Single Handed: The Inspiring True Story of Tibor "Teddy" Rubin--Holocaust Survivor, Korean War Hero, and Medal of Honor Recipient

How any human being could endure so much throughout his young life and prevail is beyond human description. The book was very well written and allows us a view into this, one of the most heroic humans ever documented. From surviving a Nazi concentration camp to heroic actions in ruthless battle, to overcoming overwhelming odds in a POW camp, selflessly risking his life for others surpasses honorable. Receiving the Medal of Honor for his efforts should be enough to teach us about sacrifice and human perseverance. But Tibor Rubin is more, his fellow POW's and fellow soldiers describe him as almost superhuman in his unrelenting abilities to overcome the odds and prevail. This is a must read for everyone. Tibor Rubin's inspiration is eternal.

I really enjoyed the first half of this book. The subject of the book, Tibor Rubin, is convincingly portrayed as a humble man who was not interested in recognition or even describing his exploits. The irony is that some of his exploits could only have been recounted by his own words. This is done in the first half or 2/3 of the book, and done in a rather captivating style. This seems like a contradiction, but it probably demonstrates the skill of the author. His exploits are exceptional -- in the same league as Desmond Doss -- borderline unbelievable, but true. The last 30-40% of the book became more tedious. Page after page of same general story, different names. The repetitive events are still impressive but it was a struggle to stay engaged. I started skipping pages. The last quarter to a third of the book describes the process of being approved for the MOH. I didn't find that particularly interesting at all and could have been fine with a page or two. It was not an easy process, nor should it be for the highest military honor. The end result is revealed by the book title, so it's gratifying that "justice" was served, even if delayed and difficult. So, the book is good. Probably could have been much shorter and still as good. Because it drags on too much at times, I would probably rate the writing and editing, a 3-4 stars. The man, Tibor Rubin, was incredible. His story is way beyond 5 stars, so I came up with a net score of 4.

Tibor Rubin survived the worst of two wars. Several times he faced certain death, and lived through it, even though others died, cheated death again and again. Just surviving is not what made him a hero; what is truly remarkable is that he was intent on ensuring that others survived with him, often at great risk to himself. He accomplished it all while fighting hate and prejudice, even from his own side. I appreciate e his humility and self effacing sense of humor. It is ironic that it was the horrors of the Nazi death camps that prepared him to thrive in Korean captivity, which he thought was comparatively easy. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I'd recommend it to everyone.

Having just completed Daniel M. Cohen’s brilliant life story on Tibor "Teddy" Rubin, I can state that, were it not so richly researched and verified from numerous sources, one might very likely come to the conclusion that it is simply too incredible to be believed. What makes this man’s life story so utterly amazing is that it is a combination - to the nth degree - of so many admirable human qualities, any one of which all of us would like to possess. They are sacrifice, duty, patriotism, resilient toughness, selfless courage of the highest order, unequaled compassion and tolerance toward the faults in others. And often to near saintly proportions. Refreshingly, all of these are leavened throughout with Tibor’s self-deprecating humor. One cannot read this book without standing in awe of this man. As for the writing, the degree of difficulty in simply telling the story of a young Jew who survived both a Nazi concentration camp as well as the Korean War in addition to being a POW of same, would be a frustratingly high bar to leap. Considering such obstacles as faulty long ago memories, the predictable fatalities of those who could provide detail and the murky “fog of war,” I can’t imagine the amount of work that went into such a biography. To have succeeded, however, in such convincing and compelling fashion warrants a hearty salute to the writer, one who should be admired simply for recognizing the, yes, single handed greatness of his subject, then choosing to make that long, hard slog up the hill to tell Tibor Rubin’s heroic life story. Bravo, Daniel M. Cohen. Bravo!

