Medal of Honor: Profiles of America's Military Heroes from the Civil War to the Present

by Allen Mikaelian, Mike Wallace

Overview

Medal of Honor portrays 11 recipients of this sacred U.S. military decoration, from the Civil War through the Vietnam War, and examines what drove them to go so far above and beyond the call of duty. Among the stories is an account of the life of the only woman ever to receive the medal; of an officer who staged a daring escape from a German POW camp in WWI; and of a soldier from the legendary WWII Japanese-American 442nd, who went on to earn the medal in the Korean War. The book tells not only of astonishing military actions but also, significantly, of the recipients' lives before and after their wartime experiences.

In his moving commentary, acclaimed 60 Minutes reporter Mike Wallace places these actions in historical context and relates his own personal experiences in WWII and as a journalist covering recent wars. He also meditates on the meaning of courage and shows what we can all learn from these extraordinary individuals.

"The President may award, and present in the name of Congress, a medal of honor of appropriate design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to a person who, while a member of the Army, Navy, or Air Force distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty." —The United States Congress

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786885763
Publisher:	Hachette Books
Publication date:	05/14/2003
Edition description:	REPRINT
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	5.19(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

Allen Mikaelian received his M.A. in history, with distinction, from the University of London's Institute for English Studies. He lives in Washington, D.C., and serves as a board member and adult literacy tutor with the Washington Literacy Council.

Mike Wallace is a leading force behind CBS's 60 Minutes, which has ranked among Nielsen's top ten highest-rated primetime programs for twenty-three consecutive seasons—a record no other program has approached. He has won nineteen Emmy awards and countless other professional honors. He lives in New York City.

Table of Contents

	Introduction	ix
	The Story of the Medal of Honor	xvii
Chapter 1	Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, Civil War	1
Chapter 2	Leopold Karpeles, Civil War	19
	A Nation of Immigrants	41
Chapter 3	Edouard Victor Michel Izac, World War I	45
Chapter 4	Samuel Woodfill, World War I	75
	Return to Isolationism	106
Chapter 5	David M. Shoup, World War II	109
Chapter 6	Maynard H. Smith: World War II	135
Chapter 7	Vernon Baker, World War II	162
	Uneasy Peace	189
Chapter 8	Hiroshi "Hershey" Miyamura, Korean War	193
Chapter 9	William Charette, Korean War	219
	From the Forgotten War to the Living-Room War	238
Chapter 10	Dwight Johnson, Vietnam War	241
Chapter 11	Thomas Kelley, Vietnam War	256
	Afterword	273
	Notes	281
	Acknowledgments	299

Editorial Reviews

"We Americans have gone off to war in a spirit of optimism that had little to do with the reality we would soon have to face."—Mike Wallace

From the Publisher

"We Americans have gone off to war in a spirit of optimism that had little to do with the reality we would soon have to face."

Mike Wallace

Allen Mikaelian presents a stirring and patriotic look at eleven outstanding Americans who have earned the Congressional Medal of Honor. They include Lieutenant Ernest Childers, who, in his assault on a WWII German position, was reduced to throwing rocks at the enemy; and pacifist medic Desmond Doss, who saved more than 100 lives in a single day. 60 Minutes icon Mike Wallace contributes an introduction.

Vito F Sinisi

In this lively account, Mikaelian traces the history of the Medal of Honor, the highest military distinction awarded in the United States, and the lives of several of those who have earned it in the years since it was established by President Lincoln during the Civil War. He focuses not only on their heroic feats, but also on what became of them in the wake of their deeds and the honor the medal earned them. This recording is augmented by readings by Wallace, who tells of his own wartime experiences and supplies historical context with the same timbre and excellent gift for timing and dramatic buildup that many will recognize from his work on 60 Minutes. The stories themselves are read by a rotation of three other readers, although Chase, Culp and McLarty have very similar voices and approaches. While their performances get the job done, they somewhat pale when juxtaposed with that of Wallace, and their tone and style occasionally bring to mind educational films from high school history class. The production that accompanies them is pronounced, but not over the top. It doesn't include bugle calls or the muffled clap of cavalry, but it doesn't shy away from the occasional drum roll or a few bars of "When Johnny Came Marching Home," either. Above all, though, the engrossing stories themselves will keep listeners engaged if not fascinated. Based on the Hyperion hardcover (Forecasts, May 27). (Aug.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

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