personal narratives, american

In November 1942, Paul Andrew Kennedy (1912-1993) boarded the St. Elena in New York Harbor and sailed for Casablanca as part of Operation Torch, the massive Allied invasion of North Africa. As a member of the US Army's 2nd Auxiliary Surgical Group, he spent the next thirty-four months working in North Africa, Italy, France, and Germany, in close proximity to the front lines and often under air or artillery bombardment. Kennedy participated in some of the fiercest action of the war, including Operation Avalanche, the attack on Anzio, and Operation Dragoon. He also arrived in Rome the day after the Allied troops, and entered the Dachau concentration camp two days after it was liberated.

In April 1972, SEAL Lieutenant Tom Norris risked his life to rescue two American airmen who were shot down behind North Vietnamese enemy lines, a feat for which he would be awarded the Medal of Honor. Six months later he was sent on a special reconnaissance mission where he would be severely wounded. SEAL Petty Officer Mike Thornton, under heavy fire, fought his way back to Norris's embattled position to rescue his officer. Mike Thornton also received a Medal of Honor. This is the only time in modern history that the Medal of Honor has been awarded in a combat action to one soldier for saving the life of another Medal recipient.

The never-before-told true story of an army aviation task force during combat in the Afghan war, told by the commanding officer who was there. From pilots of lethal Apache attack helicopters to the medevac soldiers who risk their lives on a daily basis, this is a story of selflessness and brotherhood.

"This film documents the Vietnam War in the words of Americans who served there. It features home movies and rare archival footage collected during a worldwide search and now presented in high definition. Many scenes are graphic in nature and viewer discretion is advised."--Container.

"[A] first-hand account of the Battle of Keating, told by Clinton Romesha, who spearheaded both the defense of the outpost and the counter-attack that drove the Taliban back beyond the wire, and received the Medal of Honor for his actions"--From Penguin Random House website.

Through tales of combat and brotherhood, Nicholas Irving shares the true story of his extraordinary career as the 3rd Ranger Battalion's deadliest sniper. Labeled "The Reaper", his actions on the battlefield became the stuff of legend, culminating in an extraordinary face-off against an enemy sniper known simply as The Chechnian.

The true account of the events of September 11, 2012, when terrorists attacked the US State Department Special Mission Compound and a nearby CIA station called the Annex in Benghazi, Libya. A team of six American security operators fought to repel the attackers and protect the Americans stationed there. Those men went beyond the call of duty, performing extraordinary acts of courage and heroism, to avert tragedy on a much larger scale. This is their personal account, never before told, of what happened during the thirteen hours of that now-infamous attack.

Lynda Van Devanter tells of joining the Army as a nurse in 1969 and working for a year in Vietnam, emphasizing the effects of the experience on her life.