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Saved: A War Reporter's Mission to Make It Home
AN INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
"An affecting, singular story...a bracing tale of life on the edge of death." —Kirkus Reviews
When veteran war reporter Benjamin Hall woke up in Kyiv on the morning of March 14, 2022, he had no idea that, within hours, Russian bombs would nearly end his life. As a journalist for Fox News, Hall had worked in dangerous war zones like Syria and Afghanistan, but with three young daughters at home, life on the edge was supposed to be a thing of the past. Yet when Russia viciously attacked Ukraine in February 2022, Hall quickly volunteered to go. A few weeks later, while on assignment, Hall and his crew were blown up in a Russian strike. With Hall himself gravely injured and stuck in Kyiv, it was unclear if he would make it out alive.
This is the story of how he survived—a story that continues to this day. For the first time, Hall shares his experience in full—from his ground-level view of the war to his dramatic rescue to his arduous, and ongoing, recovery. Going inside the events that have permanently transformed him, Hall recalls his time at the front lines of our world’s conflicts, exploring how his struggle to step away from war reporting led him back one perilous last time. Featuring nail-biting accounts from the many people across multiple countries who banded together to get him to safety, Hall offers a stunning look at complex teamwork and heartfelt perseverance that turned his life into a mission.
Through it all, Hall’s spirit has remained undaunted, buoyed by that remarkable corps of people from around the world whose collective determination ensured his survival. Evocative, harrowing, and deeply moving, Saved is a powerful memoir of family and friends, of life and healing, and of how to respond when you are tested in ways you never thought possible.
Benjamin Hall’s memoir includes a 16-page color photo insert.
"An affecting, singular story...a bracing tale of life on the edge of death." —Kirkus Reviews
When veteran war reporter Benjamin Hall woke up in Kyiv on the morning of March 14, 2022, he had no idea that, within hours, Russian bombs would nearly end his life. As a journalist for Fox News, Hall had worked in dangerous war zones like Syria and Afghanistan, but with three young daughters at home, life on the edge was supposed to be a thing of the past. Yet when Russia viciously attacked Ukraine in February 2022, Hall quickly volunteered to go. A few weeks later, while on assignment, Hall and his crew were blown up in a Russian strike. With Hall himself gravely injured and stuck in Kyiv, it was unclear if he would make it out alive.
This is the story of how he survived—a story that continues to this day. For the first time, Hall shares his experience in full—from his ground-level view of the war to his dramatic rescue to his arduous, and ongoing, recovery. Going inside the events that have permanently transformed him, Hall recalls his time at the front lines of our world’s conflicts, exploring how his struggle to step away from war reporting led him back one perilous last time. Featuring nail-biting accounts from the many people across multiple countries who banded together to get him to safety, Hall offers a stunning look at complex teamwork and heartfelt perseverance that turned his life into a mission.
Through it all, Hall’s spirit has remained undaunted, buoyed by that remarkable corps of people from around the world whose collective determination ensured his survival. Evocative, harrowing, and deeply moving, Saved is a powerful memoir of family and friends, of life and healing, and of how to respond when you are tested in ways you never thought possible.
Benjamin Hall’s memoir includes a 16-page color photo insert.
281 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 14, 2023
1018 people are currently reading
1959 people want to read
About the author
Benjamin Hall
27 books42 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads' database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 475 reviews
April 21, 2023
I’m impressed by Hall and loved to get a glimpse of a life as a war reporter. I would have loved to hear more about the stories he covered, maybe more background, and I also thought the chapters on his recovery could have been a bit shorter. But overall an interesting book from a brave man.
April 11, 2023
Benjamin Hall wanted to be a journalist. Specifically, his goal was to become a respected war correspondent. He wanted to write about war and its effect on both soldiers and civilians. He believed that people needed to know the truth about the human cost of wars and the aftermath of conflicts.
As a young man he, along with a photojournalist colleague, began covering stories independently and submitting them to newspapers and television outlets worldwide.
They traveled to Libya; Mogadishu, Somalia; Syria; Turkey; Haiti; Iraq; and to Nice, France when terrorists struck a tourist celebration, as well as many other places where war, terrorist attacks, or natural disasters occurred.
Eventually he was hired by Fox News. When the Russian army invaded and attacked Ukraine in 2022, he jumped at the chance to cover the war there. He gained the respect of his colleagues as he presented coverage of the damage and destruction near Kiev. He again sought to write about the effects of the war on the civilian population.
It was there, in Ukraine, where Benjamin Hall himself became a victim of the war. While on assignment in a village outside of Kiev, the car he was riding in was hit by several bombs launched by the Russian military. He was the only survivor of the attack. But he had suffered catastrophic, life threatening injuries.
