8 Seconds of Courage: A Soldier's Story from Immigrant to the Medal of Honor by

Description: 8 Seconds of Courage by Flo Groberg, Tom Sileo In an inspiring story of valor and the making of a hero, Florent Groberg—who grew up in France and emigrated to the US—becomes the first immigrant in forty years to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor after he tackled a suicide bomber in Afghanistan.Florent "Flo" Groberg was born in the suburbs of Paris and moved to the US with his family in middle school. He became a naturalized citizen in 2001. After attending the University of Maryland, he joined the US Army and twice deployed to Afghanistan. In August of 2012, Flo was guarding a high-level US-Afghan delegation and noticed someone suspicious: a local man stumbling toward his patrol. Flo reacted quickly and ran to tackle the man—who was wearing a suicide vest. Four people died in the subsequent explosion, but many others were spared. Flo himself spent the next three years undergoing surgeries at Walter Reed Medical Center, and in 2015 he was given the nations highest military award, the Congressional Medal of Honor—the first immigrant to be so recognized since the Vietnam War. What prepares a soldier for those critical moments in combat? 8 Seconds of Courage tells Flos story from his childhood in France to his decision to enlist and the grueling training he underwent at US Army Ranger School. As a field commander on the front lines in Afghanistan he formed close and lasting bonds with his fellow soldiers. It was this powerful sense of responsibility that compelled him to take action to save lives, even at the risk of his own. "Flos incredible tale of bravery and service is also a stark reminder that for many of our warriors, coming home is not the end of the fight. Flo finds a way to live…Truly an inspiration" (Jon Stewart). In his own words, Flo provides that essential insight into his selfless act while remembering his four fallen brothers in arms. 8 Seconds of Courage is a story of heroism, sacrifice, and camaraderie in wartime. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Author Biography Flo Groberg was medically retired from the US Army in 2015. He is now director of veterans outreach for Boeing, where he leads community engagement in the eastern US. Prior to joining Boeing, he served in a similar capacity for LinkedIn. He lives in Washington, DC. 8 Seconds of Courage is his first book.Tom Sileo coauthored two previous books about military heroes, including one about Flo Groberg, 8 Seconds of Courage. Currently a contributing senior editor at The Stream, Tom also spent eight years working in local and national newsrooms, including CNN. He lives in Delray Beach, Florida. Review "Flos incredible tale of bravery and service is also a stark reminder that for many of our warriors, coming home is not the end of the fight. Flo finds a way to live, not only with his injuries, but with purpose. . . to honor his fallen brothers and sisters. Truly an inspiration." -- Jon Stewart"8 Seconds of Courage reminds readers of the resilient and courageous men and women who dedicate their lives in service to our nation. Captain Flo Grobergs selfless commitment to his country and fellow soldiers is truly inspiring." -- Donald Rumsfeld, former Secretary of Defense"8 Seconds of Courage represents the ethos of the modern day warrior. Flos incredible story highlights the everyday American soldiers willing to sacrifice it all for our way of life, our nation and most importantly each other." -- Clinton Romesha, Medal of Honor recipient and author of Red Platoon: A True Story of American Valor"If youve ever wondered what the world looks like through the eyes of a real, living superhero, this book is for you." -- Capt. Garrison Haning * Army Magazine *"Offers insight into the profound sense of duty that drives members of the military while celebrating one mans extraordinary courage. An inspiring book about heroism and sacrifice." * Kirkus Reviews *"What does it take to go hand to hand with a suicide bomber? In 8 Seconds of Courage, one of the few living recipients of the Medal of Honor tells us. Captain Flo Groberg, with the help of noted military affairs writer Tom Sileo, takes us inside his life and Army experiences before, during, and after his gallant, decisive act. Groberg writes with candor and humility. Its an immigrants story. Its a soldiers story. And it is a classic American story." -- Daniel P. Bolger, Lieutenant General, U.S. Army (ret.), author of Our Year of War: Two Brothers, Vietnam, and a Nation Divided"In 8 Seconds of Courage, written with Tom Sileo, Groberg takes readers through the many faces of war, from mundane assignments, to the reality of cheering for the gruesome death of your enemies, to the surreal notion that one misstep can cost lives." -- Kelyn Soong * The Washington Post * Review Quote "What does it take to go hand to hand with a suicide bomber? In 8 Seconds of Courage, one of the few living recipients of the Medal of Honor tells us. Captain Flo Groberg, with the help of noted military affairs writer Tom Sileo, takes us inside his life and Army experiences before, during, and after his gallant, decisive act. Groberg writes with candor and humility. Its an immigrants story. Its a soldiers story. And it is a classic American story." Excerpt from Book 8 Seconds of Courage 1 TOY SOLDIERS I had never thought about quitting anything until the United States Army Ranger Schools "Mountain Phase" in the rugged hills of Dahlonega, Georgia. By the fortieth day of Ranger School in October 2009, my lifelong dislike of hiking had turned into pure hatred. I had to get through only twenty-one more days to earn the Armys coveted Ranger tab, but after six weeks of constant fatigue, I was just about finished. Like most of my fellow soldiers, I had lost around twenty pounds due to strictly imposed food limits, and hadnt slept more than four hours a night since Ranger School began. For me, those challenges were nothing compared to hiking up and down Ranger Camp Frank D. Merrills ruthless cliffs. The mountains of North Georgia were my kryptonite. On the fortieth night, my thirteen-man squad and I were on what we called a "death march," which started in the dead of night and wouldnt end until we reached a mock objective at 0500. Thankfully it was neither too hot nor cold in early October, but an unrelenting rainstorm made my wet, muddy boots feel as if they were filled with concrete. Even with my night optical devices (NODs), I could barely see the tree branches that were constantly snapping into my face. Bugs were all over my body and inside my dry, thirsty mouth. I knew