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04/30/08 “The curtains pull away. They come to the
door. And they know. They always know.”
— Major Steve Beck
Hello Everyone,
I apologize for the mass e-mail, but If you are receiving this message
you have written to me in the past regarding, “Final Salute,” the story
I wrote for the Rocky Mountain News in 2005. I am pleased to tell all of
you that I have expanded the story into a new book, “Final Salute,”
which is set for publication on May 1 through The Penguin Press. I spent
much of the past year in my basement, sifting through piles of notebooks
– some of them still tear-stained, some of them now stained with new
tears – in an attempt to compile nearly five years of reporting into a
single story that shines a light into the scenes behind the sacrifices
of military families and the people who care for them. The book includes
24 pages of full-color photographs, including some of the iconic,
Pulitzer Prize-winning photos taken by Todd Heisler. I know many of you
found me through blogs, military groups, and e-mail lists, and I would
be grateful if you could spread the word. The book is available online
and, beginning this week, should be on the shelves of your favorite
bookstore. I am about to embark on a book tour – you can find the
schedule and more information at http://www.jimsheeler.com – but if you
are unable to make it to one of the cities listed, I would be happy to
sign a book for you, just e-mail me here at jsheeler@mac.com. Thanks
again for all the kind words and support in the past. And for those of
you in the military, thank you even more for your service.
“Final Salute” begins with a knock at the door. For thousands of
families, that knock never ends. Please remember them and their loved
ones. It’s all they ask, and the very least we can do.
Thank you,
Jim Sheeler
Below you’ll find advance praise for the book:
“(Final Salute)… should be required reading for all Americans”
-Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)
"Jim Sheeler's Final Salute is an act of national service. Like no other
book I've seen, it captures the human costs of going to war. Combat's
pride and pain are here, along with the tragic truth that some give all,
while most give none. This is a beautiful book that deserves, demands,
to be read."
- Nathaniel Fick, author of One Bullet Away: The Making of a
Marine Officer
“Final Salute is an extraordinary book, an exploration of a national
loss that we badly need. Jim Sheeler writes with such direct honesty
about an absolutely heart-rending subject that you will very likely read
much of it, as I did, with tears in your eyes. And yet you will want to
read every page, gathering along the way an intensely deepened
appreciation and love for America’s communities, its citizens, and its
servicemen and women.”
- Nick Arvin, author of Articles of War
“Final Salute is a searing and unforgettable piece of work from one of
the most supernaturally gifted reporters of our time. Jim Sheeler has
the heart and the talent to chronicle the real cost of war. With his
quiet persistence and endless empathy, he guides the reader inside
hushed and sacred moments that most of us can scarcely imagine.”
- Thomas French, author of Unanswered Cries and South of Heaven, and
winner of the 1998 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing
“Jim Sheeler’s Final Salute should be required reading for all Americans
and their elected leaders. It is not pro or anti war, but instead a
gripping account of combat’s price on the families of the fallen. Final
Salute is also the inspirational and often heartbreaking story of the
incredible, heroic efforts of a Marine officer to help ease the pain of
these families. Jim Sheeler should be saluted for providing a heartfelt
view inside the returns home from Iraq that too often pass unrecognized
by the American public.”
- Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director and
Founder, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Author of Chasing
Ghosts
"With his words, Jim Sheeler has taken what has been a very personal
journey for all the families of the fallen and opened the eyes of the
world to the tears and sacrifice we have made and the respect and honor
paid to our sons. He has been given a magnificent gift of writing from
the heart...I could not have been more proud of him if he were my own
son."
- Terry Cooper, mother of Marine Lance Corporal Thomas Slocum, the
first Coloradan killed in Iraq
04\07\08 Looking for anyone who knew my father Alan
Drentlaw when he was on the Topeka from 1959-62. His rank shows IC2 on
your site. He was from Minnesota and I believe he did something in
electronics. Please email if you knew him. Thank You.
Rebecca Drentlaw
rldnl1983ahs@hotmail.com
04/01/08
Thank You for adding my father to the list, everything looks good the
rating. You have down as JOC, It is JO2 on his papers, that would be the
only change I see. I have some photos around I will send as I find them,
and if you can find any of him it would be appreciated. He was the ships
Journalist, and was usually behind the camera taking the pictures,
instead of in front of the lenses.
I remember, a family day where I was allowed to get on board with
dad, and the went out for a cruise around Catalina, and while the ship
was in dry dock, at Long Beach, there were lots of BBQ days, also Dad
was part of the ships band, he played trumpet, and he was a great artist
that painted. I have one picture where he was painting for an official
in Japan.
These are the only memories I have of my Dad, as he was on maneuvers
most of my 9 year old life, Nine months after he got out, he was killed
in an industrial accident.
Anthony Danes
son of Raymond Danes JO3 1968 - 1968
danestarproductions@yahoo.com
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