Choosing Courage: Inspiring True Stories of What It Means to Be a Hero

by Peter Collier

Overview

What turns an ordinary person into a hero? What happens in the blink of an eye on a battlefield (or in any dangerous situation) to bring out true courage? The men and women who have been recognized by the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation know the answers to these questions deep in their hearts. We learn of Jack Lucas, a 13-year-old who kept his real age a secret so he could fight in World War II—where he deliberately fell on a grenade to save his buddies during the Iwo Jima invasion—and Clint Romesha, who almost single-handedly prevented a remote U.S. Army outpost in Afghanistan from being taken over by the Taliban. Also included are civilians who have been honored by the Foundation for outstanding acts of bravery in crisis situations: for example, Jencie Fagan, a gym teacher who put herself in danger to disarm a troubled eighth grader before he could turn a gun on his classmates. Adding depth and context are illuminating sidebars throughout and essays on the combat experience and its aftermath: topics such as overcoming fear; a mother mourning her son; and “surviving hell” as a prisoner of war. Back matter includes a glossary and an index.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781579656607
Publisher:	Artisan
Publication date:	05/19/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	172,787
File size:	15 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Peter Collier has written extensively about bravery in battle in the New York Times bestselling Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond the Call of Duty, first published by Artisan in 2003. He lives in Nevada City, California. The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to perpetuate the medal’s legacy of courage, sacrifice, and patriotism.
Peter Collier is the author (with David Horowitz) of The Rockefellers: An American Dynasty, which was nominated for the National Book Award, as well as The Kennedys: An American Drama, The Roosevelts: An American Saga, and other books. He lives in Nevada City, CA.

Editorial Reviews

For most of us, the question "Do you have what it takes to be a true hero?" has an easy answer: NO. For the subjects of this new book by Peter Collier (Medal of Honor; The Kennedys; The Roosevelts), the answer was often a resounding yes. Choosing Courage spotlights both military and civilian heroes who put their lives on the line beyond which there is no return to save the lives of others. Its rich narratives are enhanced by sidebars, essays on the combat experience and its psychological aftermath; and other features.