Soldiers’ stories that will inspire you

‘Stories in Uniform” is a chronological retrospective of the best military pieces Reader's Digest (Reader's Digest Association, 224 pages, $15.99) has published. These stories will make you weep, make your heart sing, inspire you, enrage you, and make you laugh. Beginning in World War I and continuing through the war in Iraq, readers will follow soldiers into the trenches, peer in on emergency surgery taking place in the depths of the ocean, watch heroes carry the bodies of fallen brethren, trail Eisenhower for the three days leading up to D-Day and be inspired as men and women rise above normal human limits to preserve our rights and save others.

As the daughter of a Korean War vet, I tried to imagine my dad as I read these stories. I wondered what he was thinking as he fought. Did he worry about his family back home? How did he cope as he dreamed of seeing them again?

Beginning with World War I, I read the stories of amazing heroism, friendship, devotion and camaraderie. Many times my eyes filled with tears. After reading many novels of historical fiction set among the different wars, I had to remind myself that these were true stories of real men and women and their bravery.

One of my favorites was “No Medals for Joe” from World War II. Joe was a Navy shipyard worker and was shocked when he saw overhead, Japanese planes setting loose a pandemonium that will forever remain in the history of our nation. After the firestorm, destruction was all around him. He was ordered to the ship, Oklahoma, to save trapped men. After hours of drilling, cutting, chiseling, and eventually crawling through, he was able to save 32 men by carrying each one out on his back. After receiving a Navy citation, it was stolen along with his suitcase. He never received his medal but did finally get a copy of his citation. But, more importantly, he was able to meet three of the men he saved just months before he died at a Navy reunion. That was all the reward he needed.

Another favorite came from the Korean War: “1000 Men and a Baby.” This is the story of a blue-eyed baby left behind on a Korean street. The baby - half American - was taken to an orphanage.

Then, thanks to an American chaplain, the baby, “George,” was sent to live on the USS Point Cruz and was raised by 1,000 Navy men who changed his diapers, bottle fed him and cooed over him for months. “George” was eventually adopted by an American surgeon who had also met him at the orphanage and “George” became Daniel and grew up in America. In 1993, Daniel was reunited with many of the men who cared for him and essentially saved his life.

We can't forget all those who served in the years past and those who are serving to protect us now.

This book is one small way to honor them and inspire us.