In this memoir, Benjamin Hall writes the story of his fight to survive excruciating injuries, of the superhuman effort launched to rescue and evacuate him, and of his intense and often painful treatment and ongoing recovery. It’s a close up view of the human side of war written by one who has lived it.
As a young man he, along with a photojournalist colleague, began covering stories independently and submitting them to newspapers and television outlets worldwide.
They traveled to Libya; Mogadishu, Somalia; Syria; Turkey; Haiti; Iraq; and to Nice, France when terrorists struck a tourist celebration, as well as many other places where war, terrorist attacks, or natural disasters occurred.
Eventually he was hired by Fox News. When the Russian army invaded and attacked Ukraine in 2022, he jumped at the chance to cover the war there. He gained the respect of his colleagues as he presented coverage of the damage and destruction near Kiev. He again sought to write about the effects of the war on the civilian population.
It was there, in Ukraine, where Benjamin Hall himself became a victim of the war. While on assignment in a village outside of Kiev, the car he was riding in was hit by several bombs launched by the Russian military. He was the only survivor of the attack. But he had suffered catastrophic, life threatening injuries.
In this memoir, Benjamin Hall writes the story of his fight to survive excruciating injuries, of the superhuman effort launched to rescue and evacuate him, and of his intense and often painful treatment and ongoing recovery. It’s a close up view of the human side of war written by one who has lived it.
March 21, 2023
You can’t say there’s no such thing as miracles after reading this book. A truly remarkable story of one man’s journey home as well as all the incredible people who risked their own lives to get him there. Having been fortunate enough to meet Ben at work while he was promoting his book, it’s hard to believe his accident was just a little over a year ago. He is gracious and kind to everyone he meets, shaking hands and walking as if he’s been on his prosthetics for years rather than mere months.
His strength and courage is unmatched. In the book he says that as a journalist he doesn’t like being the story, and I’m sure it has not been easy to tell the story of such a horrible experience over and over again. Yet, in doing so I believe he’s done his best journalistic work yet. Ben has made very real the harsh realities of the war in Ukraine. He has brought to light the terrible crimes and atrocities the Russians are committing, and the Ukrainian people are suffering through, daily.
The work of war correspondents and producers is very dangerous and Ben’s story has illuminated the importance of these selfless people. We can only hope that the war will end soon so the Ukrainians and other brave journalists on the front can find their way home safe and sound, too.
His strength and courage is unmatched. In the book he says that as a journalist he doesn’t like being the story, and I’m sure it has not been easy to tell the story of such a horrible experience over and over again. Yet, in doing so I believe he’s done his best journalistic work yet. Ben has made very real the harsh realities of the war in Ukraine. He has brought to light the terrible crimes and atrocities the Russians are committing, and the Ukrainian people are suffering through, daily.
The work of war correspondents and producers is very dangerous and Ben’s story has illuminated the importance of these selfless people. We can only hope that the war will end soon so the Ukrainians and other brave journalists on the front can find their way home safe and sound, too.
March 31, 2023
Saved: A War Reporter's Mission to Make it Home by Benjamin Hall is an absorbing account of self-discovery, a life violently divided into "before" and "after."
Benjamin Hall, the sole survivor of a missile bombing of a car in Ukraine, knows from his experience how capricious fate can be. He should have perished because he was at the car's back in the middle seat. Yet, miraculously, he survived to tell the story - and pass on memory about those four people who didn't make it alive.
The book talks not exceptionally about the war in Ukraine (singular) or other conflicts of recent times (in plural), where the author served first as a freelance correspondent, then as a Fox News reporter. Instead, the book allows the author to compartmentalize his life, concluding that family always comes first. Also central to the tale is Benjamin Hall's unwavering gratitude to everyone who helped him in the most daring time of his life, be it hospitals' personnel, bosses of Fox News, or his family members.
The effortless writing style, the author's years as a war correspondent, as well as his evacuation from Ukraine amidst the chaos, make Saved worthy of becoming a documentary. If I had had a possibility, I would have read the book in one sitting.
(I listened to an audiobook.)
Benjamin Hall, the sole survivor of a missile bombing of a car in Ukraine, knows from his experience how capricious fate can be. He should have perished because he was at the car's back in the middle seat. Yet, miraculously, he survived to tell the story - and pass on memory about those four people who didn't make it alive.
The book talks not exceptionally about the war in Ukraine (singular) or other conflicts of recent times (in plural), where the author served first as a freelance correspondent, then as a Fox News reporter. Instead, the book allows the author to compartmentalize his life, concluding that family always comes first. Also central to the tale is Benjamin Hall's unwavering gratitude to everyone who helped him in the most daring time of his life, be it hospitals' personnel, bosses of Fox News, or his family members.
