The Story Behind Brothers in Arms
A journey of discovery, remembrance, and the unbreakable bonds of brotherhood during World War II
The Journey
The First Spark
After college, in the summer of 1991, I was backpacking through Europe and visited the American cemetery at Normandy. It struck me. I captured this photo of Sergeant Frank McNally from New York and I thought to myself, “He was probably about my age at the time he died and it is only through the sacrifice of people like him that I am able to travel through a free and prosperous Europe some 50 years later.”
The Statue That Inspired a Title
Then, in 2009, I was traveling in Italy with my wife and three young sons and we went to the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery near Anzio. I captured this photo of the main stature there of a soldier and sailor walking arm in arm. The statue is titled, “Brothers in Arms.”
An Unplanned Moment
I then captured this unscripted photo of my two oldest boys, Max and Finn, walking arm in arm through the gravestones. Seeing my own sons mirroring the statue’s pose among the graves was a profound moment that deepened my connection to these stories.
The Wood Brothers
Next, we came across the burial site of Fred and Edgar Wood, two brothers from Iowa buried side by side. The cemetery superintendent explained to me that the American government and military had a policy of burying brothers next to each other after the war, often at the request of the family.
A Father’s Perspective
As the father of three boys, I found the image of the two boys resting forever together to be especially poignant. No longer was I putting myself in the shoes of Sergeant Frank McNally, but in the shoes of the parents of the Wood brothers, and so many others, who lost these sons. It inspired me to find and tell the stories of all these brothers.
The Scope of Sacrifice
Over 90,000 fallen service members are now buried at one of 14 permanent American WWII overseas cemeteries. In about 250 cases, two brothers are buried side by side. In just one case, three brothers rest that way. If you ever get a chance to visit any of these cemeteries, they can’t be missed.
Meeting the Families
I traveled to 35 states to meet with the family members who lost these brave brothers to collect old photographs and other historical artifacts. (The book includes over 700 of them) I also wanted to hear, firsthand, the stories of these brothers. Thankfully, I completed all of this just before COVID set in. These were emotional visits. The loss of these brothers had a profound impact on these families, one that still resonates 75 years later.
Discover These Powerful Stories
Brothers in Arms brings to life these remarkable stories of sacrifice and brotherhood from World War II through extensive research and personal family accounts.
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