Recipient's Son: A Novel of Honor, The

Submitted by Jim Greenwald on March 14, 2013 - 09:18

Book Information:
(Links go to the MWSA Amazon store!)

Cover:

Author's Summary

Set at the U.S. Naval Academy in the 1990s, this novel tells the story of a young man's struggle to come to terms with his legacy as the son of a war hero and with doubts about his own courage. Donald Durago's father was killed in the Vietnam War where his actions as a POW earned him the Medal of Honor. That honor provided Durago with an appointment to the Naval Academy, a benefit offered to all children of Medal of Honor recipients. But in his plebe year, Durago struggles under the burden of being worthy of his father s memory. With the help of Master Chief Strong, he begins to identify with his father s sacrifice, his own naval heritage, and Academy life. An incident in his senior year brings on terrifying nightmares that make Durago realize he has not completely dealt with his father s death. However, with the support of his roommate and a pretty JAG officer he finds the confidence to pursue a military career. The Recipient's Son is a stirring tale of a young man coming to grips with the heroism of his father and overcoming his self-doubts to accept the challenge of serving his country on his own terms.

An Academy graduate himself, author Stephen Phillips draws an intimate picture of life in the Yard as he examines the concepts of leadership, honor, service and personal sacrifice in the Navy. Readers of Phillips' award-winning first novel, Proximity, will find his new novel an equally authentic read.

MWSA Review

In this coming of age novel by Stephen Phillips, we are introduced to Donald Durago,the son of Medal of Honor recipient Donald Fitzpatrick who was killed as a POW in Vietnam. Because Durago never knew his father, and his mother never talked about him, Durago grew up feeling isolated, angry, and doubtful of his own character and abilities. Accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy in the late 80s, Durago struggles to feel worthy of his father’s sacrifice and the benefit of appointment to a service academy which is offered to all children of Medal of Honor recipients.

Despite Durago’s lackluster beginning of his plebe year, Master Chief Strong takes Durago under his wing and together they learn of his father’s attendance at the Naval Academy, deployment to Vietnam, and subsequent death under heroic circumstances. Back on track as an exemplary midshipman, Durago learns to excel at the academy until he is accused during his senior year of harassing a female plebe.

Author Stephen Phillips calls on his own experience at the academy to bring realism and accuracy to his portrayal of life among those who seek to graduate from the tight-knit service-driven ranks of the U.S. Naval Academy. Those who have attended a service academy will find much to reminisce over while reading this book.

Reviewed by: Betsy Beard (2013)

Author(s) Mentioned:

Phillips, Stephen

Reviewer:

Beard, Betsy

Work Type:

Book Reviews

Tags:

Fiction