A New York Times-bestselling author shares true stories of Medal of Honor recipients, both military and civilian, that "convey the human side of heroism" (The Baltimore Sun).

How does an ordinary person become a hero? It happens in a split second, a moment of focus and clarity, when a choice is made. Here are the gripping accounts of Congressional Medal of Honor recipients who demonstrated guts and selflessness on the battlefield and confronted life-threatening danger to make a difference. There are the stories of George Sakato and Vernon Baker, both of whom overcame racial discrimination to enlist in the army during World War II-Sakato was a second-generation Japanese American, Baker an African American-and Clint Romesha, who led his outnumbered fellow soldiers against a determined enemy to prevent the Taliban from taking over a remote U.S. Army outpost in Afghanistan.

Also included are civilians who have been honored by the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation for outstanding acts of bravery in crisis situations, from a school shooting to the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Adding depth and context are illuminating essays on the combat experience and its aftermath, covering topics such as overcoming fear; a mother mourning the loss of her son; and "surviving hell" as a prisoner of war.

"Prepare to be awed ... These tales of heroism take the reader from World War II to Iraq and Afghanistan and to U.S. shores, where even a schoolteacher can face life-and-death situations." -ThePhiladelphia Inquirer

Peter Collier is the author (with David Horowitz) of The Rockefellers: An American Dynasty, which was nominated for the National Book Award, as well as The Kennedys: An American Drama, The Roosevelts: An American Saga, and other books. He lives in Nevada City, CA.