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Brothers in Valor: Battlefield Stories of the 89 African Americans Awarded the Medal of Honor
During the Battle of Fort Wagner in 1863, Sgt. William Harvey Carney picked up the fallen flag from his lifeless comrade. He waved the flag for all of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry to see and led the way to the parapet to plant the colors. After Col. Robert Gould Shaw was mortally wounded, Carney inspired his infantry forward. Even after sustaining severe wounds, Carney proudly declared, “Boys, the old flag never touched the ground!” After this battle, Carney became the first African American to receive the Medal of Honor.
Since the American Civil War, scores of African Americans have served with great distinction. Through thousands of historical accounts, photographs, and documentary evidence, Robert Jefferson introduces the 89 black soldiers who continued forward when all odds were against them. The heroes within these pages faced certain death and definite danger without flinching.
Jefferson paints a vivid portrait of African-American soldiers who carried the flag of freedom and how they reshaped the very definition of courage under fire during some of the most harrowing moments in United States military history. In turn, their courage and determination left an indelible mark on the American portrait.
Since the American Civil War, scores of African Americans have served with great distinction. Through thousands of historical accounts, photographs, and documentary evidence, Robert Jefferson introduces the 89 black soldiers who continued forward when all odds were against them. The heroes within these pages faced certain death and definite danger without flinching.
Jefferson paints a vivid portrait of African-American soldiers who carried the flag of freedom and how they reshaped the very definition of courage under fire during some of the most harrowing moments in United States military history. In turn, their courage and determination left an indelible mark on the American portrait.
249 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 26, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 30, 2022
Having recently finished The Complete Autobiographies of Frederick Douglass, I was looking for something that would reinforce the inspiration. Thinking that America’s Medal of Honor is one of America’s most honored awards, Brothers in Valor: Battlefield Stories of the 89 African Americans Awarded the Medal of Honor by Robert F. Jefferson Jr should help to keep that light burning. Instead, I found it to be detached and flat. I have read a number of MoH citations. For all the official langue and standard formulation, it is always clear that the winner was a person, who in that moment displayed deliberate valor, needing only an instant to be certain that his sacrifice was for a purpose beyond the value of his life. This alone is a cause for respect. Recognition that humans can act above and beyond. How much more inspirational knowing that because of his skin this decision has only the faintest chance of changing how he will be received by his neighbors or his countryman. The history of these men is that however much recognition they ever got the respect earned, their people, African-American got less and the very lesson of Black soldiery was denied, only to be reluctantly re-learned.
Georg Hegel, the philosopher is often quoted as having said that “No man is a hero to his valet.” There is another part to that quote;” This is not because the hero is not a hero, it is because the valet is a valet.” This may be an insult to valets, but the point is that failing to honor, that which is honorable says more about the person who denies the truth of accomplishment, and less about the person who does great things. Professor Jefferson documents, in very short sketches the African-American who earned the Medal of Honor. How they cam to be in uniform, what they did to be so recognized and something of the time it took to receive their citation and how they lived after the medal. Also recounted is the inability of high-level military and political leadership to remember not just the individual accomplishments of African American in uniform, but to remember how well these despised people demonstrated their loyalty to their country and ability to serve in battle.
Perhaps the author felt that the driest recitation of the facts is enough. Perhaps he was concerned, least his book be too dramatic or provocative. He achieved these goals at the expense of a book that lacks the power to make manifest what was done for fellow soldiers and towards accomplishing the mission. There is little sense of the reader being there. Away for war fighting there is little visceral appeal to the obvious failure by the non-black community to believe that at bottom, African Americans are fellow humans. With or without that great Blue and White ribbon. These are humans, deserving by automatic American status the right to be respected as they are ourown.
