Courage Under Fire

by Patrick Sheane Duncan

A powder-keg investigation into the actions of the first woman eligible for the Army's Medal of Honor in combat keynotes Duncan's exciting debut. Lt. Col. Nat Serling has been racked with guilt ever since four members of his tank unit died under friendly fire in the Gulf War. Now Nat is assigned the inquiry into another fatal Gulf War incident?one that led to the death of helicopter pilot Cpt. Karen Emma Walden, who is in line for the Medal of Honor. Serling suspects collusion when Walden's crew chief, medic and machine gunner at first supply the same details of the event. But as the three begin to break, their confessions provide vivid, disturbing images of the physical and psychological brutalities of war. Serling, meanwhile, suffers the demons of depressive drinking as he struggles to rebuild his marriage, career and life by assuaging the remorse arising from his own desert storm. Duncan constructs this novel with the slick cinematic skill that has made him a top Hollywood screenwriter (Nick of Time, etc.), and when Serling finally uncovers the truth of what happened both to himself and to Walden, there won't be a dry eye in the house.---From Publisher's Weekly

Genres: Fiction, War, Novels

274 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I shudder to suppose that things like this really happen. I'll never comprehend war.
It's hell on earth, destroying each other.

Thank God for those who serve.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lt. Colonel Nat Serling, a tank commander in the Gulf War is back in Washington and having a hard time with flashbacks of friendly fire from his tank that wiped out one his units APC. He is given the task of investigating the circumstances surrounding the event that initiated the request for Medal of Honor being awarded to a woman Air Evacuation Helicopter pilot who was killed in the line of duty in Iraq. Fighting his own demons with alcohol, he dives into the investigation only to find conflicting reports and remarkably similar after action reports form her crew. A gritty tale with Serling's investigation interspersed with the memories of the surviving crew members he interviews.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is great its a really inspiring story the thing I didn't like was that at the bigening it was kinda boring so it was hard to stay motivated to read it there were chapters that were really good written and then ones that were boring. The thing I liked the most was the ending I think all of that going back and forth was worth it it was such a great ending a lot of action and emotions. Plot was incredible in my opinion definitely recommend.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

can't believe i read this whole book in one day! it was awesome, could not put it down! the story sucks you in. i miss 90s stories.

[Bodosika Bodosika · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short read but interesting.

[Indi Van]

Helden-Moed is het boek dat ik heb gelezen. Auteur is Patrick Sheane Duncan, deze heeft het boek oorspronkelijk in het Engels geschreven maar het mijne is vertaald naar het Nederlands. Het boek telt in totaal 237 leespagina's waar geen illustraties in zijn verwerkt. Het boek is aan Lesa Meredith Duncan opgedragen, zij kreeg na haar dood de Medal of Honor waar het hele verhaal overgaat.

Het boek stond bij mijn oma in de kast, mijn nonkel zit in het leger en las vaak boeken over oorlogen etc... Ik zag het liggen en de kaft sprak mij enorm aan, het aantal pagina's viel zeer goed mee, ik heb het boek zeer vlot kunnen lezen ook omdat het verhaal vlot was beschreven, het was niet moeilijk maar ook niet simpel geschreven. Het verhaal word in de 3de persoon geschreven waardoor ja alles weet dus ook meer weet dan het personage zelf. De personages waren beperkt: Nat Serling als hoofdpersonage en Karen Emma Walden als antagonist, de figuranten waren het gezin van Nat Serling en andere militairen. Nat Serling heeft dus als missie gekregen om de Medal of Honor te prijzen aan Emma nadat hij grondig onderzoek moet plegen over de helden daden die Emma heeft gepleegd in de oorlog, maar hij worstelt zelf met een drankprobleem en zijn gezin die hij door zijn werk weinig ziet. De verhalen over Emma krijgen door het verhaal heen veel wendingen die alles complexer maken over de situatie die overal word gezegd van de oorlog.

Mensen die dit boek willen lezen en niet van oorlogen en militaire onderwerpen houden zou ik dit boek ten sterkste afwijzen, maar als u hier wel bepaalde interesses in zou hebben dan zou ik u willen verzekeren dat dit verhaal u verlangens zullen bevredigen. Het boek dateert wel van 1996 dus het zal iets moeilijker te vinden zijn denk ik maar voor de rest is het boek zeer goed. Mijn finaal besluit over Helden-Moed is dat ik geen nadelen heb ondervonden van et lezen, elke pagina brengt wel iets nieuws om zelf over na te denken, daarom vind ik het een geslaagde leeservaring.

[Sergio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ricordo solo vagamente la trama di questo romanzo ambientato nei giorni della Guerra del Golfo e questo mi fa capire che il giudizio a fine lettura non fu eccessivamente positivo

[Yaniv Ben-Atar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where human nature and the battlefield collide. One of the most powerful stories I've ever read.

[Linda]

I just wanted to scream, I was so angry.

[Joanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this after seeing the movie-it was actually really good. The movie stayed pretty true to the book.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book. The movie was ok, but the book was very good.

[Hildegart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this book at Barnes and Noble and thought it sounded like a good book- this was 3-4 months before the movie came out. Once I read it, I just had to see the movie, too!!

[Gerry Durisin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Military investigation raises old questions of personal responsibility, cowardice -- good movie too, starring Denzel Washington.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the movie and the book. While still basic storyline of movie the book is slightly different. Good read.

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 3 out of 5]

301 - 2016