The Gift of Valor
A War Story
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Narrated by:
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Michael Prichard
About this listen
Corporal Dunham was on patrol near the Syrian border on April 14, 2004, when a black-clad Iraqi leaped out of a car and grabbed him around his neck. Fighting hand-to-hand in the dirt, Dunham saw his attacker drop a grenade and made the instantaneous decision to place his own helmet over the explosive in the hope of containing the blast and protecting his men. When the smoke cleared, Dunham's helmet was in shreds, and the corporal lay face down in his own blood. The Marines beside him were seriously wounded. Dunham was subsequently nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for military valor.
Phillips's minute-by-minute chronicle of the chaotic fighting that raged throughout the area and culminated in Dunham's injury provides a grunt's-eye view of war as it's being fought today: fear, confusion, bravery, and suffering set against a brotherhood forged in combat. His account of Dunham's eight-day journey home and of his parents' heartrending reunion with their son powerfully illustrates the cold brutality of war and the fragile humanity of those who fight it. Dunham leaves an indelible mark upon all who know his story, from the doctors and nurses who treat him, to the readers of the original Wall Street Journal article that told of his singular act of valor.
©2005 Michael M. Phillips (P)2005 Books on Tape, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age, 2006
“Affecting….moving.”-- New York Times Book Review
"Thanks to Phillips' clear, dispassionate prose, Dunham … is becoming a symbol of the Marines."--St. Louis Post-Dispatch
"Stands head and shoulders above previous Iraq books and will quickly [become] a 'must-read.'"--Proceedings Magazine, U.S. Naval Institute
"If you have any desire to learn about the Marines, this book is well worth your time."--Armchair General Magazine
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Story
Thousands of soldiers die every year to defend their country. United States Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills was sure that he would become another statistic when, during his third tour of duty in Afghanistan, he was caught in an IED blast four days before his 25th birthday. Against the odds, he lived, but at a severe cost - Travis became one of only five soldiers from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to survive a quadruple amputation.
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So-so
- By Rachael Shook on 02-16-19
By: Travis Mills, and others
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I Am a SEAL Team Six Warrior
- Memoirs of an American Soldier
- By: Howard E. Wasdin, Stephen Templin
- Narrated by: Corey M. Snow
- Length: 4 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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When the Navy sends their elite, they send the SEALs. When the SEALs send their elite, they send SEAL Team Six—a secret unit made up of the finest soldiers in the country, if not the world. I Am a SEAL Team Six Warrior is the dramatic tale of how Howard Wasdin overcame a tough childhood to live his dream and enter the exciting and dangerous world of US Navy SEALs and Special Forces snipers. This is Howard Wasdin's story of overcoming abuse and beating the odds to become an elite American warrior.
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gripping
- By Chuck on 05-26-22
By: Howard E. Wasdin, and others
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For Love of Country
- What Our Veterans Can Teach Us About Citizenship, Heroism, and Sacrifice
- By: Howard Schultz, Rajiv Chandrasekaran
- Narrated by: Rajiv Chandrasekaran
- Length: 6 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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A celebration of the extraordinary courage, dedication, and sacrifice of this generation of American veterans on the battlefield and their equally valuable contributions on the home front. Because so few of us now serve in the military, our men and women in uniform have become strangers to us. We stand up at athletic events to honor them, but we hardly know their true measure.
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Worth the read
- By Peter Baron on 06-17-16
By: Howard Schultz, and others
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The Long Walk
- A Story of War and the Life That Follows
- By: Brian Castner
- Narrated by: Brian Castner
- Length: 6 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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Brian Castner served three tours of duty in the Middle East, two of them as the commander of an Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit in Iraq. Days and nights he and his team—his brothers—would venture forth in heavily armed convoys from their Forward Operating Base to engage in the nerve-racking yet strangely exhilarating work of either disarming the deadly improvised explosive devices that had been discovered, or picking up the pieces when the alert came too late.
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Heart wrenching and a compelling read
- By J. Masters on 08-08-12
By: Brian Castner
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Trident
- The Forging and Reforging of a Navy SEAL Leader
- By: Jason Redman, John Bruning
- Narrated by: Erik Bergmann
- Length: 12 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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Decorated Navy SEAL Lieutenant Jason Redman served his country courageously and with distinction in Colombia, Peru, Afghanistan, and Iraq, where he commanded mobility and assault forces. But his journey was not without its supreme challenges. He was critically wounded in 2007 when he was struck by machine-gun fire at point blank range. During his intense recovery period, Redman posted a sign on his door, warning all who entered not to "feel sorry for [his] wounds."
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SEALS and Leadership
- By Pamela Dale Foster on 06-20-14
By: Jason Redman, and others
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All the Ways We Kill and Die
- An Elegy for a Fallen Comrade, and the Hunt for His Killer
- By: Brian Castner
- Narrated by: Brian Castner
- Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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The EOD - explosive ordnance disposal - community is tight-knit, and when one of their own is hurt, an alarm goes out. When Brian Castner, an Iraq War vet, learns that his friend and EOD brother Matt has been killed by an IED in Afghanistan, he goes to console Matt's widow, but he also begins a personal investigation. Is the bomb maker who killed Matt the same man American forces have been hunting since Iraq, known as the Engineer?
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It was an eye opening book.
- By Travis Garrett on 10-09-17
By: Brian Castner
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Back in the Fight
- The Explosive Memoir of a Special Operator Who Never Gave Up
- By: Joseph Kapacziewski, Charles W. Sasser
- Narrated by: Johnny Heller, Jo Anna Perrin
- Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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On October 3, 2005, Kapacziewski and his soldiers were coming to the end of their tour in Northern Iraq when their convoy was attacked by enemy fighters. A grenade fell through the gunner’s hatch and exploded, shattering Kapacziewski’s right leg below the knee, damaging his right hip, and severing a nerve and artery in his right arm. He endured more than forty surgeries, but his right leg still wasn’t healing as he had hoped, so in March 2007, Kapacziewski chose to have it amputated.
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A true hero.
- By Anonymous User on 01-28-21
By: Joseph Kapacziewski, and others
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Into the Fire
- A Firsthand Account of the Most Extraordinary Battle in the Afghan War
- By: Dakota Meyer, Bing West
- Narrated by: Zach McLarty
- Length: 5 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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In the fall of 2009, Taliban insurgents ambushed a patrol of Afghan soldiers and Marine advisors in a mountain village called Ganjigal. Firing from entrenched positions, the enemy was positioned to wipe out 100 men who were pinned down and were repeatedly refused artillery support. Ordered to remain behind with the vehicles, 21 year-old Marine corporal Dakota Meyer disobeyed orders and attacked to rescue his comrades.
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Exceptional Memoir
- By Jean on 06-26-16
By: Dakota Meyer, and others
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Two Wars
- One Hero's Fight on Two Fronts: Abroad and Within
- By: Nate Self
- Narrated by: Nate Self
- Length: 8 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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For the first time, Army Ranger hero Nate Self tells his story. Self recounts the Roberts Ridge Rescue mission, the ferocious battles in Afghanistan, and the lone war of attrition that Nate Self has waged against post-traumatic stress disorder. This audio will become a go-to work for understanding the long-term effects of the war on terror. Thousands of families are fighting this battle, and Nate Self opens up his whole life - tragedies, successes, failures, and a struggle with suicidal thoughts - to share the facts.
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a incredible story of a true man of character
- By T Wilcox on 12-21-24
By: Nate Self
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Zero Footprint
- The True Story of a Private Military Contractor's Covert Assignments in Syria, Libya, and the World's Most Dangerous Places
- By: Simon Chase, Ralph Pezzullo
- Narrated by: Eric Brooks
- Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Armored cars, burner phones, top-notch weaponry, and top-secret missions - this is the life of today's private military contractor. Like author Simon Chase, many PMCs were once the world's top military operatives, and since retiring from outfits like US Navy SEAL TEAM Six and the UK's Special Boat Service, they have devoted their lives to executing missions too sensitive for the government to acknowledge. Chase reveals here for the first time the operations too hazardous and politically volatile to be officially sanctioned by his employers.
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Read Amazon reviews, not Audible reviews
- By Andrew M on 02-22-16
By: Simon Chase, and others
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Paradise General
- Riding the Surge at a Combat Hospital in Iraq
- By: David Hnida M.D.
- Narrated by: George K. Wilson
- Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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A family doctor with limited surgical experience, Dr. Dave Hnida volunteered for two tours of duty in Iraq - first as a battalion surgeon with a combat unit and then as trauma chief at the busiest Combat Support Hospital (CSH) during the Surge. Like a modern-day M*A*S*H, Dr. Hnida and his team conducted surgery under terrible conditions in a series of tents connected to the occasional run-down building.
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Fans of M*A*S*H will enjoy this book!
- By Elle Kay on 06-18-16
By: David Hnida M.D.
