The Gift of Valor, A War Story by Michael M. Phillips; 241 pages; 2005; Broadway Books, New York, NY; 0-7679-2037-6; Checked out from Multnomah  County Library, Midland, Recommended by Cindy Weisenberg; 2/12-2/17

“We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.”

On April 14, 2004 Corporal Jason Dunham confronted an Iraqi in a stopped car.  The Iraqi got out of his car and got Jason in a chokehold, as two fellow Marines came to help, Jason told them to watch the Iraqis’ hand.  As they approached the Iraqi dropped a hand grenade and Jason dropped his helmet on the grenade and covered the helmet with his body.  The injuries he sustained ended his life and saved the lives of several of his buddies.  The book traces Jasons’ live in Iraq from when he was deployed to his funeral.  The most moving part of the whole story was to watch the way the Marines cared for their own.  This is a very moving book, which details why Cpl. Jason Dunham was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.  Grade-A