This book tells the absolutely amazing story of Tibor "Teddy' Rubin, a Hungarian survivor of the Holocaust, a Korean war hero, and recipient of the Medal of Honor, America's highest military honor. Disclosure: I served in the same Regiment as Rubin, the 8th Cavalry Regiment of the First Cavalry Division. But I served after World War II, in occupation duty in Tokyo, several years before the start of the Korean War. Rubin joined the army after emigrating to America in 1948. He wanted to serve to show his appreciation to the Americans who liberated him from the notorious Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria. Joining wasn't easy: he was not a citizen and spoke very poor English. But he was stubborn and got accepted, and a year after joining the army he was on his way to Korea, among the first American troops MacArthur sent to battle the North Koreans, who had invaded the South in June, 1950. Rubin had the misfortune to serve under Master Sergeant Arthur Peyton in the 8th Cavalry's Item Company. Sgt. Peyton, as the book says, "bragged openly about his prejudices and how he ranked them. Negroes topped his list, followed by, Jews, Mexicans, and Italians." (I knew such sergeants.) Sgt. Peyton assigned every rotten, tough, suicidal task to Rubin. He could not break Rubin's spirit or humor. The seemingly hopeless assignment that Sgt. Peyton figured would get rid of Rubin was to hold a rear guard hill position while the company withdrew. Rubin did, in a 24-hour single-handed battle against thousands of North Koreans. The book describes Rubin's brilliant defense tactics. There were other heroic deeds by Rubin, rescuing wounded comrades, and alone on patrol, posing as a major to accept the surrender of several hundred North Koreans. Two captains had ordered Sgt Peyton to to submit their recommendations for Rubin for the Medal of Honor. Peyton did not; he wouldn't recommend a medal of any kind to a Jew, and certainly not the nation's highest military honor. Both Captains were killed in action and never knew their orders were not carried out by Sgt. Peyton. Item Company's and Rubin's luck ended when captured by overwhelming Chinese forces at the battle of Unsan, in which Rubin remained at his machine gun despite being seriously wounded. Sgt. Peyton had "bugged out", and his men never saw him again. (I won't divulge what happened to him.) Then began several years in POW camps, where Rubin put skills learned at Mauthausen to use in stealing food for fellow POWs and saving the lives of a number of them by providing rudimentary medical care. The book describes life in the POW camps, the horrid conditions, the constant brain-washing by Chinese communists. Since he was still a Hungarian citizen, the Chinese offered to free him to return to communist Hungary, but he refused in order to stay with his comrades. Rubin was among a few hundred Americans released in the first prisoner exchange in May 1953. The book tells the story of Rubin's life as a civilian, his gaining American citizenship, and the ensuing years as a civilian. In the early 1980s, his old army buddies, shocked to learn he never got the Medal for which he was recommended, began a campaign to get Rubin the Medal. The campaign went on for decades, until the Army finally gave up their stubborn rejection, based on "rules", bureaucratic red tape, and just plain old anti-Semitism. In 2005, President Bush awarded him the Medal of Honor at ceremonies at the White House. The citation read by President Bush sums up the story of Rubin's courage, bravery and selflessness. The book has an excellent description of the long campaign for the Medal, not by Rubin, but by old comrades, who were joined in their mission by political and civic and military organization leaders. This book is the true story of a soldier you wished you served with, a brave soldier, a selfless human, a man who loves life, a man of religion (Rubin's arguments with God are priceless), a real American hero, a mensch.

A most amazing TRUE story. Holocaust survivor pledges "if I ever get to USA, I'll become GI JOE!" Joins ARMY, sent to Korea; captured, breaks out of and BACK INTO POW CAMP dozens of times, along the way saving American lives. Because of anti-Semitism, denied Medal of Honor for more than 50 years. Receives Medal of Honor in 2005, dies in 2015. On May 10, 2017, Long Beach VA Medical Center renamed Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center. I am proud to serve as Commander of the California based Jewish War Veterans Tibor Rubin Post, renamed in February 2016. And, serve as California State Chaplain for Jewish War Veterans of the United States and National Chair of the JWV "END HOMELESSNESS" Commission, Chaplain DOV Cohen US Air Force - Vietnam War 1962-1966 Now in my 55th year of chaplaincy chaplaindov@aol.com

Imagine you're a 13-year old Jewish boy forced to flee your home in Hungary to avoid being taken by the Nazis. Only miles from the Swiss border, you're captured and sent to the dreaded Mauthausen concentration camp where a single misstep - a defiant look, a botched work assignment, a single louse in your hair - could mean instant execution. Through guile, courage and luck, you survive the Holocaust and make your way to America. While other young refugees are busy milking the opportunities in their new homeland, you do the unthinkable and enlist in the U.S. Army where you volunteer to fight the communists in Korea. The enemy is fierce but the greatest danger lies in the bigotry of a redneck U.S. Sergeant who continually puts you in harms way because you're a Jew. Fighting valiantly to save yourself and your fellow soldiers, your bravery will earn the praise of commanding officers who twice recommend you for the Medal of Honor - an award you won't receive for another 50 years. There's no need to 'imagine' any such tale. Tibor 'Teddy' Rubin lived it all, and Daniel M. Cohen brings his remarkable journey to light in his riveting new book, SINGLE HANDED(Penguin). In his brilliant recounting of Tibor's amazing odyssey, Cohen offers such vibrant detail and honest, raw emotion that we can almost feel the terror and utter deprivation of of the Nazi death camp, and the numbing cold and carnage of the bloody Korean battlefield. What stands out amid the horror and struggle , though, is the indefatigable, upbeat spirit of the spritely little Hungarian who went far, far above the call of duty, continually placing himself in harm's way to protect his fellow prisoners and soldiers, only to see his bravery and sacrifice ignored by the country he loved and fought for. Painstakingly researched and drawn from hours of interviews with Rubin, his relatives and friends, SINGLE HANDED gives us a life-affirming portrait of a caring, humble, remarkable man whose life defines the terms 'hero' and 'patriot'.

I just finished reading this well-written book and I found it to be fascinating! What an interesting person the hero,Tibor Rubin, is! First, he somehow survives a horrible World War II concentration camp. He then decides to emigrate to the United States, and before he even becomes a citizen, he decides to join the military to help fight in Korea. Then he somehow survives several years as a POW during the Korean War. And worse of all, he had to put up with a very prejudiced commanding officer who hated blacks, Jews and any one else who was different. Through all his trials a tribulations, he is able to help his comrades, finds food for all and literally helps to save lives of his comrades. He always had a great attitude and was an asset to anyone who knew him. What a wonderful person Tibor Rubon is! I wish everyone had his attitude, fortitude and sense of humor. I loved this book and I highly recommend it!

an excellent book, about a courageous family from a small town in hungary and how the war (ww2) affected them. the goose stepping nazis ( a bubonic plague on steroids) and their always eager to please collaborators could not kill the spirit of little teddy rubin who suffered the separation from his family and then the agony of a concentration camp and, as if this was not enough, he survived, then traveled to america enlisted in the u.s. army, had to put up with descrimination, and fought like a tiger against another goose stepping gang..the north koreans...this inspiring narrative is a great story and a warning that democracy, with all it faults and imperfections, its the best game in town and that there are men like teddy always on the ready to defend, at any cost, liberty and justice for all....