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Legend
- A Harrowing Story from the Vietnam War of One Green Beret's Heroic Mission to Rescue a Special Forces Team Caught Behind Enemy Lines
- By: Eric Blehm
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders
- Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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In Legend, acclaimed best-selling author Eric Blehm takes as his canvas the Vietnam War as seen through a single mission that occurred on May 2, 1968. A 12-man Special Forces team had been covertly inserted into a small clearing in the jungles of neutral Cambodia - where US forces were forbidden to operate. Their objective, just miles over the Vietnam border, was to collect evidence that proved the North Vietnamese Army was using the Cambodian sanctuary as a major conduit for supplying troops and materiel to the south via the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
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awesome
- By Jacob on 11-13-15
By: Eric Blehm
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A Night in the Pech Valley
- A Memoir of a Member of the 75th Ranger Regiment in the Global War on Terrorism
- By: Grant McGarry
- Narrated by: Corey M. Snow
- Length: 7 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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A Night in the Pech Valley is Grant McGarry's account of what it takes to become an Army Ranger and what life is like in the 75th Ranger Regiment. More importantly, it is about an operation in the most dangerous terrain for US forces anywhere in the world. The Pech Valley is surrounded by Taliban-filled mountains on the Pakistan border in the Kunar Province, where the mountain peaks push 10,000 feet.
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RANGER UP! Then buy this book
- By THE NOBLE MARRIAGE on 03-08-17
By: Grant McGarry
What listeners say about The Gift of Valor
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
- G. Bjorgum
- 07-13-05
Raw Heroism
I have a weakness for heroic tales and "The Gift of Valor" floored me. I have served in the military and I found this book laden with the brutal realities of War. This book takes you to the heart of what makes men heroes.
"The Gift of Valor" is well read and fast paced. I enjoyed the book very much.
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- Steve
- 07-25-05
A powerful story which describes the real war....
This story is simply told in simple language, but very powerful. It describes the affect of war on people, young soldiers, parents, brothers and sisters and of the horrors faced by the young men of the US in Iraq. I found at times that the tears wlled up in my eyes and the anguish and waste of war was described. If more politicians read this story, perhaps there would be less wars in the future !! (we can all hope.....)
The only negative is that the narration is not great, however the boring voice does not take away from the power of the story.
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1 person found this helpful
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- MC Waxhaw
- 06-12-21
Very moving!
As a former Marine I knew Corporal Dunham s story well as far as how he came to be awarded the Medal of Honor. There was a lot here i didn't know though about much of the back story. Outstanding job!
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- Anonymous User
- 03-15-20
Inspirational
Semper Fidelis... and the portrait of the Hospital Corpsman selfless devotion. A story of immense love and humanity. Thanks to these heroes...
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- USMC_Runner
- 11-29-17
Good book - bad audio book...
Great story. The kind of story every American, especially those who think that we only do harm in this world, should read.
The author does a great job of getting you to know the people in the book. So much so that I really had to try hard to keep from Googling them before finishing the book. You feel like you know the Marines, the nurses, the commanders, the mothers and fathers. You want to reach out to them. Tell them that you want to help.
Unfortunately, I bought the audio version and I just couldn't get into the narration. Reminded me too much of those educational movies we had to watch in school in the 70's.
Buy the book. Read it. Think about it. Think about the Marines, their families, their dedication to this great country. And the next time you are able, walk up to a service man or woman and shake their hand. Thank them for sacrificing so that you don't have to. Buy them lunch if you can. Most of us take our lives for granted, the Marines, soldiers, sailors and airmen of this country don't have that luxury. They were normal kids, from normal families all over America who volunteered to give it up so that they could make a difference.
Thank you Michael Phillips for sharing this important story of a true American hero!
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Overall
- James
- 07-31-05
Semper Fi
This book exposes the magnificent heartbreak of being a marine in combat. Seen in large part through the eyes (and mouths) of the grunts living through the fog and absurdity of war, the author transports the listener inside a marine squad faced with the horror of the multilation and potential death of its leader. Not for the fainthearted. No doubt combat vets will see themselves in the stories of these men. I did.
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6 people found this helpful
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- Zack
- 04-01-18
Amazing and Riveting!
Amazing book from start to finish! Stories told through the eyes of so many involved! It is a must read to see what our veterans, like myself, go through and what they endure!
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Overall
- Luci
- 07-13-05
The Gift of Valor (unabridged)
Phillips does an excellent job of taking the reader through the ups and downs of Marine life -- for both the Marine and the family left behind. We get to see the human side of the Marine for a change. To those who have family members serving in Iraq, they will recognize the worry, relief, joy, pride and agony. For others, this book provides a good window into the personal struggles faced by those serving in the military and their families.
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2 people found this helpful
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- maz
- 10-19-15
Great story bad narration
Why would you have someone read a story that has no tone and one minute reads slow then speeds up.
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1 person found this helpful
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- aboos
- 11-27-19
Great read, and good all around story
This book was put together well. Great detail insight on how we take care of our own.
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