Always Faithful - by Thomas Schueman & Zainullah Zaki

Book Synopsis

Band of Brothers meets Argo in this dramatic and heartfelt dual memoir of the war in Afghanistan told by two men from opposite worlds. Always Faithful entwines the stories of Marine Major Tom Schueman, and his friend and Afghan interpreter, Zainullah "Zak" Zaki, as they describe their parallel lives, converging paths, and unbreakable bond in the face of overwhelming danger, culminating in Zak and his family's harrowing escape from Kabul.

In August of 2021, just days shy of the 20^th anniversary of 9/11, America ended its longest war. The speed of the Afghanistan's fall was so stunning that thousands of Afghan citizens who had helped American forces over the course of two decades--and had been promised visas in return--were suddenly stranded, in extreme, imminent danger. As the world watched the shocking scenes of desperation at the Kabul airport in the final two weeks of August, Maj. Tom Schueman fought--both behind the scenes and through a social media campaign--to get his friend and former Afghan interpreter, Zak, out of Afghanistan before he and his family were discovered by the Taliban. When Zak and his family finally took off from the airport mere days before the US left the country, the years-long effort to get Zak to America culminated in two simple words on Instagram: "Wheels up."

Now in Always Faithful, Tom and Zak tell the full story of the divergent paths that led them to Afghanistan, the dangerous road they walked together in service to America, and how their commitment to each other ended up saving them both. Brilliantly told in Tom's and Zak's alternating first person voices, Always Faithful tracks the parallel lives of these two men who each spent their childhoods in fear, peril, and poverty, and turned to war in attempt to build a meaningful future. On an inevitable course towards each other, their lives dovetail in Afghanistan's deadly Helmand Valley, where they formed a brotherhood that transcends even the most overwhelming of odds, eventually culminating in Zak's harrowing, eleventh-hour rescue.

The end result is an intensely personal and uniquely ground-level account of Tom and Zak's experience, Always Faithful gives readers a 360-degree view of the war. At once provocative and heart pounding, their stories together form a microcosm of the complicated and lasting effects of America's longest war. Through their eyes and their experiences, they challenge readers to explore the legacy of the war for American and Afghan citizens alike, as we all collectively seek to understand whether twenty years of war was worth the price.

Review Quotes

"Powerful and approachable...Effortlessly straddling the genres of memoir and military history, Always Faithful is a standout among the literature emanating from America's two-decade conflict in Afghanistan.... It is a must-read for those hoping to come to terms with our Afghanistan endeavors." -- Washington Examiner

"This tense and riveting true-life thriller will leave readers with an enduring respect for both men as Schueman and Zaki bring to life America's legacy in Afghanistan and the debt owed to our allies there who risked their lives to support our mission in the hope of a brighter future for their long-beleaguered country." -- Booklist (starred review)

"An affecting memoir that weaves its way through bullets, explosives, and red tape." -- Kirkus Reviews

"[I]t would be wise for us to remember the lessons contained in Always Faithful...Like all the most prolific war stories from probably the Iliad onward, the book is at its heart the story of warriors, a retelling of the hero's journey through modern combat's unique complexities, and a vignette of "our war" that will speak to many." -- Small Wars Journals

"A moving narrative about the power of belief and what it truly means to adhere to a principle....Always Faithful is the story America desperately needs right now." -- Task and Purpose

In plain old good writing, this book tells how two individuals fought the forces of the Taliban, Afghan corruption, and U.S. government bureaucracy to bring one interpreter's family to safety and freedom. It is a gripping and poignant story of quiet heroism, with a hair-raising ending. You will finish this book feeling triumphant for the few that got out, and angry and sad for the many we shamefully left behind. -- Karl Marlantes, author of Matterhorn, What It Is Like to Go to War, and Deep River

Schueman and Zaki offer a haunting account of the courage and sacrifices of U.S. troops alongside their Afghan partners over the past two decades. Amid the backdrop of America's longest war in history and hopes out of reach, their stories are a testament to the enduring human spirit. -- U.S. Senator Dick Durbin

A tremendous look inside the relationships forged in combat and the dedication and sacrifice of the Afghans and Marines who served side by side to gain a better future for Afghanistan. This book is honest, compelling, and full of suspense. This book is Honor, Courage, and Commitment at its finest. -- Lieutenant General Lori Reynolds, United States Marine Corps (retired), former Deputy Commandant for Information

A classic, heartwarming story of two hardened warriors, one Afghan and the other American, who keep faith with each other and emerge triumphant from impending death. This incredible rescue shows what determined Americans can accomplish, despite government incompetence. A fitting metaphor for America's longest and most bungled war. -- Bing West, bestselling author of The Last Platoon: A Novel of the Afghanistan War

Wars are full of fascinating stories. As part literary memoir and part thriller, Always Faithful certainly is one of those. It's a book that demands attention. By telling the story from both an American and an Afghan perspective, Always Faithful offers a unique view within the literature of America's post-9/11 wars, which often lacks the voices of the people most affected. As we contemplate the meaning and value of twenty years of war, Tom Schueman and Zainullah Zaki offer us a path to understand the human cost of service in Afghanistan and the inherent bonds of our shared humanity. -- Steven Pressfield, bestselling author of Gates of Fire and A Man at Arms