title: In the Heat of Battle: A history of those who rose to the occasion and those who didn't (General Military)
author:  Donough O'Brien 
description: "Out of two thousand years of the history of combat Donough O'Brien has plucked seventy five extraordinary episodes, some well known, others much less or not at all. They describe the good, the bad and the downright incompetent; the best and the worst; the bravest and most craven, and each story is a small gem. A 'must' for Christmas." -Frederick Forsyth, author and political commentator<br /><br />"O'Brien uses his master story-telling skills to create a lively and informative compendium of bravery and humiliation. Written in an elegant, entertaining style, <i>In the Heat of Battle</i>is designed for general readers seeking to glean inspiration from the best and worst that history has to offer. Teachers, lawyers, business people, clergy and of course military leaders will benefit from O'Brien's concise yet informative essays." -<i>Sir Read-a-Lot (sirreadalot.org)</i>(October 2009)<br /><br />"Offers a fine survey of war, military ranks, and how heroes emerged form battles. From early fighters such as George Washington and Rommel to anti-heroes such as Custer, this survey considers how individuals contributed to or changed the course of history through their military choices." - <i>The Midwest Book Review</i> (April 2010)<br /><br />"In the Heat of Battle is a thought-provoking book with wide appeal... It is highly recommended for the general student of military history, and will doubtless inspire further in-depth reading and analysis." -Lloyd W. Sherfey, <i>On Point</i> (Fall 2010)<br /><br />"This title examines a slightly different phenomenon. Sometimes it is the junior ranks that seize the initiative and save the day, often with extraordinary acts of heroism. Often those who fail are senior and experienced. Fully illustrated with photographs and artwork, the book includes familiar battlefield heroes like Audie Murphy, H Jones, and Corporal Graham among others and contains interesting and thought-provoking facts." -<i>Wonderpedia</i>
zlib_text: No Warriors, No Glory
  
  Harold Coyle
  
  *
  
  Chapter One.
  
  Iraq
  
  The shade offered by the low mud and brick wall did little to mitigate the
  oppressive heat that seemed to radiate from the very ground itself. This
  mattered little to the gaggle of exhausted soldiers gathered behind it. The
  heat, like the dust and filth that covered them from head to toe, was an
  inescapable fact of life the, young Americans had long ago come to accept and
  hate in much the same way they'd learned to despise the people who'd built the
  wall.
  
  Like the village on the other side of it, the soldiers sprawled about on the
  ground or leaned against the wall silent. Such was their exhaustion that no
  one, not even the most vocal cynic among them, bothered to bemoan their
  pitiful fate. Whatever strength each man had left was expended in vain to
  become as comfortable as his circumstances permitted. Even Second Lieutenant
  Ethan Fetterman, their platoon leader, found it quite impossible to whip up
  anything resembling enthusi