Beyond Valor

World War II's Ranger and Airborne Veterans Reveal the Heart of Combat

By: Patrick K. O'Donnell

Narrated by: Scott Brick

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.

Critic reviews

"The pioneering oral historian Patrick K. O'Donnell has done a wonderful job of making the experiences of America's elite troops come alive again in Beyond Valor. These riveting oral and e-mail accounts by glidermen and rangers and paratroopers are reminiscent of such books by Stephen E. Ambrose as D-Day and Citizen Soldiers. (Douglas Brinkley director of the Eisenhower Center and Professor of History at the University of New Orleans)

"[A] fresh, personal, and revealing look into the past." ( Library Journal)

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

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.

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.

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

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.