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The Hero Next Door: Stories of Patriotism and Purpose
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Emmy Award–winning ABC News anchor Martha Raddatz shares inspiring profiles of the 9/11 generation of warriors and their families who have shown courage and resilience on and off the battlefield
“An antidote to the cynicism that surrounds us, a celebration of sacrifice, selflessness, and moral courage. It is exactly the book we need.” —Mitchell Zuckoff, New York Times bestselling author of 13 Hours • “I have read hundreds of books on the military, and none has impacted me as profoundly as this one. Raddatz has captured the humanity and heroism (and the humor) of our nation’s troops and their loved ones. Riveting, inspiring, and beautifully told.” —Andrew Carroll, author of War Letters • “Powerful and profoundly immersive.” —Kathyn Bigelow, Academy Award–winning director of The Hurt Locker
For twenty-five years covering America's wars, Martha Raddatz has seen the courage and resilience of the men and women who have been fighting America’s wars since 9/11. What motivates them to do such impossible things? How do they find the strength to walk towards danger, to improvise in the heat of the moment and start over when things don’t go as planned? The Hero Next Door offers a dozen portraits of servicemen and women who are every bit as inspiring as those of the Greatest Generation. Every one of them has shown awe-inspiring strength of character, faced daunting odds in, and come out stronger. What is it about military service that inspires such selfless service and what can we learn from them?
Take Kevin Shaeffer, a naval officer working at the Pentagon on 9/11, whose experience on that day fueled his determination to hunt down Osama bin Laden. Or Mark Little, who swore the day an IED blew up his convoy in Iraq was the best day of his life, wouldn't let the loss of his legs keep him off the ice, and made it his mission, once he'd recovered, to help veterans rebuild their lives when they were down. Or Josh Webster, who dangled by a rope under enemy fire to rescue a fallen officer in the mountains of Afghanistan. Or Rocco Armonda, a highly skilled surgeon who pioneered a new way of treating traumatic brain injury in Iraq. Or Danielle “Purple” Thiriot and Charles “Wingnut” Wickware, who, once they started flying, knew exactly what their mission was. Many veterans returned from Iraq and Afghanistan with wounds that never fully healed. There isn't one of them who would say they could have done it alone.
Life can turn on a moment, and who’s to say what we’ll do? That, Martha Raddatz tells us, is when you spot the real when no one is watching. “Individually, their stories are deeply inspiring,” she writes. “Together, they offer something beyond insight into what it means to live with a life-defining courage and sense of purpose.”
“An antidote to the cynicism that surrounds us, a celebration of sacrifice, selflessness, and moral courage. It is exactly the book we need.” —Mitchell Zuckoff, New York Times bestselling author of 13 Hours • “I have read hundreds of books on the military, and none has impacted me as profoundly as this one. Raddatz has captured the humanity and heroism (and the humor) of our nation’s troops and their loved ones. Riveting, inspiring, and beautifully told.” —Andrew Carroll, author of War Letters • “Powerful and profoundly immersive.” —Kathyn Bigelow, Academy Award–winning director of The Hurt Locker
For twenty-five years covering America's wars, Martha Raddatz has seen the courage and resilience of the men and women who have been fighting America’s wars since 9/11. What motivates them to do such impossible things? How do they find the strength to walk towards danger, to improvise in the heat of the moment and start over when things don’t go as planned? The Hero Next Door offers a dozen portraits of servicemen and women who are every bit as inspiring as those of the Greatest Generation. Every one of them has shown awe-inspiring strength of character, faced daunting odds in, and come out stronger. What is it about military service that inspires such selfless service and what can we learn from them?