Georg Hegel, the philosopher is often quoted as having said that “No man is a hero to his valet.” There is another part to that quote;” This is not because the hero is not a hero, it is because the valet is a valet.” This may be an insult to valets, but the point is that failing to honor, that which is honorable says more about the person who denies the truth of accomplishment, and less about the person who does great things. Professor Jefferson documents, in very short sketches the African-American who earned the Medal of Honor. How they cam to be in uniform, what they did to be so recognized and something of the time it took to receive their citation and how they lived after the medal. Also recounted is the inability of high-level military and political leadership to remember not just the individual accomplishments of African American in uniform, but to remember how well these despised people demonstrated their loyalty to their country and ability to serve in battle.
Perhaps the author felt that the driest recitation of the facts is enough. Perhaps he was concerned, least his book be too dramatic or provocative. He achieved these goals at the expense of a book that lacks the power to make manifest what was done for fellow soldiers and towards accomplishing the mission. There is little sense of the reader being there. Away for war fighting there is little visceral appeal to the obvious failure by the non-black community to believe that at bottom, African Americans are fellow humans. With or without that great Blue and White ribbon. These are humans, deserving by automatic American status the right to be respected as they are ourown.
January 15, 2020
Brothers in Valor profiles the courageous acts of numerous African-American Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War through the Vietnam War with an epilogue that accounts for more recent correctives to the institutional racism of earlier generations. For example, no African-American received the Medal of Honor during World War I or II due to prevailing attitudes about the combat fitness of African-Americans, segregationist policies, and, in some cases, prejudiced commanders' outright refusal to forward award nominations. Dr. Jefferson knits the profiles together with a broad overview of the military and social contextual backgrounds of each war and highlights the evolving meaning of valor and heroism as his narrative unfolds. This book is worth the read for general readers, however, specialists will find little new or surprising within. The book would also serve as a great primer for deeper discussions of war, society, and racial discrimination in the United States.
July 17, 2019
The history of these men who risked their lives so that we can live in freedom is not only touching but also relevant. These medal of honor recipients were despised because of their race and yet did everything they could to fight the enemies of freedom and serve their country in a noble and honorable way. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn about African American soldiers and their service to their country. I really enjoyed this book. I found it well researched and well written. The author made these stories come alive in such a way that I learned more about African American servicemen and the medals of honor they have received for their bravery. It is a must-read for anyone wanting to learn about the history of African Americans in the armed forces.
March 1, 2020
Brothers in Valor: Battlefield Stories of 89 Americans
Enjoyed this book. There is so much more than I ever expected to learn about African Americans in terms of fighting on battlefields of America’s military history. The stories of majority of these brave men were/ are not taught in history classes in the past or today. The author has researched and written about the true unsung heroes who defended a country who was not supportive of them as men or of their race. Thanks to this author their stories are finally being told.
Enjoyed this book. There is so much more than I ever expected to learn about African Americans in terms of fighting on battlefields of America’s military history. The stories of majority of these brave men were/ are not taught in history classes in the past or today. The author has researched and written about the true unsung heroes who defended a country who was not supportive of them as men or of their race. Thanks to this author their stories are finally being told.
November 30, 2018
Brothers in Valor is a look into African Americans who earned the nations highest honor, the Medal Of Honor. The men from the Civil War to Vietnam were honored for their heroism, bravery, duty, and sacrifice to the country, their fellow soldiers, and for a hard fought freedom. Many of these valiant men were only recently awarded these honors as indifference, injustice, and the ever present racism prevailed during they’re military careers. On the battlefield as these men displayed a courage that went above and beyond normal duty, they dealt with racism and Jim Crow laws at home and in the military. Doing so with self-respect, dignity, grit and grace. For some only they’re surviving family were there to accept this immense honor, for them the Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force men have long since past away. This book is a interesting look into these men’s lives. Especially how soldiers were recognized for MOH awards by the armed services and country in our nations earlier wars like the Civil, Spanish-American and Indian wars but not during WWI, WWII and the Korean war, only to be recognized again for the Vietnam war and beyond. Sometimes this country’s decisions are hard to comprehend. Men and women fought gallantly and some died for this country and no matter what all of them deserve to be recognized for their service. Especially those that went above and beyond the call of duty.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews