by Tom Sileo and Col. Tom Manion
Da Capo Press 2014
268 pages
Nonfiction
The Shortlist
It is soon to be Memorial Day weekend and it is fitting that
we look at a book about two brave Americans, Travis Manion and Brendon Looney,
who are buried together in Arlington National Cemetery.
During the Christmas break in 2001, my daughter and her
friends gathered for a meal at our kitchen table. Everyone had been at college
for a year now, and their lives were beginning to take shape. One young man
told the rest that he was going to quit college and join the Marines because he
felt a patriotic call to serve his country and respond to the World Trade
Center attacks of September 11. I looked with horror at the young man that I
had known for several years and realized that his life was taking a turn that
scared me. Although his friends were proud of his decision, they were also
scared for him as well.
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The book, Brothers Forever, documents the journey of two
young men in the years following the attacks of September 11. They met at the
U.S. Naval Academy in their freshman year, and became fast friend. Travis Manion
became a Marine officer and served two deployments in Afghanistan. Brendon
Looney trained as a Navy SEAL and was stationed in Iraq. Both were killed in
battle. They are buried together in Arlington National Cemetery. The book narrates the power of their friendship as
well as the honor and horror of their war experiences and of their ultimate
sacrifice for their country.
Brothers Forever is written with great love and pride by Travis'
father, Col. Tom Manion, USMC (Ret.)
with the help of professional author, Tom
Sileo. Although a tragic narrative, it is also inspiring. It would be an
excellent choice for an ex-military father for Father's Day.
The publicist for the book also sent me a video link to the
book's trailer. It is worth watching.
This is an interview with Col. Tom
Manion: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2014/05/12/dom-giordano-talks-to-col-tom-manion-about-his-book-brothers-forever/
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