The Quiet Hero: The Untold Medal of Honor Story of George E. Wahlen at the Battle for Iwo Jima | 
 enlarge | Author: Gary W. Toyn
Creators: Senator Bob Dole, Senator Orrin Hatch
Publisher: American Legacy Media
Category: Book
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Avg. Customer Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 517916
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 240
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 8.8 x 6 x 0.6
ISBN: 0976154781
Dewey Decimal Number: 940.542528092
EAN: 9780976154785
ASIN: 0976154781
Publication Date: October 1, 2007
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Product Description
This powerful story documents the Battle of Iwo Jima from the perspective of extraordinary navy corpsman George Wahlen. After decades of silence, this survivor of one of World War II's most horrific battles divulges the gritty details of his incredible experiences. Upon landing with a company of 250 marines, Wahlen fought alongside them. Under repeated grenade and mortar fire himself, Wahlen refused evacuation, choosing instead to aid those he perceived to be in greater danger. Witnesses of his heroics remain dumbfounded he survived, and while his incredible feats of bravery saved countless marines, the intensity of the battle left few men of the company unscathed—they suffered the highest killed-in-action ratio of any marine company during a single battle in U.S. history. The significance of his story lies in the historic context of the battle for Iwo Jima; while many remember the iconic flag-raising photograph captured during this conflict, few realize the battle was the most costly of World War II for America. After receiving a Medal of Honor from President Harry Truman in 1945, Wahlen has been the quintessential quiet hero, refusing the adulation usually bestowed on nationally recognized veterans.
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This powerful story documents the Battle of Iwo Jima from the perspective of extraordinary navy corpsman George Wahlen. After decades of silence, this survivor of one of World War II's most horrific battles divulges the gritty details of his incredible experiences. Upon landing with a company of 250 marines, Wahlen fought alongside them. Under repeated grenade and mortar fire himself, Wahlen refused evacuation, preferring to aid those he perceived to be in greater danger. Witnesses of his heroics remain dumbfounded he survived, and while his incredible feats of bravery saved countless marines, the intensity of the battle left few men of the company unscathed-they suffered the highest killed-in-action ratio of any marine company during a single battle in U.S. history. The significance of his story lies in the historic context of the battle for Iwo Jima; while many remember the iconic flag-raising photograph captured during this conflict, few realize the battle was the most costly of World War II for America. After receiving a Medal of Honor from President Harry Truman in 1945, Wahlen has been the quintessential quiet hero, refusing the adulation usually bestowed on nationally recognized veterans.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 "Uncommon valor was a common virtue" May 8, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The Quiet Hero: The Untold Medal of Honor Story of George E. Wahlen at the Battle for Iwo Jima, by Gary W. Toyn, is one of those books where important history would be lost if not for the vision of the author. Toyn details the life of a common Utah man who left home at age 18, to enlist in the Navy shortly after the outbreak of World War II. Two years later, George E. Wahlen found himself on a spot of land in the middle of the Pacific, battling the Japanese for control of Iwo Jima.
Contents:
Foreword
Introduction
Preface
Chapter 1: D-Day, February 19.1945
Chapter 2: Birth to Boot Camp
Chapter 3: Sailor to Marine
Chapter 4: Training to Training
Chapter 5: Hawaii is Hell
Chapter 6: Finding God
Chapter 7: "Operation Detachment"
Chapter 8: D-Day, February 19.1945
Chapter 9: D-Day Afternoon
Chapter 10: D+1 and D+2: The First Casualty
Chapter 11: D+3: This Lousy, Stinking Island
Chapter 12: D+4: A Shift in Momentum
Chapter 13: D+5 and D+6: The Calm Before The Storm
Chapter 14: D+7 A.M.: The Crucible
Chapter 15: D+7 P.M: My Job...No More...No Less
Chapter 16: D+8: Regimental Reserve
Chapter 17: D+9: Dig and Hold
Chapter 18: D+10: Taking Hill 362A
Chapter 19: D+11: Caught From Behind
Chapter 20: D+12: The Final Act of Heroism
Chapter 21: Evacuation
Chapter 22: From Patient to "Pill Pusher"
Chapter 23: Home and Discharge
Chapter 24: Post WWII
Epilogue: From Mettle to Medal
Appendix A: Two Navy Crosses for a Medal of Honor
Appendix B: Timeline
In Memoriam
Acknowledgements
Helpful Terms
Notes and Sources
Photograph/Image Credits
Index
For his actions during the Battle for Iwo Jima, Pharmacist's Mate Second Class, George E. Wahlen was awarded the Medal of Honor. His rank, Pharmacist's Mate, is misleading to civilians as he was a corpsman from the Navy assigned to a Marine Battalion. He provided first aid to wounded Marines. But since he was attached to the Marines, he had to not only learn first aid and how to dress wounds, he was also required to go through the same training as any other Marine. It was during this training that Wahlen had self doubts as he was a Navy man, just a corpsman, and was worried that if he found himself under fire, that he would let down the Marines that he was supposed to help. Due to his actions on Iwo Jima, Wahlen was awarded the Medal of Honor. He did not wilt under the pressure of battle, gaining the admiration of the Marines that served with him.
