Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Brotherhood and Sacrifice

Devotion tells the inspirational story of the U.S. Navy's most famous aviator duo: Lieutenant Tom Hudner, a white New Englander from the country-club scene, and Ensign Jesse Brown, an African American sharecropper's son from Mississippi. Tom passed up Harvard to fly fighter planes for his country. Jesse became the navy's first black carrier pilot to defend a nation that wouldn't even serve him in a bar. While much of America remained divided by segregation, Jesse and Tom joined forces as wingmen in Fighter Squadron 32. Adam Makos takes us into the cockpit as these bold young aviators cut their teeth at the world's most dangerous job - landing on the deck of an aircraft carrier - a line of work that Jesse's young wife, Daisy, struggles to accept. Then comes the war no one expected, in faraway Korea. Devotion brings us into the foxholes with U.S. Marines and soaring overhead with Tom and Jesse as they battle a North Korean invasion. As the fury of the fighting escalates, Tom and Jesse fly, guns blazing, to save a Marine division cornered at the Chosin Reservoir and outnumbered ten to one. When one of the duo is shot down behind enemy lines and pinned in his burning plane, the other faces an unthinkable choice: watch his friend die or attempt history's most audacious one-man rescue mission. A tug-at-the-heartstrings tale of bravery and selflessness, Devotion asks: How far would you go to save a friend?

About the Author :
Adam Makos is the author of the New York Times bestseller A Higher Call. In his work as a journalist in the military field, Adam has interviewed countless veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and present-day wars. In pursuit of a story, Adam has flown a WWII bomber, accompanied a Special Forces raid in Iraq, and organized an expedition into North Korea in search of an MIA American serviceman. He lives in Denver, Colorado.

Review :
This is aerial drama at its best. Fast, powerful, and moving. At last, the Korean War has its epic, a story that will stay with you long after you close this book. Lovingly rendered and meticulously researched, here is a tale of true friendship from across the racial divide. Though it concerns a famously cold battle in the Cold War, make no mistake: Devotion will warm your heart. In this beautifully written book, Adam Makos reveals a long-lost story of heroism set in the frozen realm of North Korea. You won't be able to put this down. My great respect for Tom Hudner knows no bounds. He is a true hero; and in reading this book, you will understand why I feel that way. Adam Makos immerses you in a story so crisp that you'll forget you're reading a book. Prepare to be swept away. Once again, Adam Makos demonstrates himself as a rising star in historical nonfiction. Getting the stories are only half the battle. Telling the story is where he thrives.