2/20/15: Free-writing Post #17

Preface page xv

Part 1: Mind and Fist pages 3-46

Part 2: Heart and Mind pages 47-130

Part 3: Heart and Fist pages 131-284

Epilogue pages 285-298

Afterword pages 299-302

Note from Author pages 303-306

Notes pages 307-313

Book is 313 pages

Chapter 1: Iraq

Characters: Joel, Eric, Staff Sergeant Big Sexy Francis, Mike Marise, Lieutenant Colonel Fisher, Travis Manion, two unidentified marines, Iraqi soldiers, Tom Manion, Janet Manion, Ryan, Dave

Places: Iraq; Washington DC (Eric’s apartment); Doylestown, PA;

Cuss words said: ass

Seal training:

                1 whistle: drop to mud with hands over ears, feet crossed

                2 whistles: begin to crawl

                3 whistles: push to feet and run

                Whistle, drop, whistle, crawl, whistle, up and run

Summary: Mortar attack; suicide truck explodes; Joel got hit in the back of the head from shrapnel in truck bomb, major brain/head injury; Travis died a month after suicide attack; Travis was welcomed home as a soldier (roads lined with people saluting or holding hands over hearts, American flag flew from fire truck ladders, 300 care procession to gravesite); Travis’ family wasn’t consumed by bitterness, rage, despair-they wanted to honor his life; Eric and Joel wanted to do everything possible to honor Travis’ life.

Unfamiliar words: insurgent, minaret, motley

Travis Manion: recent graduate of Naval Academy; was an outstanding wrestler; tough, walked with a smile on his face; first lieutenant; killed in line of duty; received Silver Star; student of Greek history

Joel: bunked on western wall of barrack; Intel officer; worked closely with Iraqi troops in Fallujah; jovial, level headed; smokes; is a father of a boy

Eric: bunked on western wall of barrack; had traveled to Bosnia, Rwanda, and Cambodia;

Mike Marise: F-18 fighter pilot in Marine Corps

Tom Manion: Travis’ father

Janet Manion: Travis’ mother

Ryan: Travis’ sister

Dave: Travis’ brother in law

Quotes I liked:

“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” –quote from page 10

Courageous people lived with compassion in midst of tremendous hardship, turned pain into wisdom, and suffering into strength (pg 11)

People made their own actions and lives into a memorial that honored people they had lost (pg 11)

Peace is more than the absence of war; peace can only be where we ask ourselves and each other to be more than just good, and better than just strong (pg 11)

A good life entails more than the absence of suffering; a good life can only be where we do more than live for ourselves (pg 11)

Word count: 426 words