Take Kevin Shaeffer, a naval officer working at the Pentagon on 9/11, whose experience on that day fueled his determination to hunt down Osama bin Laden. Or Mark Little, who swore the day an IED blew up his convoy in Iraq was the best day of his life, wouldn't let the loss of his legs keep him off the ice, and made it his mission, once he'd recovered, to help veterans rebuild their lives when they were down. Or Josh Webster, who dangled by a rope under enemy fire to rescue a fallen officer in the mountains of Afghanistan. Or Rocco Armonda, a highly skilled surgeon who pioneered a new way of treating traumatic brain injury in Iraq. Or Danielle “Purple” Thiriot and Charles “Wingnut” Wickware, who, once they started flying, knew exactly what their mission was. Many veterans returned from Iraq and Afghanistan with wounds that never fully healed. There isn't one of them who would say they could have done it alone.
Life can turn on a moment, and who’s to say what we’ll do? That, Martha Raddatz tells us, is when you spot the real when no one is watching. “Individually, their stories are deeply inspiring,” she writes. “Together, they offer something beyond insight into what it means to live with a life-defining courage and sense of purpose.”
368 pages, Hardcover
Published May 26, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
June 4, 2026
Love the book! Written super well as a bunch of mini biographies that kept me engaged with everyone’s story. A great reminder that regardless of political circumstances there are still hero’s serving.
July 1, 2026
Engaging, Moving, Inspiring. The stories Martha Raddatz shares in The Hero Next Door are powerful. I’m grateful for the brave men and women of the our military and thankful for the sacrifices they and their families make, every day. I’m glad I listened to this book and appreciate Raddatz sharing these stories, a welcome reminder of humanity and our real heroes.
October 15, 2026
This is not normally my type of book, but I’m glad I read it! I never really follow anything military-related at all but these stories show true patriotism and how much they cared to be there for their country!
August 27, 2026
For twenty-five years Martha Raddatz has seen the courage and resilience of the men and women who have been fighting America's wars since 9/11.
The Hero Next Door offers a glimpse of servicemen and women who are every bit as inspiring as those of the Greatest Generation.
Many veterans returned from Iraq and Afghanistan with wounds that never fully healed. There isn't one of them who would say they could have done it alone.
Life has so much to offer each and everyone one of us (civilian or soldier) and can turn on a moment, and who's to say what we'll do when that moment arises?
Well worth the time sit back, read stories of veterans that loved this country, took an oath, served next to their many brothers and sisters from ALL walks of life and when brought together as the branches of service (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines) did they meet the challenge and sacrifice themselves their lives and affected love ones, family and friends.
Bravo Martha Raddatz ….thank you
The Hero Next Door offers a glimpse of servicemen and women who are every bit as inspiring as those of the Greatest Generation.
Many veterans returned from Iraq and Afghanistan with wounds that never fully healed. There isn't one of them who would say they could have done it alone.
Life has so much to offer each and everyone one of us (civilian or soldier) and can turn on a moment, and who's to say what we'll do when that moment arises?
Well worth the time sit back, read stories of veterans that loved this country, took an oath, served next to their many brothers and sisters from ALL walks of life and when brought together as the branches of service (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines) did they meet the challenge and sacrifice themselves their lives and affected love ones, family and friends.
Bravo Martha Raddatz ….thank you
June 1, 2026
“How best to live a life that has been so permanently altered?” Captain Derek Herrera
The Hero Next Door offers a glimpse into the lives of servicemen and women who fought on the front lines fighting America’s wars since 9/11. Some of these men and women were only in high school when the Twin Towers were struck, but each of them felt a calling to serve their country.
Derek Herrera was deployed to Afghanistan in June 2012. His mission was to disrupt the flow of Taliban weapons and the fighters themselves. While on the roof of a farmhouse, surrounded by heavy gunfire, Derek was hit. His injury left him paralyzed from the chest down. As he began to heal and realized his paralysis was permanent he asked himself, “How do I live my best life when it has been so permanently altered?” He went on the design and create a catheter for paralyzed men. He transformed his physical and mental trauma into purpose. Derek’s is just one of the remarkable stories of heroism and patriotism in this book.
I think what makes this books so deeply moving is Martha Raddatz, who is the Chief Global Affairs Correspondent reporting for ABC News, developed trust and eventually a friendship with each of the veterans she portrayed. She personally knows and loves each of the people whose story she highlights. Her research is not from books, but from face-to-face contact and years of building relationships with veterans and their families.
