A powerful biography of the grunts who fight a war

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	• The Gift of Valor: A War Story Michael M. Phillips Broadway, 2006 - 256 pages average customer review:based on 34 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Semper fi

There are still heroes in our times, and this is the story of one of them. Corporal Jason Dunham of the United States Marine Corps has been nominated for the Medal of Honour, according to author Michael Phillips, an embedded journalist who spent several tours in Iraq. Phillips writes that there are many ways to win this highest of awards, as the obstacles at the Crucible course at Parris Island will attest, but the classic way is to save one's fellows by throwing oneself on a grenade. This is precisely what Corporal Dunham did.

In a foreshadowing irony worthy of a Shakespeare play, Dunham and his commanding officer were speaking of ways in which one might survive a grenade attack shortly before the attack. Phillips writes that, 'for Marines at war it was a mundane converation, the battlefield equivalent of the discussion that college students back home might have about last night's keg party.' After all, what does one talk about with fellow Marines in a war zone?

Phillips does an outstanding job at presenting Corporal Dunham the Marine and Jason Dunham the American, showing in careful and caring detail his upbringing and training, as well as the missions he fought in Iraq at Camp Husaybah, a troubled spot near the Iraqi/Syrian border. Phillips gives almost excruiciating detail of Dunham's last mission, the attack and the aftermath, as well as the extraordinary efforts to save his life - episodes of MASH were never like this.

Phillips simultaneously adds a good amount of detail about traditions and the culture of the Marine Corps - this really is a different world, but it is not the monolithic construct it sometimes seems. Phillips quotes from an essay that Dunham wrote about the Marine Corps, in which he describes three types of Marines - the spit-and-polish Marine, the overweight slacker, and the 'more relaxed but good marine'. Dunham saw himself in the later category, and Phillips writes in glowing terms of Dunham's humane leadership style and natural leadership abilities, which were recognised widely by his superiors, companions and subordinates alike.

Like many tales of heroes in war, this is a tragic tale. There are many left behind broken in body, mind and spirit; there are family members and friends who mourn, and a mission as yet unfinished. Phillips concentrates on the tale and task at hand, rarely involving the broader politics of the situation, which also did not really seem to concern Dunham either - his duty as a Marine did not involve questions of that sort.

Dunham's character can clearly be seen not only from the split-second decision to cover the grenade, but from the longer-term actions such as voluntarily extending his enlistment to make sure that he would be with his men. When asked why he would add five months to his time, knowing that it was going to be spent in dangerous situations in Iraq, to Dunham it was simple - 't want to make sure everyone makes it home alive.' While valour of the sort he exhibited on April 14, 2004 is rare and creditable, his more deliberate self-sacrifice is even more indicative of his nature.

Corporal Dunham was faithful to the end, and this book is faithful to his memory, one worthy of being honoured.

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A powerful biography of the grunts who fight a war

A well reported and written book that is conscise, poingnat and powerful. It takes us briefly into the lives of the Marines of one unit. It details where they came from and how they came together in a desert town in Iraq and most importantly how one brief moment in time - and one Marines gut reaction to protect the Marines next to him - changed all their lives.

A very good read.

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Not just another combat story for this Marine Mom

April 14th, 2004, the world changed for many people. Me included. On patrol in Husaybah, the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Kilo Company Marines were patrolling, securing the area after an attack on a Marine convoy.

At a vehicle check, an Iraqi insurgent burst from his vehicle with a loaded grenade, attacking Corporal Jason Dunham and his squad. Corporal Dunham was mortally wounded in the attack while saving the lives of the Marines who fought the insurgent with him. One of the Marines he saved is a young man I have known for fifteen years, who I watched grow up.

Everybody should read this book. It brings the daily lives and duties of our brave Marines to blinding light, and will show you from an insider's view how ALL of these husbands, sons, and fathers are heroes, every day there are out there. Jason's heroism and tragedy is real, not just a sound-bite on your evening news.

Michael M. Phillips has meticulously detailed this event, using painstaking second-by-second accounts of the convoy, the attack, and the vehicle check. He diligently follows Jason's route home, from medical corpsmen to medevac, hospital to hospital, until he reaches American soil at last. There are some gruesome accounts of the Marine's injuries and the surgeries that followed, so be prepared.

This book is not for the squeamish, but war isn't pretty. Combat is not our men and women wearing their dress blues; combat is our men and women wounded, bleeding, and dying. Michaels details the military medical community, and the dedication these men and women have to the combat soldiers they care for.

Anyone who follows my reviews will see that I am a horror aficionado. 'The Gift Of Valor' is the most horrifying book I have ever read, because it is real, because it hits straight to the heart. I cried all through the book and I'm crying as I write this review.

I say it again: Everybody should read this book. Everyone should know what its like for the men and women we rely on everyday; everyone should feel the pain of losing Jason.

To all my marines at Twenty-nine Palms, to my 'special son' Lance Corporal William Hampton, to PFC Kelly Miller, to each and every one of you who came to my house for a weekend of relaxation...know this: "Mom" loves you!

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Gift of Valor

This book is remarkable. My husband, DT1(SW/FMF) Christopher Graham, is mentioned in this book due to his heroic actions in trying to save CPL Jason Dunham. I thank the author for putting real life actions into a book that marks a place in history for all Americans. This book is highly recommended by my family!

Good read

This was a very well written book. Enjoyable and hard to put down.

reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, page 5, 6, 7

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