Excellent book that challenges stereotypes, and outlines the drive of people to become Americans. I have purchased many for gifts, and suggested others for student reading. Each reader will find this book an exceptional portrayal of individual selflessness, and valor. Finally, and as an added information point commenting about the author. To some readers DM Cohen’s “Single Handed,” will certainly represent a page by page unfolding of an utterly unique life. However, some will also appreciate the considerable difficulty attendant to such a body of work. Special attention concerning this point should be given to the diminishing numbers of Holocaust survivors, bureaucratic mountains of military information, and even finding veterans willing to speak about the so called “Forgotten War.”

How any human being could endure so much throughout his young life and prevail is beyond human description. The book was very well written and allows us a view into this, one of the most heroic humans ever documented. From surviving a Nazi concentration camp to heroic actions in ruthless battle, to overcoming overwhelming odds in a POW camp, selflessly risking his life for others surpasses honorable. Receiving the Medal of Honor for his efforts should be enough to teach us about sacrifice and human perseverance. But Tibor Rubin is more, his fellow POW's and fellow soldiers describe him as almost superhuman in his unrelenting abilities to overcome the odds and prevail. This is a must read for everyone. Tibor Rubin's inspiration is eternal.

I really enjoyed the first half of this book. The subject of the book, Tibor Rubin, is convincingly portrayed as a humble man who was not interested in recognition or even describing his exploits. The irony is that some of his exploits could only have been recounted by his own words. This is done in the first half or 2/3 of the book, and done in a rather captivating style. This seems like a contradiction, but it probably demonstrates the skill of the author. His exploits are exceptional -- in the same league as Desmond Doss -- borderline unbelievable, but true. The last 30-40% of the book became more tedious. Page after page of same general story, different names. The repetitive events are still impressive but it was a struggle to stay engaged. I started skipping pages. The last quarter to a third of the book describes the process of being approved for the MOH. I didn't find that particularly interesting at all and could have been fine with a page or two. It was not an easy process, nor should it be for the highest military honor. The end result is revealed by the book title, so it's gratifying that "justice" was served, even if delayed and difficult. So, the book is good. Probably could have been much shorter and still as good. Because it drags on too much at times, I would probably rate the writing and editing, a 3-4 stars. The man, Tibor Rubin, was incredible. His story is way beyond 5 stars, so I came up with a net score of 4.

Tibor Rubin survived the worst of two wars. Several times he faced certain death, and lived through it, even though others died, cheated death again and again. Just surviving is not what made him a hero; what is truly remarkable is that he was intent on ensuring that others survived with him, often at great risk to himself. He accomplished it all while fighting hate and prejudice, even from his own side. I appreciate e his humility and self effacing sense of humor. It is ironic that it was the horrors of the Nazi death camps that prepared him to thrive in Korean captivity, which he thought was comparatively easy. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I'd recommend it to everyone.

Having just completed Daniel M. Cohen’s brilliant life story on Tibor "Teddy" Rubin, I can state that, were it not so richly researched and verified from numerous sources, one might very likely come to the conclusion that it is simply too incredible to be believed. What makes this man’s life story so utterly amazing is that it is a combination - to the nth degree - of so many admirable human qualities, any one of which all of us would like to possess. They are sacrifice, duty, patriotism, resilient toughness, selfless courage of the highest order, unequaled compassion and tolerance toward the faults in others. And often to near saintly proportions. Refreshingly, all of these are leavened throughout with Tibor’s self-deprecating humor. One cannot read this book without standing in awe of this man. As for the writing, the degree of difficulty in simply telling the story of a young Jew who survived both a Nazi concentration camp as well as the Korean War in addition to being a POW of same, would be a frustratingly high bar to leap. Considering such obstacles as faulty long ago memories, the predictable fatalities of those who could provide detail and the murky “fog of war,” I can’t imagine the amount of work that went into such a biography. To have succeeded, however, in such convincing and compelling fashion warrants a hearty salute to the writer, one who should be admired simply for recognizing the, yes, single handed greatness of his subject, then choosing to make that long, hard slog up the hill to tell Tibor Rubin’s heroic life story. Bravo, Daniel M. Cohen. Bravo!

This book tells the absolutely amazing story of Tibor "Teddy' Rubin, a Hungarian survivor of the Holocaust, a Korean war hero, and recipient of the Medal of Honor, America's highest military honor. Disclosure: I served in the same Regiment as Rubin, the 8th Cavalry Regiment of the First Cavalry Division. But I served after World War II, in occupation duty in Tokyo, several years before the start of the Korean War. Rubin joined the army after emigrating to America in 1948. He wanted to serve to show his appreciation to the Americans who liberated him from the notorious Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria. Joining wasn't easy: he was not a citizen and spoke very poor English. But he was stubborn and got accepted, and a year after joining the army he was on his way to Korea, among the first American troops MacArthur sent to battle the North Koreans, who had invaded the South in June, 1950. Rubin had the misfortune to serve under Master Sergeant Arthur Peyton in the 8th Cavalry's Item Company. Sgt. Peyton, as the book says, "bragged openly about his prejudices and how he ranked them. Negroes topped his list, followed by, Jews, Mexicans, and Italians." (I knew such sergeants.) Sgt. Peyton assigned every rotten, tough, suicidal task to Rubin. He could not break Rubin's spirit or humor. The seemingly hopeless assignment that Sgt. Peyton figured would get rid of Rubin was to hold a rear guard hill position while the company withdrew. Rubin did, in a 24-hour single-handed battle against thousands of North Koreans. The book describes Rubin's brilliant defense tactics. There were other heroic deeds by Rubin, rescuing wounded comrades, and alone on patrol, posing as a major to accept the surrender of several hundred North Koreans. Two captains had ordered Sgt Peyton to to submit their recommendations for Rubin for the Medal of Honor. Peyton did not; he wouldn't recommend a medal of any kind to a Jew, and certainly not the nation's highest military honor. Both Captains were killed in action and never knew their orders were not carried out by Sgt. Peyton. Item Company's and Rubin's luck ended when captured by overwhelming Chinese forces at the battle of Unsan, in which Rubin remained at his machine gun despite being seriously wounded. Sgt. Peyton had "bugged out", and his men never saw him again. (I won't divulge what happened to him.) Then began several years in POW camps, where Rubin put skills learned at Mauthausen to use in stealing food for fellow POWs and saving the lives of a number of them by providing rudimentary medical care. The book describes life in the POW camps, the horrid conditions, the constant brain-washing by Chinese communists. Since he was still a Hungarian citizen, the Chinese offered to free him to return to communist Hungary, but he refused in order to stay with his comrades. Rubin was among a few hundred Americans released in the first prisoner exchange in May 1953. The book tells the story of Rubin's life as a civilian, his gaining American citizenship, and the ensuing years as a civilian. In the early 1980s, his old army buddies, shocked to learn he never got the Medal for which he was recommended, began a campaign to get Rubin the Medal. The campaign went on for decades, until the Army finally gave up their stubborn rejection, based on "rules", bureaucratic red tape, and just plain old anti-Semitism. In 2005, President Bush awarded him the Medal of Honor at ceremonies at the White House. The citation read by President Bush sums up the story of Rubin's courage, bravery and selflessness. The book has an excellent description of the long campaign for the Medal, not by Rubin, but by old comrades, who were joined in their mission by political and civic and military organization leaders. This book is the true story of a soldier you wished you served with, a brave soldier, a selfless human, a man who loves life, a man of religion (Rubin's arguments with God are priceless), a real American hero, a mensch.

A most amazing TRUE story. Holocaust survivor pledges "if I ever get to USA, I'll become GI JOE!" Joins ARMY, sent to Korea; captured, breaks out of and BACK INTO POW CAMP dozens of times, along the way saving American lives. Because of anti-Semitism, denied Medal of Honor for more than 50 years. Receives Medal of Honor in 2005, dies in 2015. On May 10, 2017, Long Beach VA Medical Center renamed Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center. I am proud to serve as Commander of the California based Jewish War Veterans Tibor Rubin Post, renamed in February 2016. And, serve as California State Chaplain for Jewish War Veterans of the United States and National Chair of the JWV "END HOMELESSNESS" Commission, Chaplain DOV Cohen US Air Force - Vietnam War 1962-1966 Now in my 55th year of chaplaincy chaplaindov@aol.com

Imagine you're a 13-year old Jewish boy forced to flee your home in Hungary to avoid being taken by the Nazis. Only miles from the Swiss border, you're captured and sent to the dreaded Mauthausen concentration camp where a single misstep - a defiant look, a botched work assignment, a single louse in your hair - could mean instant execution. Through guile, courage and luck, you survive the Holocaust and make your way to America. While other young refugees are busy milking the opportunities in their new homeland, you do the unthinkable and enlist in the U.S. Army where you volunteer to fight the communists in Korea. The enemy is fierce but the greatest danger lies in the bigotry of a redneck U.S. Sergeant who continually puts you in harms way because you're a Jew. Fighting valiantly to save yourself and your fellow soldiers, your bravery will earn the praise of commanding officers who twice recommend you for the Medal of Honor - an award you won't receive for another 50 years. There's no need to 'imagine' any such tale. Tibor 'Teddy' Rubin lived it all, and Daniel M. Cohen brings his remarkable journey to light in his riveting new book, SINGLE HANDED(Penguin). In his brilliant recounting of Tibor's amazing odyssey, Cohen offers such vibrant detail and honest, raw emotion that we can almost feel the terror and utter deprivation of of the Nazi death camp, and the numbing cold and carnage of the bloody Korean battlefield. What stands out amid the horror and struggle , though, is the indefatigable, upbeat spirit of the spritely little Hungarian who went far, far above the call of duty, continually placing himself in harm's way to protect his fellow prisoners and soldiers, only to see his bravery and sacrifice ignored by the country he loved and fought for. Painstakingly researched and drawn from hours of interviews with Rubin, his relatives and friends, SINGLE HANDED gives us a life-affirming portrait of a caring, humble, remarkable man whose life defines the terms 'hero' and 'patriot'.

