Blaze of Light
The Inspiring True Story of Green Beret Medic Gary Beikirch, Medal of Honor Recipient
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
For fans of Unbroken and Hacksaw Ridge comes the powerful true story of a Medal of Honor recipient who faced more than his fair share of battles—and overcame them through perseverance and faith.
“What Gary Beikirch did to receive his medal is unforgettable—and the story of what he overcame afterward is as big and moving as they come.”—Gary Sinise
After dawn the siege began. It was April 1, 1970, and Army Green Beret medic Gary Beikirch knew the odds were stacked against their survival. Some 10,000 enemy soldiers sought to obliterate the twelve American Special Forces troops and 400 indigenous fighters who stood fast to defend 2,300 women and children inside the village of Dak Seang. For his valor and selflessness during the ruthless siege, Beikirch would be awarded a Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest and most prestigious military decoration.
But Gary returned home wounded in body, mind, and soul. To find himself again, Gary retreated to a cave in the mountains of New England, where a redemptive encounter with God allowed Gary to find peace.
New York Times best-selling author Marcus Brotherton chronicles the incredible true story of a person who changed from lost to found. Gripping and unforgettable, and written with a rich and vivid narrative voice, Blaze of Light will inspire you to answer hurt with ingenuity, to reach for faith, and to find clarity and peace within any season of storm.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Brotherton (Tough as They Come) relates the story of Medal of Honor recipient Gary Beikirch, who went from aimless teen to wounded soldier to man of faith, in this riveting biography. Beikirch came of age during the 1960s before enlisting in the Army and training to become a Green Beret. He was deployed in 1970 as a medic in Dak Seang, a Vietnamese mountain village, and was severely wounded during a firefight, but continued to render aid to his fellow soldiers, and rescued one from an exposed location while under heavy fire. After being sent home, he underwent treatment for the gunshot wounds he'd suffered. His journey to faith in Christ began with a chaplain's care, and, as he struggled with what is now recognized as PTSD, he began to turn to the comfort of God to guide his mental recovery. Only after retreating to the Appalachian wilderness was he able to heal and discover his calling to minister to fellow veterans. Brotherton relies heavily on Beikirch's personal recollections and collaboration, bringing an intense immediacy to the narrative. This gripping story of courage, honor, and faith will appeal broadly, both to readers interested in war accounts as well as those seeking an affecting tale of recovery and redemption.
