Opening line:
"Imagine you are on the battlefield in the throes of fighting a war."

I really enjoyed Mr. Borrowman's stories of unsung heroes during different wars. I learned about Captain Ferguson and the Ferguson rifle AND how he choose not to shot soldiers in the back, which ended up saving George Washington's life.
How WWI probably started (egos!) was fascinating!
But I think I loved the story of Edith Cavell the best. The nurse who risked her life time after time to save wounded soldiers and help them to the safety of a neutral country. When she was arrested, she stood her ground. She didn't hide and she didn't lie. When they asked her condeming questions, she answered them truthfully. She was killed by a German firing squad. That might have been the end of her story, but her death rang around the world and protests and demonstration in her honor stopped the Germans from killing her associates.

If you would like a different look at wars, maybe a more compassionate look at the men and women in the middle of war, this is a great book to give you a little more faith in humankind.

Thanks for the early read netgalley!

I have to admit I took my time reading through these stories and took many breaks in between. There are many stories about the horrors of war but I have not seen too many on the lesser known kindnesses that happen during war. We need to remember what war is but I think we do need to temper it with how kind the human heart can be. I really enjoyed reading this book.

This book looks into the life of soldiers who have served in wars from the revolutionary war to the present. The stories of heroism, of compassion were incredible. We can learn so much from other peoples stories and how they made it through tough times.

One does not think of compassionate soldier during war. The soldiers in this book showed sympathy for others who are suffering. It is a book about kindness, caring and willingness to help others. To see that soldiers from the American Revolution to the Iraq War shows and reminds us of the humanity that is in all of us. War I think has a tendency to only think of the worse of the people involved in it, especially the soldiers.

The stories in this book are exceptional. Even at the worse of times, there were those who showed mercy and kindness. They had honor. Even if they knew they risked death, there was still the willingness to care about others. Many stories are heartwarming. It is a book not to be missed! Do read this remarkable book.

Amazing true stories... amazing that they are true!!

My Thoughts:

First off thank you to netgalley for the arc of this book. It was a really interesting read and it was full of stories I did not know about. The stories spanned from the Revolutionary war all the way to the Iraq war. This collection told of many soldiers who saved the lives of people considered enemies. They risked their lives to save those who were wounded or facing death. It shows the compassion of soldiers who did not have to. This is a must read for those who love history and want to learn about real heroes.

Compassionate Soldier is an uplifting read. Jerry Borrowman does a wonderful job telling the stories of compassion, many times in the face of adversity. Each story tugs at the heart and makes you believe there is so much good in the world.