The effortless writing style, the author's years as a war correspondent, as well as his evacuation from Ukraine amidst the chaos, make Saved worthy of becoming a documentary. If I had had a possibility, I would have read the book in one sitting.
(I listened to an audiobook.)
February 17, 2025
Saved is the incredible story of Benjamin Hall’s career, including his wild adventures and close calls while chasing stories through war-torn nations.
And then came the horrifying moment Russian bombs hit the car he and two of his friends were in. His friends were killed and Ben faced injuries that seemed inconceivable to recover from. The first doctor he saw laid it out this way:
Going “from top to bottom,” the doctor explained that Hall had a depressed skull fracture, had lost sight in one of his eyes and that much of his left hand had been blown off.
“On your right leg you have amputation just below the knee and on the left you are missing a fair amount of calf muscle and you need lower extremity amputations,” the doctor said.
A reasonably functional kneecap remained, but the doctor wasn’t certain Hall would keep it. The doctor assured Hall that “if necessary, we will go through heroic measures to save it.”
There were significant burn issues too. And, X-rays revealed that a good portion of his left foot had been destroyed; much of it was missing altogether.
Saved tells how total strangers helped Ben get home again, as well as the heroic measures he received to help him recover from his catastrophic injuries. I didn't want to put the book down!! The words were heartfelt and the author showed bravery beyond measure.
And then came the horrifying moment Russian bombs hit the car he and two of his friends were in. His friends were killed and Ben faced injuries that seemed inconceivable to recover from. The first doctor he saw laid it out this way:
Going “from top to bottom,” the doctor explained that Hall had a depressed skull fracture, had lost sight in one of his eyes and that much of his left hand had been blown off.
“On your right leg you have amputation just below the knee and on the left you are missing a fair amount of calf muscle and you need lower extremity amputations,” the doctor said.
A reasonably functional kneecap remained, but the doctor wasn’t certain Hall would keep it. The doctor assured Hall that “if necessary, we will go through heroic measures to save it.”
There were significant burn issues too. And, X-rays revealed that a good portion of his left foot had been destroyed; much of it was missing altogether.
Saved tells how total strangers helped Ben get home again, as well as the heroic measures he received to help him recover from his catastrophic injuries. I didn't want to put the book down!! The words were heartfelt and the author showed bravery beyond measure.
May 29, 2025
This is a thought-provoking audiobook which is narrated by the author himself, Benjamin Hall. He shares his tragic yet joyful story of being a war correspondent for FOX news. The listener is taken on a nail-biting trip into war zones where he felt the need to get close to the action, even at the risk of losing his life.
From the time that the car he was in was bombed in Ukraine we are taken along on his journey of survival, including the many days, nights, and hours upon hours of pain, surgeries, and therapies that he endured in order to return to his family. I was amazed by his resilience, strength, and will to survive. But I believe that it is his wife who is the true hero in this story. Her strength and determination to support her husband's choices, take care of their three girls, and perseverance to keep their family together was monumental and inspiring.
We started listening to this audiobook on a road trip but were unable to complete it until many days later. However, it stuck with me for those many days and has continued to haunt me for many days after completing it. I'm looking forward to reading Benjamin Hall's newest book, Resolute: How We Humans Keep Finding Ways to Beat the Toughest Odds.
From the time that the car he was in was bombed in Ukraine we are taken along on his journey of survival, including the many days, nights, and hours upon hours of pain, surgeries, and therapies that he endured in order to return to his family. I was amazed by his resilience, strength, and will to survive. But I believe that it is his wife who is the true hero in this story. Her strength and determination to support her husband's choices, take care of their three girls, and perseverance to keep their family together was monumental and inspiring.
We started listening to this audiobook on a road trip but were unable to complete it until many days later. However, it stuck with me for those many days and has continued to haunt me for many days after completing it. I'm looking forward to reading Benjamin Hall's newest book, Resolute: How We Humans Keep Finding Ways to Beat the Toughest Odds.
March 22, 2023
I’d give this book seven ⭐️ if I could. Absolutely compelling. So many heroes were at work in these catastrophic events. I felt like I was taking a master class in the complexities of poly trauma and putting a human back together.
July 27, 2023
A well-told auto-history of a war correspondent, his journey through recovery from catastrophic injury, his family and friends and medical support. Inspirational
Read
April 26, 2023An incredible and fascinating story of courage, war, and war reporting -- as well as the long road toward recovery. I listened to the audio book and I highly recommend that, as Ben reads the story himself.