The Hero Next Door offers a glimpse into the lives of servicemen and women who fought on the front lines fighting America’s wars since 9/11. Some of these men and women were only in high school when the Twin Towers were struck, but each of them felt a calling to serve their country.
Derek Herrera was deployed to Afghanistan in June 2012. His mission was to disrupt the flow of Taliban weapons and the fighters themselves. While on the roof of a farmhouse, surrounded by heavy gunfire, Derek was hit. His injury left him paralyzed from the chest down. As he began to heal and realized his paralysis was permanent he asked himself, “How do I live my best life when it has been so permanently altered?” He went on the design and create a catheter for paralyzed men. He transformed his physical and mental trauma into purpose. Derek’s is just one of the remarkable stories of heroism and patriotism in this book.
I think what makes this books so deeply moving is Martha Raddatz, who is the Chief Global Affairs Correspondent reporting for ABC News, developed trust and eventually a friendship with each of the veterans she portrayed. She personally knows and loves each of the people whose story she highlights. Her research is not from books, but from face-to-face contact and years of building relationships with veterans and their families.
June 23, 2026
Reading The Hero Next Door hit differently for me than it probably would for most readers. The day after September 11th, I dropped out of college and quickly joined the military. Less than two years later, I was part of the initial push into Iraq in 2003. So when Martha Raddatz tells the stories of the young men and women who answered the call after 9/11, these aren't just historical accounts to me. They feel familiar. They feel personal. They remind me of people I served with, people I knew, and people who never came home. In many ways, this book feels like the post 9/11 generation's version of Tom Brokaw's The Greatest Generation. A collection of stories about ordinary people who found themselves living through extraordinary times and chose to step forward when their country needed them.
One thing I really appreciated about this book is that it pushes back against the lazy narrative that younger generations lack toughness, patriotism, work ethic, or a willingness to sacrifice. That's complete bullshit. The stories in this book are proof of that. Raddatz highlights people from different backgrounds, different walks of life, and different circumstances, yet they all share common traits: courage, resilience, loyalty, and a willingness to put something larger than themselves first. The heroism she writes about isn't limited to the battlefield either. Some stories involve combat, while others involve sacrifice, perseverance, leadership, and simply doing the right thing when nobody is watching. The book serves as a reminder that heroism doesn't always look like what Hollywood tells us it should.
I also found myself reflecting on how complicated it can feel to be a veteran today. The current political climate has turned military service, patriotism, and even the American flag into political weapons, and frankly, that's frustrating as hell. For those of us who served and who may strongly disagree with the people currently in power, it can sometimes feel like our service has been hijacked and repackaged into something we don't recognize. Books like The Hero Next Door are important because they strip all of that away. They remind us what service was actually about: duty, loyalty, sacrifice, friendship, and answering a call when your country needed you. Martha Raddatz does a fantastic job capturing those values without turning them into a political statement. More than anything, this book reminded me that there are still plenty of good people in this country doing hard things for the right reasons. They may not make the news every night, but they're still out there. And that's a message worth remembering.
One thing I really appreciated about this book is that it pushes back against the lazy narrative that younger generations lack toughness, patriotism, work ethic, or a willingness to sacrifice. That's complete bullshit. The stories in this book are proof of that. Raddatz highlights people from different backgrounds, different walks of life, and different circumstances, yet they all share common traits: courage, resilience, loyalty, and a willingness to put something larger than themselves first. The heroism she writes about isn't limited to the battlefield either. Some stories involve combat, while others involve sacrifice, perseverance, leadership, and simply doing the right thing when nobody is watching. The book serves as a reminder that heroism doesn't always look like what Hollywood tells us it should.
