An American dream

Image courtesy: U.S. Navy

Navy SEALs are some of the toughest people you will ever meet. While reading about the vigorous training they endure in Marcus Luttrell's bestselling book Lone Survivor, I couldn't help but wonder if SEALs are forced to sacrifice their humanity in order to survive under such intense conditions. The story of Chief Special Warfare Operator Adam Brown reminds me why I was wrong.

Chief Special Warfare Operator Brown answered his nation's call after the 9/11 attacks. After serving in the Navy since 1998, he became a SEAL in April 2001. Brown deployed to war zones several times, and was awarded the bronze star and purple heart for his extraordinary efforts. But according to WTKR-TV, he was also a loving husband and father, making his death even more tragic.

According to the Pentagon, the decorated combat veteran was killed in action at an undisclosed location in Afghanistan on Thursday. According to the WTKR article, Brown is the first SEAL to die in Afghanistan since Petty Officer 1st Class Joshua Harris was killed on August 30, 2008.

In the video embedded below, one of Brown's old friends in Hot Springs, Arkansas, speaks of the elite warrior's human touch.

"Adam had the biggest heart in the smallest body, that you would ever see. His heart stood outside of himself. He was all heart," [David] Pranter said.

The closing paragraph of the aforementioned Lone Survivor offers an important glimpse into the mind of a Navy SEAL who bears the scars of America's post-9/11 struggle against terrorism. After an unimaginably painful ordeal in Afghanistan that will remain with him all his life, Marcus Luttrell wrote:

"But I did live my dream, and then some, and I guess I'll be asked many times whether it had all been worth it in the end. And my answer will always be the same one I gave so often on my first day.

'Affirmative, sir.' Because I came through it, and I have my memories, and I wouldn't have traded any of it, not for the whole world. I'm a United States Navy SEAL."

Chief Special Warfare Operator Adam Brown also lived his dream, and ultimately died for it. Because of his sacrifice, we are free to pursue ours.