The author, a Navy SEAL, returned from his star-crossed mission in Afghanistan with his bones shattered and his heart broken. So many had given their lives to save him, and he would have readily done the same for them. As he recuperated, he wondered why he and others, from America's founding to today, had been willing to sacrifice everything, including themselves, for the sake of family, nation, and freedom. In this book, we follow the author to Iraq, where he returns to the battlefield as a member of SEAL Team 5 to help take on the most dangerous city in the world, Ramadi, the capital of war-torn Al Anbar Province. There, in six months of high-intensity urban combat, he would be part of what has been called the greatest victory in the history of U.S. Special Operations forces. We also return to Afghanistan and Operation Redwing, where he offers powerful new details about his miraculous rescue. Throughout, he reflects on what it really means to take on a higher calling, about the men he's seen lose their lives for their country, and the legacy of those who came and bled before.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 363-364).

Brotherhood How We Fight. One more round ; SEAL Team 5, Alfa Platoon ; Never quit ; Into the hornet's nest ; Shakeout patrol ; Firecracker ; Old men of Anbar ; Under fire and blown to hell ; Frogman down ; "We're not going to make it out of here alive" ; My enemy, my friend ; Going south ; Sniper One ; Flight to Al Asad ; Blood and victory How We Live. Hitting the wall ; Angels on my shoulder ; "You might want to pray now" ; That others may live ; Stir-crazy ; Family ties

How We Die. Heroes of the day ; The warrior queens ; Links in the chain The flaming ferris wheel spins Naval Special Operations personnel killed in action, 1943-present.