To Amy, Kevin, Maureen, Steve, Ali, Billy, Morgan, Erin, Bridget, and Kellie Looney: your strength is an inspiration. We will always remember Brendan’s life, legacy, and ultimate sacrifice.
To Brendan: no one could ever be a better friend. You are a shining example for generations to come.
To Travis: no son could ever make his dad more proud.
To my dear Janet: finally the book has been written, and my only regret is that you weren’t here to share it. I will love you always.
Notes
CHAPTER 1: CALL TO ARMS
9covered by a local newspaper: Hilary Bentman, “Wrestling with Life’s Lessons,” Intelligencer, December 30, 2004.
23potential terrorist target: Childs Walker, “Sept. 11 Changed Destiny for Navy Class of 2002,” Baltimore Sun, September 9, 2011.
CHAPTER 2: EARN IT
30CBS Sports that day, later said: From Philadelphia to Fallujah (documentary, Sweet Prince Productions, 2012).
38486 US service members died: icasualties.org.
39fellow Naval Academy graduates: Donna Miles, Myers Girds Naval Academy Grads for Role in Terror War, report from American Forces Press Service, US Department of Defense, May 28, 2004.
41championship game in NCAA history: Kevin Van Valkenburg, “Syracuse Sinks Navy Bid,” Baltimore Sun, June 1, 2004.
42John Desko admitted: Frank Litsky, “Navy Has Sentiment on Its Side; Syracuse Has History,” New York Times, May 31, 2004.
CHAPTER 5: NO GREATER HONOR
87fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks: Thomas E. Ricks, “Situation Called Dire in West Iraq,” Washington Post, September 11, 2006.
CHAPTER 6: THE PIZZA SLICE
110the future vice president said: NBC News, Meet the Press, April 29, 2007, http://www.today.com/id/18381961/ns/meet_the_press/t/mtp-transcript-april/#.UlcQUtLNndY.
CHAPTER 12: MISSION 59
215Petty Officer First Class Vic Nolan: The names of certain US Navy SEALs have been changed to protect operational security.
CHAPTER 14: WARRIORS FOR FREEDOM
251died in Afghanistan that month: icasualties.org.
EPILOGUE: MAGGIE AND HONOR’S PLEDGE
257op-ed piece published by the San Diego Union-Tribune: Amy Looney, “Warrior’s Compassion Continues to Inspire,” San Diego Union-Tribune, September 19, 2012.
Index
Afghanistan. See Zabul Province,
Al Anbar Province, Iraq
Brendan deployed to, 69
chlorine bomb attack, 81–87
industrial sector attack, 2–5, 104–105
intelligence reports on securing of, 87–88
McClung killed in, 79
Pizza Slice section of, 112–132
preparing for constitutional referendum, 56–59
sniper mission, 112–132
Tower Town, 58
Travis’s first IED attack in, 59–60
US troop surge in, 88
Al Farris “Tower Town,” Iraq, 58
Albino, Edwin “Doc” helping Poudrier, 85
Observation Post Baghdad attack, 101–105
recovered from sniper attack, 258–259
remembrance of Travis, 174
sniper mission, 113–132
Travis telling of serving in war zone, 113
Alexander, Catherine, 174–175
Alexander, Scott
as member of 3-2-1 MiTT team, 89
Observation Post Baghdad attack, 101–105
remembrance of Travis, 174
sniper mission, 113–132
Allen, John, ix–xiii, 199–200
al-Zarqawi, Abu Musab, 51, 58, 65
Anderson, Reagan, 60–61, 174
Anthrax terror incidents (2001), 27–28
Arcuri, Annette, 137–138, 140–141, 143, 148
Arlington National Cemetery
Amy, Maggie, Honor, and Ryan at, 253–255
burial in Section 60, xii, 237–240
Tom and Janet’s visit to, 177–178
Travis’s reinterment to Section 60, 237–240
Army-Navy football game (2001), 28–30
Bailey, Ben, 43
Baldwin, Robert F., 226
Bales, Justin, 100–101
