By Honor Bound: Two Navy SEALs, the Medal of Honor, and a Story of Extraordinary Courage

This is an incredible book and one we have been waiting forty years for. I know both Tom and Mike and both are my heroes. Most of their heroic actions have been shared in short stories and verbally but putting this story together in this form made it all come alive. What true heroes these two Americans are and the finest examples for our young men and women to emulate. They are, by far, the two greatest and bravest men from my generation and will always be. The pride and respect shown to both is not only well deserved but a sign of the high esteem they are both held in by all veterans, not just those from the Vietnam war. I am very humbles and proud to say I served in the United States Navy for over twenty years and had the privilege of meeting both of these hero's at various times in my career and following during my time as a government civil servant. Anyone wanting to be held spell bound by TRUE acts of courage Above and Beyond the call of duty need to read this book. I am sure it will be in every veterans library. I have both the hard cover and the audio edition and have purchased several hardcover copies for friends.

First to those honorable Navy Seals, thank you for your service. My husband is a Mustang Officer who served in the Navy in Viet Nam. He and I sit during cocktail hour as he tells his war stories, and I am in awe and respond by saying are you sure? At one time I was single, working for a Congressman on Capitol Hill and was fortunate to meet some members of the Navy. I have never met anyone who served in the Navy who has not loved it and who has not spent hours talking about it. Many who got out early regret it. The book flows well and familiarizes the reader about the workings of the Navy Seals. The requests the teams received in Viet Nam sometimes were to go far north to rescue pilots left me in suspense!! Tom your are one lucky Dude! Their hoisting you into the ship seemed impossible, but then nothing is impossible for a Seal. It is a fantastic book about two Medal of Honors recipients who served with the same Team.This makes this book a "gotta read". There was a difference in the Teams who served in Viet Nam and the Middle East. The difference, Viet Nam needed more Teams. Tom, I held my breath the entire time they were rescuing you. Quite a rescue!!! You are one lucky Dude.

This is an exceptional saga that details the true courage, spirit and perseverance of two heroic individuals who undertook an extremely dangerous mission in the final weeks of the Vietnam conflict. It is a must read for those who served in Vietnam and those who are currently serving their country. I am honored to have played a very small role in this fine narrative of two true American heroes. Ed Moore (USS Morton)

I really like the style the author uses throughout the book with two interviewees and him as the narrator. He presents the factual accounts of both MoH recipients along with their service and post service lives. No bluster, no theatrics or drama, just the way it was, pure and simple. The author did a great job of avoiding the urge to embellish and let the facts of the story be enough. And they are enough. This book is a good window into the lives of two amazing men and the close nit SEAL community they are a part of.

Well researched with first person interviews, an excellent read. Dick Couch’s history examines the personal lives of two Medal of Honor recipients. Great read.

I knew the stories of these two men for more than 40 years. But, to read both stories and as well written as it could be by another former Navy SEAL and best selling author. I truly enjoyed it and had a hard time putting it down. The format was different as well. The author referred to himself as the narrator, which was very fitting from this reader’s perspective. I hear there is going to be a movie made about this, I’ll be first in line!

Purchased for gift.

Are you kidding me?! This is the most amazing story of heroism I have ever read. It is a story that has been told and retold by SEALs to each other for decades. Finally, the facts are there for readers and story tellers to digest, understand and salute! Mike Thornton earned his Medal of Honor saving the life of his officer, and his squad, on a mission deep behind enemy lines. Amazingly, this officer had already earned the Medal of Honor for a previous mission. LT Tommy Norris' story is equally awe inspiring! Wounded himself, he did what frogmen are trained to do and swam his critically wounded teammate out to sea where another SEAL, commanding a search vessel, stayed and stayed, until by God's grace, they were all found. His officer lived, against all the odds. Mike refused care for his own wounds until his officer and friend was safe. Only this once in history has a Medal of Honor been awarded, in part, for saving the life of another Medal of Honor recipient! There is no greater story of love and heroism than this!