March 18, 2023
The absolute best book I have EVER read. The most inspiring story of faith, determination, and family. A truly remarkable story and one hell of an adventure.
April 11, 2024
This story is remarkable, captivating, and almost unbelievable! Also amazing because it happened so recently!
✍️ Hall’s memoir follows his work in Ukraine, tragic bombing, narrow escape, and recovery. I never understood why journalists sometimes go into such dangerous places, but they see their mission just as important as a soldier’s - to get the facts so the world knows the truth.
✍️ It truly is a miracle that Hall survived such a tragedy, then to read of his escape was spellbinding!
✍️ He was a Fox News reporter, but the US military could not get involved until he reached the border of Poland.
✍️ Recovering from such a gruesome injury was remarkable! His determination and resilience is inspiring! Really not sure if I could endure that.😬 It also makes me so thankful for the amazing medical teams we have in the US. We are so blessed!!
✍️ The war in Ukraine is so sad, and I think we will be hearing stories like this for MANY years to come!
⚠️ There were a few words in quotes.
⚠️ Graphic details shared in loss of limbs and surgery. (I honestly can’t take much of that so I read quickly through those parts! 🙈)
📖 I read a hard copy from my library.
📖 Highly recommend for lovers of memoirs and amazing true stories. I also think most people should read this to get an up close look at current events in Ukraine! 👀
✍️ Hall’s memoir follows his work in Ukraine, tragic bombing, narrow escape, and recovery. I never understood why journalists sometimes go into such dangerous places, but they see their mission just as important as a soldier’s - to get the facts so the world knows the truth.
✍️ It truly is a miracle that Hall survived such a tragedy, then to read of his escape was spellbinding!
✍️ He was a Fox News reporter, but the US military could not get involved until he reached the border of Poland.
✍️ Recovering from such a gruesome injury was remarkable! His determination and resilience is inspiring! Really not sure if I could endure that.😬 It also makes me so thankful for the amazing medical teams we have in the US. We are so blessed!!
✍️ The war in Ukraine is so sad, and I think we will be hearing stories like this for MANY years to come!
⚠️ There were a few words in quotes.
⚠️ Graphic details shared in loss of limbs and surgery. (I honestly can’t take much of that so I read quickly through those parts! 🙈)
📖 I read a hard copy from my library.
📖 Highly recommend for lovers of memoirs and amazing true stories. I also think most people should read this to get an up close look at current events in Ukraine! 👀
June 7, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. Don’t let the Fox News association detract from how powerful the story is. I told my wife, “If someone gave me this book and didn’t tell me he worked for Fox, I would have thought it a fantastic book.” I feel the same knowing that. Maybe as a Brit he does not imbue some of the negative stereotypes of typical Fox personalities, and I felt like he was much more a balanced reporter who was just trying to shed light on atrocities of war across the world.
Regardless of his political convictions, I thoroughly enjoyed both his career stories and the primary story of his injury and harrowing road to recovery. Perhaps the most inspiring and touching element to me was his relationship with his wife and three young daughters, who all gave him the drive and energy to try and recover and get home to them as soon as he could. Hall is also a very good writer, drawing the reader in to almost feel like a participant, sitting along for the ride throughout his adventures and misadventures. Overall, an uplifting and incredible story!
Regardless of his political convictions, I thoroughly enjoyed both his career stories and the primary story of his injury and harrowing road to recovery. Perhaps the most inspiring and touching element to me was his relationship with his wife and three young daughters, who all gave him the drive and energy to try and recover and get home to them as soon as he could. Hall is also a very good writer, drawing the reader in to almost feel like a participant, sitting along for the ride throughout his adventures and misadventures. Overall, an uplifting and incredible story!
March 19, 2023
Excellent book-amazing story, incredible cooperation between private citizens and governments to bring Ben home.
May 11, 2023
This is my favorite Book of the Year.
Catastrophically injured in an explosion that tragically killed everyone else in his vehicle- War Correspondent Benjamin Hall tells his personal story of survival and recovery. . And it knocked me down!
Beautifully written, heartfelt and brave it's a saga of hope, love, friendship and courage. I am buying this book as a gift for everyone I know.
5 gigantic stars. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Catastrophically injured in an explosion that tragically killed everyone else in his vehicle- War Correspondent Benjamin Hall tells his personal story of survival and recovery. . And it knocked me down!
Beautifully written, heartfelt and brave it's a saga of hope, love, friendship and courage. I am buying this book as a gift for everyone I know.
5 gigantic stars. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
March 22, 2023
I have followed Ben’s story from the beginning of his time in Ukraine with Fox News & watched with horror at the events of March 14, 2022 when he was critically injured & Pierre & Sasha were killed. I purchased reserved a copy of the Audio book - Saved - before it came out & was waiting eagerly for its release.
The book didn’t disappoint & was made even more powerful by Ben doing his own narration. I cannot begin to comprehend the horror of his injuries, the devastating deaths of his colleagues & the agonizing journey to get Ben out of Ukraine to Poland to Germany to Texas & back home to his family in London. Without drama, Ben made the events very real & throughout it all expressed his own gratitude & amazement to every one of the people who had come to his rescue & supported him throughout the ordeal.
Ben’s incredibly positive attitude during his ordeal & now is extraordinary & I truly hope he has the opportunity to continue in a career that allows him to bring his unique experience to support others who have suffered as he has.
The book didn’t disappoint & was made even more powerful by Ben doing his own narration. I cannot begin to comprehend the horror of his injuries, the devastating deaths of his colleagues & the agonizing journey to get Ben out of Ukraine to Poland to Germany to Texas & back home to his family in London. Without drama, Ben made the events very real & throughout it all expressed his own gratitude & amazement to every one of the people who had come to his rescue & supported him throughout the ordeal.
Ben’s incredibly positive attitude during his ordeal & now is extraordinary & I truly hope he has the opportunity to continue in a career that allows him to bring his unique experience to support others who have suffered as he has.
June 3, 2024
This story was tragic, fascinating, interesting. So many words could be used to describe all that happened in this book.
One of the things that I most enjoyed was just hearing about all that he endured during his recovery and how he overcame those challenges. He pushed through some very hard days.
It was fascinating to hear more about the happenings of the war from a different perspective. I also think we forget about how dangerous reporters’ jobs are, especially during war.
Another thing that was fascinating to me was the fact that this story was so recent. Most recounts of war come from ancestors of those who fought or struggled.
⚠️There was some language throughout. Reading a hard copy would have been better to skip over the words, but the audiobook was fantastic as it was read by the author.
One of the things that I most enjoyed was just hearing about all that he endured during his recovery and how he overcame those challenges. He pushed through some very hard days.
It was fascinating to hear more about the happenings of the war from a different perspective. I also think we forget about how dangerous reporters’ jobs are, especially during war.
Another thing that was fascinating to me was the fact that this story was so recent. Most recounts of war come from ancestors of those who fought or struggled.
⚠️There was some language throughout. Reading a hard copy would have been better to skip over the words, but the audiobook was fantastic as it was read by the author.
December 20, 2023
An incredible inspirational read of loss, courage and sheer grit after his car was hit by a bomb while reporting on the war in Ukraine. A detail retelling of his harrowing evacuation, personal details of his injuries and rehabilitation, return home to his wife and children. Absolutely loved this book.
March 17, 2023
A remarkable story! There’s courage, friendship, sacrifice, struggle, hardship and love. All the things that make a great story. The best part is that it is true and real. I’m grateful to the journalists that risk to get the truth out to the public. He is real risk-taker and true American journalist.
July 7, 2024
I hated this book because the author made it all about himself. I mean, I KNOW it’s a memoir, but it comes off as a bragging résumé. While the whole time is listing NAMES and PLACES and ROUTES used by people TO THIS DAY. Think about that - he’s outsourcing really important information that could put these peoples lives at risk! And while I understand the importance of “free press” and everything, it makes me so mad that these kinds of people go where they know they shouldn’t, get hurt or captured and then the USA has to send in a team of people who are risking their lives to bring them home. And someone DID die due to Benjamin’s choices.
I would have loved this book had Benjamin choose to write a dedicated book about the women who protected him, rescued him, offered him opportunities AND his wife. If he had allowed her to have her own chapters written by her perspective… it would have been a far more powerful and interesting story.
The book as it is, is just self serving and I find that to be pompous and incredibly dangerous for the current people who are still in the field.
I would have loved this book had Benjamin choose to write a dedicated book about the women who protected him, rescued him, offered him opportunities AND his wife. If he had allowed her to have her own chapters written by her perspective… it would have been a far more powerful and interesting story.
The book as it is, is just self serving and I find that to be pompous and incredibly dangerous for the current people who are still in the field.
March 17, 2023
Amazing story. Each page leaves you on another level of disbelief and there is a spectacular amount of admiration you have for Ben, and what he had to do to get through each and every minute.
The times he had with his family are also very emotional, and overall… I’m just glad I read this book.
The times he had with his family are also very emotional, and overall… I’m just glad I read this book.
April 12, 2023
Fox News is one of the main TV channels I watch. And I’ve become pretty tired of the personalities there constantly promoting their latest books. It’s gotten to the point where, when one brings out another book, I usually leave the room or mute the TV. On one hand, I have to admire their hustle in creating another income stream. But many of them seem like they add little or nothing to the real conversation.
