Sam and the O'Malley Brothers is not a novel about Father Vincent Robert

Capodanno but I feel honored to memorialize him in the book.  His heroic

actions in Vietnam was above and beyond the call of duty to which he was

awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.  This is the reason why I

dedicated Sam and the O'Malley Brothers to him and all the other veterans

who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of our country.

I first became aware of Father Vincent Capodanno during the course of

writing Sam and the O'Malley Brothers when I happened upon a

documentary about him on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). 

I immediately felt a sense of comradeship because he and I were both in

Vietnam at the same time.  However, he and I never met.  Father Capodanno was a Navy Chaplain assigned to the Marine Corps.  I was in the Army as a crew chief/door gunner on a "Huey" helicopter.  I can easily visualize the sights, sounds, and smells of the firefight that cost Father Capodanno his life.

Father Capodanno has been designated as a "Servant of God" which means that his life and works are being investigated by the Catholic Church for possible canonization.  For more information regarding Father Capodanno's path to sainthood please visit the website for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA at www.milarch.org (click on "offices") or click  the "Go" button below.  A portion of  the proceeds from the sale of Sam and the O'Malley Brothers will be donated to the Father Capodanno Cause. 

U. S. Navy Chaplain Father Daniel L. Mode has written an excellent book, "The Grunt Padre", about the life of Father Capodanno.  Father Mode has graciously permitted me to use his book as a guideline in the writing of the chapter on Father Capodanno.  You can purchase "The Grunt Padre" at amazon.com or by clicking the "order" button below.