2020
This well-written and powerful book parallels World War II and the lives of several American families whose sons went to war to defend our country. The history of the Pacific and of Europe in WWII is excellent and provides the backdrop for the poignant look at the lives of Americans as they settle and recover from the first World War and the advances of Hitler and Japan as they invade Europe and the Pacific.
One of the men in this book was Martha's Uncle Harry, who died at Iwo Jima. (Iwo Jima is highly recognizable from the famous photo of soldiers propping up the American flag).
The attack on Pearl Harbor that thrust America into war was so descriptive, I had tears in my eyes and felt the terror of the men trapped in the water under the hull of one of the ships prior to being rescued.
I had saved this book to read around Memorial Day but it I highly recommend it to everyone to gain a sense of what life was like during this time period and for the excellent history lessons.
One of the men in this book was Martha's Uncle Harry, who died at Iwo Jima. (Iwo Jima is highly recognizable from the famous photo of soldiers propping up the American flag).
The attack on Pearl Harbor that thrust America into war was so descriptive, I had tears in my eyes and felt the terror of the men trapped in the water under the hull of one of the ships prior to being rescued.
I had saved this book to read around Memorial Day but it I highly recommend it to everyone to gain a sense of what life was like during this time period and for the excellent history lessons.
July 30, 2020
Phenomenal. I have huge respect for all out military and service men, but this book took it to a whole new level. Its a compilation of stories that all come together regarding the battles of WWII. It follows a few good men and their brave acts and the cost of war. I can't say enough about this one. The Battle of Tarawa was one of the most poignant parts and seriously made me stop to think about everything that happened. I will not forget this book and hope more people check it out.
July 8, 2020
Highest accolades to Martha MacCallum for writing this book. It is a wonderful inspiring work about courage, honor and patriotism. For those who might not know a lot of detail about the Pacific War, it also happens to have a lot of very good information about the battles and the men who fought them. What struck me the most is that many of the men who fought this war, and particularly Iwo Jima, were 18 year old boys who were heroes who saved our civilization. Just think about that the next time you meet or speak to an 18 year old teenager.
February 3, 2020
Unknown Valor beautifully weaves the heartbreak and the reality of war in the Pacific - all while reminding us that the boys we sent away really were just boys. This book makes the history tangible and relatable, bringing the reader into the 1940s to understand what it was like for those at home to send their boys off to a faraway land. I recommend Unknown Valor to anyone looking to learn about these young heroes, Iwo Jima, and a time period in our nation's history that's not as far away as it may seem.
June 6, 2020
The epilogue and letters of soldiers who died shortly after mailing the letters is emotionally shattering.
March 15, 2020
Well-Researched, Well-Written, And Very Interesting Especially The Last Third Of The Book And Epilogue!
Martha MacCallum does an excellent job in Unknown Valor in detailing the combined heroic efforts of the US military following the attack on Pearl Harbor and through many of the major land, sea and air battles engaged in in various Pacific Islands, concluding in Iwo Jima, in order to defeat Japan during WWII.
I found these battles to be very well researched, detailed and informative; although several times during the first 60%-70% of the book, I was hoping to be provided with more personal information about MacCallum’s Uncle Harry, who joined the Marines at age 18, and of his friends he enlisted with or met during basic training or during being transported to the Pacific. The desire for this type of personal information was exceptionally well-fulfilled, during the last 30%-40% of Unknown Valor, and especially in the Epilogue. I don’t think any reader will finish this book without feeling the tremendous personal sacrifices made by MacCallum’s Uncle Harry and his fellow Marines during this time period; not to mention the life-long impact their experiences and relationships had on the rest of their lives among those who made it home.
4 1/2 stars rounded up to 5 stars and highly recommended to WWII afficionados.
Martha MacCallum does an excellent job in Unknown Valor in detailing the combined heroic efforts of the US military following the attack on Pearl Harbor and through many of the major land, sea and air battles engaged in in various Pacific Islands, concluding in Iwo Jima, in order to defeat Japan during WWII.
