Her world came crashing down when she got the call saying her brother had been killed. Major Samuel Griffith was one of the most beloved and humble Marine Corps Officers to serve his country. Fiercely dedicated to becoming an F-18 aviator, he embodied perseverance and grit. He led his men with wisdom beyond his years and loved making everyone laugh. Sam was truly living the dream. One tragic day, Sam was killed in action, leaving behind a now “Gold Starred” wife, children, parents and sister–Renee. Renee quickly realized as a new Gold Star sister, that siblings are often the “forgotten mourners,” and had to fight through depression, anger, and even estrangement with virtually no support or community. As a result, Renee felt compelled to share her honest, raw and at times gut-wrenching account of what it was like losing a sibling to war in hopes of helping others like her connect and work through their own grief. Always My Hero will have you laughing one moment and moved to tears the next. Get to know Sam and the amazing Marine he was through the eyes of his sister and fellow servicemen and discover how to exchange sorrow for strength so you can crawl out of the trenches of despair and finally find…hope.
“So often we think about the moms, dads, spouses, and children left behind from those who have made that ultimate sacrifice; but, do we really think about those who can be thought of as the “forgotten mourners”, the brothers and sisters of those who made the last full measure of devotion? When a brother or sister is lost, it can have a very injurious effect on the ones who will forever be separated from their blood buddy with whom they shared countless memories and hoped to share more.”“Always My Hero is so important. It is the story of a surviving sibling, one not often told.”“While most of us will never experience what Renee and other Gold Star siblings have gone through, we must recognize them and honor their pain. Renee’s story of weathering the storm of life after loss and her own battle with PTSD, provides us a glimpse into the plight and enormous sacrifice of Gold Star siblings.”“I heartily admonish you to read Always My Heroand seek out any Gold Star siblings you may know and do one thing-love them.”Except from Always My Hero Foreword
""Sam is almost home. I need each of you to hear me. What is about to happen will be the worst day of your life." Renee Nickell's tribute to her brother, Sam, a fallen Marine Corps Major, gives us a rare glimpse into the searing pain so many families have borne since the War on Terror began in 2001. With raw emotion, Renee shares unvarnished accounts of a family both torn and united by the loss of a beloved brother and son."
"A United States Marine Corps Elite Fighter Pilot was killed not in a aerial dogfight at 500 mph, but in action on the ground fighting in a Combat Mission. Major Samuel Mark Griffith's. 'War Hero.' The word 'Hero' is not too strong a word for Sam, but you'd never know Sam's extraordinary story of a life beautifully lived had Renée Nickell, Sam's loving Sister not gone through the gut wrenching task of lovingly writing the book you now hold in your hand. This is a compelling real life story. The real extraordinary life of USMC Major Samuel M. Griffith. Marine. War Hero. Son. Brother. Friend."
From the publisher: Renee Nickell’s brother, Major Samuel Griffith of the United States Marine Corps, was an F-18 aviator before transitioning to a Forward Air Controller, deploying to Afghanistan with the 4th ANGLICO. Sam tragically lost his life in combat on December 14, 2011.Sam was just two years older than Renee and his death devastated their entire family. Renee realized after his death, that there wasn’t much acknowledgement on the impacts of losing a sibling. This made the grieving process much more complicated.Through Renee’s grief journey, she had to rely on her faith to help her heal not only from Sam’s death, but also from painful experiences from her past.Six years after Sam’s death, Renee decided that she wanted to write a story that would honor her brother, bring awareness to the impacts of the death of a sibling, and bring others hope and healing by the telling of her own personal journey.Always My Hero, a memoir and tribute to Sam, has been a journey of re-living painful experiences and events, to create a story of inspiration to others that may find the healing process of losing a sibling an impossible feat.
Watch The Hallmark Channel's Home & Family episode where I had the opportunity to discuss my new book Always My Hero. An incredible true story of an unwavering sibling bond, sacrifice, grief, and hope. Tune in now and then head over to Amazon for a copy of this 5-star rated book!
Renee Nickell, Gold Star Sister Of Major Samuel Griffith, USMC, who was killed in action December 2011 In Afghanistan, joined Brian Kilmeade to discuss her new book "Always My Hero: The Road to Hope & Healing Following My Brother's Death in Afghanistan" Renee explains why she wanted to write a story that would honor her brother and bring awareness to the impacts of the death of a sibling.
