****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
My family had a citation George W. Hamilton received for his remarkable efforts during the almost month-long WWI battle at Belleau Wood in June 1918. The citation was dated July 5, 1918, and the mystery behind it started my personal search for more information.First, I must say no one in my family ever mentioned George's story. His oldest sibling was my grandmother Mary Hamilton Barnard whom I knew well, and I was 19 when she passed. His older brother and younger sister were folks I had met in my early youth. My mother, George's only niece and my Uncle Roger, his only nephew, never mentioned their famous uncle, a true war hero.As luck would have it, I came across a link which led me to Mark's incredible book. I learned countless things about my family I never knew, such as Geroge's father was considered the "dean of Congressional reporters" in Washington, DC, or the history of the family property known as -- B U R G E O M A R.Mark's attention to detail in the book is what sets the book apart from many other biographies and historical documentaries. One such example is very personal to me. The family property on Conesus Lake in upstate New York is mentioned in fine detail. I can verify the descriptions of the lakefront property match my memories of spending the first eight or nine summers of my life at the property.Prior to reading Mark's book I have read numerous accounts of WWII, Korea and Vietnam, but had read very little about the first world war. His work stands up with the best of them and I highly recommend Mark's fine book!
