The Most Important Thing

In this novel based on true events, a young man from rural Kentucky discovers what matters most in life as a soldier in the Korean War.

In January of 1950, Bradley leaves his family's Kentucky farm to join the US Army. He's eighteen years old and eager for adventure, new horizons, and a bigger paycheck. His service takes him halfway across the world to serve in the Korean War. It is there, amidst the perils of battle, that he discovers the most important thing.


In The Most Important Thing author David Gross parlays his own father's life history into a moving novel about a young man's coming of age. It is a powerful story of resilience that explores the meaning of service, sacrifice, and heroism.