I just finished reading this well-written book and I found it to be fascinating! What an interesting person the hero,Tibor Rubin, is! First, he somehow survives a horrible World War II concentration camp. He then decides to emigrate to the United States, and before he even becomes a citizen, he decides to join the military to help fight in Korea. Then he somehow survives several years as a POW during the Korean War. And worse of all, he had to put up with a very prejudiced commanding officer who hated blacks, Jews and any one else who was different. Through all his trials a tribulations, he is able to help his comrades, finds food for all and literally helps to save lives of his comrades. He always had a great attitude and was an asset to anyone who knew him. What a wonderful person Tibor Rubon is! I wish everyone had his attitude, fortitude and sense of humor. I loved this book and I highly recommend it!

an excellent book, about a courageous family from a small town in hungary and how the war (ww2) affected them. the goose stepping nazis ( a bubonic plague on steroids) and their always eager to please collaborators could not kill the spirit of little teddy rubin who suffered the separation from his family and then the agony of a concentration camp and, as if this was not enough, he survived, then traveled to america enlisted in the u.s. army, had to put up with descrimination, and fought like a tiger against another goose stepping gang..the north koreans...this inspiring narrative is a great story and a warning that democracy, with all it faults and imperfections, its the best game in town and that there are men like teddy always on the ready to defend, at any cost, liberty and justice for all....

Excellent book that challenges stereotypes, and outlines the drive of people to become Americans. I have purchased many for gifts, and suggested others for student reading. Each reader will find this book an exceptional portrayal of individual selflessness, and valor. Finally, and as an added information point commenting about the author. To some readers DM Cohen’s “Single Handed,” will certainly represent a page by page unfolding of an utterly unique life. However, some will also appreciate the considerable difficulty attendant to such a body of work. Special attention concerning this point should be given to the diminishing numbers of Holocaust survivors, bureaucratic mountains of military information, and even finding veterans willing to speak about the so called “Forgotten War.”

I had heard of Teddy Rubin from a friend who recommended the book. I was enthralled by his story, from the Nazi destruction of his community and the concentration camp, to his liberation and emigration to the USA, he insistence on joining the US Army to repay his freedom, to his service in Korea. I was disturbed by the religious persecution he suffered at the hands of his sergeant and amazed by his ability to demonstrate heroism in spite of the sergeant's intent to leave him for dead. Many other men lived on the battlefield and in the POW camps as a result of his action.

Very Excellent coverage of an amazing tale of a death camp survivor, veteran of the Korea War, and survivor of POW camps in North Korea who lived to help the other soldiers in the POW camp survived. As well as the sad old tale of those in positions of authority (meaning Americans in the military and politics, who take out their personal biases against a race or religion or ethnic group on various individuals.

Vividly told story of an amazing life. Tibor is forced from a boy into a man very young during WWII and decides to repay liberation by the American army by serving in the Korean War. The way Tibor survives, prevails, and helps his fellow GIs to live through their experiences as a POW is inspiring and heroic. Tibor's story was all the more personal for me because it eerily parallels that of my father, who also survived the concentration camps to come to the US and then serve as a GI.

I saw this book on display in the Jewish veteran's museum in Washington DC.A fantastic story about a teenager from a Hungarian village who not only survives Mauthausen death camp but also a Chinese prison camp in Korea. During the Korean War he performed heroic acts and was awarded the Congressional Medal 50 years later!.

Couldn't put this book down, what a life this person has lived , concentration camp for years under the Nazi regime and then a POW under the communist North Koreans and Chinese, you talk about a survivor, this guy is epitome of survival and a down to earth person who sought no special accolades for what he did and the prisoners of war and fighting men whose lives he personally saved, a true American hero and deserving Medal of Honor recipient ...

Tibor Rubin was without doubt one of the bravest men to ever live. His resilience, honor and sense of duty were beyond belief. Cohen did a great job of telling this story and capturing the spirit of the "crazy little Hungarian"

A true story of patriotism and heroism,by an exceptional person. The hardships Tibor Ruben endured through his life,from surviving the concentration camp,to survival at the hands of the North Koreans as a P.O.W.is mind boggling,especially as he always put the health&welfare of those around him first.One of the most execptional persons I have ever read about.

This one is definitely on top of my list for non fiction. If you are looking for inspiration. This book has it. If you are looking for life lessons this book also has it and if you are looking for fate and a little sense of humour this book also has it. The war scenes are very descriptive and tight almost like watching a movie.

Incredible story of an incredible man abused by the anti-Semitism rampant in the armed forces during the Korean war. Easily could have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor three(!) times when no other person has received it more than once!!!! Despite all his travails justice finally prevailed when at the age of 80 he finally received the MOH. Great read.

I was drawn to this book after a visit to the Medal of Honor Museum in Pueblo,Colorado. The guide gave a briefing of Tibor Rubin's history, which included being in the Nazi concentration camp, Mauthesen and coming to America and joining the Army to go to Korea. His valor was amazing. That the Army refused, for over fifty years, to acknowledge his valor is appalling. Very hard to put down.

A rare account of the power of perseverance and heroism in the face of repeated challenges for survival that beset one man for decades culminating in the expression of this countries gratitude with it's highest military medal. This is a morality tale highlighting the finest human qualities toward others in the context of living in the most inhuman conditions imaginable. Well researched and written.

The book is just ok.The opening few chapters about Tibor's Nazi era experiences were fairly fascinating,Once the Korean War era begins ,one can't help but to get the feeling that the author is struggling to add pages by writing minutia and recounting events in much too much detail which creates a boredom and sameness.

What a wonderful book. What a brave man he was. It also proves that anti-Semitism and any prejudice has always been with us. Kudos to those who never let the Medal of Honor get we away from Tibor and to the author for pursuing this book.

The story Falls under the type of History that had to be nonfiction because no one would find the story credible as fiction. Strongly recommend you read it to give you a glimpse on how great a human can be.

Daniel Cohen did such a great job telling Tibor Rubin's amazing story. What a true, and humble hero. This is the first book I have ever read from cover to cover in 2 days. I simply could not put it down. This mans story needs to be made into a movie and everyone should know his name and story. He is an inspiration and the world is a better place because of him.

What a kick arse man. This man, this great American hero is the epitome of heroism and bravery. He stood up to the Nazis and to racist commanders during the Korean war. As a Korean American myself, it was quite engaging for me to read about the men who saved us from those damn communists in the 50's.

What a remarkable man Tibor Rubin was. His humanity and courage are examples for us all. If he was Catholic they would have made him a Saint!

Awesome book. Couldn't put it down. It's a keeper

If you've never liked biographies, this is the one. This is what Unbroken should have been. When you read the fight on that Korean hilltop, it will certainly point out what this hero was made of. His loyalty to his comrades in the Chinese POW camp is legend. Don't hesitate, buy this book.

Fascinating and riveting story of a WWII survivor who became a Korean War hero. Very reminiscent of Unbroken and equally worth the read.

Great True Story

Excellent book! If you are looking for a easy read and true story...this is it. Don't pass it up.

A remarkable true story on one who was awarded the Medal of Honor. We all need to be familiar with such heroes as they provide examples for us to live up to; or at least try.

An incredie story of this Medal of Honor recipient! To have survived a Nazi's as a prisoner and then again as a POW in North Korea and save American lives is why his brave actions deserved our Nation's highest award , the Medal of Honor.

This is a fantastic book and a great read. It's an impressive story that I would highly recommend for teen through adult readers. We read it our selves and gave one as a gift too.

Best book on the Korean War that I have ever read. Wonderful!

One of the best non-fiction stories of heroism that I have read. The book is lucid, factual- yet warm-hearted and emotionally involves the reader. The reason I gave it only four stars is that I cannot imagine its becoming a book that will be read by future generations - that is a 5-star "classic" in my estimation. The title itself would not be my first choice as an "attention enticement." But still - an excellent read about one of the United States Medal of Honor of Honor recipients.

What an amazing story of an extraordinary man! It captures humanity's potential for both nobility and horrifying cruelty and indifference.

A wonderful story very sad that this is allowed to happen. As a veteran of that era and a S/Sgt. it is very troubling to see this type of person reach high rank and to inflict this hatred on anyone. I have seen it but Teddy Rubin is a wonderful human being and deserves 2 MOH.

If you want a definition of a hero, this book will illuminate you. His life is unimaginable. He should be in charge of heaven when it is time. Well written saga of a truly remarkable man

A most amazing story kept me on edge

great book to read, great quick delivery.

As a career medical officer in the US Navy and current VA Doctor I have had the opportunity to hear many accounts of bravery and selflessness but none to compare to Tibor Rubin's. The author has done an admirable job in recounting this saga. I would highly recommend this for anyone interested in the contributions our veterans have made to our freedom and way of life.

Very moving story. Detailed,and well presented..Another book should be written about why the Army held off awarding the Medal of Honor for twenty five years..

This story of war and bravery was an interesting read. For the person attracted to war book I think they will be happy with this read.

Great read. Well written and enjoyed it. Should be a book that is on High Schools reading list as it adds perspective on over coming true hardships.

very good true story. should not have been overlooked because of prejudices

Should be movie

Thank you.

This was a hard book for me to read. My uncle was one of the POW's that Mr. Rubin saved in Korea. If it weren't for Tibor Rubin, my uncle would not have survived being a prisoner. The book itself is fantastic. It really opens your eyes to the plight of the POW's both in the concentration camps in Germany and the camps in Korea. Thanks is not enough to say to Mr. Rubin, but it is all I have to give.

Untold story of a real hero to his fellow man.

Very moving story. It's because of men like this that many of our brothers made it home.

This is a very well written book. It is both humorous and tragic. It accurately depicts the life and war time experiences of my friend, Tibor Rubin. Having been told about many of the experiences by Mr. Rubin as long as 20 years ago, I can attest to the accuracy as written by the author. This is a must read about how a Hungarian immigrant becomes a Medal of Honor recipient.

This was one of the best books I ever read. Couldn't put it down. A remarkable story about a great human being who endured unspeakable tragedy and loss yet never lost his optimism and perseverance

An incredible story compiled from eyewitness accounts of a heroic Jewish Hungarian, Tibor Rubin, who survived, Mauthausen, a Nazi death camp, then emigrated to America, volunteered for the US Army to fight in the Korean War only to find himself in a diabolical POW camp. Through his extraordinary valor this man, on several occasions, managed to save countless American soldier's lives, and yet, although nominated by his field superiors for the Medal of Honor, his recognition was ignored by Washington for decades. This is the true story of one man's indomitable spirit and selfless courage to serve and protect his fellow man while asking nothing in return. An incomparable inspiration to us all.

I bought this book for my husband and he very much enjoyed reading it.

a really good book, hard to put down

Awesome read

Fantastic story that many no nothing about, a great read!

My husband couldn't put it down! Great read and so inspiring! I would highly recommend this to all adults-young to old.

one of my favorites!! it is an amazing story!

Inspiring, incredible story everyone should read. What do you do when you and your race is tortured and deprived? You won't believe his response.

Its a new book and I'm looking forward to reading it.

