The Medal of Honor


Book Description

A comprehensive history of America's highest award for military valor. The Medal of Honor chronicles the creation, evolution, and awarding of the Medal, from the battlefields of the Civil War to the jungles of Vietnam, through a wealth of illustrations and hundreds of authoritative, action-filled accounts of heroism in America's conflicts. This wonderfully detailed and beautifully designed history book puts the Medal and its recipients into the context of their times, with brief and accessible introductions explaining each war and conflict for which the Medal was awarded. It also includes photo essays, intriguing stories of the Medal's sometimes quirky personalities, effects on surviving recipients, and the Medal's preeminent place in the American story. Whether you're an avid reader on the history of the Medal of Honor or simply intrigued by its place in our history, you're certain to want to flip through the pages of The Medal of Honor again and again.




No Medals


Book Description

No Medals is a Christmas story wrapped around a search of government records to locate the file of a deceased, black World War II veteran, author Peter C. Bankss father, John Henry Banks Jr. The investigation to find the records begins in 2000 and concludes on Christmas Eve, one year later. Peter Banks recounts the steps that he took to find his fathers service recordssteps that anyone can follow if they would like to locate the war history of a relative who was a veteran of World War II. The journey is sprinkled with bitter disappointments and exciting revelations as Banks tries to confirm his fathers service as an acting corporal in World War IIa common duty that became a life-threatening activity during his service tour in Europe. At the time of the elder Bankss military service, most of the war experiences of black veterans, no matter how heroic, were not treated with the same respect as those of white soldiers. No Medals paints a vivid picture of the segregation of the United States Army of the 1940s. For Banks, it completes his journey to respect his fathers dying words, Do something good; leave a positive legacy in your life try to do something that will last!




British Military Medals


Book Description

Fully revised second edition of Peter Duckers best-selling guide to military medals. This second edition of Peter Duckers best-selling British Military Medals traces the history of medals and gallantry awards from Elizabethan times to the modern day, and it features an expert account of their design and production. Campaign and gallantry medals are a key to understanding - and exploring - British and imperial military history, and to uncovering the careers and exploits of individual soldiers. In a series of succinct and well-organized chapters he explains how medals originated, to whom they were awarded and how the practice of giving medals has developed over the centuries. His work is a guide for collectors and for local and family historians who want to learn how to use medals to discover the history of military units and the experiences of individuals who served in them.







More Than Medals


Book Description

How does a small provincial city in southern Japan become the site of a world-famous wheelchair marathon that has been attracting the best international athletes since 1981? In More Than Medals, Dennis J. Frost answers this question and addresses the histories of individuals, institutions, and events—the 1964 Paralympics, the FESPIC Games, the Ōita International Wheelchair Marathon, the Nagano Winter Paralympics, and the 2021 Tokyo Summer Games that played important roles in the development of disability sports in Japan. Sporting events in the postwar era, Frost shows, have repeatedly served as forums for addressing the concerns of individuals with disabilities. More Than Medals provides new insights on the cultural and historical nature of disability and demonstrates how sporting events have challenged some stigmas associated with disability, while reinforcing or generating others. Frost analyzes institutional materials and uses close readings of media, biographical sources, and interviews with Japanese athletes to highlight the profound—though often ambiguous—ways in which sports have shaped how postwar Japan has perceived and addressed disability. His novel approach highlights the importance of the Paralympics and the impact that disability sports have had on Japanese society. Open access edition funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.




The Art of the Medal


Book Description




Marksmanship in the U.S. Army


Book Description

Featuring hundreds of black-and-white illustrations of marksmanship medals, prizes, and badges, plus a special full-color section, this encyclopedia of U.S. Army shooting awards and training program rewards is a must-have for military historians and collectors. In Marksmanship in the U.S. Army, William K. Emerson details weapons training from the 1850s to the present, gathering this information for the first time in a single volume. Emerson highlights the philosophies behind army marksmanship and documents the awards, prizes, and badges bestowed upon the War Department’s most elite shooters, artillerymen, and swordsmen. Proficiency training discussed in this book includes the use of sabers, cannons, sea mines, bayonets, tank weapons, aerial gunnery, bombs, and other weapons. Emerson integrates discussion of the criteria, people, and rationale behind each award into this historical account. Emerson’s emphasis on national rifle and pistol matches, the history of selected army and NRA trophies, and significant players in the army’s weapons training development enhances the comprehensive appeal of the latest contribution to military history by this experienced author.




Civil War Medal of Honor Recipients


Book Description

In November 1861, Lieutenant Colonel Edward Townsend, adjutant general of the Army, sought to establish an award to motivate and inspire Northern soldiers in the aftermath of the early, morale-devastating defeats of the Civil War. The outcome of Townsend's brainstorm was the Medal of Honor. This reference book offers information about all recipients of the Civil War Medal of Honor, with details of their acts of heroism. The work then organizes recipients by a variety of criteria including branch of service; regiment or naval ship assignment; place of action; act of heroism; state or country of nativity; age of recipient; and date of issuance. Also included is information about the first winners of the medal, the first recipients of multiple medals, posthumously awarded medals and civilian recipients.




British Campaign Medals of the First World War


Book Description

Britain has issued medals rewarding war service since at least the early nineteenth century, and increasingly through the period of its imperial expansion prior to 1914, but examples of many of the early types are now scarce. However, few families escaped some involvement with “the Great War” of 1914 18, and many still treasure the medals awarded to their ancestors for wartime service. Today, with a growing interest in British military history and particularly in family history and genealogy, more and more people want to trace their ancestors' past. This book looks in detail at the origin, types and varieties of the British medals awarded for general war service between 1914 and '18, and gives advice on researching the awards and their recipients.




War Medals and Their History


Book Description

In 'War Medals and Their History' by William Augustus Steward, the author delves deep into the significance and evolution of war medals throughout history. Steward's meticulous research and attention to detail shine through in this scholarly work, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of the cultural and historical importance of these medals. The book is written in a clear and concise style, making it accessible to both academic researchers and general readers interested in military history and medal collecting. Steward also explores the symbolism and design of various war medals, shedding light on the stories and achievements they represent. With a keen eye for detail, Steward expertly weaves together the stories behind these iconic decorations, offering readers a captivating journey through time. William Augustus Steward's background as a military historian and collector undoubtedly influenced his decision to write 'War Medals and Their History,' making him the perfect author to tackle this complex and fascinating subject. His passion for preserving and sharing the rich history of war medals is evident throughout the book, making it a must-read for anyone interested in military history or the art of medal collecting. Whether you are a seasoned collector or just curious about the stories behind these symbols of honor, Steward's book is sure to enlighten and captivate you.