Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice
For readers of Unbroken comes an unforgettable tale of courage from America's "forgotten war" in Korea, by the New York Times bestselling author of A Higher Call.

Devotion tells the inspirational story of the U.S. Navy's most famous aviator duo, Lieutenant Tom Hudner and Ensign Jesse Brown, and the Marines they fought to defend. A white New Englander from the country-club scene, Tom passed up Harvard to fly fighters for his country. An African American sharecropper's son from Mississippi, Jesse became the navy's first black carrier pilot, defending 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.

Deployed to the Mediterranean, Tom and Jesse meet the Fleet Marines, boys like PFC "Red" Parkinson, a farm kid from the Catskills. In between war games in the sun, the young men revel on the Riviera, partying with millionaires and even befriending the Hollywood starlet Elizabeth Taylor. Then comes the war no one expected, in faraway Korea.

Devotion takes us soaring overhead with Tom and Jesse, and into the foxholes with Red and the Marines as they battle a North Korean invasion. As the fury of the fighting escalates and the Marines are cornered at the Chosin Reservoir, Tom and Jesse fly, guns blazing, to try and save them. 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?

Praise for Devotion

"Riveting . . . a meticulously researched and moving account."-USA Today

"An inspiring tale . . . portrayed by Makos in sharp, fact-filled prose and with strong reporting."-Los Angeles Times

"[A] must-read."-New York Post

"Stirring."-Parade

"A masterful storyteller . . . [Makos brings] Devotion to life with amazing vividness. . . . [It] reads like a dream. The perfectly paced story cruises along in the fast lane-when you're finished, you'll want to start all over again."-Associated Press

"A delight to read . . . Devotion is a story you will not forget."-The Washington Times

"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."-President George H. W. Bush

"This is aerial drama at its best-fast, powerful, and moving."-Erik Larson, New York Times bestselling author of Dead Wake

"Though it concerns a famously cold battle in the Korean War, make no mistake: Devotion will warm your heart."-Hampton Sides, New York Times bestselling author of Ghost Soldiers and In the Kingdom of Ice

"At last, the Korean War has its epic, a story that will stay with you long after you close this book."-Eric Blehm, New York Times bestselling author of Fearless and Legend


From the Hardcover edition
1121369880
Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice
For readers of Unbroken comes an unforgettable tale of courage from America's "forgotten war" in Korea, by the New York Times bestselling author of A Higher Call.

Devotion tells the inspirational story of the U.S. Navy's most famous aviator duo, Lieutenant Tom Hudner and Ensign Jesse Brown, and the Marines they fought to defend. A white New Englander from the country-club scene, Tom passed up Harvard to fly fighters for his country. An African American sharecropper's son from Mississippi, Jesse became the navy's first black carrier pilot, defending 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.

Deployed to the Mediterranean, Tom and Jesse meet the Fleet Marines, boys like PFC "Red" Parkinson, a farm kid from the Catskills. In between war games in the sun, the young men revel on the Riviera, partying with millionaires and even befriending the Hollywood starlet Elizabeth Taylor. Then comes the war no one expected, in faraway Korea.

Devotion takes us soaring overhead with Tom and Jesse, and into the foxholes with Red and the Marines as they battle a North Korean invasion. As the fury of the fighting escalates and the Marines are cornered at the Chosin Reservoir, Tom and Jesse fly, guns blazing, to try and save them. 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?

Praise for Devotion

"Riveting . . . a meticulously researched and moving account."-USA Today

"An inspiring tale . . . portrayed by Makos in sharp, fact-filled prose and with strong reporting."-Los Angeles Times

"[A] must-read."-New York Post

"Stirring."-Parade

"A masterful storyteller . . . [Makos brings] Devotion to life with amazing vividness. . . . [It] reads like a dream. The perfectly paced story cruises along in the fast lane-when you're finished, you'll want to start all over again."-Associated Press

"A delight to read . . . Devotion is a story you will not forget."-The Washington Times

"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."-President George H. W. Bush

"This is aerial drama at its best-fast, powerful, and moving."-Erik Larson, New York Times bestselling author of Dead Wake

"Though it concerns a famously cold battle in the Korean War, make no mistake: Devotion will warm your heart."-Hampton Sides, New York Times bestselling author of Ghost Soldiers and In the Kingdom of Ice

"At last, the Korean War has its epic, a story that will stay with you long after you close this book."-Eric Blehm, New York Times bestselling author of Fearless and Legend


From the Hardcover edition
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Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice

Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice

by Adam Makos

Narrated by Dominic Hoffman

Unabridged — 14 hours, 44 minutes

Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice

Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice

by Adam Makos

Narrated by Dominic Hoffman

Unabridged — 14 hours, 44 minutes

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Overview

For readers of Unbroken comes an unforgettable tale of courage from America's "forgotten war" in Korea, by the New York Times bestselling author of A Higher Call.

Devotion tells the inspirational story of the U.S. Navy's most famous aviator duo, Lieutenant Tom Hudner and Ensign Jesse Brown, and the Marines they fought to defend. A white New Englander from the country-club scene, Tom passed up Harvard to fly fighters for his country. An African American sharecropper's son from Mississippi, Jesse became the navy's first black carrier pilot, defending 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.

