By Collection Management Librarian Kathy
Every year on November 11, we honor America’s military veterans for their service. Below are some recent, thoughtful reads to help you observe.
Honoring veterans
The Houdini Club: The Epic Journey and Daring Escapes of the First Army Rangers of WWII by Mir Bahmanyar
Why you should try it: For a unique and enthralling look at WWII through the stories of brave Army Rangers known for their heroic acts and shockingly frequent escapes from POW camps.
Description: Highlighted by the prisoner-of-war escapes that earned them the name “The Houdini Club,” here is the elite combat odyssey of World War II’s “Darby’s Rangers” as never told before—drawing on previously unknown sources and retired Army Ranger Mir Bahmanyar’s exclusive, uncensored interviews with the greatest generation of Rangers themselves.
Operation Pineapple Express: The Incredible Story of a Group of Americans Who Undertook One Last Mission & Honored a Promise in Afghanistan by Scott Mann
Why you should try it: Did you know that there was an operation known as Pineapple Express to help rescue hundreds of allied men and women AND that it was modeled after the Underground Railroad? Read this nailbiter of a book to learn more!
Description: A tense real-life thriller follows a group of retired Green Berets as they work together to save a former comrade, along with 500 Afghans, right before the ISIS-K suicide bombing at Kabul airport amidst the chaos of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Immortal Valor: The Black Medal of Honor Winners of World War II by Robert Child
Why you should try it: To honor these seven Black men who did not receive their medals until the 1990s.
Description: Tells the story of seven African American soldiers in World War II who were finally awarded Medals of Honor for their service in 1993 based on the work of a research team at Shaw University in North Carolina.
In the Company of Heroes: The Inspiring Stories of Medal of Honor Recipients From America’s Longest Wars in Afghanistan & Iraq by James Kitfield
Why you should try it: These stories of bravery and sacrifice will move and inspire you.
Description: This book features in-depth narrative profiles of the 23 post-9/11 Medal of Honor awardees who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, expressed in their own voices through one-on-one interviews, and in the case of posthumous awards, through interviews with their brothers-in-arms and their families.
Valiant Women: The Extraordinary American Servicewomen Who Helped Win World War II by Lena S. Andrews
Why you should try it: Women served in a myriad of roles during WWII—including cryptologists, nurses, draftswomen, and spies—and this book celebrates their extensive contributions.
Description: The story of the 350,000 American women who served in uniform during World War II. Their work was at the heart of the Allied strategy that won World War II. Yet, until now, their stories have been relegated to the dusty shelves of military archives or a passing mention in the local paper. Now, military analyst Lena Andrews corrects the record with the definitive and comprehensive historical account of American servicewomen during World War II.
American Heroes by James Patterson
Why you should try it: James Patterson brings his storyteller chops to the remarkable stories of these soldiers.
Description: U.S. soldiers who served in overseas conflicts—from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan—share true stories of the actions that earned them some of America’s most distinguished military medals, up to and including the Medal of Honor. They never acted alone, but always in the spirit of camaraderie, patriotism, and for the good of our beloved country.
Finding Waypoints: A Warrior’s Journey Towards Peace & Purpose by Terese Schlachter
Why you should try it: If you want a personal story of war and its aftermath.
Description: The biography of Colonel Greg Gadson (Ret.) details his remarkable and inspirational journey from his grievous wounding as a battlefield commander in Iraq to becoming the spiritual coach of the New York Giants, a major film and television actor, and motivational life coach and outdoor-adventure enthusiast
About Kathy
Kathy is a Collection Management Librarian who loves reading, sharing, and talking about books. Her missions in life are to create communities of readers, convince folks that her official title should be “Book Pusher,” and refute that “disco” is a dirty word.