Living with Honor: A Memoir

If there is only one book that you read this year, make it this one. I laughed, I cried, and at times identified with Sal while he described growing up in Eastern Iowa and the high school we both went to. He speaks honestly and openly without filtering his true feelings about what he went through. He is humble and reluctantly accepts praise for what he has done for our country. More than anything I feel ashamed for being so ignorant about what our troops are doing overseas. Like most Americans I was proud of our troops and I appreciated what they were doing for us but did I know anything about what they were doing? No. I grossly underestimated what it was like for our troops. I found myself in tears on the plane when I got to the part show more about Rock Avalanche and the night of October 25, 2007. I am forever changed by Sal's story and I am so glad he chose to open up and share it with us in a way that most soldiers/veterans don't feel comfortable doing. I know I'll never fully understand what combat is like but I have such a different perspective now and never again will I take it lightly for one second what any soldier is doing for this country. I am so thankful and forever grateful. Thank you, Sal. show less

This book was a new or refreshing way to look at our current military. I am not sure I would have picked the book up to read, if it hadn't been picked to discuss at Book Club. I thought I had a healthy respect for soldiers before I read this book, but now I feel this respect has been refined. It pleased me that this author did not present war as "cool and an awesome adventure." The ugly side he presented assisted me in respecting the military and veterans more. This quote hit home with me, "I want people to know that the life we have in America-a life of freedom and opportunity, a life largely free of violence and suffering-is not without cost. There are people out there fighting for it every day." Because of reading this book, the 4TH show more of July will never be the same for me. I will truly try to remember who fought and continues to serve so I can enjoy more freedom and more opportunities than anyone born in any other country on the planet. Thank you for serving in the U.S.A. military if you are reading this. Thank you Sal for taking time to give the common person a glimpse into current war and combat. show less