By Honor Bound: Two Navy SEALs, the Medal of Honor, and a Story of Extraordinary Courage

by Tom Norris, Mike Thornton, Dick Couch Narrated by Jeff Gurner

Overview

By Honor Bound is the powerful and moving story of two Medal of Honor recipients, written by New York Times bestselling author Dick Couch.

“Delivers cracking-good minute-by-minute descriptions of two SEAL missions rich in suspense, with technically accurate fireworks and undeniable heroism.” -HistoryNet

In April of 1972, near the end of the Vietnam War, SEAL Lieutenant Tom Norris performed an unprecedented ground rescue of two American airmen who were shot down behind enemy lines in North Vietnam, a feat for which he would be awarded the Medal of Honor. Just six months later, Norris was sent on a dangerous special reconnaissance mission that would take his team deep into enemy territory. In the running gun battle that ensued, Lieutenant Norris was severely wounded; a bullet entered his left eye and exited the left side of his head. SEAL Petty Officer Mike Thornton, under heavy fire, fought his way back onto a North Vietnamese beach to rescue his officer-an act of heroism that earned him the Medal of Honor as well.

This is the true story of two living American legends who entered military service and the Navy SEAL teams for vastly different reasons-and were thrown together for a single combat mission that would define their lives.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

03/28/2016
Couch (Always Faithful, Always Forward), a prolific author and former Navy SEAL, helps relate the tale of how, during the Vietnam War, Thornton earned the Medal of Honor for saving the life of Norris, who had himself received the medal six months earlier. In April of 1972, Norris was honored for leading a team that extracted two downed fliers. In October of that year, Thornton’s behind-the-lines reconnaissance mission miscarried. Norris was shot through the head and left for dead, but Thornton, honoring SEAL tradition, returned under fire to retrieve his wounded comrade and carried him for hours until help arrived. Readers with a low toleration for sentimentality will wince at two worshipful introductions by Medal of Honor recipients Bob Kerrey and Drew Dix, but relief comes when Couch takes over. He largely eschews purple prose and flag-waving, delivering an engrossing nuts-and-bolts description of the preparations and actions in the words of the now-elderly veterans, and cutting away regularly to fill in the big picture and expand on his subjects’ biographies. Even serious military buffs who dismiss this type of popular work as unsophisticated will admit that these are two good stories. Agent: John Silbersack, Trident Media Group. (May)

From the Publisher

"A compelling and highly readable excursion into the actions of valorous men facing improbable odds." -Admiral Eric T. Olson, USN (Ret), Former Commander, US Special Operations Command

"An exciting read and an All-American story that reflects their devotion to duty and to their brothers in arms."-Rick Perry, former Governor of Texas

"Tommy and Mike’s valorous heroics remind us all of the exceptional men and women who serve our country, both then and now.” —Admiral Mike Mullen, USN (ret.) Vietnam Veteran and 17th Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169139358
Publisher:	Macmillan Audio
Publication date:	05/17/2016
Edition description:	Unabridged
Sales rank:	751,837

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