I also found myself reflecting on how complicated it can feel to be a veteran today. The current political climate has turned military service, patriotism, and even the American flag into political weapons, and frankly, that's frustrating as hell. For those of us who served and who may strongly disagree with the people currently in power, it can sometimes feel like our service has been hijacked and repackaged into something we don't recognize. Books like The Hero Next Door are important because they strip all of that away. They remind us what service was actually about: duty, loyalty, sacrifice, friendship, and answering a call when your country needed you. Martha Raddatz does a fantastic job capturing those values without turning them into a political statement. More than anything, this book reminded me that there are still plenty of good people in this country doing hard things for the right reasons. They may not make the news every night, but they're still out there. And that's a message worth remembering.
June 26, 2026
I listened to the audiobook version of this book. The author narrates and does a very fine job. I really enjoyed listening to the stories. Many examples of
heroism, some from unexpected avenues, and from all walks of life. And as expected, many had me shaking my head, would I have behaved as admirably? Others caused me to really have to hold back emotion. Highly recommend.
heroism, some from unexpected avenues, and from all walks of life. And as expected, many had me shaking my head, would I have behaved as admirably? Others caused me to really have to hold back emotion. Highly recommend.
August 11, 2026
This was one of those books that everyone should read. It's not an easy one though. Some of the stories are so difficult that you need to give yourself a break before going to the next chapter. Those who serve our country are a special breed, and for that, I thank them for their service. As a mom, I was taken emotionally with the chapter, A Mother's Love, about two extraordinary women who stepped up when their sons returned from the middle east war with horrific brain injuries. With their determination,, they kept going when doctors didn't think there was a future for their sons. A mother's love, indeed.
Also impressive was the chapter, The Skull Cracker, about Rocco Armonda, a neurosurgeon who served our country and patched up our guys on the battlefield, and then, after retiring from the service, volunteering in hospitals in Ukraine. The procedures he innovated during his time in battlefield hospitals, saved more lives than ever before.
"Draped in sea-blue surgical scrubs, we are standing together over an open skull. Just inches beneath us, on an operating table, is a brain pulsing through a five- or six-inch opening where a bone saw carefully removed a portion of the skull. Dr. Armonda is gently and skillfully probing the glittering mass, searching for bits of shrapnel.
The man on the table, a severely wounded Ukrainian soldier in his twenties, was hit by Russian artillery earlier that day. I have seen many images of the human brain, but never a real one up close. I was also keenly aware that the brain on the table belonged to someone's son, or husband or father."
That was just the start of the chapter...
Trailblazers is a chapter that detailed the service of Rosemariner, and Danielle Thiriot, Navy pilots who bravely served overseas. Their service inspired other women to take up flying and service as well. I wonder what the future holds for them and others in the wake of a DOD run by Hegseth.
Not an easy book to read, as I felt I needed time to reflect on each and every chapter, but well worth knowing those whose stories Martha Raddatz told.
Also impressive was the chapter, The Skull Cracker, about Rocco Armonda, a neurosurgeon who served our country and patched up our guys on the battlefield, and then, after retiring from the service, volunteering in hospitals in Ukraine. The procedures he innovated during his time in battlefield hospitals, saved more lives than ever before.
"Draped in sea-blue surgical scrubs, we are standing together over an open skull. Just inches beneath us, on an operating table, is a brain pulsing through a five- or six-inch opening where a bone saw carefully removed a portion of the skull. Dr. Armonda is gently and skillfully probing the glittering mass, searching for bits of shrapnel.
The man on the table, a severely wounded Ukrainian soldier in his twenties, was hit by Russian artillery earlier that day. I have seen many images of the human brain, but never a real one up close. I was also keenly aware that the brain on the table belonged to someone's son, or husband or father."
That was just the start of the chapter...
Trailblazers is a chapter that detailed the service of Rosemariner, and Danielle Thiriot, Navy pilots who bravely served overseas. Their service inspired other women to take up flying and service as well. I wonder what the future holds for them and others in the wake of a DOD run by Hegseth.
Not an easy book to read, as I felt I needed time to reflect on each and every chapter, but well worth knowing those whose stories Martha Raddatz told.
