Athletes and the Military

Louis Zamperini, a rambunctious child, discovers success as a teen in track, and becomes and Olympic qualifier.  Eventually, he serves in the military as a World War II bombardier, which leads to a trial in which he is forced to find a way to survive in the open ocean after being shot down.
Such amazing stories of pride, courage and spirit define those in sport and service.  The books in this list examine athletes who have committed to both sport and country, and used the qualities that made them sports icons for the good of others.   

I'd made it this far and refused to give up because all my life I had always finished the race                                                                                                               - Louis Zamperini

The List

Quick Pick Starters 

Where Men Win Glory
by Jon Krakauer

Presents a biographical discussion of Pat Tillman, covering the true events and actions surrounding the death of the U.S. Army soldier by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004, and examines the misrepresentation of his story by the Bush administration before the truth was revealed. 

Playing With the Enemy
by Gary W. Moore

The author tells the story of his father, Gene Moore, whose promising baseball career was interrupted by World War II, where he was assigned as a guard for the crew of the captured German U-boat U-505. 

Soldiers First
by Joe Drape

An inside look at U.S. Military Academy football, following the team's 2001 season.