The Basic School (TBS), Quantico, Virginia, 49–52
Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training, 71, 105–106, 165–172
Battaglia, Joe, 220–221
Berg, Nick, 65
Bergman, Jack, 133
Biden, Joe, 109–110
Bigrigg, Mike, 161
bin Laden, Osama, 24, 28, 249
Black Hawk Down (movie and book), 115
Blackwater Bridge, 37, 51, 112–113
Blecksmith, J. P., 29, 38, 50–53
Borek, Dave
Brendan’s funeral, 229–245
on hearing of Travis’s death, 143–144
meeting in Oval Office, 182–183
at Obama’s Memorial Day 2011 remembrance, 251–253
remembrance of Travis from 3-2-1 MiTT unit, 173–174
as Ryan’s husband, 75
Travis’s funeral, 153–157, 159–162
Borek, Honor, 251, 253, 255
Borek, Maggie Rose baptism of, 69–70
at Obama’s Memorial Day 2011 remembrance, 251
pledge for Janet, Travis, and Brendan, 261
praying for Uncle Travis, 185, 198
at reinterment of Travis, 240
at Team Travis tribute, 179–180
visiting Arlington with Amy, 253–255
Borek, Ryan. See Manion, Ryan (later Borek)
Bowden, Mark, 115
Brendan Looney ’99 Memorial Scholarship Fund, 259
Brennan, Julian, 213
Brokaw, Tom, 27–28
Bronze Star with Valor medal
posthumously awarded to Brendan, 236
posthumously awarded to Travis, 199–200
Brown, Krista, 156, 159
Brown, Steve, 161, 178
Bryner, Zebulin, 113, 129, 131
Budrejko, Thomas, 175
Burns, Kyle, 53
Bush (George W.) Administration at Army-Navy football game, 28–29
commitment to war effort, 66
Iraq troop surge, 87, 93
meeting with Manions in Oval Office, 182–183
September 11, 2001, terror attack, 24–25
Cahill, Eric, 138–141
Calhoun, Marvin R., Jr., 226
Cantrell, Steve, 72–74, 90–91, 155–156, 235
Carruthers, Ben, ix Character Does Matter program, 259–260
Chlorine bomb attack, 81–87
Cochran, Flynn, 230, 244
Cochran, Jamie, 230
COP (Combat Outpost) Manion, 201–202
Damian (priest at Brendan’s wedding), 188
DeMatha Catholic High School, Washington, DC, 8, 188, 237, 241–242, 259
Desko, John, 42
Devlin, Pete, 87
Drexel University, 16–17
Echo Company, 51, 173
Enberg, Dick, 30
Esposito, Steve, 217–218, 225, 244
Fallujah. See Al Anbar Province, Iraq
Fat Joe (“Make It Rain”), 165
1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 51, 56, 59–60, 73, 131, 152
4th Marine Aircraft Wing, 133
Funcheon, Alex, 152
Gardner, Corky
delivering news of Travis’s death, 138–144
hearing of Travis’s death, 134–136, 147
telling Papak about Manion’s notification of Travis’s death, 148
on Travis’s desire to leave Naval Academy, 12–16
at Travis’s Naval Academy graduation, 41
on Travis’s return to Naval Academy, 19–20
Gates, Robert, 173, 244
Gates of Fire (Pressfield), 86
Gayton, John, 129–130
Gilchrist, Ryan, 61–62
Gillis, Ryan, 33, 35
Greitens, Eric, 81–82, 84–85
Gretz, Lauren, 154
Gumbel, Bryant, 23
Harman, Brett, 49–50
Hastings, Amy (later Looney)
on Brendan being in Iraq, 202–205
on Brendan leaving for Iraq, 197–198
Brendan’s desire to go to Iraq, 66–67
Brendan’s funeral, 229–245
before Brendan’s Iraq deployment, 207–209
Brendan’s surprise homecoming, 78
deciding to have an open coffin for Brendan, 237
denial of Brendan’s death, 231–232, 241
e-mail from Brendan, 224
on hearing of Travis’s death, 146–147
Las Vegas trip, 221–222
Marine Corps Marathon, Washington, DC, 253
meeting and dating Brendan, 34–38
at Obama’s Memorial Day 2011 remembrance, 251–253
phone call from Brendan from Afghanistan, 215–217, 223
postcards from Brendan, 64
proposal from Brendan, 168–169
receiving Brendan’s personal effects, 245
swimming English Channel, 258
at Team Travis tribute, 179
