You Don't Lose 'Til You Quit Trying

Lessons on Adversity and Victory from a Vietnam Veteran and Medal of Honor Recipient

By: Sammy Lee Davis, Caroline Lambert

Narrated by: Joe Barrett

Length: 8 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

On November 18, 1967, Private First Class Davis' artillery unit was hit by a massive enemy offensive. At 21 years old, he resolved to face the onslaught and prepared to die. Soon he would have a perforated kidney, crushed ribs, a broken vertebra, his flesh ripped by beehive darts, a bullet in his thigh, and burns all over his body.

Ignoring his injuries, he manned a two-ton Howitzer by himself, crossed a canal under heavy fire to rescue three wounded American soldiers, and kept fighting until the enemy retreated. His heroism that day earned him a Congressional Medal of Honor - the ceremony footage of which ended up being used in the movie Forrest Gump.

You Don't Lose 'Til You Quit Trying chronicles how Davis' childhood in the American heartland prepared him for the worst night of his life and how that night set off a lifetime of battling against debilitating injuries. But he also battled for his fellow veterans, speaking on their behalf for 40 years to help heal the wounds and memorialize the brotherhood that war could forge. Here, listeners will learn of Sammy Lee Davis' extraordinary life - the courage, the pain, and the triumph.

©2016 Sammy Lee Davis and Caroline Lambert (P)2016 Tantor

Very inspiring

I throughly enjoyed this book. Me Davis is a very relatable hero. Thank you for sharing your story and your service Mr Davis

My Friend Sammy

Where does You Don't Lose 'Til You Quit Trying rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

at the top of my reading list of all time.

What did you like best about this story?

I personally know Sammy and he is just like the book says he is. Down to earth, quiet gentalman. And he does say "Yes "Mam". The realistic way the book is read(audio) is just wonderfully put together bring the past into play with the war brings back a lot of memories of fellow warriors. Myself I am a Vietnam Era Veteran I saw the look on their faces when they came home. So I know how Sammy must of felt as well as the others in the book. I Honor Each and Everyone of Them.

Which character – as performed by Joe Barrett – was your favorite?

Sammy of course and the soldiers he rescued and when he found out they lived

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I cried cause I remember the look on the returning soldiers. And the heart wrenching stories that came out of that war. And are now for some just coming out. It is called PTSD

Riveting.

From the first chapter this Audible book held me in its grip. I recommend both the print version and most of all the narrative edition. I will also pass this on to my VA counselor to aid in his circle sessions with all of his veterans he works with. This work is powerful for anyone dealing with the kind of stress being in the military produces. Thanks Sammie.

A humble man who did outstanding things.

I was a great book. it touched on most topics that veterans of the Vietnam war and last few Wars have gone through touched on how we feel inside after War. this book talked about his Metal of Honor citation but I feel it was more of a how it feels to serve kind of story. how your brother in arms next to you and more how we feel towards each other. Welcome home SFC Sammy Davis.--- SGT Tyler LaRowe

Creed to Live By

This book touched my soul and my heart. Thank you Mr Davis for your service and your honesty. Although several parts moved me, the epilogue made me speechless. His dedication to America and our values is beyond reproach and I just wish all Americans understood what it meant to be born or become a legal citizen of this great country. God bless Mr Davis and all those that have fought for our country and especially those families that don’t know what happened to their love one.

Great read! Awesome Man

Would you consider the audio edition of You Don't Lose 'Til You Quit Trying to be better than the print version?

Wouldn't know?

What other book might you compare You Don't Lose 'Til You Quit Trying to and why?

Any other personal development type book.

What does Joe Barrett bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

?

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Cry, well there was certainly dust in my car or somethings a couple of times in the book.

Any additional comments?

My only wish for the Vietnam Vet's is that I wish they would not have listened to those that asked them not to attack those in America that spit on them when they came home. It should have been a full on go! I think it back fired on the military and empowered the hippies even more. The hippies of the time even seem proud of their actions today. No combat vet should ever be spit upon or have things thrown at them, and especially they should NEVER be ordered to not defend themselves. I don't care what the T.V. cameras would have shown, these are warriors not wuss's like the people that gave them the orders to do nothing......HUGE regret, and I'm sorry when I came back from war if someone were to spit on me I wouldn't of held back like Mr. Davis and his fellow soldiers did!

Awesome!

Privileged to meet Mr. Davis back in 2011 (ADS Expo VA Beach). Great soldier, better man!