JOY ON PAPER The Radio Archives

Valor by Dan Hampton

Valor: The Astonishing World War II Saga of One Man’s Defiance and Indomitable

Dan Hampton is a fighter pilot to the core. A real American hero. Check out this video about his exploits. You will enjoy this combat story!

He is the nationally bestselling author of Viper Pilot, Lords of the Sky, The Hunter Killers, The Flight, Chasing the Demon, Vengeance, and a novel, The Mercenary.

The best compliment you can pay to a pilot is that they are a ‘pilot’s pilot’ — and Dan Hampton, who flew 151 COMBAT missions as an Apache Helicopter pilot, is certainly a pilot’s pilot. A real leader. And like all pilots Dan is an overachiever. When a pilot decides to do something they put their heart and soul into it — that is why when he decided to become an author he did it right. He is New York Times Bestselling Author!

I love pilots — and I loved talking to Dan about VALOR — a truly exceptional book. He captures the history of the fall of the Philippines to the Japanese and the story of an incredible American hero: Lieutenant William Frederick “Bill” Harris.

The son of a decorated Marine general, Bill Harris escaped from hell on earth by swimming eight hours through a shark-infested bay; but his harrowing ordeal had just begun.

Using a vast collection of source material including military documents, personal photos, and an unpublished memoir provided by Bill Harris’ daughter, Dan Hampton has created a remarkable story that reads like an action novel. But this is a true story — written by an American hero about an American hero. 

About the Author

Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Dan Hampton flew 151 combat missions during his twenty years (1986–2006) in the United States Air Force.

For his service in the Iraq War, Kosovo conflict, and first Gulf War, Col. Hampton received four Distinguished Flying Crosses with Valor, a Purple Heart, eight Air Medals with Valor, five Meritorious Service medals, and numerous other citations.

A graduate of the USAF Fighter Weapons School and USAF Special Operations School. A frequent guest on CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC discussing foreign affairs and geopolitics, he has also appeared as an analyst on Bill O’Reilly, Hannity, Tucker Carlson and Anderson Cooper360.

A great recommendation from my favorite author: Nelson DeMille

“Valor reads like an action/adventure thriller, but this is a true story of extraordinary courage in the face of overwhelming odds. At a time when America is searching for real heroes, Dan Hampton has found the genuine article in Lieutenant Bill Harris. As a combat veteran myself, I salute the heroism and memory of Lieutenant Harris, and as a writer, I salute the writing skills of Dan Hampton. I could literally not put this book down.”

–Nelson DeMille, bestselling author of By the Rivers of Babylon, Plum Island and The Deserter

You can listen to Joy on Paper anywhere in the world on your phone, tablet or computer.