A month or so ago, Fox War Correspondent Benjamin Hall began making the rounds on Fox shows, discussing his new book. But Hall’s book piqued my interest because he had a definite story to tell. I got on the library’s waiting list for “Saved.”
Hall is a 40-year-old war correspondent and he begins with a bit of his history. He is British and discusses attending boarding school at Ampleforth, which sounded a bit like Prince, oops, KING Charles’ dreaded Gordonstoun. He mentions that “everyone went through the usual bullying,” which didn’t seem to cause him much angst. I thought of my research on Kate Middleton and how she too had been bullied at boarding school. I wonder if this par-for-the-course bullying is more of a thing in England than here? Of course, this would have been in the 1990s and not today.
After graduating from college, he met a guy with a wanderlust similar to his and they take off for various parts of the world where wars are happening. They filmed stories which they would pitch to various media outlets. Occasionally, these were purchased. He discusses other times when media would use his stories without using his name, and without paying him. I had to wonder how Hall could make a living this way — and I also marveled that there are actually people out there who would purposely want to travel to war-torn areas and report on battles and be right in the midst of them. He and his buddy were, at times, handcuffed, shot at, and more. It’s just strange to think of people putting themselves in these situations, not in order to protect their country as a military member would, but just for the excitement of it. “It made me feel alive,” Hall wrote.
In 2015 Hall was hired by Fox and that gave him more steady employment. He also married his wife, Alicia, that year, and the first of their three daughters was born. Alicia wasn’t crazy about Benjamin’s choice of employment, but she understood his love for his profession. When the Russia/Ukraine war broke out in February 2022, Hall heads over and is in the midst of the action with his photographer friend, Pierre. He mentions that a historian has called Ukraine “The Bloodlands,” referring to 14 million who died in the area between 1933 and 1945, due to poor policies of dictators ruling the area during that time.
In March, Benjamin, Pierre, a Ukrainian journalist, and two Ukrainians who pick them up in a car head out around Kyiv to get closer to the action and to look for stories to report. Shortly, a series of bomb blasts destroys the car and kills everyone in it except for Benjamin. He is on a slope lower than the level of the road and tries dragging himself up to be more visible, noting that his right leg is totally gone.
Next begin a series of good things happening for Benjamin. He is picked up, brought to a hospital, and then leadership at Fox and the government jump into work to get him out of Ukraine. He details the precarious trip he makes to cover the 800 miles to the Polish border, and then a 24-hr trip in a huge military transport plane to Texas, where he does the majority of his recovery. In addition to losing one leg, the other had many issues with the foot being almost totally destroyed. One eye is basically destroyed. His left hand had many missing parts. Almost 20% of his body was burned. Cases like his are called “polytrauma” and it was amazing how the medical professions at the military hospital who worked with him are really good at dealing with (mainly) returning vets who face similar issues.
The most amazing part of the book to me was Hall’s attitude. He is incredibly positive through all his ordeals, with a goal of wanting to get back home to London to his wife and three daughters, who are 2, 4, and 6. Doctors told him to plan on two years in the hospital, but he planned to work hard and get out sooner. Indeed, he was home in August in time for one of his daughter’s birthdays. He did not want the girls to visit him during his recovery, feeling that they would slow his intense recovery work and that his appearance might scare them. He also told his wife not to come, for the same reasons. He writes that his goal while in the hospital was to be “low maintenance” — I can relate to this as I tend to be the same way. He didn’t want others worrying about him or having to devote more time than necessary to him.
Of his treatment: “But I loved it all. I didn’t shy away from any of it. I never once begged out of a gym session, or any other procedure or treatment at BAMC (Brooke Army Medical Center). I tried to approach every exercise, every surgery, every IV tube insertion with energy and enthusiasm.” Wow!
One thing that came through in the book was how much Fox news and the government could accomplish when working together. They moved heaven and earth to help save Hall. Fox stepped in to get Hall’s Australian mother-in-law a passport within a day when she needed one, Hall was allowed to travel on the Polish president’s train in order to get out of Ukraine, etc. This was wonderful, but it made me kind of sad too to think of all the “little people” who often die or suffer waiting for similar things, which will never happen for them. I was also sort of icked-out by a call Secretary of State Blinken made to Hall, telling him “Bringing the reality of the war to people around the world has done more than anything to get countries to stand up and do what they can to support the Ukrainians.” This kind of seemed like Blinken felt that Hall’s suffering was worthwhile since it could lead to Americans being willing to send more billions to Ukraine. Maybe he just said it inelegantly, but if I had been Hall that comment would not have made me feel good. Hall gets a plus from me for staying non-political in this book. I honestly couldn’t tell you his political affiliations — which is what I expect (but rarely get) from those in the media.