I found these battles to be very well researched, detailed and informative; although several times during the first 60%-70% of the book, I was hoping to be provided with more personal information about MacCallum’s Uncle Harry, who joined the Marines at age 18, and of his friends he enlisted with or met during basic training or during being transported to the Pacific. The desire for this type of personal information was exceptionally well-fulfilled, during the last 30%-40% of Unknown Valor, and especially in the Epilogue. I don’t think any reader will finish this book without feeling the tremendous personal sacrifices made by MacCallum’s Uncle Harry and his fellow Marines during this time period; not to mention the life-long impact their experiences and relationships had on the rest of their lives among those who made it home.
4 1/2 stars rounded up to 5 stars and highly recommended to WWII afficionados.
September 12, 2020
Ordinary, I thought, and I'm quitting after five chapters.
Poor timing on this one. I recently read two other books from a similar genre: Hampton Sides' effort on the Chosen Reservoir in Korea and Lynn Vincent's "Indianapolis". Those were both excellent, and this one falls well short of that high level.
I'm not good enough to explain the difference. With the other two, they did a better job of bringing the story to life. And maybe this one is too broad. At times you feel like you're working your way through a high school textbook.
Author chose to read her own book for the audio version, and she's not a top-level reader. But I wouldn't have liked the written version either.
I'm not trying to be catty or disrespectful with the low rating. I appreciate all of the hours and works the author poured into this (including flying to Iwo Jima). The intention with the low grade is to inform others that if they're like me, this isn't a book you should bother with.
Poor timing on this one. I recently read two other books from a similar genre: Hampton Sides' effort on the Chosen Reservoir in Korea and Lynn Vincent's "Indianapolis". Those were both excellent, and this one falls well short of that high level.
I'm not good enough to explain the difference. With the other two, they did a better job of bringing the story to life. And maybe this one is too broad. At times you feel like you're working your way through a high school textbook.
Author chose to read her own book for the audio version, and she's not a top-level reader. But I wouldn't have liked the written version either.
I'm not trying to be catty or disrespectful with the low rating. I appreciate all of the hours and works the author poured into this (including flying to Iwo Jima). The intention with the low grade is to inform others that if they're like me, this isn't a book you should bother with.
March 14, 2020
Five shiny stars! Author Martha MacCallum makes history come alive as she weaves personal family stories with the events that changed the world. I am a history buff, but sometimes - well, history books can be dull. Not this one! Well researched, it includes letters to home as well as pictures. A fascinating account!
March 4, 2020
Professionally presented - emotionally received
Having read many accounts from a historical and military perspective, this book brings you into the story and allows you to feel as though you have personally met the different heroes introduced in a very respectful way.
Very nicely done!
Having read many accounts from a historical and military perspective, this book brings you into the story and allows you to feel as though you have personally met the different heroes introduced in a very respectful way.
Very nicely done!
October 29, 2025
Any history of the Second World War is going to be a tragic story because so many lives were lost. But this is a personal story of family and friends of the author. It was well written and informative. It dealt mainly with the war in the Pacific, with a lot of detail about the battle for Iwo Jima.
May 16, 2020
There were far too many historical errors to rate the book much more than 2.5 stars. The 145 man Marine detachment at Guam did not “fight tenaciously to the very end”, it offered only a token resistance.The Japanese invaders assaulted Guam at 4:30 am on 10 December 1941. The Marines were ordered by the island’s governor to surrender at 5:45 am having suffered a loss of five killed and 12 wounded that morning. Wake Island defenders did not shoot down 70 Japanese warplanes. The Japanese lost ten planes with another 18 or so damaged. The Japanese did not capture “eight elite US Navy pilots”following the Doolittle raid. These captured men were all US Army Air Force servicemen. Yamamoto’s plane was not shot down by US fighter "jets” nor did the US Navy have any fighter “jets” in Task Force 58. The US did not have any jet fighters in service in WWII. During the Battle of the Philippine Sea the US submarine Albacore sank the Japanese fleet carrier Taiho, not the Taibo. All hands did not go down with this carrier. Admiral Ozawa and some 500 crew members were rescued. I attribute these errors to either the author being a female or poor editing. "Meticulously researched"? I think not.
