A celebration of the extraordinary courage, dedication, and sacrifice of this generation of American veterans on the battlefield and their equally valuable contributions on the home front.
Because so few of us now serve in the military, our men and women in uniform have become strangers to us. We stand up at athletic events to honor them, but we hardly know their true measure. Here, Starbucks CEO and longtime veterans’ advocate Howard Schultz and National Book Award finalist Rajiv Chandrasekaran of The Washington Post offer an enlightening, inspiring corrective.
The authors honor acts of uncommon valor in Iraq and Afghanistan, including an Army sergeant who repeatedly runs through a storm of gunfire to save the lives of his wounded comrades; two Marines who sacrifice their lives to halt an oncoming truck bomb and protect thirty-three of their brothers in arms; a sixty-year-old doctor who joins the Navy to honor his fallen son.
We also see how veterans make vital contributions once they return home, drawing on their leadership skills and commitment to service: former soldiers who aid residents in rebuilding after natural disasters; a former infantry officer who trades in a Pentagon job to teach in an inner-city neighborhood; a retired general leading efforts to improve treatments for brain-injured troops; the spouse of a severely injured soldier assisting families in similar positions.
These powerful, unforgettable stories demonstrate just how indebted we are to those who protect us and what they have to offer our nation when their military service is done.
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"This splendid book should be read by every American. It is a story of heroes, of sacrifice, of valor. But it is also a story of resilience, recovery, and a continuing desire to serve our country and its citizens. You must be made of stone to read this and not shed tears. But the book’s message is that, after the tears, we must not forget the sacrifices those in uniform and their families have made for all of us over the last thirteen years; we must welcome back into our communities those who served not just with thanks and open arms, but with respect, admiration, and new lives and careers worthy of all they have done for all of us."
— Robert M. Gates, author of Duty
These stories leave the reader with a profound sense of [our troops’] selfless sacrifice and, sadly, a profound sense of the gulf that separates the ethos of the military from the contemporary currents of American life....Schultz and Chandrasekaran never suggest that war is good. But the stories they tell are a welcome reminder of what soldiers have always known: that out of difficulty and trauma come a sense of spiritual self-worth and a dedication to the service of others.
— Maj. Gen. Robert H. Scales, The Wall Street Journal“Full, vibrant profiles of men and women forever marked by war, who continue to endure and transform both themselves and their communities.
— The Washington PostHarrowing and heroic stories of war and coming home.
— Maureen Dowd, The New York TimesSchultz and Chandrasekaran couldn’t be more on point...For Love of Country is important reading.
— The Huffington Post[Schultz and Chandrasekaran] are on target in calling for a societal salute to America’s new generation of veterans.
— St. Louis Post-DispatchHoward Schultz and Rajiv Chandrasekaran have…allowed readers everywhere an up close look at what our country’s war heroes and veterans do for us. The scenes to which we’re made privy are at times heartbreaking, inspiring—or both.
— Everyday eBookFilled with inspiring narratives.
— Library JournalInspiring....will certainly move readers who have served in the military, as well as...fans of military histories and those who have close contact with the courageous soldiers who put their lives on the line.
— KirkusA truly inspirational, uplifting book, one that will fill you with pride in America’s new Greatest Generation in war and in peace.
— General David H. Petraeus, U.S. Army, Retired“These stories leave the reader with a profound sense of [our troops’] selfless sacrifice and, sadly, a profound sense of the gulf that separates the ethos of the military from the contemporary currents of American life…Schultz and Chandrasekaran never suggest that war is good. But the stories they tell are a welcome reminder of what soldiers have always known: that out of difficulty and trauma come a sense of spiritual self-worth and a dedication to the service of others.”
— Wall Street Journal“Harrowing and heroic stories of war and coming home.”
— New York Times“Full, vibrant profiles of men and women forever marked by war, who continue to endure and transform both themselves and their communities.”
— Washington Post“Schultz and Chandrasekaran couldn’t be more on point…For Love of Country is important reading.”
— Huffington Post“[Schultz and Chandrasekaran] are on target in calling for a societal salute to America’s new generation of veterans.”
— St. Louis Post-Dispatch“Filled with inspiring narratives.”
— Library Journal“The many case studies and interviews will certainly move readers who have served in the military, as well as other highly patriotic Americans…The case studies are mostly well-reported and often feature individuals who have been unsung until now. A rah-rah effort that will appeal to fans of military histories and those who have close contact with the courageous soldiers who put their lives on the line.”
— Kirkus Reviews“Rajiv Chandrasekaran narrates [their] book in a serviceable voice, and his pace keeps the book moving. Chandrasekaran has a great deal of respect for the veterans and their stories, and that’s the way he approaches the text. He doesn’t inject any emotion or much in the way of vocal dynamics into his reading, but his plain voice lets the words shine through so listeners can experience the true voices—those of the soldiers.”
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Howard Schultz is the chairman, president, and CEO of Starbucks and the author of the New York Times bestsellers Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul and Pour Your Heart into It.
Rajiv Chandrasekaran is the assistant managing editor of the Washington Post where he has worked since 1994. He previously served the Post as a bureau chief in Baghdad, Cairo, and Southeast Asia and as a correspondent covering the war in Afghanistan. He lives in Washington, DC.