Toyn's book takes you through Wahlen's life, including his time on Iwo Jima, through present day. As I read the book, I was struck by the tone. Much like George Wahlen himself, Toyn writes is a very understated way. It isn't until we are presented with the actual text of Medal of Honor commendation that you realize that what you just read was an incredible story of valor, honor, and duty. It is a testament to the foundation that Toyn has built. At one point in the book, after an extremely difficult day on Iwo Jima, Toyn writes of George:
"...[He] was no longer concerned about acting cowardly in the face of battle . . . he figured that what he had accomplished was no more heroic that what anyone else in his unit had done . . . "
It is that attitude that permeates this book; Wahlen just doing his job.
"Hero" is a word that has lost a lot of meaning these days. In the pages of this book, you will learn what that word really means. And it isn't limited to just the story of George Wahlen. The men that he served with also deserve that title, and their stories are in this book, too. This book is a tribute to George Wahlen and the memories of the men that gave the ultimate sacrifice to this nation.
 An inspiring hero January 31, 2008
What most impressed me about George Wahlen is that it was only many years after the war ended that his wife finally found out about his Medal of Honor. That reminds me of my own parents. I cannot ever remember them bragging about themselves.
George Wahlen is not only a true hero, but a humble one at that. Thus, the title of the book.
This book Says it all! Navy Corpsmen Rock! August 17, 2007
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
The book tells the story of a Hospital Corpsman who was thrust into the bloodiest battle in the Pacific. It was well written and really explained the horrors of what a Navy Corpsman has to go through to do his job. To keep as many Marines at as many guns for as long as possible. Armed with only a 45 and his vast ability to operate under extreme fire and his limited medical skills Pharmacist Mate Second Class George E. Wahlen shows us readers in the highest way possible what it means to be a US Navy Corpsman! Warning! Once you pick up this book you won't be able to put it down!
 Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue April 10, 2007
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
George E. Wahlen was born in Utah on August 8, 1924. By February, 1945, George would be many miles from his beloved family and friends. He was stationed on a remote volcanic island in the Western Pacific. In the two weeks that George was on the island, he would distinguish himself many times and earn the respect of his fellow men. The name of the island was Iwo Jima, and George served as a Marine combat medic.
In his younger days, George dreamed of becoming an aircraft mechanic, but his father refused to let him enlist in the Army. So, George volunteered to be drafted. He was sent to California for basic training, where he was trained as a medic. Despite his love of repairing airplanes, he quickly adjusted to his new role as a medic and he became proficient in his new job.
As time passed, George's unit continued to train for combat, and the training became more and more difficult. Eventually, George's unit was sent to the island of Guam to prepare for the invasion of Iwo Jima. George's unit landed on D-Day, which was February 19, 1945. For the next two weeks, George spent his time tending to wounded Marines, all the while ignoring his own safety. He faced numerous Japanese mortar attacks, banzai charges, and infantry raids, but he never ignored the call of a wounded comrade. During one action, while wounded himself, he stayed in the field of fire for over twenty minutes tending to wounded Marines. During this time, he managed to save fourteen men who might otherwise have died. Another time, again while wounded, he crawled on his stomach for over fifty yards to drag a wounded Marine to safety. These selfless acts of bravery quickly earned George the respect of his fellow men. His superiors took note of his actions as well, for on September 14, 1945, George received the Navy Cross and the Gold Star. Then on October 5, 1945, he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman.
George didn't retire from the armed forces after receiving his awards. Instead, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. He retired from military service on August 11, 1969. Not many servicemen served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. George E. Wahlen did.
As a fan of World War II history, and especially the battle of Iwo Jima, I was very impressed with this book. I have always enjoyed reading about the lives of militaty personnel, and this book does a remarkable job in describing the heroics of one of the numerous individuals who won the Medal of Honor on Iwo Jima. Author Gary W. Toyn writes with a style that places the reader at the forefront of the battle with George as he's tending to his wounded comrades. The battle is vividly brought to life throughout the pages of the book, and I learned some things about the battle that I previously didn't know.
I recommend this book very highly. This fine biography of George E. Wahlen embellishes the epitaph of Iwo Jima; uncommon valor was a common virtue. George Wahlen upheld the code of the United States Marines to the fullest, and his life serves as an example to future generations of Marines.
The Quiet Hero November 2, 2006
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
The Quiet Hero is a down to earth written story about a down to earth good guy. The author has not followed a traditional war story format, in my view at least. It is easy to read.
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