"The character of a nation can
well be determined by how
it pays homage to its heroes."

— Bob Dole in "The Quiet Hero"

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Many remember the battle of Iwo Jima from the iconic photograph of the historic flag raising on Mt. Suribachi. But most are not aware that the battle was the most costly of World War II for the USA. It was the only battle where the Americans suffered more casualties than their enemy.

George E. Wahlen landed on Iwo Jima with his Marine company of 250 men, and his unit suffered the highest killed-in-action ratio of any company in Marine Corps history. As a corpsman, his job was to go out beyond the lines and give medical aid to the wounded. Wahlen was hit several times and could have been evacauated on each occasion. But because he stayed on the battlefield, it's impossible to know how many lives were saved. Witnesses of his heroics remain dumbfounded he even survived. His story remains one of the most incredible accounts of bravery and heroism in U.S. military history.

In October of 1945, George was summoned to the White House where he received the Medal of Honor from President Truman. The official medal citation reads like a rejected John Wayne movie script too grand to be believed. But George was tormented with nightmares, and in addition to his physical injuries, he suffered deep emotional pains because of what he saw and endured.

He spent nine months in a rehabilitation hospital recovering from a serious leg wound. After discharge, he came home and stuffed the Medal of Honor in a dresser and told no one about it. Even his wife didn’t know he was a national war hero until years after they were married. She only learned by chance after she curiously opened an invitation for George to attend the inauguration of President Eisenhower.

He spent almost six decades trying to forget Iwo Jima. The memories were too painful to discuss, and any talk of George being a hero made him cringe. Fortunately, the years have dulled the pain associated with his Iwo Jima experience. He recently agreed to divulge the gritty details of his story. Author Gary W. Toyn was asked to piece together the 60 year old puzzle, and now this incredible story is told.

Bob Dole, Orrin Hatch, James Bradley (Flags of our Fathers), Harlan Glenn (History Channel) and many others agree, “The Quiet Hero” is quite possibly the last, great untold story of World War II.

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“The Quiet Hero” offers an extraordinary peek into the making of one of our nation's most distinguished war heroes.”

       —James Bradley, Author of national bestsellers Flags of Our Fathers and Flyboys