Bravest of the Brave, Volume 1

As partner and manager of Del Hayes Press (that's my dad; I'm Clint), I'm immensely proud to announce our publication of my great friend Joe Bowman's Bravest of the Brave: The U.S. Air Force Medal of Honor Recipients - Vol. 1.

When I met Joe almost fifteen years ago, he'd already been working on this project for over a decade. He's been working on it ever since—adding, refining, correcting, rinse, repeat. We've already published another book of his about his ancestor who received the Medal of Honor in WWI. So I know first-hand his tenacity in getting these stories told...the depth of his research...how meticulous he is in his accuracy...how hard he's worked to make these biographies accessible, informative, and objective. We think it shows, and it's why we decided, even as a small, personal press, to take on the task of publishing it. We were determined to give it the presentation we knew it deserved.
Both the paperback and Kindle versions are available on Amazon right now at launch discount pricing. The Kindle is actually available for free through Monday.

As for the book itself, I can't do better than the Amazon description:

Some are household names and legends. Some are famous among Air Force members and aviation enthusiasts. Most are simply unknown. They came from all walks of life, from career soldiers to ordinary citizens, from poverty to affluence, but when facing their toughest challenge, they all displayed extraordinary bravery, and were awarded our nation's highest military decoration of valor: the Medal of Honor.

In a genre-defining feat of biography, the lives and Medal of Honor actions of every U.S. Air Force Medal of Honor recipient from WWI through the middle of WWII have their remarkable stories fully told in Volume 1 of the monumental Bravest of the Brave series.

The culmination of over thirty years of continuing research by author and Air Force veteran MSgt (Ret) Joseph P. Bowman, Volume 1, is drawn from the most up-to-date archival sources available, some previously unknown, as well as personal interviews with the spouses, children, and peers of each recipient, and where possible, even the men themselves.

Covering the years 1918-1943, Volume I includes:

• A foreword by MoH recipient LtCol Jay Zeamer, Jr., leader of Zeamer's Eager Beavers, the most highly decorated air crew in American history, and pilot of the famed B-17 "Old 666" / "Lucy."
• 24 biographies in all, featuring legends like Rickenbacker, Luke, Doolittle, Lindbergh, and Walker, as well as unknown heroes like Mathis, Smith, Wilkins, Vosler, and more.
• 17 chapters uniquely grouped chronologically to create single, cohesive narratives for the likes of Bleckley and Goettler, Craw and Hamilton, Zeamer and Sarnoski, and the five recipients of the Ploesti Raid.
• Over 220 color and B&W photos and maps
• A full listing of the citations for every American award and decoration received by each recipient
• A full listing of every award and decoration, American and foreign, received by each recipient
• 26 pp of endnotes, 20-page bibliography, plus index

Unparalleled in both breadth and detail, respectful yet historically objective, Bravest of the Brave, Vol. 1, is an incredible testimony to the lives and achievements of our country's most highly honored Air Force heroes. A true collector's item for the armchair aviation enthusiast and must-have for the military scholar.

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It's a remarkable feat to make you feel like you've read an entire book about someone in just a single chapter, but that's precisely what Joe has managed to do. As an author myself, I'm a little envious.

If you're interested, you can find the book here: https://amzn.to/4bRQZCO

If you're impressed, Joe would obviously appreciate your saying so in a review.

Much thanks to all.

Clint