Editor’s Note: This article by Kristin Davis appeared as part of the 2020 MOAA Holiday Gift Guide in the November 2020 issue of Military Officer, a magazine available to all MOAA Premium and Life members. Learn more about the magazine here; learn more about joining MOAA here.

For the history buffs in your life, these military-themed books cover conflicts from World War II to the War on Terror. Prices vary. More about the titles pictured above (clockwise, from top left): 

A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II

The Story: In 1942, the Gestapo called Virginia Hall “the most dangerous of all Allied spies” who must be found and destroyed. Author Sonia Purnell uses new and comprehensive research to tell the story of this Baltimore socialite-turned-special operations executive who became the first Allied woman to deploy behind enemy lines in this New York Times bestseller.

The Specs: Penguin Publishing Group, 368 pages.

[RELATED: MOAA's Military Professional Reading List]

You Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For

The Story: When an enemy grenade landed on a rooftop in Helmand province, Afghanistan, in 2010, Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter made a split-second decision that saved the life of a fellow Marine. Four years later, Carpenter became the youngest living Medal of Honor recipient. His national bestselling memoir is about finding purpose — no matter your circumstances.

The Specs: Harper Collins, 320 pages.

Saving Bravo: The Greatest Rescue Mission in Navy SEAL History

The Story: When an attempted rescue of American aviator Lt. Col. Gene Hambleton failed after he was shot down during North Vietnam’s Easter Offensive, a Navy SEAL and his Vietnamese guide went after him on foot. Drawing from dozens of interviews and unpublished papers, New York Times bestselling author Stephan Talty tells the story of “one of the greatest rescue missions in the history of the Special Forces.”

The Specs: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 320 pages.

Unknown Valor: A Story of Family, Courage, and Sacrifice from Pearl Harbor to Iwo Jima

The Story: Through recollections and letters, author and Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum takes readers from Pearl Harbor to Iwo Jima. Told through the lives of ordinary Marines, including a member of her own family, Unknown Valor combines their extraordinary stories with the history of one of the most brutal battles of World War II.

The Specs: HarperCollins, 336 pages.

Return to the 2020 MOAA Holiday Gift Guide.