Jon Erwin - Beyond Valor: A World War II Story of Extraordinary Heroism, Sacrificial Love, and a Race against Time

PRAISE FOR BEYOND VALOR

Beyond Valor is an inspiring true story of heroism aboard a B-29 Superfortress in the skies over Japan during World War II. In a swift moment of instinctive reaction, Red Erwin selflessly saved the lives of many, and for his courage and sacrifice he was awarded the congressional Medal of Honor, inspiring generations to come. Reds grandson Jon Erwin, along with William Doyle, recaptures this amazing story with the depth and care that a hero deserves. This is a thrilling and poignant story of patriotism that all Americans can be stirred, moved, and encouraged by.

Gary Sinise, actor, veterans advocate, founder of the Gary Sinise Foundation, and author of Grateful American

The human heart is moved by great stories. Each of us yearns for our lives to be connected to a larger purpose. Thats why stories inspire us. We see reflections of our own lives in the stories of others. My friend Jon Erwin is a master storyteller who has inspired millions with his movies. Beyond Valor is a story of heroism, love, and devotion that will inspire you to believe there is a grand purpose for your own life, larger than you can see, greater than you can imagine.

Greg Laurie, senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship and author of Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon

Beyond Valor

2020 Kingdom Studios, LLC

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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Erwin, Jon, 1982- author.

Title: Beyond valor : a World War II story of extraordinary heroism, sacrificial love, and a race against time / Jon Erwin and William Doyle.

Description: Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 2020. | Includes bibliographical references. | Summary: A miraculous true story of a soldiers unspeakable heroism, a teenage womans unfailing love, and the faith that secured them all--Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020001894 | ISBN 9781400216833 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781400216840 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Erwin, Henry Eugene, 1921-2002. | United States. Army Air Forces. Bombardment Squadron, 29th--Biography. | Flight radio operators--United States--Biography. | City of Los Angeles (Bomber) | World War, 1939-1945--Pacific Area--Aerial operations, American. | World War, 1939-1945--Regimental histories--United States. | Veterans Administration Hospital (Birmingham, Ala.)--Employees--Biography. | Disabled veterans--United States--Biography. | Burns and scalds--Patients--United States--Biography. | Aircraft accidents--United States--History--20th century. | Birmingham (Ala.)--Biography.

Classification: LCC D790.263 29th .E79 2020 | DDC 940.54/4973092 [B]--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020001894

Epub Edition June 2020 9781400216840

Printed in the United States of America

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To the men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, and to those who dedicate their lives to our country knowing they may give the same sacrifice.

I am not a hero. The real heroes are those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for this country, those who have given their lives. Theyre the ones who deserve the medals. I am only a survivor. I dont wear the Medal of Honor for what I did, I wear it for everyone who served.

Red Erwin

I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

PSALM 34:4 KJV

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

JOHN 15:13 KJV

We have a lot of problems in this country, but we should never forget how fortunate we really are. I thank God I was born an American. We have been blessed in so many ways. It reminds me of that passage in the Bible: For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.

RED ERWIN

Henry Eugene Red Erwin, 1944 (Erwin Family Collection)

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CONTENTS

SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2002. FREEZING RAIN beating down on me.

This is what I remember as I stepped out of a limousine filled with relatives and set foot on the wet grass of Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham, Alabama. Occasional gusts of wind blew the water beneath my umbrella and soaked my suit. To this day I still remember the bone-chilling feeling of coldand sadness.

We had come to bury my grandfather, with full military honors. The funeral procession extended for a half mile, and law-enforcement agencies throughout Birmingham sealed off roads and highways for the caravan. Police cars and motorcycles with flashing lights guided the hearse in front of us. I was nineteen years old.

Winter in Alabama is wet and gray, and this day was no exception. The grass was anything but green, and the occasional oak tree had lost all color. Elmwood is a vast cemetery, the largest in the city of Birmingham, my hometown. Crypts and gravestones stretch into the distance, farther than the eyes can see. Its the final resting place of many renowned people, among them the legendary football coach Paul Bear Bryant and several congressmen and governors.

We made the long walk from the cars to a couple of tents in the distance that covered an opening in the ground on a family plot containing several other Erwin graves. As we followed the flag-covered casket, carried by a detachment of air force enlisted personnel, I realized this was no ordinary day and no ordinary funeral. Not many civilians made it to the outdoor burial service because it was raining so hard, but the US military showed up. And in strength. To my surprise, there was a small army of generals, officers, and enlisted men and women in dress uniforms to pay their respects and honor our family.