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Beyond Glory: Medal of Honor Heroes in Their Own Words
This first oral history of living Medal of Honor winners evokes Flags of Our Fathers with stirring accounts of patriotic valor.
This New York Times best-selling account of battlefield courage celebrates the larger-than-life sacrifices of those awarded the nation's highest honor for valor in combat. Exclusive interviews with these twenty-four men—firsthand accounts of battlefield sacrifice from the greatest generation to Vietnam, along with before-and-after stories—form the core of this classic work. The recipients, as portrayed here, represent a cross-section as diverse as America itself—officers and enlisted men; African Americans, Hispanics, and Caucasians; men who went on to become famous (Daniel Inouye, James Stockdale, Bob Kerrey) and others who returned proudly to small towns. Beyond Glory, in the voices of these heroes, is a testament to the courage of the American nation.
This New York Times best-selling account of battlefield courage celebrates the larger-than-life sacrifices of those awarded the nation's highest honor for valor in combat. Exclusive interviews with these twenty-four men—firsthand accounts of battlefield sacrifice from the greatest generation to Vietnam, along with before-and-after stories—form the core of this classic work. The recipients, as portrayed here, represent a cross-section as diverse as America itself—officers and enlisted men; African Americans, Hispanics, and Caucasians; men who went on to become famous (Daniel Inouye, James Stockdale, Bob Kerrey) and others who returned proudly to small towns. Beyond Glory, in the voices of these heroes, is a testament to the courage of the American nation.
429 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 25, 1905
25 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Larry Smith
8 books1 followerLarry Smith grew up on a farm south of Charlevoix near the area that became the setting for Smith's 1972 novel, The Original. After graduation from the University of Michigan with a degree in English in 1962, Smith began his newspaper career with The Wyoming Eagle in Cheyenne. He subsequently worked as a reporter and editor with five newspapers, including The New York Daily News and The New York Times. Smith says he was fortunate to discover the newspaper business at an early age because he was totally unsuited for anything else. He joined Parade Magazine in 1981, serving as managing editor there for 19 years before retiring in January 2001, when the magazine's circulation exceeded 32 million. His July 4, 2000 Parade article featuring nine Medal of Honor recipients led to Beyond Glory - Medal of Honor Heroes in Their Own Words, published by W.W. Norton, in 2002. The book features first-person accounts by six Medal of Honor recipients from World War II, seven from Korea and 11 from Vietnam, including Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, Admiral James Stockdale and former Senator Bob Kerrey of Nebraska. The book led to his collaboration with Stephen Lang, and the rest is history. It was followed by From the Sands of two Jima to the Deserts of Iraq: The Few and The Proud - Marine Corps Drill Instructors in Their Own Words, a best-seller published in May of 2006 by W.W. Norton. Smith followed that with two Jima - World War Two Veterans Remember the Greatest Battle of the Pacific, published in 2008, which was also well received. Smith has run the New York City Marathon four times and climbed Mt. McKinley in Alaska and Mont Blanc in France, among other summits. He is a member of the Explorer's Club, and a former president of the Overseas Press Club of America. He and his wife Dorothea live on Block Island off the coast of Rhode Island. They have two daughters, Stacey and Jennifer.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 21, 2021
Released in 2004, this book was written from interviews taken from living Medal of Honor recipients and their lives and actions is described in their own words. This makes that some of the stories are well told and others make it difficult to follow. Still recommended if you are into "in their own words" stories.
July 5, 2016
Great Fourth of July reading! Candid interviews with Medal of Honor winners from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. One common theme is that it's almost always guys from the wrong side of the tracks who end up loving this country the most and sacrificing the most to preserve it. This is what liberal columnist Anna Quindlen meant when she described the American military as being made up of people "not smart, not rich, not directed enough for college."
Only she didn't mean it in a nice way.
Only she didn't mean it in a nice way.
June 16, 2021
Nothing Hollywood has ever produced can replicate these true stories. No Rambo, no John Wayne, none of them compare. These stories right here will knock your boots off like no movie can. And as you’re putting those boots back on, this book will teach you some valuable lessons.