that these hardships were designed to prepare us for many months of combat in the mountains of Afghanistan, where I would likely deploy after Ranger School. But I was physically and mentally drained, with a stomach buckling in on itself. All I could think about was how much this sucked. My deteriorating legs and body language made it even more obvious that I was struggling. "Whats wrong?" another Ranger candidate, Staff Sergeant Erick Gallardo, said. "Hell," I said while gasping for air. "I cant take this shit anymore." "What do you mean?" he said. "Are you falling asleep?" Guys passing out during simulated missions, even while standing up or marching, was commonplace. For me, though, it was about more than sleep deprivation. I felt like forty straight days of Ranger Schools nonstop chaos had finally broken me. "Im smoked, man," I told Gallardo. "I think Im done." After a pause, Gallardo, who had narrowly survived a bullet striking his helmet in eastern Afghanistans infamous Korengal Valley, made me an offer. "If you quit right now, Ill quit with you," he said. Gallardo had received a Silver Star for his heroic actions as the leader of a 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team squad that included Army Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta (who would later receive the Medal of Honor). Gallardo had been through a lot worse than the mountains of North Georgia. Even though he had nearly been killed in Afghanistan, Gallardo wanted to return to the battlefield as a platoon sergeant, which required earning the Ranger tab. If I quit, it wouldnt just be a huge setback to my military career; it would mess up Gallardos future, too. "Get through this damn patrol and sleep on it," he continued. "If you feel the same way in the morning, well quit tomorrow." Gallardo gave me the second wind I needed, and out of habit my mind snapped back to a concept that had been drilled into my head since the beginning of Ranger School: leave no man behind. After getting through nearly six hellish weeks, why should I give up and take another soldier down with me? Quitting was contrary to everything I stood for. The next day, the sun came out for the first time in a long while. "Are we quitting today?" Gallardo inquired as we wolfed down our MREs (Meals, Ready to Eat). "Negative," I said. But the next night, I reached a second breaking point during another eleven-hour death march. That made our total time awake twenty-three hours. With one hour to go, I was frantically searching for a piece of lost gear, and soon realized I was hallucinating from exhaustion. My Ranger buddy had hurt his ankle a few meters earlier, which prompted me to grab his tripod and add it to the pile of gear that was already on my back. I was carrying over one hundred pounds, in addition to my M240 machine gun. The enormous weight, combined with the pitch-black darkness and brutal terrain, caused me to trip and fall into the mud--fifteen separate times. Each time I fell, I worried that I would accidentally discharge my weapon, which would have resulted in my immediate dismissal from Ranger School. Each time I got up, it became harder and harder to lift the hundred-pound weight on my back. After the fifteenth fall, my backpack--or "ruck" as we say in the military--felt lighter. Either my hallucinations were worsening, I thought, or a piece of gear was missing. Thats when I realized that the tripod had disappeared somewhere in the darkness, along with--in all likelihood--my chances of graduating from Ranger School. Like an accidental gun discharge, losing your Army equipment was a serious offense, and the Ranger Instructors (RIs) had zero sympathy for this scenario. For the sixteenth time, I fell down, this time out of complete mental obliteration rather than physical fatigue. The thought of fifteen months of hard work--from US Army Basic Training, Officer Candidate School, and the Basic Officer Leadership Course to Infantry School, Airborne School, and now Ranger School--ending in failure was devastating. Many of my peers did not think highly of an infantry officer without a Ranger tab. I had chosen to undergo what was probably the Armys toughest training regimen because I wanted to lead soldiers in combat, but in that moment my path to war was muddier than the ground I was lying on. When I looked up, I could barely make out a familiar face staring down at me. "Get up, Groberg," Gallardo said. "Weve got too much fun left; you dont want to miss it!" Ranger School challenges everything about a human being. It challenges your mind, your body, your emotions, your leadership, your decision making, and most important, your attitude. As Gallardo demonstrated while sensing my struggles, there was also nowhere to hide. From the RIs to your peers, everybody was watching. Eventually, I found my way to my feet and looked at Gallardo. Its rare to face a career decision that can clearly change the trajectory of your life, but for me this was one of those defining moments. While thinking about what to do for a few seconds, I forgot where I was. * * * "You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months," I said in French. "The eyes of the world are upon you. "Your task will not be an easy one," I continued. "Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely." Seconds later, I moved an army of little green plastic soldiers into formation. In a few moments, they would unleash a furious assault on a nearly identical army of gray plastic men. "I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle," I said. "We will accept nothing less than full victory. Good luck!" I was quoting General Dwight D. Eisenhowers famous letter to US troops before the Allied liberation of France, where I was born. As a nine-year-old boy, I was busy reenacting World War II, which I had been obsessed with since learning to read. From a young age, playing with toy soldiers inside my room in the Paris suburb of Ach Details ISBN1501165909 Author Tom Sileo Pages 208 Publisher Simon & Schuster Year 2018 ISBN-10 1501165909 ISBN-13 9781501165900 Format Paperback Imprint Simon & Schuster Subtitle A Soldiers Story from Immigrant to the Medal of Honor Place of Publication New York Country of Publication United States DEWEY 958.10474209 Language English Short Title 8 Seconds of Courage UK Release Date 2018-11-06 Publication Date 2018-11-06 NZ Release Date 2018-11-06 US Release Date 2018-11-06 Illustrations 1x16pg b&w insert; 2 b&w maps thru-out; Alternative 9781501165887 Audience General AU Release Date 2018-09-30 We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:119488551;

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