Under His Wings by Emily Compagno Summary

Under His Wings by Emily Compagno is a #1 New York Times bestseller exploring how faith sustained U.S. troops in combat from World War I to modern conflicts. The book blends historical accounts with personal narratives, featuring veterans' firsthand stories of divine protection and resilience. Compagno weaves her family's military legacy and USO experiences to highlight faith's role in courage, sacrifice, and patriotism.

This book is ideal for readers interested in military history, faith-based resilience, or American patriotism. It resonates with veterans, military families, and those exploring spirituality under adversity. Fans of Compagno's prior works (Modern Warriors, Faith Still Moves Mountains) will appreciate her trademark blend of personal insight and historical depth.

Yes, especially for its unique perspective on faith in combat. As an instant #1 bestseller, it offers moving firsthand accounts from veterans, historical USO anecdotes (e.g., Marilyn Monroe’s visits), and Compagno’s family letters/photos. It stands out among military memoirs by emphasizing spiritual perseverance over tactics or politics.

Compagno’s Navy-family heritage and experience as an NFL cheerleader visiting troops in Iraq/Kuwait lend authenticity. Her legal training ensures meticulous research, while her Fox News role informs the accessible storytelling. This blend creates intimate yet historically grounded narratives of faith under fire.

Chaplains emerge as vital spiritual anchors, providing:

• Moral guidance during ethical dilemmas in combat
• Emotional support for soldiers facing mortality
• Counseling for families of deployed personnel

Their work exemplifies how institutional faith structures bolstered resilience across generations of servicemembers.

Compagno traces her lineage from her Navy Commander father to her great-great-grandmother’s 1930 Gold Star Mothers pilgrimage. These threads illustrate how intergenerational service fostered communal faith. Family letters and photos personalize broader themes of sacrifice, showing how belief systems endured through wartime traumas.

Unlike tactical recounts, it prioritizes spiritual resilience over battlefield mechanics. Unique elements include:

• Celebrity USO tours (e.g., Reagan’s frontline visits)
• Rare soldier letters showing faith’s emotional impact
• Compagno’s cheerleader-to-analyst perspective

This fusion of cultural history and personal devotion creates a distinct tribute.

Veterans describe faith as both psychological armor and divine intervention:

"Belief emboldened me when rockets hit our base—I felt shielded."

Compagno frames these accounts not as dogma but as lived experiences where prayer reduced paralysis from fear, enabling decisive action in crises.

The book spans:

• World War I: Early chaplaincy efforts
• Vietnam: Faith amid guerilla warfare
• Post-9/11 conflicts: Spiritual challenges in asymmetric combat

Each era shows evolving expressions of faith, from regimented chapel services to mobile battlefield ministrations.

Soldiers recount how faith aided recovery by:

• Reframing survivor’s guilt as purpose
• Providing communal rituals for grief processing
• Offering non-clinical coping mechanisms

Compagno argues this spiritual scaffolding often complemented clinical therapies.

Its success stems from:

• Relatable humanity: Focus on emotional battles over heroism
• Timeless themes: Sacrifice, hope, and moral courage
• Multigenerational scope: Connects past/present military experiences

Readers praise it as an "antidote to cynicism" in polarized times.

Some reviewers note:

• Narrow focus on Judeo-Christian faith (less interfaith exploration)
• Celebrity anecdotes occasionally overshadow enlisted perspectives

However, most agree its heartfelt storytelling transcends these limits, honoring diverse expressions of belief.