May 29, 2026
This is a book about heroes: the military men, their families, the support people. “There is no sure way to spot a hero.” Well, maybe “the one sure way to spot a hero may be to look for the ones who insist they are not.” In a war zone you learn “how a moment can reveal character, and I have learned valuable lessons from the service men and -women I have come to know, life lessons about courage and selflessness, purpose and resilience, that have relevance for us all. I also learned, early on in my time as a war correspondent, that true heroes are rarely the ones you’d imagine.” The people featured in this book “represent the generation that has answered the call to service since 9/11, who collectively serve as powerful antidotes to the corrosive cynicism that prevails in so much of our culture today.” The book read like a string of short stories, but that underlying thread of heroism and purpose, in small ways and large, connected them all. I was as much impressed by author Martha Raddatz as by her subjects.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
This review is based on an advance copy.
This book has ten chapters that each tell the story of a different veteran or group of veterans and their families. As she says in her introduction, while people may agree or disagree with a war, there are people behind all the headlines we read. They are doing incredibly brave things and making huge sacrifices and they should be appreciated and honored. This book does an adequate job of spotlighting some of these people from all walks of life and with all different roles, both within the military itself and from the military families. I do think that the variety of people spotlighted here is a huge benefit. The effect on the families of their loved ones returning permanently injured or not at all is also shown here, something that has far less awareness than stories of the military members themselves.
Overall a good read, but a bit repetitive at times. The perfect book for Memorial Day.
This book has ten chapters that each tell the story of a different veteran or group of veterans and their families. As she says in her introduction, while people may agree or disagree with a war, there are people behind all the headlines we read. They are doing incredibly brave things and making huge sacrifices and they should be appreciated and honored. This book does an adequate job of spotlighting some of these people from all walks of life and with all different roles, both within the military itself and from the military families. I do think that the variety of people spotlighted here is a huge benefit. The effect on the families of their loved ones returning permanently injured or not at all is also shown here, something that has far less awareness than stories of the military members themselves.
Overall a good read, but a bit repetitive at times. The perfect book for Memorial Day.
August 5, 2026
The true hero is the one who doesn’t think he or she is a hero. They don’t boast, they don’t put up statues to themselves or hang giant self-portraits on public buildings. These are the individuals who when the time comes to step up do so with great humility, courage, and respect for their fellow human beings. Martha Raddatz provides portraits of about a dozen “heroes,” men, women, and mothers and fathers who show us all what a true hero is made of. Raddatz is a natural storyteller and every one of the chapters is moving, emotionally engaging, rich in detail, yet reflecting of the character and individuality of each hero. These are the heroes of today, the post 9/11 heroes, our present day Greatest Generation.
October 12, 2026
Audio book.
"The one sure way to spot a hero is to look for the ones who insist they are not."
Raddatz shares gritty, fascinating experiences of those who have served in the US Military since 9/11. I especially enjoyed the chapter Trailblazers about female combat pilots.
Some experiences are so harrowing! Often difficult to read or hear though human resilience continues.
Mental health is still such an issue.
"More than 7000 U.S. Military personnel have died during active operations in post 9/11 conflicts.Veteran and active duty suicides exceed 30,000." Utterly heartbreaking.
As for trivia, Martha Raddatz, ABC News Chief Global Affairs journalist, was born in Idaho Falls but states she's from Salt Lake City.
"The one sure way to spot a hero is to look for the ones who insist they are not."
Raddatz shares gritty, fascinating experiences of those who have served in the US Military since 9/11. I especially enjoyed the chapter Trailblazers about female combat pilots.
Some experiences are so harrowing! Often difficult to read or hear though human resilience continues.
Mental health is still such an issue.
"More than 7000 U.S. Military personnel have died during active operations in post 9/11 conflicts.Veteran and active duty suicides exceed 30,000." Utterly heartbreaking.
As for trivia, Martha Raddatz, ABC News Chief Global Affairs journalist, was born in Idaho Falls but states she's from Salt Lake City.
June 9, 2026
This one hit differently. I have people I love who serve, and I had to take The Hero Next Door one chapter at a time — giving myself space to breathe between each one.
