One night while in the back of a Humvee, he noticed an eerie silence that almost signaled something was not right. Suddenly, an unknown object entered into where he and the soldiers were sitting. His instincts kicked into overdrive as he reached to pick the object up. Total darkness engulfed him as his life would forever be changed with that one  split second decision.

Waking up, Weisskopf discovered his heroism had cost him his right hand. He was sent for treatment at Walter Reed Medical Center. Ward 57 was the section of the hospital that was devoted to treating amputees. There he and the other occupants all had experienced their own great loss. Each one had their own story on how they had found their way to Ward 57. Through his stay he made friends with Pete Damon, an enlisted helicopter pilot who had lost both of his arms in a freak accident. Luis Rodriquez, a medic, who had lost a leg but still was able to lead his comrades to safety, and Bobby Isaac, who was a security guard fighting for his life and battling to save his legs.

Over eighteen months, Weisskopf came to terms with his own loss and those of his new-found friends. Ward 57 changed him from a man who had once lived for the moment. Through this grueling experience, he was able to see the after effects of war and understand the sacrifices brave young men and women make each day to uphold the country they love.

I predict that Blood Brothers: Among the Soldiers of Ward 57 will quickly become an award winning chronicle. This book really touched me like no other book I have read in a VERY long time. With each of the host of characters, I felt their inner suffering and triumphed at how they overcame their own obstacles. This book gave me a greater appreciation for what true heroes have sacrificed in the name of freedom. There is no doubt that anyone who takes the time to experience it will see the world through a whole new light. Very highly recommended.