Type: Book Review

Fearless, by Eric Blehm, a Tragedy
by Nate A. Lindell, created 31 May 2015

As I read this book, I became angry, again-angry at how the powerful used Navy SEAL operator Adam Brown for their ends, resulting in Adam's suicide by heroism, potentially inspiring more of the same.
Adam Brown was damaged & obviously so; he was addicted to alcohol, meth & crack, not only smoking meth & crack, but shooting them up to. Heroin soon joined the party. A the book notes, "his body and brain had been altered by the drug and they would seek that pleasure forever." Yet-despite multiple arrests related to his addictions including theft from his parents (typical addict behavior)-he was recruited into the Navy, did great & enrolled in the BUDS program, graduated, became a SEAL.
There's no question that Adam Brown was a balls-to-the-walls warrior, fearless & selfless. But he was human & used, resulting in his death.
Adam knew he was an addict, hated it-but he was stuck with his addictions. Then he was raised with an idealagy-small-town Christian, patriotic-that, combined with his Alpha-male personality, led him to cure himself the most honorable way possible, dying while trying to save his comrade in combat with Muslim extremists.
He had multiple relapses, even after he was an active SEAL, smoking crack, etc.
There was no way his idealogy & personality could permit him to live that way through to its ugly end.

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Some might say that Adam's end, as a hero, was the best one possible for him.
I say "NO!" Good therapy & counseling could have stabilized him. The multiple serious injuries (e.g. blind in one eye, right hand partially crippled, PTSD) that plagued him should've got him retired from the SEALS; he could've lived & helped others & himself as a drug-abuse counselor & public speaker, anything rather than dying in a tangle of wire in Afghanistan.
The book's worth reading, enlightening about many things: American war policy, addiction...the making, and waste, of a hero. But a reader should be skeptical of the need for using damaged people as pawns the way Adam Brown was used.
You can find out more about Adam Brown's story on:
www.nralifeofduty.tv/adambrown
& www.fearlessnavyseal.com
Society shouldn't see death in combat as a solution to drug addiction.
After you read the book, tell me your impressions.

Nate A. Lindell #99502-555
current address on bop-gov

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