Inside Beyond Glory by Larry Smith, you’re getting the first-hand accounts of the incidents that led to these men receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor. They tell their story, in their own words. And you’ll quickly find there are some common threads between them.
Facing imminent death, covered in blood and gore, grotesquely wounded, these men did what they did out of duty and loyalty to: their buddies. Listening to the living words of these heroes tell their stories from the vantage point of time, they also reflect on what motivated them to take action under such horrific conditions. Survival? Certainly. Duty? You bet. But to save their buddies? 100%.
Another common thread between these heroes is, they don’t consider themselves heroes. In fact, they all have a character quality that appears to be lessening in the modern American man: Humility.
Another common thread between these men is, there are no common threads. They come from all walks of life - white, black, Latino, Asian, young, old, rich, poor, from farm boys with hardly any education to officers with Master’s Degrees, from Conscientious Objectors to men who make Rambo look like a freakin’ Ass Clown - they are what we are: American.
As you read, remember: These are soldiers, not politicians. These are men in combat, not The Suits who put them there. It’s a completely different ballgame. Somewhere in there, you’ll understand how Freedom works. Value yours.
Inside Beyond Glory by Larry Smith, you’re getting the first-hand accounts of the incidents that led to these men receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor. They tell their story, in their own words. And you’ll quickly find there are some common threads between them.
Facing imminent death, covered in blood and gore, grotesquely wounded, these men did what they did out of duty and loyalty to: their buddies. Listening to the living words of these heroes tell their stories from the vantage point of time, they also reflect on what motivated them to take action under such horrific conditions. Survival? Certainly. Duty? You bet. But to save their buddies? 100%.
Another common thread between these heroes is, they don’t consider themselves heroes. In fact, they all have a character quality that appears to be lessening in the modern American man: Humility.
Another common thread between these men is, there are no common threads. They come from all walks of life - white, black, Latino, Asian, young, old, rich, poor, from farm boys with hardly any education to officers with Master’s Degrees, from Conscientious Objectors to men who make Rambo look like a freakin’ Ass Clown - they are what we are: American.
As you read, remember: These are soldiers, not politicians. These are men in combat, not The Suits who put them there. It’s a completely different ballgame. Somewhere in there, you’ll understand how Freedom works. Value yours.
October 9, 2019
This book, or another similar book, should be required reading for all high school students or freshmen in college. Our society today, has no idea of the sacrifices made by many men and women in our armed services, so that we can live as we do. These men’s stories were shocking, heartfelt, terrifying, and amazing..... I honor all of them for their bravery and dedication to “just doing their jobs”!
September 4, 2023
My wife Shari gave me this book as a gift. For Christmas. I received a lot of books for my November birthday and Christmas, along with other books I have purchased, so it has taken me some time to get to this book. It turns out to be an excellent book. Most of us have family or friends who have served and many in combat. I am no exception.
This book is an oral history that is written down in book form. It is about medal of honor winners as the title indicates. This about courage displayed on the battlefield. These medal of honor winners are larger than life – or a least were in the time of their testing and response to those tests.
Interviewed were twenty-four men providing firsthand accounts of battlefield sacrifice from the WWII (greatest generation) to Vietnam, and provides before and after stories of these men.
The winners of the MOH represent a cross section of American society and that includes officers and enlisted men, African Americans, Hispanics, and Caucasians; some of whom went on to become far better known. Like Daniel Inouye, James Stockdale, Bob Kerrey, and others who returned proudly to their home towns.
I am sure there are many more who deserve the MOH, but their stories were lost in the din of combat and deceased witnesses. But you and I both know they are out there.
There is clearly a love of country and love of fellow man reflected in each of these stories.
My Uncle Bob served in the Marines in WWII PTO, my father served in Europe in WWII, my late father in law (Tom Chettlebugh) in Korea, as well many of my peers who served, especially in Vietnam. Thousands of my generation served in Vietnam, nearly 59,000 were lost in that war with very many more dying of injuries or other complications (Agent Orange).
Any veteran I have ever talked to declines to talk about combat. These stories first came as a result of a third party researching the model winners, then convincing them to share their story. Some of the writing is graphic of course.
