Portland Public Library

Choosing courage, inspiring stories of what it means to be a hero, Peter Collier

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

collective biography

illustrations

index present

Ages 10 and up

non fiction

Choosing courage

bibliography

896358538

Peter Collier

Accelerated Reader AR, MG, 8.1, 10.0, 179248.

inspiring stories of what it means to be a hero

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 thirteen-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

World War II. Jack Lucas: the boy who went to war ; My grandfather the war hero by Jonna Doolittle Hoppes ; George Sakato: "Going for broke" ; Desmond Doss: The lifesaver ; Vernon Baker: Fighting for dignity -- The Korean War. Tibor Rubin: The survivor ; Ronald Rosser: A brother fights for revenge ; Overcoming fear by Wesley L. Fox ; Tom Hudner: The color of friendship -- The Vietnam War. Sammy Davis: A soldier's job ; A life saved by Jim Deister ; Alfred Rascon: Ten minutes of hell ; George "Bud" Day: Maximum resistance ; Surviving hell by Leo K. Thorness ; Thomas Norris and Michael Thornton: Devils with green faces -- The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Salvatore Giunta: Bringing a buddy home ; Clinton Romesha: Born to fight ; War wounds that last a lifetime by Juanita Milligan ; A daughter's story by MattieMae Milligan ; Leroy Petry: A Ranger leads the way ; The loss of a son by Deb Dunham -- Heroism in civilian life. Rick Rescorla: Warnings and bravery on 9/11 ; Jencie Fagan: A teacher's lesson in courage ; On being bullied and learning self-respect by Allen Lynch ; Jordy Cox: Healing the world, one patient at a time ; On serving others before self by Jack Jacobs -- Afterword: The consequences of war -- The Medal of Honor: then and now

juvenile