Stories of Faith and Courage From The War in Iraq and Afghanistan

Battlefields And Blessings

by Jane Hampton Cook, John Croushorn, Jocelyn Green

Through multiple, never-before-told stories, readers will uncover the personal challenges of the battlefield. In Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq & Afghanistan you’ll find the experiences and perspectives of deployed soldiers, chaplains, military wives and parents, organizers of humanitarian efforts, veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, loved ones of fallen soldiers, and more. You’ll meet:• The crew member on a Marine transport vessel combating a dust storm during the invasion• a major overcoming bureaucratic challenges to stand up the Iraq Air Force• a three-star general motivating his team to build a stronger Iraq through reconstruction projects• the mother of a Navy SEAL who herself demonstrated tremendous courage under fire after her son's death• and a congressman heralding the founding principles of our nation, ones he passed along to his son who served in IraqReaders will come away appreciating those who have lived loudly for liberty.

Genres: Military Fiction, Christian

400 pages, Paperback

First published October 5, 2010

About the author

Jane Hampton Cook makes history relevant to news, politics, current events, and modern life. She is the award-winning author of nine books, including her newest The Burning of the White House: James and Dolley Madison and the War of 1812 (2016), America’s Star-Spangled Story (Aug. 2014) and Pulitzer-nominated American Phoenix (Thomas Nelson, a division of HarperCollins, 2013), which brings to life the international side of the War of 1812 through the diplomacy of John Quincy and Louisa Adams. A contributor to The Hill, national media commentator and former White House webmaster, Jane is a frequent guest on the Fox News Channel and other television and radio outlets. She also will be featured on the History Channel’s sister network, H2, on United Stuff of America in early summer 2014. Launching her passion for history and writing through a research fellowship from the Organization of American Historians and White House Historical Association in 2003, Jane and her husband, Dr. John Kim Cook, live with their children in the Washington DC area in Fairfax, Virginia.

Reviews

[Kathryn Sneed · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Tradition of the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" books, Battlefields & Blessings is a book full of short stories. Stories about courage, faith, and miracles. Stories about heroes, people who did their duty to serve God and their country. Stories from soldiers, chaplains, military wives and more. Stories that will break your heart, but also lift it up.

Through this book, you will get a glimpse into the eyes of the people who serve our country, the men and women who have laid their lives down for our freedom, and the people who are living in danger every day while we are at home going about our business. You will see just a little bit of how they live, how they survive and how they get through each day. You will see how God has protected and watched over them and brought them safely home.

I was so blessed to be able to read this book and learn about the lives of those who fight for our freedom. Being a military wife, it hits home for me because I know of the sacrifices military families make. This book has 365 short stories, one for each day of the year if you want to read them that way. There are verses in the side margins to go with each reading and also a prayer for each day. I know that if you read this you will be as blessed as I was to learn about these heroes, these men, and women who have fought and died for our freedom.

[Rob Markley · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this was an excellent book, broken up into daily devotional sections it has to be marked down for what it is not. I was really looking for stories of how God was present on the battlefield in actual combat and barely a mention of actual fighting - not until December 11 is the first account of actual combat. Rather there is a lot from medical staff, a fair bit from chaplains and also from families or supporters back home; and thoughts on leadership, patriotism loss and PTSD. All this truly is very valuable, insightful and touching; but it is not really living up to the billing. I have come across stories in the past about God's presence in combat and this has shown how war can also (bizarrely even?!) be an intensely spiritual experience. At time there are hints in anecdotes of "coincidental" survival, but that is as far as it goes. It seems an opportunity to put together the full anthology has gone begging here.

[Sarah Sundin · Rating 5 out of 5]

For most Americans, it’s easy to forget the sacrifices being made every day in Iraq, Afghanistan, and on the Home Front. Battlefields & Blessings: Stories of Faith from the War in Iraq & Afghanistan by Jane Hampton Cook, Jocelyn Green, and John Croushorn brings the realities of the war on terror to poignant life. Battlefields & Blessings is organized in devotional format, with a short story for each day accompanied by a Scripture verse and prayer, but it can also be read straight through. I was touched by stories of the Army chaplain who "happened" to be at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, of medics fighting to save wounded soldiers, of a mother hearing of her son's death, of a young woman struggling during her boyfriend's deployment, and of soldiers in the heat of battle. But most of all I was inspired by God's presence through all, and how these people turned to the Lord and grew through their experiences. Battlefields & Blessings not only illuminates the fullness of what these brave men and women do for our freedom, but it challenges us to grow in our faith as well. I highly recommend it.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to get this book through Netgalley. I'm glad I was able to do so because it touched my heart in a way that makes me whimper and feel for our soldiers and their families. Battlefields & Blessings is organized in devotional format, with a short story for each day accompanied by a Scripture verse and prayer.

It was beautifully written and I loved the quotes throughout the book. It's very easy for us to forget what the men and women do for our country, what their families go through, but we must not forget. I was very touched by all the stories, whether it was from the Chaplain, a mother hearing about her son's death, and the woman who was going through the deployment of her boyfriend (I've been there personally and it's not easy).

The book itself brought back many memories from what happened on 9/11, to going through deployments with my ex husband (he was in Iraq in 2005), and trying to survive the days without him there. I understood what the woman was going through that was struggling through her boyfriend's deployment, because I've been there many times.

I believe everyone should read this book, and remember.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have also read the Battlefields and Blessings, WW II. While I enjoyed that book as well I liked the format of this version better. I also felt I could relate better to the stories shared here as they are more recent events. Overall both books are very moving.