March 22, 2020
Martha Maccallum delivers a great historic story of World War II and the endless battle with the Japanese military forces starting with Pearl Harbor and ending with Iwo Jima and Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the surrender of the Japanese.
This is a personal story about her family’s experience though Harry Gray, her Mom’s cousin. I did not realize the extent of the Japanese battles as most of what I have read has been around the German’s brutality and the Holocaust. The bonds built between the men who fought take us to the 75 year anniversary.
I enjoyed Martha’s telling of this side of WWII. It was an intesting and fast read.
Enjoy.
This is a personal story about her family’s experience though Harry Gray, her Mom’s cousin. I did not realize the extent of the Japanese battles as most of what I have read has been around the German’s brutality and the Holocaust. The bonds built between the men who fought take us to the 75 year anniversary.
I enjoyed Martha’s telling of this side of WWII. It was an intesting and fast read.
Enjoy.
April 4, 2020
Absolutely incredible...it’s so important to know history and to remember the valor of countless brave heroes in WWII. I was weeping at the end of this, as MacCallum details and memorializes the life of her Uncle Harry, and presents letters between Harry and his family members and fellow Marines. It’s important history is never forgotten, and this gripping book moves at a fast pace through the Pacific Theater of WWII (of which my grandfather was a part of, which makes this book especially meaningful to me)
July 7, 2020
2.5 Stars
This book was okay. Based on the descriptions I read of the book I was expecting a more personal story with more family narrative, letters, etc. I was disappointed to find this was not so.
Most of the book was like a high school history text. It could have used some diagrams and maps in the first 2/3 of the book.
That said, I did learn more about WWII in the Pacific Theater. Most of the books out there, especially historical fiction, focus on the European Theater.
This book was okay. Based on the descriptions I read of the book I was expecting a more personal story with more family narrative, letters, etc. I was disappointed to find this was not so.
Most of the book was like a high school history text. It could have used some diagrams and maps in the first 2/3 of the book.
That said, I did learn more about WWII in the Pacific Theater. Most of the books out there, especially historical fiction, focus on the European Theater.
March 5, 2020
Unknown valor captures the essence of the Marine in combat
This is a must read for Americans wanting to know what it feels like. Most war books are written by officers. Martha has captured the heart and soul of the grunt in the foxhole. It is an amazing piece of work.
From a former Marine, thank you Martha!
This is a must read for Americans wanting to know what it feels like. Most war books are written by officers. Martha has captured the heart and soul of the grunt in the foxhole. It is an amazing piece of work.
From a former Marine, thank you Martha!
March 5, 2020
Deeper and Wider
This book covers much more WWII history than I expected. Good Read with research that adds to the main interest of the book.
This book covers much more WWII history than I expected. Good Read with research that adds to the main interest of the book.
March 31, 2020
Really enjoyed this book.
May 30, 2020
Martha MacCallum, who does a great job hosting her own program – “The Story with Martha MacCallum” on Fox – has written a wonderful book on the bravery and sacrifices of those who were in the US Army and Marine Corps “island-hopping” from Guadalcanal to Iwo Jima. Admiral Chester Nimitz spoke of the “uncommon valor” of the men who fought on Iwo Jima, one of the bloodiest and most brutal battles of World War II. In 36 grueling days, nearly 7,000 Marines were killed and 22,000 were wounded. (Semper Fi.) In honor of the 75th anniversary of Iwo Jima, MacCallum takes you from Pearl Harbor to Iwo Jima through the lives of these men of valor, one of whom is a member of her family. It’s a fresh account of one of the most dramatic chapters in our past, and it easily restores your faith in America. It’s a well-researched, well-written book, worthy of 5-stars.
March 18, 2020
A good read. Liked how the author weaves in personal stories (including letters sent home during war time) along with facts about the battles against Japanese in the pacific during WWII without feeling like a bogged down history textbook. Keeps things concise and moving with just the right amount of details and background. Found it especially interesting given my own fathers active service in Battle of Iwo Jima in the US Marine Corp and leaves me with a mental picture of how it must have been for him.
February 20, 2025
A wonderful telling of the history of WWII in the Pacific, interwoven with McCallum's own family history about her mother's cousin Harry Gray, who died on Iwo Jima. Her mother's family had never really known exactly what had happened. Martha tracked down surviving members of his platoon who were there and saw what occurred, even at 100 years of age! She also gives details of what happened to the Japanese who fought there, that was quite remarkable. Written with indelible background details. Just beautifully written.
April 10, 2020
This is very well written book that intertwines history with personal stories. It covers the Pacific Island campaigns and gives the reader both the big picture as well as the soldier level. It culminates with Okinawa. The book really put the horrible fighting in perspective. As it turned out, I just watched Hacksaw Ridge on TV and it provided visual reinforcement of the type of fighting described in the book. Definitely a must for people who like their history with a personal aspect.
February 29, 2020
Marthers book
I liked this book a lot. It was sad and happy at times. I feel Harry would have been a great citizen after the war. We lost so many of our men and Hirohito got let off. So sad. Only found two errors in the book. I recommend it to all, a great read and a piece of our history that needs to be remembered
I liked this book a lot. It was sad and happy at times. I feel Harry would have been a great citizen after the war. We lost so many of our men and Hirohito got let off. So sad. Only found two errors in the book. I recommend it to all, a great read and a piece of our history that needs to be remembered
March 9, 2020
Wonderfully written account of the authors efforts to learn more about the life of her 18 yr old cousin, one of thousands of Marines who died on Iwo Jima. The book summarized many aspects of WW-II and the human story behind the tremendous sacrifices of the military families, friends and relatives,
Well with the Listen/read. The audio book is dead by the author
Well with the Listen/read. The audio book is dead by the author
March 21, 2020
Heartbreaking
I liked everything about the book. I always knew about Iwo Jima, but this book gave me a whole new insight on what went on. The bravery of these men is unbelievable.
I feel that all high school kids need to read this book so they learn what these brave men went through so we could have a country that we have today..
I liked everything about the book. I always knew about Iwo Jima, but this book gave me a whole new insight on what went on. The bravery of these men is unbelievable.
I feel that all high school kids need to read this book so they learn what these brave men went through so we could have a country that we have today..
April 20, 2020
History made Personal
Martha MacCallum tells the story of WWII and Iwo Jima from a very personal point of view. It reminds us that was is fought by real people, who loved and were loved. A good read.
Martha MacCallum tells the story of WWII and Iwo Jima from a very personal point of view. It reminds us that was is fought by real people, who loved and were loved. A good read.
June 21, 2020
I read an ARC and really enjoyed the humanity aspect.
April 27, 2020
The way family stories are woven into the historical narrative kept my interest throughout. Great read.
October 26, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It was clearly a labor of love for the author. I listened to the audiobook, which the author read, and her deep interest in the topic clearly came through.
The book melds the personal with the historical, covering the lives of members of her family who sacrificed much in WWII. She spends a lot of time painting an idyllic picture of pre-war America. It seems fantastic, but compared to the war years, it was idyllic. So I had to tell myself not to get impatient with all of the details.
I wondered at the detailed descriptions of the day-to-day activities of her family members. Did they really record all their thoughts and feelings to that level of detail? I realized, of course, that they had not. But is it really that hard to figure out what an 18 year-old is thinking? Not really.
But the book also covers history with a pretty good review of the war in the Pacific, covering many of the major battles. I've read about many of them, but it was nice to have an overview that placed battles such as Guadalcanal in the proper context.
It also reviews pre-war Japan, including the transformation from a country that allowed no foreigners to an industrialized, expansionist power. Japan was some kind of cross between a modern economy and a death cult. It's very hard to imagine that they really believed that it was their duty to die for the emperor. Someday, I'd like to read about the dissenters.
Or maybe there weren't any. After all, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Christian, and Japan had killed all theirs off. They seriously killed them all! I wondered about that, and where justice was, and why hadn't God protected his followers. But then I realized God's "punishment" was allowing the Japanese the free choice to build a society that ended up getting so many of its people killed. Those Christians may have been Japan's last warning.
So, in the end, the historical sections of the book hold their own. For example, the author points out that Emperor Hirohito was the only leader of an Axis country to retain power after the war. He wasn't even prosecuted for war crimes. So the "unconditional surrender" loudly trumpeted by US politicians turned out to be false. Truman let it be known that the US had no intention of replacing the emperor, and that was probably the real reason Japan surrendered when it did. After all, when the subjects of the emperor are pledged to defend him to the death, who cares how many millions are incinerated by atomic bombs?
So the book is worth the read!
The book melds the personal with the historical, covering the lives of members of her family who sacrificed much in WWII. She spends a lot of time painting an idyllic picture of pre-war America. It seems fantastic, but compared to the war years, it was idyllic. So I had to tell myself not to get impatient with all of the details.
I wondered at the detailed descriptions of the day-to-day activities of her family members. Did they really record all their thoughts and feelings to that level of detail? I realized, of course, that they had not. But is it really that hard to figure out what an 18 year-old is thinking? Not really.
But the book also covers history with a pretty good review of the war in the Pacific, covering many of the major battles. I've read about many of them, but it was nice to have an overview that placed battles such as Guadalcanal in the proper context.
It also reviews pre-war Japan, including the transformation from a country that allowed no foreigners to an industrialized, expansionist power. Japan was some kind of cross between a modern economy and a death cult. It's very hard to imagine that they really believed that it was their duty to die for the emperor. Someday, I'd like to read about the dissenters.
Or maybe there weren't any. After all, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Christian, and Japan had killed all theirs off. They seriously killed them all! I wondered about that, and where justice was, and why hadn't God protected his followers. But then I realized God's "punishment" was allowing the Japanese the free choice to build a society that ended up getting so many of its people killed. Those Christians may have been Japan's last warning.
So, in the end, the historical sections of the book hold their own. For example, the author points out that Emperor Hirohito was the only leader of an Axis country to retain power after the war. He wasn't even prosecuted for war crimes. So the "unconditional surrender" loudly trumpeted by US politicians turned out to be false. Truman let it be known that the US had no intention of replacing the emperor, and that was probably the real reason Japan surrendered when it did. After all, when the subjects of the emperor are pledged to defend him to the death, who cares how many millions are incinerated by atomic bombs?
So the book is worth the read!
June 28, 2023
This book gave so much insight into how the Marines fought battles in the Pacific Theater. I did not realize that the raising of the American flag on Mt. Suribachi only signified that Mt. Suribachi was taken. Other hills needed to be taken to have complete control of the island of Iwo Jima. It took another month to take the rest of the island. Many stories of the bravery of these Marines are told. It was terrifying to read about the Japanese soldiers who surged forward in kamikaze formation to kill American soldiers or die trying. There were a lot of gruesome battle descriptions but they were needed for us to understand what American soldiers experienced while fighting the Japanese.
My family did not talk about WWII very much. My uncle was stationed in Japan 1945-46 at HQ in Tokyo. He worked in the office and handled classified information and did not talk about it at all.
My family did not talk about WWII very much. My uncle was stationed in Japan 1945-46 at HQ in Tokyo. He worked in the office and handled classified information and did not talk about it at all.
April 23, 2022
Great snapshot of America on the home front and abroad before and during World War Two. We are presented with the hopes, fears and aspirations of the people involved. The strength of spirit of the "Greatest Generation" comes shining through as the nation fought a bloody conflict with an equally determined enemy. Special emphasis was given to the Pacific theater of the war and the grueling island hopping campaigns in an effort to close in on Japan. The emotional ripple effect of the passing of so many heroic young boys on their families and friends is gripping. It is good that we are reminded of the high cost that was paid for our freedom!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews