THE LONG WAY HOME: AN AMERICAN JOURNEY FROM ELLIS ISLAND TO THE GREAT WAR by Seattle author David Laskin, due out on March 16 from Harper, tells the true story of twelve immigrants who fought with U.S. forces in the Great War. Included here is the story of Italian-American hero Michael Valente, the only Italian-American to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in the war. Born in the village of Sant’Apollinare near Monte Casino, Valente emigrated to the U.S. in

1914 and signed on with the New York National Guard two years later.

He shipped out to France in the spring of 1918 with the 107th infantry, and won the Medal of Honor for extraordinary bravery during the epic battle to break the Hindenburg Line on September 29, 1918.

Praised as “a compelling and well-written account of 12 men who became American the hard way,” The Long Way Home is a story of service and sacrifice on the part of hard-working immigrants. Some of them, like Mike Valente, became heroes – but of them all were transformed by going to war for their adopted country. The book goes on sale on March 16. For more information, click on www.thelongwayhomebook.com