4 of the Best Books on Why We Celebrate Veterans Day

In Paige Wietzel's recently released memoir Beautifully Broken, the author looks back at how she helped her husband recuperate after returning from the war in Afghanistan. After Paige received the call that her husband, Army Sergeant Josh Wetzel, had stepped on an improvised explosive device while patrolling in Afghanistan, she feared for the worst. The blow had resulted in a loss of both of Josh's legs, and it was uncertain whether he would survive. Paige's story of her journey from that moment on is one of courage and vulnerability. She opens up with readers about how this experience tested her marriage and her faith in God. Nonetheless, she and her husband came out of this situation with a restored appreciation for one another and a deepened appreciation for their faith.

David Davis's Wheels of Courage is the inspiring story of World War II veterans who defied the odds and found hope when everything seemed completely hopeless. Many soldiers, sailors, and marines returned from the war paralyzed after battle and entered a society that was unprepared to deal with their traumatic injuries. Johnny Winterholler was an active athlete before the war, and despite the beliefs about disabled bodies that were prevalent at the time, he refused to waste away in a hospital bed. Instead, he, and other veterans like him, formed the first wheelchair basketball teams. They were unwilling to give up on living an active and fulfilling life. This book tells their stories, drawing from the veterans' own words.

Darren McBurnett is a a retired Navy SEAL, and in his book Uncommon Grit: A Photographic Journey Through Navy SEAL Training, he tells the story of a Navy SEAL from the vantage point of someone who actually lived through the toughest training in the military. Along with striking photographs, McBurnett provides vivd descriptions of the challenging Navy SEAL training process. McBurnett's insights into training to become an elite warrior, from Hell Week on, are compelling and at times humorous. You'll laugh, cry, and gasp when you look through this book. Most importantly, you'll have a strong appreciation for the work that Navy SEAL officers go through.

#1 New York Times Bestselling author Admiral William H. McRaven is back with Sea Stories, a book that collects McRaven's stories of his time as Navy SEAL and commander of America's Special Operations Forces. Whether you're familiar with his name or not, McRaven is an important part of America's military history, having been involved in missions such as the capture of Saddam Hussein, the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips, and the raid to kill Osama bin Laden. Sea Stories looks back at these moments in McRaven's career and many more, starting with a French Officer's Club in France in 1963, where he listened to officers recalling their stories of World War II and first learned to appreciate the power of a good story.