My respect has always been great for our veterans, but it has grown more as I came to know more of our Vietnam veterans as friends and as recently as last year when my wife Shari did an internship at the Atlanta VA Hospital. She shared a lot with me with regard to some of those veterans and their experiences in Vietnam.
I lost a dear, dear friend in Wayne Edmondson to complications from Agent Orange, as well as my cousin Bill McFarland.
For me, all veterans are entitled to the kind of health insurance our congressmen and women get, FIRST. The veterans paid the price and vowed to give up their lives if necessary. Not so with most members of congress. But that’s another story for another day.
Let me close with an appropriate quote: “There are no great men, only great challenges that ordinary men are forced by circumstances to meet.” – Admiral ‘Bull’ Halsey
This book is an oral history that is written down in book form. It is about medal of honor winners as the title indicates. This about courage displayed on the battlefield. These medal of honor winners are larger than life – or a least were in the time of their testing and response to those tests.
Interviewed were twenty-four men providing firsthand accounts of battlefield sacrifice from the WWII (greatest generation) to Vietnam, and provides before and after stories of these men.
The winners of the MOH represent a cross section of American society and that includes officers and enlisted men, African Americans, Hispanics, and Caucasians; some of whom went on to become far better known. Like Daniel Inouye, James Stockdale, Bob Kerrey, and others who returned proudly to their home towns.
I am sure there are many more who deserve the MOH, but their stories were lost in the din of combat and deceased witnesses. But you and I both know they are out there.
There is clearly a love of country and love of fellow man reflected in each of these stories.
My Uncle Bob served in the Marines in WWII PTO, my father served in Europe in WWII, my late father in law (Tom Chettlebugh) in Korea, as well many of my peers who served, especially in Vietnam. Thousands of my generation served in Vietnam, nearly 59,000 were lost in that war with very many more dying of injuries or other complications (Agent Orange).
Any veteran I have ever talked to declines to talk about combat. These stories first came as a result of a third party researching the model winners, then convincing them to share their story. Some of the writing is graphic of course.
My respect has always been great for our veterans, but it has grown more as I came to know more of our Vietnam veterans as friends and as recently as last year when my wife Shari did an internship at the Atlanta VA Hospital. She shared a lot with me with regard to some of those veterans and their experiences in Vietnam.
I lost a dear, dear friend in Wayne Edmondson to complications from Agent Orange, as well as my cousin Bill McFarland.
For me, all veterans are entitled to the kind of health insurance our congressmen and women get, FIRST. The veterans paid the price and vowed to give up their lives if necessary. Not so with most members of congress. But that’s another story for another day.
Let me close with an appropriate quote: “There are no great men, only great challenges that ordinary men are forced by circumstances to meet.” – Admiral ‘Bull’ Halsey
November 2, 2019
Incredible Stories
Stories from some of the men who were given this honor. Their heroism is astonishing and their humility is a common thread throughout each
interview. Why me? I was only doing my job. Their stories of life upon leaving the military reflect another kind of success.
Stories from some of the men who were given this honor. Their heroism is astonishing and their humility is a common thread throughout each
interview. Why me? I was only doing my job. Their stories of life upon leaving the military reflect another kind of success.
July 9, 2025
Couldn't put it down. Each chapter tells the story of how a different Medal of Honor recipient distinguished themselves.
May 31, 2013
Adam C. Zern gives his thoughts . . .
"My first semester at Rollins I heard about Beyond Glory. My professor mentioned the courage and initiative of some of the Medal of Honor recipients to prove an academic point. I became minimally interested in the book and put it on my Amazon Wish List where it sat for almost two years.
I eventually ordered the book and I enjoyed the stories that were contained therein. The book's greatest strength, however, is also its greatest weakness. The book provides Medal of Honor recipient's stories from three major conflicts: World War 2, Korea, and Vietnam. The accounts are quite literally transcribed interviews. This gives the stories a sense of realism, but many of the nuances of storytelling and effective reporting of events are almost entirely omitted. The narratives will wander to various tangents and the requisite ability to delineate complex military logistics and situations is missing. This makes some of the stories difficult to follow and they lose some of their impact. Do not expect to enjoy the war-time poetry prose that Tim O'Brien is able to compose or the masterful recreations exhibited by Mark Bowden.
