Unknown Valor: A Story of Family, Courage, and Sacrifice from Pearl Harbor to Iwo Jima

Written by Martha MacCallum

Narrated by Martha MacCallum

In honor of the 75th Anniversary of one of the most critical battles of World War II, the popular primetime Fox News anchor of The Story with Martha MacCallum pays tribute to the heroic men who sacrificed everything at Iwo Jima to defeat the Armed Forces of Emperor Hirohito—among them, a member of her own family, Harry Gray.

Admiral Chester Nimitz spoke of the “uncommon valor” of the men who fought on Iwo Jima, one of the bloodiest and most brutal battles of World War II. In thirty-six grueling days, nearly 7,000 Marines were killed and 22,000 were wounded.

Martha MacCallum takes us from Pearl Harbor to Iwo Jima through the lives of these men of valor, among them Harry Gray, a member of her own family.

In Unknown Valor, she weaves their stories—from Boston, Massachusetts, to Gulfport, Mississippi, as told through letters and recollections—into the larger history of what American military leaders rightly saw as an eventual showdown in the Pacific with Japan. In a relentless push through the jungles of Guadalcanal, over the coral reefs of Tarawa, past the bloody ridge of Peleliu, against the banzai charges of Guam, and to the cliffs of Saipan, these men were on a path that ultimately led to the black sands of Iwo Jima, the doorstep of the Japanese Empire.

Meticulously researched, heart-wrenching, and illuminating, Unknown Valor reveals the sacrifices of ordinary Marines who saved the world from tyranny and left indelible marks on those back home who loved them.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Feb 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9780062983978

Martha MacCallum

Martha MacCallum is anchor and executive editor of The Story with Martha MacCallum, seen Monday through Friday on Fox News. She is also co-anchor of Fox News Election coverage, moderating town halls and debates with the presidential candidates, alongside Bret Baier and Chris Wallace. Prior to becoming anchor of The Story, MacCallum anchored, “The First 100 Days,” reporting nightly on the first months of the Trump administration and interviewing the President on his 100th Day. She has covered presidential and mid-term elections for Fox News since 2004, as well as extensive reporting from the field on the primary races across the country. MacCallum has reported from Normandy, France during the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, and from Iwo Jima’s “Reunion of Honor.” Prior to Fox News, MacCallum was an award winning reporter for CNBC, covering homeland security and the US economy, and a reporter/producer for Wall Street Journal Television.

Reviews for Unknown Valor

[Laurie Grinnell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing book. Full of facts not taught in school. I recommend this to anyone interested in WW II. The personal stories of the hero’s were fantastic.

[Deeje · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A visceral and moving account of some WWII heroes who didn't make it to the history books. This book did a great job of transporting me back in time, and it kept me engaged from start to finish.

[John · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A story very well told. Why did Harry have to die? So many Harry's

[Renae Barrett Salisbury · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great story of young men who died because they were willing to show-up. They won no medals other than a nation's gratitude. Thanks to the author for so poignantly reminding us.

[Kenny Ryan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The research and detailed momentary of the battles were as descriptive as being being there.

[deaconbernie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the best book I've read in a long time. The author, of course, is the Martha MacCallum who hosts "The Story with Martha MacCallum" on the Fox News channel at 7 PM EDT and 6 PM CDT. The story is about what led up to the battle of Iwo Jima in 1945 and some of the Marines who fought and died there.This long after the fact, Martha had the benefit of lots of research not available who wrote in the 20 years immediately after the battle. She has many interesting tidbits ... perhaps the most fascinating is that immediately after the flag was erected on Mt. Suribachi, a Catholic Chaplain offered Mass on the spot.MacCallum also quotes John Stuart Mill as to fighting to hard to win else don't fight at all. Knowing how the battle ended before I began to read, it was quite surprising for me to find no sense of triumph at the conclusion. No, I had a different read as I read how the many families who lost sons and husbands dealt with the notification of death and then had to make a decision about a permanent burial: either in the Pacific War Memorial in Hawaii or to bring the bodies home.One last point, although I've always thought Harry Truman was correct to use the two nuclear devices, I am now unalterably convinced it was the right thing. The Japanese will to honor the Emperor (who is not entirely the nice guy depicted in the picture with McArthur or in the amazing economic recovery) would have caused an incredible number of deaths without the bombs. That he was directly involved in the war time decisions is something that has been covered up nicely.