Wheels of Courage: How Paralyzed Veterans from World War II Invented Wheelchair Sports, Fought for Disability Rights, and Inspired a Nation

WHEELS OF COURAGE reveals the never-before-told story of the world's first wheelchair athletes: U.S. soldiers, sailors, and Marines who were paralysed on the battlefield during World War II. They organised the first-ever wheelchair basketball teams within V.A. hospitals after the war, which quickly spread across the nation and changed the perception and treatment of disabled people. The book tells this story through the lens of three of these vets, describing their time in the military, their injuries, their recovery, and their role in creating wheelchair basketball. These men changed the narrative of disability, from pity for people whose lives were over to seeing them as capable people who happened to have a disability. Their doctors changed the way the medical community looked at and treated disabled patients by treating the whole patient instead of just trying to make the patient as comfortable as possible in a hopeless situation. And laws started changing to make the world more accessible to the disabled -- things we take for granted today, like sidewalk ramps. For the disabled, for sports fans, for veterans, for history buffs -- this is a narrative of hope, perseverance, and acceptance.

About the Author :
David Davis has documented the culture of sports-in words, images, and sound-for nearly three decades. He was trained as a journalist, and his work has appeared in, among others, Sports Illustrated, Smithsonian Magazine, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, Deadspin, and Vice. David has won numerous journalism and writing awards, and his LA Weekly story about boxer Jerry Quarry ("The Thirteenth Round") was selected for The Best American Sports Writinganthology in 1996. Miscellaneous Entertainment, a production company based in Hollywood, has optioned the film rights to his book Waterman. David was born and raised in New York City, and lives in Los Angeles.

Review :
"In this masterful narrative, David Davis tells a great story of courage and innovation. By uncovering this lost story of the greatest generation, Davis provides inspiration for those living today."--Paul Dickson, author of The Rise of the G.I. Army "The most thoroughly researched and best-written book ever written on wheelchair basketball."--Armand "Tip" Thiboutot, co-author of Wheelchairs Can Jump! "This is an important and groundbreaking story about World War II veterans and their great courage to rise above their afflictions through the path of athleticism. They awakened the public that we are complete human beings who belong in society."--Ron Kovic, author of Born on the 4th of July "Wheels of Courage is the best kind of nonfiction - it's packed with history, reads like a fast-paced novel and will give you a new understanding of the origins of disability culture as we know it."--Ian Ruder, Editor of New Mobility Magazine "Wheels of Courage tells another remarkable story from the Greatest Generation: the invention of wheelchair basketball. Well written and meticulously researched, David Davis sheds light on a story of courage, inspiration, and hope that is a must read for all basketball fans."--Douglas Stark, author of Wartime Basketball: The Emergence of a National Sport during World War II Wheels of Courage belongs on every "best of" 2020 booklist. Not only is this a deeply human and inspiring story. Through the lives of three men who pioneered wheelchair basketball at V.A. hospitals, we see taboos crumble and a social movement in its infancy. It is also a remarkable sports story. It is a story of how the participants, spectators, and supporters of wheelchair athletics made sports for people with disabilities a part of the American sporting landscape.--Clayton Trutor, DowntheDrive.com "Fascinating in its detail. Moving in its humanity. And deeply connected to themes, events, and emotions well beyond the competition itself."--Bob Costas