Should be made into a movie This is an unbelievable story and would be an epic movie. This is true story that would be a movie for Spielberg to produce

Inspiring

Wow! Great book! I highly recommend this book.

first part as a child very interesting second part long

Great read !!

Excellent read. Enjoyed it immensely beginning to ending.

What an inspiration, a great story about an awesome person.

Amazing true story. Slow to start out with but worth the read.

Great Story of a great man.

Great story. Very inspiring.

Incredible man, amazing story.

A really great story. Very interesting narrative about the Korean War. Learned lots of things about the war and the role of the Chinese.

Love the book

this man is s true American patriot and excellent example of a good human being. His story and suffering is unlike anything I've ever heard. G-d bless the man and may he rest in piece.

Fabulous, well-written story about a true American hero!!

This is a truly remarkable book about an amazing man. Thrown I I the worst case scenarios, yet faced each one with integrity. I highly recommend this book to others

Sholud be required reading for all young people, they will never hear any stories like this in school.

Superb book. Teddy is a true hero

Truly well written and an inspiration to read!

loved the book/ great service

It is hard to believe that it took so long to recognize his heroism. It is great that they were able to do it while he was still alive. A great true story.

Congressional Metal of Honor winner Tibor Rubin not only awes us with his courage and humanity, but this Hungarian and Holocaust refugee also teaches us the meaning of patriotism. It's a 'page turner'.

Spectacular story, very well -written.

An amazing hero. Should be required reading for high school seniors.

Thank God we have men like Tibor Rubin in this world. This is a book about a reluctant hero that fought for love of his adoptive country and most importantly for his fellow soldiers.

Awesome, five star book. Well written.

A remarkable story about a remarkable man. Anderson can story about how persistence can overcome prejudice. Bravo to the author and his subject

I enjoyed the book because it inspires the reader to see the greatness of an individual who truly wanted repay a country for giving him freedom. Something we all too often take for granted

I learned more about both WW2 and Korea than I ever knew despite my dad being in both wars. Wonderfully written.

Inspiring story of courage and perseverance as well as the senselessness of antisemitism and prejudice.

it is one of the best books I have every read. I love true stories. its too bad it took 50 years for him to receive it

amazing story

Great story.

a true hero

excellent read

Great work by Mr Cohen in documentation of Tibor's and others recollections of his heroic actions and survivability. A great American hero.

Tibor Rubin is a true hero!

Amazing story!!

An incredible account of the bravest soldier that I know.

My husband is reading this book and loves it. There are no end to stories about WWII and those unfortunate people who suffered at the hands of those rotten Nazis. I can't wait to read the book when he's finished.

An inspiring story of survival and overcoming adversity through tragic events from surviving the death camp at Mauthausen to again surviving as a prisoner of war during the Korean war and years later receiving the Medal of Honor. This is truly a story of survival, courage, and overcoming adversity through tragic events.

I cannot believe that I get such poor results to my wanting to eliminate an expired card and replacing it for my Roku with the one tied to my amazon account. Joepau@aoal.com

Great book at a great price.

Too morbid for my taste. Also, some of it appears to be more fictional than fact

A remarkable book, story and person. The Author has done a superb job of writing, researching and documenting an almost impossible story to tell. I am so glad he did. The story of Tibor Rubin is a story of the indistinguishable human spirit. With every right to be bitter he chose the opposite. Being Jewish he was openly discriminated against from an early age. An immigrant from Hungary, he grew up in a Nazi concentration camp. A story in itself, he eventually finds his way to America and joins the Army to give back to America. You'll have to read the story yourself but it truly is a testament to the human spirit, a testament to the power of choice and the impact of those choices on your life. A true American hero, it took him 50 years to receive his just rewards. Amazing!

I remember meeting Mr Rubin in Chicago in 2009. I was a volunteer during the Medal of Honor Convention.. During a quiet moment at the hotel where the recipients were staying, myself and two others were in the recipients hospitality room and there was just one other person present. Sitting at a table, quietly enjoying a cup of coffee was Tibor Rubin. He graciously invited us to join him and spoke with us about wanting to be G.I. Joe and just other small talk. This book fills in huge gaps of that meeting and everyone should hear and listen to his story.

Tibor Rubin's story is one of a kind- a Holocaust survivor who volunteered to fight for America in the Korean War. In this true story we learn first hand what life was like in a concentration camp and a Korean prisoner of war camp and the struggle to survive. The after effects of these experience lasted a lifetime for these prisoners. Rubin's story is amazing but it is also interspersed with humor which help keep the spirits of prisoners up.

Tibor Rubin saw more of life's dark side than most, but never lost his Hungarian sense of humor, even while a POW of the North Koreans. I am proud to have served in his division, although much later during the Vietnam War. I sense the book is mostly authentic, except for the endless drumbeat of anti-Semitism that presumably prevented him from receiving the Medal of Honor twice and Silver Star once. A much more plausible explanation is that in the heat of combat heroic events were never recorded in a timely manner or that witnesses either were killed or had other priorities trying to survive after the Chinese overran their position. In fact, only one person shunned Rubin, while dozens of others held him in high esteem. Further, Rubin himself resisted leveraging his Jewish heritage in connection with recognition of his brave behavior. The Medal of Honor reflects the persistence of his fellow soldiers and self-promoters far more than his determination, and this fairly describes his entire life. Apparently, there are some who keep track of Medal of Honor recipients by race and religion, seeking distributive justice. There is little about Rubin's life in a Nazi concentration camp or North Korean labor camp that doesn't fascinate, and this book captures that trauma well. He was also a vicious fighter, more persistent than most. His exploits deserve to be recorded, although the man himself modestly resisted special attention when the shooting stopped. One of his lines and my favorite: If I ever get to Heaven I'm going to sue the man in charge. Otherwise, his modesty becomes him. For those interested in patriotism, humility and insatiable need to help others in desperate need, this book will amaze you.