This was such a good book. It will make you feel better about anything negative you’re facing in life. I think anyone would enjoy reading “Saved.”
A month or so ago, Fox War Correspondent Benjamin Hall began making the rounds on Fox shows, discussing his new book. But Hall’s book piqued my interest because he had a definite story to tell. I got on the library’s waiting list for “Saved.”
Hall is a 40-year-old war correspondent and he begins with a bit of his history. He is British and discusses attending boarding school at Ampleforth, which sounded a bit like Prince, oops, KING Charles’ dreaded Gordonstoun. He mentions that “everyone went through the usual bullying,” which didn’t seem to cause him much angst. I thought of my research on Kate Middleton and how she too had been bullied at boarding school. I wonder if this par-for-the-course bullying is more of a thing in England than here? Of course, this would have been in the 1990s and not today.
After graduating from college, he met a guy with a wanderlust similar to his and they take off for various parts of the world where wars are happening. They filmed stories which they would pitch to various media outlets. Occasionally, these were purchased. He discusses other times when media would use his stories without using his name, and without paying him. I had to wonder how Hall could make a living this way — and I also marveled that there are actually people out there who would purposely want to travel to war-torn areas and report on battles and be right in the midst of them. He and his buddy were, at times, handcuffed, shot at, and more. It’s just strange to think of people putting themselves in these situations, not in order to protect their country as a military member would, but just for the excitement of it. “It made me feel alive,” Hall wrote.
In 2015 Hall was hired by Fox and that gave him more steady employment. He also married his wife, Alicia, that year, and the first of their three daughters was born. Alicia wasn’t crazy about Benjamin’s choice of employment, but she understood his love for his profession. When the Russia/Ukraine war broke out in February 2022, Hall heads over and is in the midst of the action with his photographer friend, Pierre. He mentions that a historian has called Ukraine “The Bloodlands,” referring to 14 million who died in the area between 1933 and 1945, due to poor policies of dictators ruling the area during that time.
In March, Benjamin, Pierre, a Ukrainian journalist, and two Ukrainians who pick them up in a car head out around Kyiv to get closer to the action and to look for stories to report. Shortly, a series of bomb blasts destroys the car and kills everyone in it except for Benjamin. He is on a slope lower than the level of the road and tries dragging himself up to be more visible, noting that his right leg is totally gone.
Next begin a series of good things happening for Benjamin. He is picked up, brought to a hospital, and then leadership at Fox and the government jump into work to get him out of Ukraine. He details the precarious trip he makes to cover the 800 miles to the Polish border, and then a 24-hr trip in a huge military transport plane to Texas, where he does the majority of his recovery. In addition to losing one leg, the other had many issues with the foot being almost totally destroyed. One eye is basically destroyed. His left hand had many missing parts. Almost 20% of his body was burned. Cases like his are called “polytrauma” and it was amazing how the medical professions at the military hospital who worked with him are really good at dealing with (mainly) returning vets who face similar issues.
The most amazing part of the book to me was Hall’s attitude. He is incredibly positive through all his ordeals, with a goal of wanting to get back home to London to his wife and three daughters, who are 2, 4, and 6. Doctors told him to plan on two years in the hospital, but he planned to work hard and get out sooner. Indeed, he was home in August in time for one of his daughter’s birthdays. He did not want the girls to visit him during his recovery, feeling that they would slow his intense recovery work and that his appearance might scare them. He also told his wife not to come, for the same reasons. He writes that his goal while in the hospital was to be “low maintenance” — I can relate to this as I tend to be the same way. He didn’t want others worrying about him or having to devote more time than necessary to him.
Of his treatment: “But I loved it all. I didn’t shy away from any of it. I never once begged out of a gym session, or any other procedure or treatment at BAMC (Brooke Army Medical Center). I tried to approach every exercise, every surgery, every IV tube insertion with energy and enthusiasm.” Wow!
One thing that came through in the book was how much Fox news and the government could accomplish when working together. They moved heaven and earth to help save Hall. Fox stepped in to get Hall’s Australian mother-in-law a passport within a day when she needed one, Hall was allowed to travel on the Polish president’s train in order to get out of Ukraine, etc. This was wonderful, but it made me kind of sad too to think of all the “little people” who often die or suffer waiting for similar things, which will never happen for them. I was also sort of icked-out by a call Secretary of State Blinken made to Hall, telling him “Bringing the reality of the war to people around the world has done more than anything to get countries to stand up and do what they can to support the Ukrainians.” This kind of seemed like Blinken felt that Hall’s suffering was worthwhile since it could lead to Americans being willing to send more billions to Ukraine. Maybe he just said it inelegantly, but if I had been Hall that comment would not have made me feel good. Hall gets a plus from me for staying non-political in this book. I honestly couldn’t tell you his political affiliations — which is what I expect (but rarely get) from those in the media.
