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Edgar Hernandez: Pow - An American Hero Book POW Edgar Hernandez book

#1 User is offline   Laracroft 

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Posted 13 September 2008 - 09:49 AM

there is a picture of him now

http://www.themonitor.com/articles/hernand...inez_book.html#

A Valley Hero: Ex-P.O.W. signs book on Iraq capture

September 12, 2008 - 6:35PM
Ryan Holeywell
Edgar Hernandez still remembers the day. It lingers with him, but he feels the story must be told.

"It's still fresh in my mind," Hernandez said. "I deal with it in a positive way."

Hernandez, 27, was among a group of troops ambushed, kidnapped and held for three weeks in Iraq by members of the notorious Republican Guard five years ago.

Though he survived the ambush, he was shot in his right arm, which is permanently damaged.

"I was worried the whole time," Hernandez said. "The stuff we were going through... we almost got killed. I didn't feel safe until I got back to (the military hospital in) Germany."

The story of Hernandez and the other members of his 507th Maintenance Company is told in the newly published book Edgar Hernandez: POW - An American Hero.

The book is written by Los Angeles-based writers Jose Martinez and Megan Rellahan.

Martinez said he learned about Hernandez while working on a coffee table book about Latinos who have fought in American wars.

"He was going to be a chapter in the book," Martinez said. "We weren't focusing on doing a biography, but we were amazed by Edgar. No one has really heard his story."

Hernandez and other members of the 507th - most famously Jessica Lynch and Shoshana Johnson - gained international celebrity upon their release.

But Hernandez said he went along with the book because he wanted to make sure nobody forgot about his friends who died while serving in Iraq.

"I wanted to let the people know my story, about my experience, about what I went through," Hernandez said. "My friends lost their lives. I want people to know what my friends did - their sacrifice."

Martinez began interviewing Hernandez about a year ago.

"We flew him out to L.A. for a weekend," Martinez said. "We did marathon interview sessions. He had never told his story that way, that detailed, since they were rescued."

Martinez described Hernandez's ordeal: the shooting, the grenade that sprayed shrapnel at him, the beatings.

Lynch and Martinez were in the same convoy but in separated vehicles. "He was fleeing, avoiding gunfire and they eventually crashed," Martinez explained. "They had weapons, but because they were in the desert, a lot were jammed with the sand in there."

Hernandez said after his rescue, superiors told him and the rest of the POWs they would be the focus of attention when they came home. The attention was new to Hernandez.

"I feel like a celebrity," Hernandez said. "Every place I went, people recognized me and wanted to shake my hand. It felt good for me, because I had never experienced it. But at the same time, I've always been shy. It was hard."

Hernandez has maintained his commitment to service. In September 2007, he joined the Pharr Police Department.

"When I was a little kid, I always wanted to join the Army and become a police officer," he said. "For some reason, I always wanted those two."
Said Martinez, "This guy really has his call to duty."

Hernandez will sign copies of Edgar Hernandez: POW

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#2 User is offline   Laracroft 

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Posted 13 September 2008 - 09:56 AM

If somebody could post his picture thanks
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#3 User is offline   Matt Wiser 

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Posted 14 September 2008 - 10:18 PM

Well, time to check and see if it's at Amazon. One comment: don't these reporters remember that the members of the 507th were captured, not kidnapped? There is a difference, and the ignorance of a lot of "gentlepersons of the press" is telling.
Treat everyone you meet with kindness and respect, but always have ready a plan to kill them.

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#4 User is offline   Dilligafst 

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Posted 17 September 2008 - 11:52 PM

It was probably a typo that an exhausted copy-editor missed. It happens quite a lot. But at least the gentle persons of the press are telling it:) I hope the book does well for Edgar. He deserves it.




QUOTE (Matt Wiser @ Sep 14 2008, 11:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Well, time to check and see if it's at Amazon. One comment: don't these reporters remember that the members of the 507th were captured, not kidnapped? There is a difference, and the ignorance of a lot of "gentlepersons of the press" is telling.


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#5 User is offline   Matt Wiser 

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Posted 22 September 2008 - 06:28 PM

I just checked, and yes, the book is available at Amazon. Should be an interesting read.
Treat everyone you meet with kindness and respect, but always have ready a plan to kill them.

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#6 User is offline   Laracroft 

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Posted 22 November 2008 - 10:54 AM

update appearances in Texas


Former Fort Bliss POW releases book about ambush
Times staff report
Posted: 11/21/2008 10:53:27 AM MST


EL PASO - Edgar Hernandez, a former Fort Bliss soldier who was one of six soldiers taken prisoner of war at the beginning of the Iraq War on March 23, 2003, has released a book.
"Edgar Hernandez: POW - An American Hero," is a first-hand account by the Mission, Texas native held captive for 21 days in numerous secret Saddam Hussein prisons. Eleven were killed and six were captured in the ambush.

Hernandez is now a police officer, according to a report on txcn.com.

The book has been endorsed by Maj. Gen. Alfred Valenzuela, a highly decorated 33-year Army veteran, who declares Hernandez's biography as "a thrilling account of heroism in time of war."

Written by Jose Martinez and Megan Rellahan, journalists with over 20 years experience covering news and a wide range of topics, "Edgar Hernandez: POW - An American Hero" marks their first collaboration. The book is published by Ocean Breeze Books.

The book is available in retail outlets and can also be purchased directly at www.honoringforgottenheroes.com.

Book tour dates:

Saturday, November 22, 2008 - 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Barnes & Noble Booksellers

4005 N. 10th St.

McAllen, TX 78504

956-683-7773


Saturday and Sunday December 13-14, 2008

Latino Book & Family Festival - Houston, Texas

George Brown Convention Center, Houston


Saturday and Sunday March 28-29, 2009

Latino Book & Family Festival - Chicago, IL

Unity School, Cicero, IL


Saturday and Sunday April 25-26, 2009

Latino


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