Heart of a Soldier

Abridged
Author: James B. Stewart
Narrator: George DiCenzo
Genres: History, Military, Memoirs
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date: December 2008
Length: 6 hours
Ratings:
  • Book Rating: 3.5/5
Formats:
  • CD

Overview

Sometimes from the ashes of tragedy comes an extraordinary, even magical story that inspires, offers hope, and helps heal even the deepest wounds. Heart of a Soldier is such a story, thrillingly told by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Den of Thieves and Blind Eye.

Born in Britain on the eve of World War II, Rick Rescorla became an American citizen and a much-decorated soldier. His extraordinary life is woven into the military conflicts of his time, from the battlefields of colonial Africa, where he and his best friend, U.S. Army officer Dan Hill, led lives of adventure worthy of Kipling and Conrad, to some of the deadliest battles of Vietnam to the epicenter of modern-day terrorism. Surviving them all with great courage and style, Rescorla seemed invincible.

Rescorla tried to put combat and death behind him, and for a time it seemed as though he had succeeded. With his wife Susan, he found the peace and domesticity he craved. But it turned out that everything in his remarkable life had prepared him for one last act of selflessness that transcended all that had come before. Then, on September 11, 2001, he faced the ultimate test.

In charge of security for Morgan Stanley, Rick Rescorla successfully got 2,700 of its employees out of the World Trade Center's South Tower on September 11. Then he went back and began climbing the tower stairs, looking for stragglers.

Reviews (8)

Heart of a soldier

Written by Rhonda Canady from Knoxville, TN on June 11th, 2008

  • Book Rating: 3/5

The Heart of a soldier started out slow but then after a couple of chapters kept my interest. I thought it would be more about September 11, but instead it detailed alot of the Vietnam War and then concluded with 9-11. I didn't enjoy the speaker. He didn't have the voice of many characters that I have heard in other stories.

Heart of a Soldier

Written by Joseph Deluca on June 15th, 2007

  • Book Rating: 4/5

I found this story very rewarding and interesting. The lives of such men and the price they paid was an inspiritation.

Marginally worth the time

Written by Kevin Cadieux on May 18th, 2007

  • Book Rating: 3/5

I found the book marginally worth the time that it took to listen to it. I found the first two chapters so disjoint that it took until almost half way thru the book to tie them together.

Good heart

Written by Susan Kilbride on January 13th, 2007

  • Book Rating: 4/5

Good story. Told in plain language and narrates the lives of the two intertwined heroes. Covers many of the major conflicts from the middle of the 20th century and beyond. I'm still not sure if the story was a true one but it is nice to think it was...

Heart of a Soldier

Written by Anonymous on September 23rd, 2006

  • Book Rating: 5/5

True stories are always interesting. This is of a man who was probably everything you would want in a father, husband, or a friend. This is a story of a person who should always be admired. This is a first class book.

Fabulous story

Written by Anonymous from Marblehead, MA on February 22nd, 2005

  • Book Rating: 5/5

Written very much like a story, this biography gives great insights into Rick Rescorla's background, training, friends and family. It keeps you interested, even though you know how it ends.

Heart of a Soldier

Written by Anonymous on January 10th, 2005

  • Book Rating: 4/5

This was a well done book and CD it was one of those that you get into and do not want to end. Well done. JPB

EXCELLENT!! A Must Read!

Written by LPM on December 27th, 2004

  • Book Rating: 5/5

An absolutely wonderful story that will amuse you, sadden you, and touch your heart. It is a story about a real hero and the human spirit.