Martha Raddatz introduces us to ten men and women who would call what they did ordinary. We know better. These are people who run toward danger, who sign up willingly, who sacrifice more than most of us will ever understand. And Raddatz doesn't forget the families left behind to pick up the pieces — their story is in here too. We may not all agree on war. But I believe we can agree on this: these are heroes. Every one of them. Deeply moving, beautifully written, and an important read — especially right now.
Martha Raddatz introduces us to ten men and women who would call what they did ordinary. We know better. These are people who run toward danger, who sign up willingly, who sacrifice more than most of us will ever understand. And Raddatz doesn't forget the families left behind to pick up the pieces — their story is in here too. We may not all agree on war. But I believe we can agree on this: these are heroes. Every one of them. Deeply moving, beautifully written, and an important read — especially right now.
June 19, 2026
Patriotism is Still Alive in America
Martha Raddatz gives a beautiful, broad view of honor, loyalty and patriotism in several different categories of American lives and characters that is still alive and well in our country. For anyone who thinks that the old fashioned values are lost on today's youth, her stories show how wrong that notion truly is. Her stories show the strength and hard work in getting through extraordinarily tough situations from all different angles, that people still have in abundance. She shows a variety of the forms of heroism that appear all around us all the time. Great read!!
Martha Raddatz gives a beautiful, broad view of honor, loyalty and patriotism in several different categories of American lives and characters that is still alive and well in our country. For anyone who thinks that the old fashioned values are lost on today's youth, her stories show how wrong that notion truly is. Her stories show the strength and hard work in getting through extraordinarily tough situations from all different angles, that people still have in abundance. She shows a variety of the forms of heroism that appear all around us all the time. Great read!!
September 9, 2026
The author interviews soldiers and talks about their service, the military, their injuries, how they feel about their service and their families impact from the soldier's service. The running theme is that they make such a significant bond with their soldier-mates/team that they cannot leave and return to life as they lived it previously. Post traumatic stress (PTS) is considerable after the soldiers leave the service, to the point that some commit suicide. There is some discussion about PTS but research is ongoing and we certainly have not arrived at a cure for everyone. I think that the author has brought to light the impact of military service, the good and the bad.
July 16, 2026
Inspirational book by the author. With every HERO written about, I became teary eyed. Knowing what the injured heroes went through before, during, and after their injuries, just to survive. The trail blazers of the other stories. The most heart wrenching tears were Martha's interviews and investigational information on the mothers who cared for their injured sons/heroes after their discharge to HOME, and not to a nursing home. A mother's love and caring can never be diminished. It's all encompassing forever.
August 18, 2026
Wow! What a great compilation of various military perspectives. As a mother myself, I especially enjoyed the final stories about Debbie Schultz and her son Steven and Gail and her son Shurvon. The character, grit and pride of everyone in this book was apparent. The book gave multiple accounts that dove down deep to the root families of our military, behind every man or woman in their uniform is a family and friends behind them. I’m forever grateful no only for our military members, but the families that support them.
August 27, 2026
If you need to know why we stand for the flag, read this book.
It’s only a very small look at the sacrifices our soldiers give. The men and women who come home paralyzed, missing limbs, broken with wounds you can’t see, lost relationships, and the ultimate coming home in a casket draped in our flag.
This book gives you a small window of what they have gone through for us. The love and loyalty they have for their country.
It’s an amazing book
Have tissues handy
God Bless our soldiers!
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
It’s only a very small look at the sacrifices our soldiers give. The men and women who come home paralyzed, missing limbs, broken with wounds you can’t see, lost relationships, and the ultimate coming home in a casket draped in our flag.
This book gives you a small window of what they have gone through for us. The love and loyalty they have for their country.
It’s an amazing book
Have tissues handy
God Bless our soldiers!