time after Brendan’s death, 247–249
at Travis’s funeral, 161
visiting Arlington with Maggie, Honor, and Ryan, 254–255
wanting Brendan buried next to Travis, 234–235
wedding to Brendan, 186–198
The Heart and the Fist (Greitens), 81–82
Heart for the Fight (Stann), 52
Hemminger, Andrew, 30–31
Hemminger, Dan, 30–31
Hill, Matthew, 101–105
Hire Heroes USA, 160
Hojnacki, Heather, 167, 204–205, 221–222, 233, 258
Honor Man of Navy SEAL BUD/S, 171–172
Howard, Arlene, 25
Howard, George, 25
Hussein, Saddam, 65–66
Intelligence reports on securing Al Anbar Province, 87–88
The Intelligencer (newspaper), 107
Iraq. See Al Anbar Province, Iraq
Iraqi Army soldiers
in chlorine bomb attack, 81–87
naming combat outposts for Travis, 201
on sniper attack mission, 113–132
Iraqi death blossom, 88
Jalal (Iraqi lieutenant), 97, 103, 106, 119–121
Junior Officer Training Course (JOTC), 171, 183
Karzai, Hamid, 211–212
Kent, Sean, 161, 178
Kerry, John, 38
Kim, Chris
at chlorine bomb attack, 82–84
as friend of Travis, 94, 134
as member of 3-2-1 MiTT team, 89
Observation Post Baghdad attack, 101–105
sniper mission, 111, 113–114, 125–132
Kob, John, 42–43
Kovach, Steve, 31, 161
Kubicki, Adam
as member of 3-2-1 MiTT team, 89
Observation Post Baghdad attack, 101–102
participating in sniper mission, 115–130
planning sniper mission, 112–113
Sudanese terrorist capture, 98
Kubicki, Jill, 137
La Salle College High School, Doylestown, Pennsylvania, 9, 161
Lacrosse National Championship Game (2004), 39–45
Legacy.com, 173–174
Lemma, Frank, 137
Lemma, Maria, 137, 141
Lemma, Rose, 137
Liquid explosives (2006 terror threat), 65
Looney, Ali, 223, 231, 238, 240, 265
Looney, Amy. See Hastings, Amy (later Looney)
Looney, Billy
as “best man” at Brendan’s wedding, 187, 191–192
as Brendan’s brother, 21
hearing of Travis’s death, 146
playing lacrosse, 39, 40
running Marine Corps Marathon, 259
Looney, Brendan
accepted for Navy SEAL training, 70–71
with Amy before Iraq deployment, 207–209
background of, x–xiii, 21
bar incident (2006), 67–69
Bronze Star with Valor medal, 236
death of, 227
desire to join Special Operations, 64
e-mail from Amy, 224
e-mail from Travis, 1–2, 150–151
e-mail to Janet, 167–168, 201–202
e-mail to Sarver, 222
e-mail to Tom and Janet, 211–212
Fallujah deployment, 69
freshman roommate Toohey, 17–19
funeral for, 229–245
hearing of Travis’s funeral, 162–163
high school football, 8–9
Honor Man of Navy SEAL BUD/S award, 171–172
honorary pallbearer for Travis, 161
house to house mission, Afghanistan, 218–219
JOTC and SERE training, 171, 183
at Lacrosse National Championship Game, 41–45
meeting and dating Amy, 32–38
meeting Travis as roommate, 7–8
as member of SEAL Team Three, 200–203, 205–207
Mission 59, Afghanistan (last mission), 211–227
mountain biking trip, 45–47
Naval Academy graduation, 38–39
Navy SEAL BUD/S training, 71, 105–106, 165–172
Obama’s Memorial Day 2011 remembrance, 251–253
Outer Banks fishing trip, 30–31
over watch patrol, Afghanistan, 214–215, 219–221, 225–226
phone call to Amy from Afghanistan, 215–217, 223
proposal to Amy, 168–169
return to US from Korea, 66–67
September 11, 2001 terror attack, 22–26
South Korea deployment, 63–64
speaking at Team Travis tribute, 179–182
on Travis’s 2nd deployment, 79–80
Travis’s death, 145–151, 163–164
visit to Manions after Navy SEAL BUD/S training, 175–177
wedding to Amy, 186–198
Looney, Bridget, 21, 192, 240, 251–253, 259, 265
Looney, Erin, 21, 192, 240, 251–253, 259, 265