I have read military books for over 50 years and this was one of my favorites. Daniel M. Cohen gave us a beautiful picture of a real hero. A brave, unselfish, courageous man of valor - a real hero. Teddy Rubin saved so many lives in Korea because he was compelled to perform anonymous good deeds but because he was Jewish, didn't receive any recognition until 55 years later. I came to love this gentle, kind, funny, man. I think anyone who is prejudice, after reading this wonderful book, will have a better understanding of Jewish tradition. Teddy Rubin really cared for his fellow soldiers and would not leave them even though he had chances to leave the POW camp. A beautiful story of a true hero.

In a world today where too often the true heros of America go unrecognized or worse forgotten by our government and society. The story of Tibor Rubin comes to light, a Hungarian born Halocaust survivor, who after coming to America volunteers and joins the war in Korea. Tibor is a true hero for his countless acts of bravery and for putting others lives before his own safety. It takes fifty years and countless others to help this man get the recognition that he truely deserved. Daniel M. Cohen tells a riviting tale, the book is well written and very often hard to put down. It's a wonderful story and very humbling in todays society where we can all tend to be selfish and self centered, this is a lesson for us all to learn.

One of the best books I have read. This is a classic story of struggle, defiance, faith, determination and laughter. I say laughter because Tibor always found the good in many terrible situations and honestly is an inspiration to me. He makes me believe in the American dream when on so many levels he shouldn't. The author wrote this book equisitely and represents a 3 chapter phase of Tibor's life. Hollywood couldn't even make up a story like this true one. Thank you for bringing this story to life.

A wonderful true story about a beautiful humble human being. The man was so courages and thoughtful of his fellow soldiers. I don't know how Tibor Rubin was able.to keep his sense of humor and live through and accomplish what he did. The man is my hero. The author has done a beautiful job in making us aware of the human kindness and life saving deeds of this great American hero. A great book!

An amazing story and an even more amazing man. Men like Tibor "Teddy" Rubin are rare treasures and heros. Thank you Daniel M. Cohen for bringing this mans incredible story to the masses where it belongs.

Dan Cohen's book about the extraordinary life of Tibor Rubin is a riveting read. The unadorned, precision prose allows the amazing facts to speak for themselves. That this humble man found deep in himself the grit and resources not only to survive Hell twice but triumph over it both times is inspiration to us all. A quiet, indomitable hero you'll never forget.

I could not put the book down; it was well written about a hero's hero.............everybody tried to kill Mr. Rubin, the Germans, the bigoted American, the North Koreans, and the Chinese. Not only did Mr. Rubin survive, but he excelled in each case.He rose to each challenge. The biography not only describes his heroic accomplishments, but demonstrates his will to live, and to help those in need, time after time. ..The inner strength and goodness of this man is beyond belief.

Teddy Rubin comes to life in Single Handed, Dan Cohen's brilliant Biography. From innocent teen taken by the Nazis to the notorious Mauthausen concentration camp, to fighting off the North Korean assault on "The Hill," singlehandedly, he never lost his sense of humor or will to survive. Teddy's antics saved the lives of many but lifted the spirits of all. A Hero in the truest sense, Tibor fought for the U.S. who had liberated him in Germany and in truth, Tibor won!

This book covers a broad spectrum of interests - American Heroes who are/were Jewish - or Immigrants - Military History - History of the Korean War and those interested in the stories of American Servicemen/women who have been awarded the Medal of Honor. Great book - strongly recommend this to anyone.

Move over Laura Hillenbrand and make way for the 2015 version of Unbroken. A first book by author Daniel Cohen entitled Singlehanded takes us on a fifty five year journey before a brave warrior in the Korean conflict is recognized for his extraordinary valor on the battlefield and finally presented the Medal of Honor by President George W Bush. Teddy Rubin was a true hero and this book is a great tribute to him.

This is a story of survival under the most incredible circumstances. Daniel M. Cohen brings the story of Tibor "Teddy" Rubin to life in a well written, moving account of a true hero. I caught myself many times, while reading this book, shaking my head in disbelief that this man could endure such events without being overwhelmed and embittered by them. It is an unforgettable story.

The right stuff for sure. A true patriot. Great read.

A gripping, almost unbelievable story of a survivor and a quiet hero. And extremely well written to boot. The narrative is clear and the story telling makes this book impossible to lay down.

Dan Cohen did a fantastic job of collecting the details of an incredible and humble life of Tibor Rubin. I still can't believe this actually happened and I hope more people are able to discover this wonderful and inspiring book about a selfless and brave individual who rightfully deserved the highest honor, even if it took 55 years! Very powerful.

I thought everything was very authentic. I felt that I was there with him. Although I did not experience situations such as prisoner of war camps, the Holocaust, his detailed accounting 'put me there.' I was a paratrooper in PIR #507, 35 days ib Normandy, as a 30 caliber machine gunner. Thank you, Dan, highlighting this hero.