Having said that, the stories are effective in getting across the main theme of the book--"in their own words." The stories can be brutally honest and jarring. War is absolute hell, and many of the stories told from first hand accounts make that abundantly clear. Most of the Medal of Honor recipients describe their courageous actions and decisions as being made out of a sense of duty. It had to be done. Lives had to be saved, so they acted. The simplicity of motivation is refreshing and quite inspiring. Furthermore, many of the recipients are genuinely patriotic people in the best way possible, and they are proof that America is filled with heroes. Some of them are just given the opportunity to be awarded for it; luckily, some of them have given their experiences in their own words in this book and there are valuable lessons to be learned from them."
http://thethousanderclub.blogspot.com/
"My first semester at Rollins I heard about Beyond Glory. My professor mentioned the courage and initiative of some of the Medal of Honor recipients to prove an academic point. I became minimally interested in the book and put it on my Amazon Wish List where it sat for almost two years.
I eventually ordered the book and I enjoyed the stories that were contained therein. The book's greatest strength, however, is also its greatest weakness. The book provides Medal of Honor recipient's stories from three major conflicts: World War 2, Korea, and Vietnam. The accounts are quite literally transcribed interviews. This gives the stories a sense of realism, but many of the nuances of storytelling and effective reporting of events are almost entirely omitted. The narratives will wander to various tangents and the requisite ability to delineate complex military logistics and situations is missing. This makes some of the stories difficult to follow and they lose some of their impact. Do not expect to enjoy the war-time poetry prose that Tim O'Brien is able to compose or the masterful recreations exhibited by Mark Bowden.
Having said that, the stories are effective in getting across the main theme of the book--"in their own words." The stories can be brutally honest and jarring. War is absolute hell, and many of the stories told from first hand accounts make that abundantly clear. Most of the Medal of Honor recipients describe their courageous actions and decisions as being made out of a sense of duty. It had to be done. Lives had to be saved, so they acted. The simplicity of motivation is refreshing and quite inspiring. Furthermore, many of the recipients are genuinely patriotic people in the best way possible, and they are proof that America is filled with heroes. Some of them are just given the opportunity to be awarded for it; luckily, some of them have given their experiences in their own words in this book and there are valuable lessons to be learned from them."
http://thethousanderclub.blogspot.com/
February 18, 2009
I liked this book. Mostly because I love books about military history, but I also enjoyed the way that it was written. It is in a journalistic style(probably because it was written by a journalist rather than a novelist). It takes a little getting used to, but by the second or third chapter you get in the grove of things. It is a just a series of stories from them men themselves. In their words, and some of them are just your good ol' military boys. You feel like you are right there talking to them your self. Many of them remind me of my grandfather, and I wish that I would have taken the time to talk with him more. I like the fact that it spans several time frames too, you can really see that even as the years pass, with the exception of technology, war never changes.
May 27, 2013
Beyond Glory is a book every American should read. This book shows just how much dedication, sacrifice and courage our troops have put into the wars and keeping our country free. There were many times I had to stop reading this book because I was so moved by something that happened, the soldier said a profound statement or I had to wipe tears from my eyes. All of the Medal of Honor recipients in this book said the same thing: That the Medal of Honor has changed them and they must respect the medal every day for the rest of their lives. They must live with character, dignity, courage and compassion to others because they represent what the Medal of Honor stands for. I really appreciated that they felt this way. God bless our troops!
October 12, 2011
This book include awe inspiring stories of men of courage and valor who have defended our nation. For the most part you can understand why particular actions were awarded the Medal of Honor. However, some actions just left you wondering why an action was worthy of the highest medal.
July 25, 2012
A loaner from my father. Straightforward stories from a very diverse, often funny group of Medal recipients whose common refrain was that they did what had to be done, and earned the Medal on behalf of those who fought beside them.
June 7, 2010
great book with real life story's from the guys who earned their Medal of Honor ribbons
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December 28, 2008355 Smi
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews