Synopsis
Compassionate Soldier illuminates some of the most fascinating and yet largely unknown stories of men and women whose humanity led them to perform courageous acts of mercy and compassion amid the chaos and carnage of war. Arranged by war from the American Revolution to the Iraq War and global in perspective, it features extraordinary stories of grace under fire from valiant soldiers and noncombatants who rose above the inhumanity of lethal conflict and chose compassion, even knowing their actions could put their lives and liberty at risk.
Included in this collection are the stories of Richard Kirkland, a Confederate soldier during the Civil War who disobeyed orders and brought blankets and water to the wounded from both North and South during the Battle of Fredericksburg; Patrick Ferguson, a British soldier during the American Revolution who had the chance to kill George Washington, but refused to shoot a man in the back; and Oswald Boelcke, a German WWI flying ace who was one of the most influential tacticians of early air combat, but was known for making sure the airmen he shot down made it to the ground alive.
These inspirational stories illustrate that even in the midst of unspeakable horrors of war, acts of kindness, mercy, compassion, and humanity can prevail and, in doing so, expand our conventional thinking of honor and battlefield glory.
Excerpt
Introduction
Imagine you are on the battlefield and in the throes of fighting a war. Your chance of survival is uncertain. Suddenly, you find yourself with a crucial decision to make – you have the opportunity to save someone’s life, but trying to do so may put you in harm’s way. Do you risk your life to help save another’s?
How often do we think about eh welfare of others before our own? The dictionary defines compassion as “a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.”
In war, compassion also requires courage. That is why, in a situation where cruelty is the norm, compassion is so unexpected. Soldiers are taught to disregard the humanity of the enemy so they can act against them. When individuals act generously for someone who is in danger, even at the risk of their own life, such actions are noteworthy and inspiring.
The following remarkable true stories show that a real hero is a compassionate one. We may never be a soldier on a battlefield, but every day we are offered choices: to be kind or unkind, to show love or ignore someone who needs our help,to forget ourselves or live selfishly.
Compassionate Soldier honors brave men and women who showed compassion when it was not expected or required. In most cases, this compassion created peril for the ones who offered it, but they proceeded in spite of the risk. In all these situation, it is humbling to witness their actions, even from a distance, because the question inevitably arise, “Would I have behaved as well as they did?” Perhaps that is the most important trait of real heroes – their ability to inspire the rest of us to do a little better.
About the Author
Jerry Borrowman is a best-selling author of fourteen published books, most military fiction and co-authored biography. He and Rudi Wobbe, co-authors of Three Against Hitler, are recipients of the prestigious George Washington National Medal of the Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge,”for their contribution to the cause of freedom.”
Jerry is known for his meticulous attention to historical detail, including the technology that is unique to each story.
