The true story behind the events that inspired the major motion picture Only the Brave. A "unique and bracing" (Booklist) first-person account by the sole survivor of Arizona's disastrous 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire; which took the lives of 19 "hotshots"--firefighters trained specifically to battle wildfires.Brendan McDonough was on the verge of becoming a hopeless; inveterate heroin addict when he; for the sake of his young daughter; decided to turn his life around. He enlisted in the Granite Mountain Hotshots; a team of elite firefighters based in Prescott; Arizona. Their leader; Eric Marsh; was in a desperate crunch after four hotshots left the unit; and perhaps seeing a glimmer of promise in the skinny would-be recruit; he took a chance on the unlikely McDonough; and the chance paid off. Despite the crew's skepticism; and thanks in large part to Marsh's firm but loving encouragement; McDonough unlocked a latent drive and dedication; going on to successfully battle a number of blazes and eventually win the confidence of the men he came to call his brothers.Then; on June 30; 2013; while McDonough--"Donut" as he'd been dubbed by his team--served as lookout; they confronted a freak; 3;000-degree inferno in nearby Yarnell; Arizona. The relentless firestorm ultimately trapped his hotshot brothers; tragically killing all 19 of them within minutes. Nationwide; it was the greatest loss of firefighter lives since the 9/11 attacks. Granite Mountain is a gripping memoir that traces McDonough's story of finding his way out of the dead end of drugs; finding his purpose among the Granite Mountain Hotshots; and the minute-by-minute account of the fateful day he lost the very men who had saved him. A harrowing and redemptive tale of resilience in the face of tragedy; Granite Mountain is also a powerful reminder of the heroism of the people who put themselves in harm's way to protect us every day.
#1547606 in Books 1991-06Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x 7.50 x .75l; #File Name: 0316088382320 pagesIllustrations
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. PricelessBy Mike MoviusA vocative account of Civil War military life according to Private Alfred Bellard. His drawings provide a solid measure of reality; as does his descriptions of the scenes through which he passed. An excellent memoir. One that every Civil War enthusiast should read.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The Civil War as Experienced by a Young Union SoldierBy Joel A. MooreAlfred Bellard entered the war at age eighteen. He kept brief diaries and wrote detailed letters home throughout the war accompanied by beautifully detailed and colored sketches. Following the war he wrote his memoirs from the letters and brief diaries he kept during the war. He did so for his own satisfaction; never attempting to have them published. When he died in 1891; they disappeared; turning up at an estate sale in 1962. The son-in-law of the antique dealer who bought the material; recognized their value and arranged to have them published. Publisher Little; Brown and Company asked David Herbert Donald to edit the material and prepare the manuscript. The result is an outstanding account of the Civil War from a young soldier's point of view.