Deployed to the Mediterranean, Tom and Jesse meet the Fleet Marines, boys like PFC "Red" Parkinson, a farm kid from the Catskills. In between war games in the sun, the young men revel on the Riviera, partying with millionaires and even befriending the Hollywood starlet Elizabeth Taylor. Then comes the war no one expected, in faraway Korea.

Devotion takes us soaring overhead with Tom and Jesse, and into the foxholes with Red and the Marines as they battle a North Korean invasion. As the fury of the fighting escalates and the Marines are cornered at the Chosin Reservoir, Tom and Jesse fly, guns blazing, to try and save them. 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?

Praise for Devotion

"Riveting . . . a meticulously researched and moving account."-USA Today

"An inspiring tale . . . portrayed by Makos in sharp, fact-filled prose and with strong reporting."-Los Angeles Times

"[A] must-read."-New York Post

"Stirring."-Parade

"A masterful storyteller . . . [Makos brings] Devotion to life with amazing vividness. . . . [It] reads like a dream. The perfectly paced story cruises along in the fast lane-when you're finished, you'll want to start all over again."-Associated Press

"A delight to read . . . Devotion is a story you will not forget."-The Washington Times

"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."-President George H. W. Bush

"This is aerial drama at its best-fast, powerful, and moving."-Erik Larson, New York Times bestselling author of Dead Wake

"Though it concerns a famously cold battle in the Korean War, make no mistake: Devotion will warm your heart."-Hampton Sides, New York Times bestselling author of Ghost Soldiers and In the Kingdom of Ice

"At last, the Korean War has its epic, a story that will stay with you long after you close this book."-Eric Blehm, New York Times bestselling author of Fearless and Legend


From the Hardcover edition

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Riveting . . . a meticulously researched and moving account.”USA Today

“An inspiring tale . . . portrayed by [Adam] Makos in sharp, fact-filled prose and with strong reporting.”Los Angeles Times

“[A] must-read.”New York Post

“Stirring.”Parade

“A masterful storyteller . . . [Makos brings] Devotion to life with amazing vividness. . . . [It] reads like a dream. The perfectly paced story cruises along in the fast lane—when you’re finished, you’ll want to start all over again.”—Associated Press

“A delight to read . . . Devotion is a story you will not forget.”The Washington Times

“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.”—President George H. W. Bush
 
“This is aerial drama at its best—fast, powerful, and moving.”—Erik Larson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Splendid and the Vile

“Lovingly rendered and meticulously researched, here is a tale of true friendship across the racial divide. Though it concerns a famously cold battle in the Korean War, make no mistake: Devotion will warm your heart.”—Hampton Sides, New York Times bestselling author of Ghost Soldiers
 
“At last, the Korean War has its epic, a story that will stay with you long after you close this book.”—Eric Blehm, New York Times bestselling author of Fearless

“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 it down.”—Joseph L. Galloway, co-author of the #1 New York Times bestseller We Were Soldiers Once . . . and Young
 
“Adam Makos immerses you in a story so crisp that you’ll forget you’re reading a book. Prepare to be swept away.”—Michael Tougias, co-author of The Finest Hours
 
“Once again, Adam Makos demonstrates himself as a rising star in historical nonfiction. Getting the story is only half the battle. Telling the story is where he thrives.”—Colin Heaton, co-author of The Star of Africa

Kirkus Reviews

2015-06-17
The story of a mission over North Korea in 1950 when, in an almost suicidally brave gesture, a Navy pilot tried to pull his friend from burning wreckage. Given the subjects—pilots Tom Hudner, white, and Jesse Brown, black—many authors would be tempted to write an inspiring story of racial tolerance, the brotherhood of warriors, and patriotic sacrifice. Journalist Makos (co-author: A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II, 2012) yields to that temptation, resulting in worshipful biographies of two men who overcame adversity to achieve their dreams as Navy pilots, bonded despite vastly different backgrounds, and risked their lives for freedom. The book, writes the author, is "an inspirational story of an unlikely friendship. It's the tale of a white pilot from the country clubs of New England and a black pilot from a southern sharecropper's shack forming a deep friendship in an era of racial hatred." Brown died in his plane, and the author's interviews with those who knew him turn up only good things. He endured humiliating racial persecution but excelled at school, worked his way through college, enlisted in the Navy, and became the first black carrier pilot. Raised in a prosperous Massachusetts family, Hudner had an easier time achieving his dream, but Makos' portrait of him is equally admiring. Their final flight took place to support Marines trapped around the frozen Chosin Reservoir, and Makos detours regularly for shorter biographies of several who fought and suffered on the ground. For more than half the book, the author describes peacetime service of a naval band of brothers: training, camaraderie, horseplay, etc. There follows the stories of two months of ground-attack missions culminating in the action that won Hudner the Medal of Honor. An account of a genuinely inspiring deed written as a breathless docudrama.

Product Details

BN ID: 2940170107681
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Publication date: 10/27/2015
Edition description: Unabridged

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Excerpted from "Devotion"
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Copyright © 2015 Adam Makos.
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