Martha Raddatz: The Hero Next Door, Stories of Patriotism & Purpose

Martha Raddatz has seen the uncommon courage of service members and their families, and she has watched—in war zones and on the home front—as they have faced daunting odds and come out stronger. She asked veterans whose character and actions have impacted her deeply to relive their most challenging moments, so that others will know who they are and what they have done. In her new book The Hero Next Door, Emmy Award–winning ABC News journalist and bestselling author Martha Raddatz shares 10 stories of American warriors and their families, whose superhuman sacrifice and resilience—on and off the battlefield—show that true courage comes in many forms.

She introduces readers to an air force rescue parajumper who put his life on the line to save a man whose fate would become entwined with his; a marine ambushed in Helmand whose life-changing injury forced him to take on a different kind of fight; a trailblazing F-18 fighter pilot flying missions over Syria; a combat surgeon who pioneered a new way of saving people with traumatic brain injuries and turned his world upside down to train doctors in Ukraine; an intelligence officer who forged a lifetime friendship with the man who saved him on 9/11; and two mothers whose love and sacrifices embody the ideal of selfless service.

Some of these people were inspired to join the military by parents who served, and some left abusive families, determined to do better. Some joined when everyone was against it. They were there because they wanted to be part of something bigger than themselves. Raddatz says the qualities that made them shine on the battlefield gave them the strength to conceive of transformative second acts. The focus, mental resilience, and emotional fortitude kept them going through physical and emotional setbacks. They started companies to fill a need, created nimble nonprofits, and hunted for humor wherever they could find it.

Most Americans don’t know these people. Join us as Martha Raddatz changes that.

NOTES

Attendees subject to search; no large bags or backpacks.

Raddatz photo by and © Patrick O'Gara; courtesy the speaker.

SPEAKERS

Martha Raddatz, ABC News Chief Global Correspondent; Co-anchor, "This Week with George Stephanopoulous”; Author, The Hero Next Door: Stories of Patriotism and Purpose

In Conversation with Dan Ashley, Anchor, ABC7 News; Member, Commonwealth Club World Affairs Board of Governors

11:15 a.m. doors open & check-in
12–1 p.m. program
1 p.m. book signing
(all times Pacific Time)

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