Rating: 
Summary: Deeply Moving
Review: A dear friend highly recommended Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond the Call of Duty so recently I was standing in the bookstore waiting for the clerk to find it on the computer. After the third try she told me it was not showing up on her screens when another shopper walked up to me and placed it in my hands. He said " I overheard you asking for this and I had just looked it over"With this auspicious beginning, my journey into the world of Medal of Honor winners began. As I looked through this beautiful book, I found myself taken by the photography and absorbed by the accompanying text which details the events of each honoree. Although I looked at each page and the photographs, I found that I had to pace myself on reading the text and short biographies. That is a lot there on many levels so I used the photos as a guide to decide which ones to read during this first encounter. This book evoked tears for me. I have served in the military although not in combat. Also I have served in the US Peace Corp so I have always been aware of the paradox of the human condition. While reading, I found discovered some very ambivalent feelings. Respect and admiration for the portraits of courage was obvious. Yet, simultaneously, a soul felt sadness when I realized that the "enemy" described on several pages, could very well have been the beloved grandfather of a dear friend I stayed with in Germany recently. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to explore the challenges of the human spirit. DG Mogle
Rating:
Summary: Deeply Moving
Review: A dear friend highly recommended Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond the Call of Duty so recently I was standing in the bookstore waiting for the clerk to find it on the computer. After the third try she told me it was not showing up on her screens when another shopper walked up to me and placed it in my hands. He said " I overheard you asking for this and I had just looked it over" With this auspicious beginning, my journey into the world of Medal of Honor winners began. As I looked through this beautiful book, I found myself taken by the photography and absorbed by the accompanying text which details the events of each honoree. Although I looked at each page and the photographs, I found that I had to pace myself on reading the text and short biographies. That is a lot there on many levels so I used the photos as a guide to decide which ones to read during this first encounter. This book evoked tears for me. I have served in the military although not in combat. Also I have served in the US Peace Corp so I have always been aware of the paradox of the human condition. While reading, I found discovered some very ambivalent feelings. Respect and admiration for the portraits of courage was obvious. Yet, simultaneously, a soul felt sadness when I realized that the "enemy" described on several pages, could very well have been the beloved grandfather of a dear friend I stayed with in Germany recently. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to explore the challenges of the human spirit. DG Mogle
Rating:
Summary: True Heroes
Review: Being Veteran's Day, it seemed appropriate to review a book about military heroes. Unfortunately, the word hero is being too often disparagingly used to describe a star athlete, a hot musician, or a glamorous movie star. A more befitting use is the way "Medal of Honor" tells the story of 116 American Heroes. Author Peter Collier masterfully combines 116 two-page vignettes into an amalgamation of selfless valor represented by the men who earned the United States' highest military honor, the Medal of Honor. Each portrait briefly chronicles the actions of these brave men and includes a historical and recent picture of the honoree. The gripping accounts cannot begin to express the danger these courageous men faced and their sacrifices but does outline the basis for their award.
Forwards are written by President George H. W. Bush, Tom Brokaw, and Senator John McCain. Each is a famous American who advances different aspects of this book. The end of the book includes a history of the Medal of Honor, a listing of military awards, and a glossary of military terms. The inside front and back covers include inspirational ideals from each award winner. All are vital additions.
The subjects in this book deserve at least a 10-star rating. They are a national treasure and as President Bush states, they "represent the very heart and soul of America." The idea for this book is unmatched. I only wish the stories were longer and did a better job of conveying the sacrifices of our distinguished heroes.
This book is for everyone. Read it to begin to understand the lengths of commitment of our Medal of Honor winners and to understand the fabric of our service members, our military, and our nation.
My highest recommendation.
Rating: 
Summary: Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond the call of Duty
Review: Great pictures! Poor editing, many mistakes, flopped pictures, wrong information, wrong death dates. These mistakes take away from the written information, but not the pictures. Done in black & white with keen eye of a photojournalist, and probably the last portraits of three who have died this year, Joe Foss, Ray Davis and Mitch Paige. Each full page portrait is done with a different approach, one reading this book will be captivated by each picture of these men, these heroes. This is a collection of the last living Medal of Honor recipients, starting in 2000. Even with the bad editing this book is worth having, it's history.
Rating:
Summary: Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond the call of Duty
Review: Great pictures! Poor editing, many mistakes, flopped pictures, wrong information, wrong death dates. These mistakes take away from the written information, but not the pictures. Done in black & white with keen eye of a photojournalist, and probably the last portraits of three who have died this year, Joe Foss, Ray Davis and Mitch Paige. Each full page portrait is done with a different approach, one reading this book will be captivated by each picture of these men, these heroes. This is a collection of the last living Medal of Honor recipients, starting in 2000. Even with the bad editing this book is worth having, it's history.
Rating:
Summary: Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond the call of Duty
Review: Great pictures! Poor editing, many mistakes, flopped pictures, wrong information, wrong death dates. These mistakes take away from the written information, but not the pictures. Done in black & white with keen eye of a photojournalist, and probably the last portraits of three who have died this year, Joe Foss, Ray Davis and Mitch Paige. Each full page portrait is done with a different approach, one reading this book will be captivated by each picture of these men, these heroes. This is a collection of the last living Medal of Honor recipients, starting in 2000. Even with the bad editing this book is worth having, it's history.
Rating:
Summary: A keeper
Review: I am one of those folks who reads about 50 books a year. Once in a while I read a book that so impresses me that I recommend it to all my friends. Last year the book was Seabiscuit. This year it is Medal of Honor. In fact, Medal of Honor is a better book than Seabiscuit. I am buying it as a Christmas present for friends and giving it to them now, so they can, in turn, buy copies for their friends before Christmas.
Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive in scope, but only scratches the surface.....
Review: of the many stories of individual valor. Each MOH recipient's story is given a page or two, to recount what could certainly fill many, many pages. The authors/editors do a commendable job profiling the stories of bravery, but if you're looking for a detailed account of the MOH winner stories, this is not the book for you. The snipets are portrayed well enough to evoke sentiments of gratitude and amazement at each individual's actions---all truly deserving of the MOH.
Rating:
Summary: A keeper
Review: Portraits in valor is simply the most well done depiction of the men who have received our nation's highest award for military valor that has been compiled to date. Photographs of the living recipients (and including a few recipients who have recently departed us) depict these rare heroes in inspirational settings that highlight their individual personalities.
Rating:
Summary: Simply the best book to date
Review: Portraits in valor is simply the most well done depiction of the men who have received our nation's highest award for military valor that has been compiled to date. Photographs of the living recipients (and including a few recipients who have recently departed us) depict these rare heroes in inspirational settings that highlight their individual personalities.
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