Sgt Grit Marine Forums

“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

Here is a link to an interview that aired today on NPR's Fresh Air with Terri Gross:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90065224

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

Thanks, John.  I look forward to the book.  The interview was tough but worth it.

  I pre-ordered three copies of this book several months ao, back when it first became availible for pre-order. Checked my order on amazon just today and it's due to ship within the next week.

Look forward to reading it and hopefully sending them to Jim Sheeler to autograph also.

Here is Clickable version of the link to Jim Sheeler's web page ==> http://web.mac.com/jsheeler/jimsheeler.com/jim_sheeler.html

Personnal Appearence that is on the first page of the web site. 

DENVER

May 7 - Signing at 7 p.m. at Denver Newspaper Agency auditorium, 101 W. Colfax (Colfax and Broadway) in Denver. This first signing will include a discussion with families of the fallen and Lt. Col. Steve Beck, sponsored by the Tattered Cover, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Rocky Mountain News

PORTLAND

May 9 - signing and reading at 7 p.m.,  Barnes and Noble. as part of the conference of the Society of Professional Obituary Writers.

BOULDER

May 12 - signing and reading at 7:30 p.m.,  Boulder Bookstore, including comments  and readings from families of the fallen.

COLORADO SPRINGS

May 13 - signing and reading at 7 p.m.,  Barnes and Noble including comments and readings from families of the fallen.

 

SEATTLE

May 15 - signing and reading, 7 p.m. at Third Place Books.

SAN FRANCISCO AREA

May 16 - signing and reading, 12:30 p.m. at Stacey’s Bookstore
May 17 - signing and reading 7 p.m. at the Book Passage Corte Madera

NEW YORK CITY AREA

May 19 - signing and reading, 7 p.m., RJ Julia Booksellers, Madison, CT.

WASHINGTON D.C. AREA

May 20 - signing and reading, 7:30 p.m. at Borders, Tyson’s Corner, VA.

Looks like DC is the closest he'll get to me,so I guess I'll just have to mail my books to him to get him to sign.

I got an email from amazon this morning saying my copies have shipped. Standard shipping UPS I should get them next week.

I hope this book makes it to the Best Sellers list, preferably at #1.

BamaMarine7276:

I hope this book makes it to the Best Sellers list, preferably at #1.

From your lips to God's ear bro Chris.

According to Eric Hammel...a fairly well known expert on military history...in general books about the military do not become best sellers.  That is unless they are written by some POS like the idiot who penned "Jarhead," which sold because it was anti-war written by a disenfranchised ex-Marine.

Bro John, if we spread the word enough and enough people buy his book, they won't have much choice but to put it at #1.

They did a nice review in the Marine Corps Times this week.

Here is an email I got from Jim Sheeler about him signing my copies of his book. Since this is more or less a public forum I've deleted his address,but if any of you want it for sending your book to him, email me and I'll send it to you.

   Semper Fidelis,
      Chris

Hi Chris,
Thanks for the kind words, and all those you've written before. I would be happy to sign books for you. You can send them to me at , and include your return address. We just had the first signing last night and I'm still emotionally wiped out, which is actually a good thing. I need to be back in "that place" to tell people the real meaning of this book, and the families helped me get there once again. You can see video of it here:


http://www.rockymountainnews.com/ne...ho-honor-their/


There's a nice review at military.com


http://www.military.com/entertainme...honoring-heroes

Newsweek also did a short video about the book, available here:


http://www.newsweek.com/id/135865


Also, C-SPAN taped the entire talk from Wednesday night with the families - I'll let you know when that will air. Thanks again for all you do. Thanks for caring like a Marine.
Jim

BamaMarine7276:

  excerpt from James Sheeler's enclosed email in the above post

"You can see video of it here: 

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/ne...ho-honor-their/


There's a nice review at military.com

http://www.military.com/entertainme...honoring-heroes  

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/may/07/pultizer-winner-salutes-those-who-honor-their/

and

http://www.military.com/entertainment/books/book-reviews/military-bookshelf-honoring-heroes

Thanks. I had posted that on another website before I posted here and that other website always shortens any links you post. But when I copy that post to post it anywhere else, the shortened links don't always work on other sites.

I just bought this book yesterday and started reading last night took about 5.5 hrs with breaks to clear and rest the eyes(clear the sand).  In the book he covers the story of six notifications, 4 Marines, 1 Corpsman of Marines and 1  soldier.  If you have read the Rocky Mountain News story the Author did that this is based on, you will find that is just as well written and moving.  At the end he includes a one year later epiloge and the  Remembering the Brave Cermonies that LTCOL Beck coordinates.  Reading this Book will be time well spent and IMHO it should be required reading in High Scools and Colleges across the country.

Like Richard, I finished the book in a matter of hours...... with several breaks to clean the "sand" from my eyes and walk around the back yard for a while. As someone who served as an assistant CACO for five years (as a SNCO during Vietnam), I can identify with the author's depiction of these calls. Author Sheeler has done a teriffic job of presenting the very hard task of informing the NOK of the death of a member. While I do not agree with Richard about making this required reading for students (they wouldn't understand the bond between Marine honor guards and the deceased brother), I would recommend that the Corps make it required reading for any Marine placed into the position of casualty assistance. LtCol. (then Maj.) BECK is to be thanked for the outpouring of information he has given concerning CACO calls. I only wish I knew what words of comfort he gave those NOK as he presented the colors.