Product Description

As I pull myself out of the hatch four or five rounds ricochet off the front of the Warrior. My God, some bastard is targeting me. I drop back down into my seat. My hands are shaking. My breath is coming in short gasps. If I sprint through the bullets and throw myself over the barrier, I say to myself, I'll be safe ' During a series of explosive operations in Iraq, Private Johnson Beharry carried out two acts of outstanding heroism, saving the lives of thirty men. In the second action, a rocket-propelled grenade exploded inches from his head, yet he managed to drive out of the ambush before collapsing. Nobody thought he would survive. Amazingly, he did pull through, becoming the first living recipient of the Victoria Cross for nearly forty years. From a childhood of grinding poverty in Grenada to his remarkable road to recovery, this is his incredible story.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #29892 in Books
• Published on: 2007-05-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 448 pages

Review
'Gets my vote as book of the year. The word 'hero' is often bandied about by the media, but where Beharry is concerned, it's a fitting description' Andy McNab *'Gripping ... Vividly atmospheric and briskly paced' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *'A heartbreaking, uplifting and inspirational read' SUNDAY EXPRESS *'Beharry has a rich inner life and is possessed of an unselfconsciously poetic turn of phrase. Relating a recurrent nightmare in which he's trapped inside a burning Warrior, he writes, "The dream sticks to me like the smell of smoke"' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH 'A heartbreaking, uplifting and inspirational read' SUNDAY EXPRESS 'Johnson Beharry earned his VC for "repeated extreme gallantry and unquestioned valour" in Iraq, but the full story of his journey there is still more inspiring' DAILY MAIL

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
'Gripping . . . Vividly atmospheric and briskly paced'

SUNDAY EXPRESS
'A heartbreaking, uplifting and inspirational read'

Customer Reviews

Truly heroic
The word "hero" gets devalued by the media, but every so often a person rightfully deserves the label. Beharry's story is one of the most remarkable you'll ever read. I bought it expecting just another soldier's lightweight memoir, but couldn't put it down. It's moving and totally gripping. Maybe the most unexpected thing is how well this book is written. Easily gets my vote as book of the year so far.

An unexpected pleasure
Not having read any reviews of the book before I bought it, I picked it up as something that might give a personal insight into elements of the broader story told in "Dusty Warriors" of PWRR's time in Iraq in 2004. I found that I couldn't put it down, even though Johnson doesn't actually join the Army until half way through the book (apart from the first chapter in Iraq).
Many thanks to Johnson and those who helped to get his story published.

The bare foot Soldier
I saw the advert for this book on the tube and decided to pick it up in Waterstones (SORRY!) and was told off by the shop assistant as I read it for about 30 minutes without realising (honestly!).

An un-putdownable book that will truly inspire and humble you. From his early, disturbed upbringing in Grenada to life in the UK, followed up by his traumatic posting to an active theatre of war you will feel joy, dispair and sorrow in equal measures.

If I had to be critical, there is a good deal of military jargon, as you may expect. However, I don't feel that this really devalues the book, possibly giving it a more realistic feel? The pace is good and keeps you interested.

Not wishing to appear nasty, a gentleman of limited education - by his own admission - he must have had some fair degree of help in putting this book together. That said, his ability to recall conversations from years ago is extraordinary, especially given the unbelievable injuries he has suffered.

I would truly welcome a second book, detailing how he is now coping with life and the impact of having the immortal letters 'V.C.' after you name. I enjoyed Lance Armstrong's first book, however his second was arguably better. This was an excellent read and one that I am proud to own. Buy it, read it, marvel at the breathtaking bravery and genuine self effacing nature of the author. Well done, Son of the soil!