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
June 8, 2026
First I would like to say Thank you for your service to each person highlighted in this novel. Heartbreaking and heartwarming read of heroes. I was given an advanced reader copy of this well written novel by NetGalley and I am freely sharing my review. #netgalley @netgalley #martharaddatz @authormartharaddarz #avidreaderpress @avidreaderpress #simonandschusterpublisher @simonandschusterpublisher
June 15, 2026
My first thought ws why is an 88 year old woman with no military contact reading a book like this. Then, I realized it was a feel good book. Each of the persons interviewed had had a devastating war experience, and, yet, they and their families had made conditions so they could live a life that was fulfilling. The author inserts her relationship with the subjects of the book. There is the right amount of this candor. Congratulations, Martha Raddatz. A job well done.
June 20, 2026
Great stories of men and women who were amazing heroes. I could not read it straight through as parts were gritty, graphic, and sad. But taken in smaller doses each day I found myself uplifted and inspired. I think Martha Raddatz is an inspiring hero herself for all she has done to help veterans. Her reporting has made the world know more fully the many facets and costs of war. However there is no hero chapter in this book for her. A must read
August 26, 2026
Martha Raddatz has written an incredible book. Many of the great war stories of the United States revolve around the most morally just war ever fought, World War II. Martha dedicates time to portraying the heroes of modern wars, even those less morally clear, while still highlighting their remarkable qualities. This book will evoke feelings of patriotism and gratitude for our modern heroes and provide some moral clarity on the United States’ current position in the world.
September 21, 2026
Thirsting for some "true stories", I found a copy of Martha Raddatz's "The Hero Next Door: Stories of Patriotism and Purpose" at the Winona, Miss., library. While the stories live up to the book's title, Raddatz's keying in on the individual humanity of so many of our "warriors" and in many cases their struggles and those of the professionals and loved ones in the aftermath of battle and injury, makes the heart seize. War is hell.
July 10, 2026
Well- written, compelling and inspirational, this book is a collection of 10 profiles of everyday military heroes. The author has known several of the subjects for many years and her admiration of their service to their country is palpable. Often at a horrific cost, these men and women truly represent the best of America and are true American heroes.
July 12, 2026
so moving
Excellent book with great writing, heart and reverence. Each of these stories show courage and bravery and also modesty and love. Thank you for taking us on their journeys. This should be required reading for all American cans who consider themselves patriots. Thank you Ms Raddatz
Excellent book with great writing, heart and reverence. Each of these stories show courage and bravery and also modesty and love. Thank you for taking us on their journeys. This should be required reading for all American cans who consider themselves patriots. Thank you Ms Raddatz
July 22, 2026
A Well Chosen Title
Martha Raddatz’ new book’s title is an apt description of those who have served our country both at home and abroad. These stories of families of military personnel she has connected with during her many years of covering world conflicts are unforgettable. It is a book well worth your time.
Martha Raddatz’ new book’s title is an apt description of those who have served our country both at home and abroad. These stories of families of military personnel she has connected with during her many years of covering world conflicts are unforgettable. It is a book well worth your time.
July 25, 2026
I have always admired Martha Raddatz as person who goes where the story is. I loved this book because she was both on the Frontline with servicemembers and also on the home front talking with these same servicemembers and their families about how their lives were changed by being in Afghanistan and Iraq. I retired from the Army 24 years ago and the servicemembers are my heroes.
July 26, 2026
The true stories of US service members highlight what heros they, and their families, are. I'm so thankful that Ms. Raddatz tells their stories to bring awareness to what so many suffer through so that the rest of us can enjoy freedom.
I received this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
I received this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
August 16, 2026
A powerful book of stories about military men and women who’ve made tremendous sacrifices for our country. Not to mention the sacrifices their families have made in caring for them when they got home. Martha Radditz is an excellent story-teller and author who has presented these histories with compassion and honesty. I listened to this book on Audible and she narrates herself. It was riveting.
August 30, 2026
This book is a powerful collection of stories about military members and their families who have shown extraordinary courage and resilience. Raddatz writes with compassion, highlighting not only their sacrifices but also their strength, humanity, and sense of purpose. This moving and inspiring book reminds us that true heroes are often ordinary people who rise to meet extraordinary challenges.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews