Hope and Honor

By: Sid Shachnow, Jann Robbins

Narrated by: Brian Emerson

Length: 16 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Major General Sid Shachnow was ten-years-old when he escaped the notorious Kovno concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Lithuania. Later, he traveled to post-war Germany, and he earned a living as a courier for his mother's black market business. His family eventually came to America where he struggled to get an education, held down three jobs, and courted the girl of his dreams, whom he would marry and raise four daughters with.

Major General Shachnow began his career in the U.S. Army as a driver for various officers in Europe, all of whom spotted potential in the young private and encouraged him to become an officer. After nearly 40 years of service to his country, Major General Shachnow could look back on a career and a life with pride, sadness, and a sense of duty spawned from freedom, both lost and earned.

©2004 Sidney Shachnow and Jann Robbins (P)2005 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Schachnow's life certainly demonstrates the title qualities, as well as high professional integrity and a ferocious will to survive....His story comes through clearly and with conviction." (Publishers Weekly)
"A gripping story of a warrior's survival and ultimate victory against all odds." (General Norman Schwarzkopf)
"From surviving Hitler's holocaust to his heroism in Vietnam to commander of all U.S. Special Forces...his story is one of hope and honor." (W.E.B. Griffin)

Wow. From concentration camp to two star general

Not only is the story compelling but the humble tone it is written in makes for an awesome read.
The story revolves around the world Sid he's up in and how it impacted him.
Instead of the usual bravado of how awesome the subject is, instead he leads us through the times with little talk about how great he must have been to overcome these events and science what he did.
He barely mentions when he gets promoted. When he talks about his achievements he uses other people's words of what they said about him.
For those note in the military, it may seem natural to rise to two star general. It is not. Especially not in the draw down time following the Vietnam conflict.
A truly to 10 biography.
I hope that someone goes back and documents his story and writes an historical biography so it can be recorded how historical this man was, in addition to his historical times in which he grew up.

Amazing book

Wow what a read, what a life well lived! A true inspiration for us all!

Fantastic book about the Holocaust & US Military

As someone interested in military history, and a retired Army Sergeant Major, I found this book fascinating. I love the story of MG Shachnows surviving the holocaust and how he tirelessly worked to become a key leader in US Army Special Operations.

riveting

Incredible telling of the life story of a true hero.

LJ % I travel-listening to Gen. Shachnow Lifestory

A wonderful life and credit to his countries, family, career, his military, and his faith.

A life story worth telling.

An amazing story of perseverance, cleverness, achievement in the face of incredible odds. My highest recommendation.

has taken too long to get anywhere

I have listened to as far as chapter 9 of the first tape on this book. I sure hope that the main character turns his life around because he gets into too much trouble to be a true hero. This has taken too long to get to this point in the story. The first tape of this book would be more more accurately named Hope and Not Honor.

I would appreciate it if the write ups for the audible books were more accurate in their description. I have wasted 8 hours on this part of the book going nowhere.