Looney, Kellie, 21, 192, 240, 251–253, 259, 265
Looney, Kevin
about Brendan in Afghanistan, 212
attended DeMatha High School, 21
at Brendan’s funeral, 229–245
Brendan’s Honor Man of Navy SEAL BUD/S award, 172
at Brendan’s wedding, 188
at Lacrosse National Championship Game, 41
at Obama’s Memorial Day 2011 remembrance, 251–253
spearheaded Brendan Looney ’99 Memorial Scholarship Fund, 259
Looney, Maureen
about Brendan in Afghanistan, 212
at Brendan’s funeral, 229–245
Brendan’s Honor Man of Navy SEAL BUD/S award, 172
at Brendan’s wedding, 188, 193
at Lacrosse National Championship Game, 41
at Obama’s Memorial Day 2011 remembrance, 251–253
spearheaded Brendan Looney ’99 Memorial Scholarship Fund, 259
visiting Brendan in San Diego, 168–169
Looney, Steve
bar incident (2006), 67–68
as Brendan’s brother, 21
Brendan’s death, 231
hearing of Travis’s death, 146
as lacrosse player, 39
running Marine Corps Marathon, 259
Team Travis tribute, 177
wife Ali, 223, 231
“Make It Rain” (song), 165
Manion, Chris, 137, 157, 161–162
Manion, Janet
about Travis being in combat zone, 114–115
after Travis’s death, 172–177
at Brendan’s funeral, 229–245
at Brendan’s wedding, 186–196
Character Does Matter program, 259–260
death of, 260–261
decision to move Travis to Arlington, 234–235
e-mail from Brendan, 167�
��168, 201–202, 211–212
e-mail from Kubicki (Jill), 137
e-mail to Travis, 93
as friend of Allen (Tom), x
on hearing of bin Laden’s death, 250
hearing of Travis’s death, 139–144, 147–152
during Iraq constitutional referendum voting, 58
at Lacrosse National Championship Game, 41, 44
meeting in Oval Office, 182–183
morning of April 29, 2007, 109–110, 136–138
at Obama’s Memorial Day 2011 remembrance, 251–253
posthumously receiving Travis’s Silver Star and Bronze Star with Valor medals, 199–200
receiving Brendan’s Navy SEAL trident pin, 194–195
remembrance of Travis from 3-2-1 MiTT unit, 173–174
Team Travis tribute, 177–183
toast at Brendan’s wedding, 196
on Travis’s Academy re-admission, 20
Travis’s funeral, 153–157, 159–162
Travis’s reinterment, 237–240
visiting Annapolis home after Travis’s death, 189, 232–233
at wrestling match, 10–12
Manion, Ryan (later Borek) Brendan’s funeral, 229–245
on Brendan’s wedding day, 185–186, 195
Character Does Matter program, 260
christening of Maggie Rose, 69–70
decision to move Travis to Arlington, 235
hearing of Travis’s death, 141–144, 148, 150
meeting in Oval Office, 182–183
mother’s eulogy, 260
at Obama’s Memorial Day 2011 remembrance, 251–253
president of Travis Manion Foundation, 259
remembrance of Travis from 3-2-1 MiTT unit, 173–174
as student at Widener University, 13
Travis’s funeral, 153–157, 159–162
as Travis’s sister, 22
visiting Arlington with Amy, 254–255
Manion, Susan, 137
Manion, Tom
after Travis’s death, 172–177
at Brendan’s funeral, 229–245
at Brendan’s wedding, 186–196
decision to move Travis to Arlington, 234–235
e-mail from Brendan, 211–212
as friend of Allen (Tom), x–xi
on hearing of bin Laden’s death, 250
on hearing of Travis’s death, 139–144, 147–152
during Iraq constitutional referendum voting, 58
at Lacrosse National Championship Game, 41, 44
meeting in Oval Office, 182–183
morning of April 29, 2007, 109–110, 136–138
at Obama’s Memorial Day 2011 remembrance, 251–253
posthumously receiving Travis’s Silver Star and Bronze Star with Valor medals, 199–200
remembrance of Travis from 3-2-1 MiTT unit, 173–174
September 11, 2001, terror attack, 23–24
Tom Sileo Page 27
