Beyond Valor
World War II's Ranger and Airborne Veterans Reveal the Heart of Combat
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Narrated by:
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Scott Brick
About this listen
Previous books have promised to describe the combat experience of the World War II GI, but there has never been a book like Patrick O'Donnell's Beyond Valor. Here is the first combat history of the war in Europe in the words of the men themselves, and perhaps the most honest and brutal account of combat possible. For more than 50 years the individual stories that make up this narrative - shockingly frank reflections of sacrifice and courage - have been bottled up, buried, or circulated privately. Now, nearing the ends of their lives, our WW II soldiers have at last unburdened themselves.
Beyond Valor recaptures their hidden history. A pioneering oral historian, Patrick O'Donnell used his award-winning website, The Drop Zone, to solicit oral- and "e-histories" from individual soldiers. Gradually, working from within the community, O'Donnell convinced some of the war's most battle-hardened soldiers to tell their stories. The result is WW II seen through the eyes of the men who saw the most intense of its action. O'Donnell focuses on the elite units of the war - the Rangers, Airborne, and 1st Special Service Force - troops that spearheaded the most dangerous operations and often made the difference between victory and defeat.
From more than 650 interviews O'Donnell has chosen oral- and e-histories that form a seamless story line, a pointillistic history of the war in Europe from the first parachute drops in North Africa through the final battles in Germany and the long trip home. It is the story of the war not discussed in polite company. O'Donnell presents the wreckage of entire battalions nearly annihilated, invisible personal scars, and hauntingrevelations of wartime atrocities. But more important are the men who recount lives risked without hesitation for comrades and cause, and those who did not return: the friends who died in their arms. Their stories remind all of us that victory came only at the highest price.
Remembering the infamous cliffs at Pointe-du-Hoc, bloody Omaha Beach, the bitter fighting at the Battle of the Bulge, and Hill 400 in the Hurtgen Forest, the soldiers reveal war as seen, heard, and smelled by the GIs on the front line. Also included is the unique story of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, and the trailblazing African-American "Experimental" Test Platoon that had to fight its own battle behind the lines.
Download the accompanying reference guide.©2001 Patrick K O'Donnell (P)2011 Audible, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
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George Wilson has garnered much acclaim for this shattering and enlightening memoir. Detailing his odyssey from July, 1944 until the following summer, If You Survive is a startling first-person account of the final year of World War II. Wilson was the only man from his original company to finish the war. As a Second Lieutenant, he went ashore at Utah Beach after the D-Day invasion amidst burned vehicles, sunken landing craft, and broken fortifications.
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the best story of the war in Europe I've read
- By David on 02-18-17
By: George Wilson
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A Foot Soldier for Patton
- The Story of a "Red Diamond" Infantryman with the US Third Army
- By: Michael C. Bilder, James Bilder
- Narrated by: Johnny Heller
- Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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A rarely frank account of the US infantry experience in northern Europe, A Foot Soldier for Patton takes the listener from the beaches of Normandy through the giddy drive across France to the brutal battles on the Westwall, in the Ardennes, and finally to the conquest of Germany itself. Patton's army is best known for dashing armored attacks; its commander combining the firepower of tanks with their historic lineage as cavalry. But when the Germans stood firm, the greatest fighting was done by Patton's long undersung infantry.
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Wonderful book
- By Dr. Z on 09-16-21
By: Michael C. Bilder, and others
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No Better Place to Die
- Ste-Mere Eglise, June 1944 - The Battle for la Fiere Bridge
- By: Robert Murphy
- Narrated by: Stephen Bowlby
- Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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As part of the massive Allied invasion of Normandy, three airborne divisions were dropped behind enemy lines to sow confusion in the German rear and prevent panzer reinforcements from reaching the beaches. In the dark early hours of D-Day, this confusion was achieved well enough, as nearly every airborne unit missed its drop zone, creating a kaleidoscope of small-unit combat.
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Eeh, I'm luke warm about it.
- By Matthew on 11-07-14
By: Robert Murphy
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D-Day with the Screaming Eagles
- By: George Koskimaki
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 14 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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In the predawn darkness of D-Day, an elite fighting force struck the first blows against Hitler's Fortress Europe. Braving a hail of enemy gunfire and mortars, bold invaders from the sky descended into the hedgerow country and swarmed the meadows of Normandy. Some would live, some would die, but all would fight with the guts and determination that made them the most famous US Army division in World War II: the 101st Airborne "Screaming Eagles".
