Book Review–Portraits of Courage

Few leaders are as divisive as former President George W. Bush. For some, he’s a hero; for others, controversial. Both classifications, however, take into account a key element of his presidency: an unyielding passion and respect for America’s most precious resource—our Armed Forces. “Portraits of Courage,” is President Bush’s third work since leaving office, but it’s his first collection of his own paintings, featuring 98 oil portraits detailing military personnel who served during the 43rd President’s administration. These men and women, ranging across all services and walks of life, come together in this volume to tell a story of honor, courage, sacrifice and recovery, one that is deeply rooted in patriotism and admiration for our nation’s Armed Forces.

“Portraits of Courage” is not your traditional book—there is no thesis statement, collection of anecdotal evidence or overarching conspiracy that the author seeks to reveal. Instead, President Bush—who dedicates the collection to the men and women of America’s military—focuses on the lives, trials and tribulations of those who served our country during some of its darkest hours.

From lance corporals to lieutenant colonels, these men and women faced unyielding hardships that only intensified after being wounded during their deployments. With many of them confronting and overcoming post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, skin grafts, amputations and a wide range of other surgeries, procedures and conditions, their tenacity and sheer strength of will becomes the true moral value of “Portraits of Courage,” with the presidential narrator taking a backseat in many of these stories.

Accompanying each portrait is a small section of text. For some, this section recounts their hard-earned victories alongside family members and support groups; for others, the story focuses on the struggles and complications of everyday life. These challenges, however, presented new opportunities, and President Bush recounts their tales of perseverance by drawing parallels to their post-injury successes. It should be of no surprise that many of these successes focus on the George W. Bush Presidential Center’s Military Service Initiative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping post-9/11 veterans find employment while aiding in their recovery from injuries sustained overseas.

The President’s interest in golfing and biking gave way to the Initiative’s W100K mountain bike ride and the Warrior Open golf tournament, both of which are events heavily attended and discussed by military personnel throughout this compilation. These activities, as well as accolades from family members and support groups, feature prominently in their personal accounts. Still, there is another, more subtle account that takes the forefront of the book’s narrative focus, and that is the therapeutic nature of its content.

There is little doubt that the Military Service Initiative provides much-needed comradery and support for the veterans attending its events. As such, it would not be a stretch to assume that one of the many personnel impacted by the Initiative is none other than its benefactor—President George W. Bush.

There is an obvious and genuine sense of duty in supporting the return of our troops from the Middle East, and this emotion permeates every aspect of this book, especially considering that its author was the man who sent those featured military personnel into harm’s way. There is no malice, however, in the stories of these injured veterans—many of them are grateful for the President, genuinely humbled by his interest in their lives, recoveries and families. Still, as the book goes on, it becomes increasingly obvious that the composition of “Portraits of Courage” proved just as therapeutic to President Bush as it did to those featured, aiding in the reconciliation of past memories with the struggles—and successes—of the present. If anything, this subtle, overarching thread links the entirety of the work together, turning the book from being just another collection of portraits to something that is truly special.

“Portraits of Courage” is not your average art compilation, nor is it your typical post-deployment memoir. The brush strokes and colors are fascinating, thoughtfully chosen by a man who’s painting the soul, not the person. The captions are sympathetic, gratifying and inspiring, drawing readers close and leaving them feeling as if they personally know each and every wounded warrior.

Perhaps most empowering of all, however, is the overarching lack of sympathy and a lack of desire for it, replaced instead by the collective will that serves as a patriotic foundation for our nation’s armed forces. “Portraits of Courage” reflects the best in our country, elaborating on the lives and sacrifices of the men and women who served our nation during some of its darkest hours, giving them credit for what they have done and, more importantly, what they will continue to do.

Bradley A. Davis

Author’s bio: Bradley Davis is the assistant editor of the Marine Corps Gazette. He has a master’s degree in military history from Norwich University. This book review originally appeared in the September 2017 edition of "Leatherneck" magazine, a publication of the Marine Corps Association & Foundation.