Brothers in Arms

Overview

Featuring over 700 historic photographs and other original artifacts, Brothers in Arms tells the stories of brothers buried side by side in American World War II cemeteries overseas.Fourteen of these noble American cemeteries are spread around the world, holding the remains of over 90,000 fallen Americans and listing another 80,000 missing. All made the ultimate sacrifice so that others might live in peace and freedom. These sacred burial grounds are kept in meticulous care by the American Battle Monuments Commission. Any visitor is struck by the endless rows of white burial markers, fallen heroes resting far from their homes but among their comrades and often near the battlefields where they fell. Walking among the gravestones, it is especially heart-rending to come across two burial markers with the same last name, two brothers—in one case three—buried side by side. With memories and materials collected from the families who lost these brave brothers, Brothers in Arms puts a face and a story to those names carved in white marble. From North Africa to Europe to the Philippines, Brothers in Arms takes the reader on a journey—of the war, of America in the first half of the 20th century, and of these inspiring resting places—all through the stories of these heroic brothers.

Author Biography

Kevin M. Callahan grew up in Elgin, Illinois. He received a B.A. in History from Yale University, where he also played football. After graduation, Kevin visited the American cemetery at Normandy and was struck by both the beauty of the grounds and the sacrifice of so many. Ten years ago, Kevin visited the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Italy with his wife and three young sons. Walking among the gravestones, they came across a pair of brothers buried side by side. He found the sight of the two brothers resting together to be especially poignant. It inspired him to find and tell the stories of all brothers buried side by side in American World War II cemeteries. Kevin also has an MBA from the MIT Sloan School and a Master’s in International Affairs from the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs. He lives in Rowayton, Connecticut with his wife, three sons, and two dogs.