http://www.military.com/off-duty/books/2015/11/23/three-things-i-learned-about-courage-from-interviewing-our-troop.html

Courage. It’s one of those noble qualities we all want. But what is courage? What traits do courageous people share? Is courage something that can be learned?

During the course of researching and writing my book, Valor: Unsung Heroes from Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Home Front, I was fortunate to interview a number of soldiers, sailors, and Marines who epitomize courage. Each of the heroes profiled in Valor endured a harrowing experience, in which they demonstrated remarkable bravery in the face of overwhelming odds.

August 13, 2015

http://taskandpurpose.com/unsung-heroes-the-marine-who-shielded-his-team-from-a-grenade-and-then-kept-fighting/

“Ambush Alley.” That was what they called this side street. It was nestled in the Sangin district of Afghanistan’s Helmand Province, a Taliban stronghold. The street was just 8 feet wide, with 10-foot brick walls lining either side.

It was where Pfc. Richard Weinmaster would prove his mettle.

Weinmaster and other members of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment were conducting a dismounted patrol through Ambush Alley on July 8, 2008, when they were attacked by Taliban fighters.

June 5, 2015

http://taskandpurpose.com/this-fathers-sacrifice-demonstrates-how-military-families-stand-apart/

http://taskandpurpose.com/unsung-heroes-the-army-scout-who-swam-through-a-river-and-cut-through-an-electric-fence/

May 28, 2015

The river patrol had been a debacle.

After receiving reports about insurgent movements and weapons smuggling along the Tigris River in northern Baghdad, the coalition had decided to try a river patrol. On February 16, 2007, four boats set out, manned jointly by Iraqi police and American soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment.

Unfortunately, the boats proved to be easy targets for an ambush from the riverbanks. “Numerous insurgents popped out of buildings on both sides of the river and peppered the unconcealed blue boats with bullet holes,” according to a 2008 report from Stars and Stripes.

http://taskandpurpose.com/unsung-heroes-this-army-medic-overcame-gunfire-and-a-broken-leg-to-save-14-soldiers/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=tp-facebook&utm_campaign=culture

April 30, 2015

Three days. Eleven hoists. Fourteen survivors. Three critical resupply missions.

Two bodies recovered.

One brave medic who refused to quit even after fracturing her leg.

On June 25, 2011, Sgt. Julia Bringloe, with C Company, 3-10 General Support Aviation Battalion, was the medic for the four-person crew aboard a Black Hawk helicopter. The crew was one of two Army medevac teams tasked with supporting Operation Hammer Down in Afghanistan’s Watahpor Valley.

February 19, 2015

http://taskandpurpose.com/unsung-heroes-private-burned-hands-save-fallen-brothers/

His hands were burning. His weapon’s hand guards had been blown off during the explosion, and the bare metal was searing his skin. Yet 18-year-old Christopher Fernandez didn’t let go. He knew the suppressive fire provided by this machine gun was the only thing giving his wounded comrades a chance.

It was May 5, 2004. Fernandez, of the 21st Field Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division, was part of a three-vehicle patrol in the Saidiyah neighborhood of western Baghdad. Fernandez was a machine gunner in one of the Humvees.