Four weeks after Navy
SEALs had killed Osama bin Laden, the President of the United States
stood in Arlington National Cemetery. In his Memorial Day address, he
extolled the courage and sacrifice of the two young men buried side by
side in the graves before him: Travis Manion, a fallen US Marine, and
Brendan Looney, a fallen US Navy SEAL. Although they were killed three
years apart, one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan, these two best friends
and former roommates were now buried together—“brothers forever.”
Award-winning
journalist Tom Sileo and Travis’s father, former Marine colonel Tom
Manion, tell the intimate and personal story of how these Naval Academy
roommates defined a generation’s sacrifice after 9/11, and how Travis
and Brendan’s loved ones overcame heartbreak to carry on in their
memory. From Travis’s incredible heroism on the streets of Fallujah to
Brendan’s anguished Navy SEAL training in the wake of his friend’s death
and his own heroism in the mountains of Afghanistan, Brothers Forever is a remarkable story of friendship, family, and war.
Reviews
"Brothers Forever is the story of two warrior brothers-in-arms who are bonded forever by their love of country, their shared need to serve, their selflessness, their courage, and war. This is the story of a deep and lasting friendship that lives on in the hearts of all who knew and loved them. A deeply moving, true-to-life tale of two men, two brothers, two American heroes, who now rest with the angels, side by side at Arlington cemetery. God bless them both."—Gary Sinise, award-winning actor and founder of the veterans-supporting Gary Sinise Foundation
"Brothers Forever is—literally—a staggering book. It drives home the price of a decade of war through the stories of a Marine and a SEAL whose memory will live forever."—Nathaniel Fick, author of One Bullet Away
"Brothers Forever is more than the shared story of two American heroes, it encapsulates the pride, adrenaline, ethos, and anguish of the entire military community. The best way for our country to honor the sacrifices made by our fallen and their families is to never forget them. We can begin by reading this incredible book."—Siobhan Fallon, author of You Know When the Men Are Gone
"First Lieutenant Travis Manion and Lieutenant Brendan Looney are true American heroes. Both were killed in action while I was Secretary of Defense, and I attended Brendan's funeral at Arlington National Cemetery. I was told there of Travis being re-interred next to him so that these best friends and Naval Academy roommates might spend eternity together—a bond unbroken by death. Their story is one of extraordinary courage, sacrifice, and love. It is a story of the price of freedom. All Americans should read it and understand the unimaginable debt we owe to such men, the best America has to offer."—Robert M. Gates, Secretary of Defense under Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush
"Brothers Forever by Tom Sileo and Col. Tom Manion provides an intimate portrait of two patriots who are compelling examples of a generation of young Americans who have sacrificed in the defense of our freedoms following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001."—Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense under Presidents George W. Bush and Gerald Ford
“This
moving story is told well…and it succeeds as a testament to the courage
and dedication of two young men who are now buried next to each other
at Arlington National Cemetery.”--Publishers Weekly
“Inspirational narrative…Enthusiasts of military heroics should enjoy this grueling account of valor.”--Kirkus
“Their
bond binds this heartfelt and loving tribute…The school years, service
and sacrifice of two young men instill awe, inspire humility and
introduce tears.”--Military Times (Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force Times)
“[A]
heartfelt and devastating story…A powerful read…Capture[s] the pain of
the family when the two soldiers lose their lives for their country…The
book is a stark reminder of what the last 13 years of fighting these two
wars have been about. It's also a look at how proud are enlisted
members are to serve us all.”--Blogcritics.org
“This is a tale of two lives, and more than two lives. It is a heart-touching story, and more than a little troubling.”--Roanoke Times
“I particularly recommend the just published book, Brothers Forever. [It's] a gripping account of friendship, war, sacrifice, and valor.”--Weekly Standard
"If
you want to understand the warrior spirit of an American generation,
please read this powerful and unforgettable book. . . . Brothers Forever is, at heart, a testament of what it means to live a good life."—Eric Greitens, Navy SEAL and New York Times bestselling author of The Heart and the Fist
"For
those who might question America's character, this account of two
remarkable young men will restore confidence. So long as our country
breeds committed warriors like Travis Manion and Brendan Looney, we will
pass down our freedoms intact to the next generation. Their story is
the stuff of legends, yet for them it was very real."—General James Mattis, USMC (Ret.), former commander of US Central Command
"Brothers Forever
is an incredible story of brotherhood and heroism that every true
American patriot should read. Brendan and Travis represent the very best
of a generation that answered the call after 9/11. Their story captures
the heart, inspires a whole new generation to serve, and stands as a
testament to the unbreakable bond formed among US Armed Forces as they
fight alongside each other and lay down their lives."—Lieutenant Commander Leif Babin, US Navy SEAL and Silver Star Recipient; Instructor and Teammate of Lieutenant Brendan Looney
Tom Sileo
Tom Sileo is co-author of Three Wise Men: A Navy SEAL, a Green Beret and How Their Marine Brother Became a War's Sole Survivor, 8 Seconds of Courage: A Soldier's Story from Immigrant to the Medal of Honor and Fire in My Eyes: An American Warrior's Journey from Being Blinded on the Battlefield to Gold Medal Victory. He lives in Florida.
https://www.travismanion.org/about-us/tmf-staff-and-board/board-of-directors/col-tom-manion-usmc-ret/
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