Hamer Bob - American heroes on the homefront: the hearts of heroes

Heroes are people who put themselves at risk for the benefit of others.

OLIVER NORTH

Real heroes dont wear spandex leotards and capes.

My heroes wear combat boots, flak jackets, and flight suits.

OLIVER NORTH

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For Betsy

My mate, my muse, my hero

Those who volunteer to serve in this long war are the best and bravest of their generation.

OLIVER NORTH

First, my sincere thanks to the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Guardsmen, and Marines with whom I have kept company throughout this long war. The young Americans I have been covering for FOX News since September 11, 2001, forfeited the comforts of home, absented themselves from the affection of loved ones, and volunteered to go into harms way in some of the most difficult and dangerous places on earth. They are the best and bravest of their generation. We are all better for their service.

Heroes are people who place themselves at risk for the benefit of others. That certainly describes the audacious volunteers who wear our nations uniform in this long fightand their families here at home. Im especially indebted toand inspired bythose who have endured the loss of loved ones and the resilience of the heroes who have lost limbs and yet persevere through terrible trauma. Their triumph over tragedy is the heart and soul of this book, and Im thankful they have allowed us to tell their stories.

FOX News Team in Afghanistan. FOX News

My gratitude to FOX News chairman Roger Ailes and his leadership team: Bill Shine, Michael Clemente, John Stack, and Pamela Browne. Since the beginning of this long war they have made it possible for our small combat coverage group to embed with more than fifty U.S. and allied military units and capture stunning imagery for broadcast on FOX News Channel and use in this and our other American Heroes books.

Mal James, Christian Galdabini, Chris Jackson, Chuck Holton, Greg Johnson, Martin Hinton, Steve Tierney, and Andy Stennermy cameramen and field producersbraved enemy fire, improvised explosive devices, suicide bombers, and countless long days and sleepless nights in difficult and dangerous places to capture dramatic images so we could document Americas heroes on distant and dangerous battlefields.

This work would never have been published were it not for the attentiveness of my counselors and friends Robert Barnett and Michael OConnor at Williams & Connolly. Their relationships with FOX News general counsel Dianne Brandi and Threshold Editions president and publisher Louise Burke made this work a reality.

As with every other book I have completed during more than two decades, Marsha Fishbaugh and her husband, Davea Vietnam War veteran and U.S. Army helicopter pilothave somehow made it possible for me to get to where I needed to beon time! And once again, Duane Ward and his team at Premiere have agreed to promote and market this work so that Americans from every walk of life will get to know the heroes in these pages.

At Threshold Editions imprint at Simon & Schuster, vice president and senior editor Mitchell Ivers, editorial assistant Natasha Simons, art director Lisa Litwack, production editor Al Madocs, and publicity director Jennifer Robinson have ensured that the eyewitness accounts and imagery in this work will be preserved to inspire others for generations to come.

Tom Kilgannon, president of Freedom Alliance, and the team he leads are a major inspiration for this book. Calvin Coolidge, Pepper Ailor, Tim Strickler, and Alicia Behm have provided extraordinary, generous support to Gold Star Families, the sons and daughters of our fallen, and real help to our severely wounded since this fight started. The relationships Freedom Alliance forged with military and veterans hospitals, the Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment, and others who care for our casualties have been crucial to thousands of troops and their loved ones. A brief description of how Freedom Alliance helps and honors Americas Heroes is on pages 25354.

Oliver North and Bob Hamer with American Heroes at the 2012 Army-Navy Game. Freedom Alliance

My friend and collaborator in this work, former Marine officer and undercover FBI Special Agent Bob Hamer, shares my faith, friendships, and admiration for those who overcome terrible adversity with courage and love. His compassion and respect for young Americans who demonstrate these qualities are coupled with a gift for being able to eloquently tell their stories. Bob has spent days, weeks, and months with the families front and center in this bookand countless others besides. It has been a joy to work with him on this project.

Most important, the woman to whom this book is dedicated has repeatedly picked up the responsibilities of bill payer, household manager, lone protector of four children, and now, grandparent to fourteen while I have been off on lengthy trips to faraway places. She knows the uncertainty of a waiting spouse while her mate is off at warand what its like to pray a delegation headed by a chaplain never comes to the front door delivering a message of terrible loss. As it was when I was on active duty, Betsy is still my best friend, wisest counselor, and greatest encouragement for keeping company with heroes.