Search This Blog








2022 Literary Escapes Challenge








The 52 Book Club's Reading Challenge 2022

2022 Build Your Library Reading Challenge

Grandson's Tribute to His World War II Hero Moving and Faith-Promoting
Imagine you're the radio operator on a B-29 Superfortress airplane flying over Japan on a bombing mission during World War II. As you're dropping the explosives through a chute, one backfires, filling your aircraft with smoke. Blinded and knowing you have only seconds to act before the bomb detonates, killing you and the rest of the men on board, what do you do?
If you're 23-year-old Henry "Red" Erwin, you grab the bomb, make a desperate, sightless crawl through the aircraft, find an available window, and force it outside. You save your buddies but at an incredible cost to yourself. With third-degree burns over at least 20-50% of your body, you spend the next few years undergoing agonizing operations and procedures to save your skin, reconstruct your ear, and rebuild your face. Even then, you must go through the rest of your life with a damaged body. Your face will always bear horrific scars, the kind of disfigurement that scares children and makes adults gasp. You receive the Medal of Honor, a prize that comes with its own weight. Was it worth the sacrifice? If you're Red Erwin, the answer is a resounding yes.
In Beyond Valor, Red's grandson, Jon Erwin along with co-writer William Doyle, tells the story of Red's heroism during World War II. They also explore the two things that most strengthened Red during his ordeal in the B-29 and throughout his long, painful recovery—his marriage and his faith. Although Beyond Valor is less than 200 pages, it's packed with a lot of interesting information, which made it a quick but impactful read. I especially enjoyed learning about Red's constant reliance on God and would, in fact, have liked to hear more about that. Still, I found his story to be a powerful example of how faith can help us through our darkest hours. Although Red's tale is both intriguing and moving, my favorite part of Beyond Valor might actually be a section at the end of the book entitled "Seven Prayers." It details seven instances in which American presidents called on their Creator to help them in times of great national stress. Again, it's a faith-promoting testament to the power of prayer and faith. All of these elements combined to make Beyond Valor a touching, uplifting read. I don't always enjoy non-fiction books about war, but this one engaged me, made me think, and touched my soul.
Jon Erwin and his brother, Andy, are the creators of faith-based films like their 2018 hit I Can Only Imagine. The duo plans to make a movie based on their grandfather's World War II experience.
(Readalikes: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand)
Grade:
Monday, September 21st: @hannah_reads
Tuesday, September 22nd: Savvy Verse and Wit – author guest post
Thursday, September 24th: Treestand Book Reviews
Monday, September 28th: What is That Book About – excerpt
Wednesday, September 30th: Books Cooks Looks – excerpt
Thursday, October 1st: @meetmeinthestacks
Monday, October 5th: Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books
Wednesday, October 7th: @lets_talk_books_and_cats
Thursday, October 8th: Living My Best Book Life and @livingmybestbooklife
Monday, October 12th: Laura’s Reviews
Thursday, October 19th: @liferhi_inspired
2 comments:
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!




Reading
Farm to Trouble by Amanda Flower

Listening
The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs



Followin' with Bloglovin'



-
#ThrowbackThursday. The Hour I First Believed45 seconds ago
-
What If Jesus Was Serious?1 hour ago
-
-
Side Effects: A Review of The Visitor3 hours ago
-
-
Fugitive Telemetry8 hours ago
-
-
64. My Own Lightning10 hours ago
-
-
The Paris Apartment17 hours ago
-
Writing Wrap-Up ~ April-May 2022 recap18 hours ago
-
I've been reading...22 hours ago
-
Book Lovers by Emily Henry23 hours ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Top Ten Tuesday #192 days ago
-
[May 24]: Life Lately2 days ago
-
-
-
-
-
Sunday Salon: May 22, 20223 days ago
-
Weekly Update for May 22, 20223 days ago
-
-
-
An Honest Lie by Tarryn Fisher4 weeks ago
-
Chirp Audiobooks - A Review4 weeks ago
-
-
-
Left Neglected by Lisa Genova2 months ago
-
THE VALET'S SECRET by Josi S Kilpack2 months ago
-
-
-
Cybils Awards 2021: The End3 months ago
-
2022 Reading Log3 months ago
-
Back to the Classics 20224 months ago
-
-
-

Grab my Button!



Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ▼ 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
Love the sound of this one! I hope they do end up making a movie of it, too. :)
ReplyDeleteRed sounds like a wonderful person and this an interesting book.
ReplyDelete