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Very long and mostly boring for audiobook
- By R. Denton on 06-27-16
By: George Koskimaki
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All the Way to Berlin
- A Paratrooper at War in Europe
- By: James Megellas
- Narrated by: Richard M. Davidson
- Length: 2 hrs and 34 mins
- Abridged
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In mid-1943 James Megellas, known as "Maggie" to his fellow paratroopers, joined the 82nd Airborne Division, his new "home" for the duration. His first taste of combat was in the rugged mountains outside Naples.
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Incredible book - narrator was terrible
- By joseph metz on 01-06-22
By: James Megellas
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D-Day
- June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of WW II
- By: Stephen E. Ambrose
- Narrated by: Jesse Boggs
- Length: 25 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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Stephen E. Ambrose draws from hundreds of interviews with US Army veterans and the brave Allied soldiers who fought alongside them to create this exceptional account of the day that shaped the twentieth century. D-Day is above all the epic story of men at the most demanding moment of their existence, when the horrors, complexities and triumphs of life are laid bare and courage and heroism come to the fore.
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What an epic story what great men
- By Michael on 02-12-14
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September Hope
- The American Side of a Bridge Too Far
- By: John C. McManus
- Narrated by: Walter Dixon
- Length: 14 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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In September Hope, acclaimed historian John C. McManus explores World War II’s most ambitious invasion, an immense, daring offensive to defeat Nazi Germany before the end of 1944. Operation Market-Garden is one of the war’s most famous, but least understood, battles, and McManus tells the story of the American contribution to this crucial phase of the war in Europe.
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Go yanks go !
- By Alan on 03-06-13
By: John C. McManus
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If Chaos Reigns
- The Near-Disaster and Ultimate Triumph of the Allied Airborne Forces on D-Day, June 6, 1944
- By: Flint Whitlock
- Narrated by: Michael Prichard
- Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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So said Brigadier S. James Hill, commanding officer of the British 3rd Parachute Brigade, in an address to his troops shortly before the launching of Operation Overlord - the D-Day invasion of Normandy. No more prophetic words were ever spoken, for chaos indeed reigned on that day, and many more that followed.
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Allied Airborne in Normandy
- By Doc on 07-13-18
By: Flint Whitlock
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The Americans at D-Day
- The American Experience at the Normandy Invasion
- By: John C. McManus
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 13 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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June 6, 1944, was a pivotal moment in the history of World War II. On that day the climactic and decisive phase of the war in Europe began. Those who survived the intense fighting on the Normandy beaches found their lives irreversibly changed. That day ushered in a great change for the United States as well, because on D-day America began its march to the forefront of the Western world. By the end of the Battle of Normandy, almost one out of every two soldiers involved was an American.
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Great Book
- By Byron Sarchet on 01-15-21
By: John C. McManus
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We Were Soldiers Once... and Young
- Ia Drang - The Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam
- By: Harold G. Moore, Joseph L. Galloway
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
- Length: 16 hrs
- Unabridged
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In November 1965, some 450 men of the First Battalion, Seventh Cavalry, under the command of Lt. Col. Hal Moore, were dropped by helicopter into a small clearing in the Ia Drang Valley. They were immediately surrounded by 2,000 North Vietnamese soldiers. Three days later, only two and a half miles away, a sister battalion was chopped to pieces. Together, these actions at the landing zones X-Ray and Albany constituted one of the most savage and significant battles of the Vietnam War. How these men persevered makes a vivid portrait of war at its most inspiring and devastating.
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The truth
- By Bobbyg on 10-08-19
By: Harold G. Moore, and others
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Airborne
- The Combat Story of Ed Shames of Easy Company
- By: Ian Gardner
- Narrated by: P.J. Ochlan
- Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Some men are born to be warriors, and Ed Shames is one of these men. His incredible combat record includes service at D-Day, Operation Market Garden, and Bastogne and finally in Germany itself.
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Let down
- By Craig W. Mcsorley on 06-30-15
By: Ian Gardner
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Combat Veterans' Stories of World War II: Volume 1
- North Africa and Europe, November 1942-May 1945
- By: Norman Black
- Narrated by: Capt. Kevin F. Spalding USNR-Ret
- Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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The stories of 20 combat veterans in this book tell experiences of average Americans that fought enemies of the US in World War II. They relate much previously unavailable information about the military in which they served and the battles they fought, from North Africa to Europe, where the possibility of death and permanent physical and mental injury was their common experience. This book is a "must listen" for those that think they have learned all there is to know about World War II.
