Last American Heroes: Last American Heroes

by Charles W. Sasser, Michael W. Sasser, Sasser

Book Overview

The acclaimed author of One Shot--One Kill takes readers to the front lines of the urban fire zone to experience first-hand one harrowing month in the lives of the men and women of the Miami Beach... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671789309
• ISBN13: 9780671789305
• Release Date: August 1994
• Publisher: Pocket Books
• Length: 271 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.2" x 6.7"

Customer Reviews

Great look at the duties of fire/rescue workers

Even before I read "America's Last Heroes", I had a great deal of respect for those who've made it their profession and duty to risk their own lives and personal safety for the lives and safety of others. I place them far above any pro athlete, actor, or politician on the heroism scale. I don't envy their job, however... it's not the kind of career just anyone can tackle.The book covers a month in the life of a Miami Beach Fire Dept. firehouse, during the Christmas holidays. Told within this novel are the many strange, tragic, and disturbing trials that firefighters and rescue workers face on a daily basis. There's the fire inspector's assessment of an arson scene, complete with 'crispy critters'-the firefighter term for human fatalities that burned in the blaze. There's the aftermath of a bedroom blaze involving a teenager's sexual experimentations. Also recounted is the disturbing scene where a rescue team discovers an elderly couple literally rotting away and being eaten alive- by maggots. These and many other moments are pretty good displays of the sterner stuff that these folks are made of to handle such situations with the utmost professionalism.There's also the other side stories, like the Miami Beach FD's first woman firefighter breaking into a male-dominated domain, and learning to adjust and adapt, as well as earn the respect of her comrades. Recalled is the firehouse 'groupie', who unfortunately turns out not to be the trusted friend everybody thought he was.But there's more than just the bad moments and challenges-- there's also the upside. The canned food drives for the homeless, the discovery of a victim of smoke inhalation who wasn't quite as dead as everyone thought he was, and other highlights help keep things in balance.I know I'd never take on this line of work... but I am glad to see that there are those that do. And after reading "America's Last Heroes", even if I never have to be saved from a fire or ruyshed to the hospital, these true heroes will always have my respect and gratitude. Thanks guys.'Late