This was such a good book. It will make you feel better about anything negative you’re facing in life. I think anyone would enjoy reading “Saved.”
May 6, 2023
Good read and incredible story of a war reporter and how life can change instantly. It’s amazing how he was surrounded by so many great people that helped him get out of the country, recover and rehabilitate.
May 9, 2023
Fantastic! This was so well written and covers exactly what it says it will: the traumatic incident and the journey to recovery. It was easy to get lost in the story and almost feel like you were there and feel the anguish he feels as he hears the fate of his colleagues and the long road ahead. I could not put this one down. Highly recommended!
May 19, 2023
Amazing!!!
October 20, 2025
Overall great book. Very interesting to see what it takes to be a war reporter and the danger they put themselves in. The chapters about the recovery were a bit long but crazy to see the recovery process from all of the injuries he sustained.
March 19, 2023
Saved: A War Reporter’s Mission to Make It Home by Benjamin Hall was an eye opening read. We all read and hear the news but, most often, we are only hearing what the media decides to communicate. This story not only shares Ben Hall’s harrowing experience but, the book also shares what really happens in war zones and the dedicated people who try to communicate the reality of war with us. I read this in one day; could not put it down.
Enjoy.
Enjoy.
March 16, 2023
An inspiring and thrilling story of adventure, hope and homecoming.
June 16, 2023
Saved by Benjamin Hall was interesting. It follows the life and career of a war reporter who was injured March of 2022 while on post in Ukraine. It’s interesting to learn more about the career and risks that journalists take to report the news, but this also rubbed me the wrong way.
A large portion of the book, Hall discusses the beginning of his career and why he chose to become a war reporter. It feels really bizarre to me that anyone would want to step foot into a war for the thrill of it, but I guess someone needs to report the news. Why anyone would want to do that, though, at the age of 40 with a wife and three young girls at home is beyond me.
It’s a major red flag that Hall says his wife was okay with it all. I just don’t believe it. If she really didn’t have any protests against his recklessness, I guess they don’t have a very communicative marriage. Sorry not sorry. Thank God he made it home. At least his three little girls will never have to wonder why they weren’t enough for him to stay home for.
2.5/3 ⭐️
A large portion of the book, Hall discusses the beginning of his career and why he chose to become a war reporter. It feels really bizarre to me that anyone would want to step foot into a war for the thrill of it, but I guess someone needs to report the news. Why anyone would want to do that, though, at the age of 40 with a wife and three young girls at home is beyond me.
It’s a major red flag that Hall says his wife was okay with it all. I just don’t believe it. If she really didn’t have any protests against his recklessness, I guess they don’t have a very communicative marriage. Sorry not sorry. Thank God he made it home. At least his three little girls will never have to wonder why they weren’t enough for him to stay home for.
2.5/3 ⭐️
March 24, 2023
I chose to do this one as an Audible book and I'm so glad I did. You can hear the emotion in Ben's voice. It is a wonderful and inspiring story and I've wanted to hear more of the details of this since it happened. I couldn't help but think of the soldiers and civilians that don't have the same connections as Ben in both the extraction and the recovery and that thought broke my heart throughout. That being said, he has worked hard and I'm sure it's a fight that will continue on.
April 6, 2024
I read the book and it is amazing and an amazing story of resilience and hope. At the same time this is a story of tragedy too as many people lost their lives on this day and many more have perished since.
This is a story of co-workers springing into action to help save an injured co-worker and retrieve the body of their camera man too from a country at war.
This is a story of lives lost too soon and the atrocities of war.
This is a story of hope, resilience, perseverance, attitude, setting goals and keeping things in perspective.
This is a story of gratitude and one that will pull at your heart strings and possibly make you re-evaluate life's priorities and there were times I was crying so hard the tears in my eyes kept me from focusing on the words on the page.
I highly recommend this book.
This is a story of co-workers springing into action to help save an injured co-worker and retrieve the body of their camera man too from a country at war.
This is a story of lives lost too soon and the atrocities of war.
This is a story of hope, resilience, perseverance, attitude, setting goals and keeping things in perspective.
This is a story of gratitude and one that will pull at your heart strings and possibly make you re-evaluate life's priorities and there were times I was crying so hard the tears in my eyes kept me from focusing on the words on the page.
I highly recommend this book.
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