A Fearless Warrior

by Heather Bryant

July 17, 2012

@HBwriter22

Adam Brown was a typical kid growing up in Arkansas, except that he had a never stop attitude for everything he did. He excelled on the field and in the class room and stuck up for those less fortunate or in need of a smile. One day-after graduation while working for his dad as an electrician he met a young lady and turned to drugs.

This dark time in Adam’s life found him strung out on drugs, stealing and in jail, a few times. His mom and dad worried every time he did not come home for days. After taking all they could take they had Adam arrested for stealing and let him be taken away in the cruiser. It was then that not only Adam, but his mom and dad let God into their hearts to lead them out of this darkness.

Soon after a year of drug rehab Adam met his wife to be Kelly. There were a few times that Kelly found him strung out with apologies at the ready. It was after one of these times and talking to a firned that Adam decided that he wanted to be a Navy SEAL. With the help of a friend’s father, Adam was enlisted.

Kelly and Adam became married and started their new life in Virgina Beach at the Navy grounds. Kelly made a home while Adam was training for long periods of time. Kelly was always there by Adam’s side. Their belief in God carried them through tough times and bringing two children into the world. The non stop go getter attitude Adam had was noticed and envied by not only his team mates but higher ups as well. He received many positive reviews as well as medals for not only leadership but bravery as well.

When 9/11 happened Adam, and his colleges sat around and watched the horror unveil. Each wanted to get into the action but none more than Adam. Once their training was complete they were to engage the war in another area, not thinking they would see any real action. They did see action on countless occasions, the biggest being Lake James where there were many insurgents hiding that needed taken out.

This is where Adam becomes a hero. He chose to throw a grenade inside a building but before his mission could be completed, he was under fire by the enemy. Shot several times on the left side up and down his body, his colleges carried him and did CPR until they reached their helicopter landing area. Unfortunately, Adam did not make it. His last words were “I am ok.” He knew he had done his job, and that he would be going to Heaven.

As a hero deserves he was escorted home by his closest friends and SEAL team mates back to Arkansas. Thousands turned out for his funeral in Arkansas as well as in Virgina Beach. One of his team mates declared they would avenge Adams’s death, and they did just by taking out Osama Bin Laden. A few months later many of his team mates, the ones that Blehm interviewed for the book were killed in a helicopter crash, the worst in Naval warfare history.

This book is about the courage it takes to over come demons of many kinds, whether it be drugs or evil people and how faith kept one family going through it all. I highly recommend reading Fearless, not only for Adam’s story but to also understand what we here in America are not told about the war.