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True stories from real heroes
- By Darren on 07-16-15
By: Norman Black
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I Will Hold
- The Story of USMC Legend Clifton B. Cates from Belleau Wood to Victory in the Great War
- By: James Carl Nelson
- Narrated by: Sean Pratt
- Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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The incredible true story of Clifton B. "Lucky" Cates, whose service in World War I and beyond made him a legend in the annals of the Marine Corps. Cates knew that he and his small band of marines were in a desperate spot. Before handing the note over to a runner, he added three words that would resound through Marine Corps history: I WILL HOLD.
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I Cannot Hold!
- By Matthew on 10-22-16
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What listeners say about Beyond Valor
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Craig J. Anderson
- 07-25-16
Astounding.
Until you've heard these experiences by the men that were there you really don't have any concept. let's hope that this book at least helps bring them peace and help bring peace to the world
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1 person found this helpful
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- R. Mikesell
- 04-24-17
Amazing stories<br />
We don't think of it enough or properly appreciate the terrible sacrifices made for our freedom. This should be required reading for all high school students.
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- Seth
- 06-11-24
A pure history that should be required reading 📚
I like the raw accounts of WW2 w/o any b.s. The importance of preserving what soldiers saw & experienced in combat cannot be overstated. Listening to such accounts gives people the best chance of avoiding further large scale death & destruction.
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- Charles
- 11-22-12
Beyond Valor.
Excellent Book.A great Book about the Korean War and the hardships these Vets endured. I would recommend this book to anyone thats interested in American history or War.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Steve Lilly
- 10-23-16
Battle of the Bulge
Book was great history of fathers and uncles that fought in this war. It very valuable to understand what these men went through.
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- Tim
- 07-30-16
No War Can Compares
If you ask a history buff on what they have on World War I and II, it may shock you on the list of books that they have in their library regarding these events. There is a subculture among us that seek out every books that has been written on the World Wars. It's more than a genre or a hobby for many of us. Our fascination on these wars are almost like an addiction that we can't stop. We are always looking for next read to please our minds with infinite information.
For example, many of us wished that we can time travel back during that era on what it was like to live through the war.
"Beyond Valor" is another book that has been cataloged in my library for future reference on U.S. Army Ranger Battalions and Airborne. Personal stories from the men who fought in the air and the ground is some of the most excellent interviews that has been documented. Some might say that their stories lack in details. This is true for many of our Veterans that have fought in all wars. They only gives us snippets of their past on what it was like to be on the battlegrounds. This is my favorite part of this genre because we will never know the full scope in depth on what it is like to go to war, unless we are on the front lines.
No matter how much I read on this subject, there is always a personal mystery left behind at every last page. That is why I keep reading on the World Wars. Modern wars bores me because we are all connected and the information is available during the actual combat. There is no style of writing when reading about any modern wars. It's reproduction from news outlets and social media.
No war can compares to these World Wars because each novels, books, interviews and articles that I have read has compassion for their comrades.
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1 person found this helpful
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- 5150
- 11-10-16
Necessary
All people of this world should be educated in World War 2 and the realities of battle. This is a fantastic book and I will even say, required reading for anyone who wishes to learn the realities of armed conflict. This is raw, real and emotionally driven. A fantastic and well done book. It started off slow but within an hour it was action packed. Excellent narrator.
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- Leonard Komen
- 09-03-12
You can listen to this one repeatedly
What did you love best about Beyond Valor?
The tie in of an historical narrative of an event,then followed by the oral history of one particular participant or several participants really made this a fascinating listen. You get the overview and whether the event was successful or not and then get the story from the ground level blow by blow instead of the a General's overview.
What about Scott Brick’s performance did you like?
Scott Brick never fails to bring the book and story and the characters to life
Any additional comments?
I keep this book on my iphone or ipod and listen to it frequently in my car while driving; and have listened to the same passages and vignettes over and over. Each time the story seems new because more details come out
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6 people found this helpful
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- Steven L.
- 08-12-16
A Wonderful oral history
An amazing retelling of the 2nd World War from the point of view of the actual soldiers and in their own words as well.
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- Robert
- 08-31-16
Nice oral history collection
Broad based collection of oral histories of many different Paratroopers and Rangers from a wide variety of units. Tolerable but dull narration is the only downside.
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