Final Salute: A Story of Unfinished Lives | Jim Sheeler

Final Salute: A Story of Unfinished Lives | Jim Sheeler | A Fitting Tribute

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Final Salute: A St...

	Final Salute: A Story of Unfinished Lives Jim Sheeler Penguin Press HC, The, 2008 - 288 pages average customer review:based on 41 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A Great American Hero

This book may be the single best I've ever read on the bond created among the youg men who fight for the United States.

Weather you are for or against our going into Iraq you will be so moved by Mr. Sheeler's fine portrayal of Marine Major Steven Beck, (now a Lt. Colonel).

Advising next of kin of the death of their warrior son (or occasionally daughter) is the most difficult assignment.

The word "closure" just does not apply since we all need to never forget those that have died for us.

Mr. Sheeler, who is young and probably a liberal, manages to accurately portray the entire process of the duties of the Marines as they "never leave their fellow Marine," until final interrment.

Great job!

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A Fitting Tribute

Whether you support the war in Iraq or not is immaterial. This book is about the people who pay the ultimate price. The parents and children, brothers and sisters, spouses, and soldiers who served next to those who have been killed in Iraq. Final Salute tells the stories of the deceased with great respect, but the thing that makes this book important is telling about the REAL casualties of war. The people left behind. From the soldiers who inform the families to the children who will never know their parents, it explains the human cost of war.

A human face on war

Please, please take the time to read this beautiful tribute to the fallen and their families and friends. We see the photos of soldiers and sailors on the evening news broadcasts every night. We momentarily feel bad and then life again intrudes along with the next TV program. This book should be required reading for every American...but especially for those in the Pentagon, the White House and Congress who send our military in harms way. These are not just numbers...these are people...sons, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers and mothers who are sorely missed. I was so impressed with Col. Beck. Why isn't he being asked to teach others how to do this so difficult job??? A beautiful book but you will have to read it in stages..it's too hard otherwise.

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Extraordinary & Moving

Being the parent of a serviceman serving in Iraq,and quite possibly also going to Afghanistan, I was drawn right into the emotions being written about in this book. The writing was excellent and made the loss of our military heros personal !

Good book, better news story

Jim Sheeler's story in the Rocky Mountain News was far more affective than his book. The concentration that focused the story in the newspaper was entirely too diluted in the book. The images and the impact of the account of the return of Lt. Cathey to his wife were so well done as to make one to consider enlisting in the United States Marine Corps just because you knew they would take care to assure your family and the country that your sacrifice was meaningful. Mr. Sheeler's article should be required reading for every American.

While the stories of the other lost soldiers and marines were informative and added to the understanding of Major Steve Beck's goal of having every serviceman's story told in the clearest voice, no matter who that soldier was or where he came from, the story of Lt. Cathey was enough. If every one of the fallen were treated with that kind of respect, even in the public's eye, as at the airport on arrival, then we all would appreciate what price we are paying for the world in which we live today.

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