VALOR - MARK LEE GREENBLATT - true stories of bravery and courage

The bland title "VALOR" could be overlooked by the casual bookstore browser, but pick up the book and it'll be hard to put down.

File it in the category of "Profiles in Courage," where you go for an hour or two of breathtaking adventure and the even more satisfying feeling of inspiration.

Back when President Kennedy's "Profiles in Courage" came out, war was still glorified, and "two-fisted action" magazines with titles ranging from "True" to "Saga" enjoyed prime space on a newsstand. In a way, the writing style here harks back to that era. Here's a bit of Chris Choay's battlefield drama:

"Choay continued to creep up on the enemy. He finally got within sixty-five feet of the insurgents — he was an easy target for shooters of their ability. Choay stop;ped and prepared for the assault.

And that's when he realized he was all alone.

"I told my men to follow me, but it was so loud with all the explosions, shooting, and people yelling that no one heard me. I had no one there with me. They were all still back where I left them...(it was) the loneliest moment of my life. I was dead center in the middle of the objective, all alone. I was scared, and I was ready to die."

Is this why his story is one of the ones Greenblatt chose? No, it had to be even more horrific. Determined to go out in a blaze of glory...

"Choay took a deep breath and prepared to shoot. He pulled the trigger. The weapon jammed."

Now, under the most frightening conditions and the greatest pressure, the soldier had to keep his head (already a miracle it was still on) and figure out how to get his weapon to work...and how to somehow pick off three of the enemy without any of them instantly pin-pointing his location and blasting him to bits.

It's not all blood and guts in these stories, or brains or willpower. Some of the stories are memorable for their heart...including the story of Michael Waltz's terrifying experiences in battle. His Afghan guide was by his side: "Waltz could hear Sumar gasping in his arms. The man's blood covered Waltz's hands and drenched his uniform...." The guide did not make it, but the story doesn't end there...it continues with the soldier desperately communicating to other Afghans how vital it was to return the body home...no matter the danger. For Waltz, the memory of the event haunted him even when he made it safely back to the States. It extended to a different form of quiet heroism, as he vowed to help the guide's family...against all odds.

Again, "VALOR" is not a catchy title, and the praise on the back might be a turn-off for some. All the quotes come from military men, including Sergeant Fist Class Sammy L. Davis, who enthuses, "It's obvious from these incredible stories that we certainly do still have the spirit of Audie Murphy in our military." But what makes this book worth anyone's time and attention is that while much of the narrative echoes scenes in the war movies that Audie Murphy (or John Wayne) made, the stories aren't just glorifications of combat triumph. The author here doesn't present boastful soldiers happy to tell their stories...many here are modest, glad to have made it out alive, and traumatized by the fate of those who didn't.