In the shadow of greatness : voices of leadership, sacrifice, and service from America's longest war : the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 2002 / [edited by] Joshua Welle, John Ennis, Katherine Kranz, and Graham Plaster ; foreword by David Gergen.

Foreword / David Gergen -- Introduction : Non sibi sed patriae -- Part I. Four years by the bay. Inside the gates of Annapolis -- Part II. The leadership laboratory, fleet tested. Honor at sea / Will Carr -- Selflessness from the ICU / Anita Susan Brenner and Rachel Torres -- Ship, shipmate, self / Mike Johnson -- Fulfilling a Top Gun dream / Meagan Varley Flannigan -- Find a way, or make one / Meghan Elger Courtney -- Part III. Courage under fire. A lovely afternoon over Baghdad / Jay Consalvi -- Bad karma / Wes Pass -- We serve where we're needed / Johnathan Van Meter -- The real hurt locker / Eric Jewell -- Evacuating the injured / Rocky Checca -- From the cradle to the grave / Anonymous -- Dhow in distress / Patrick McConnell -- From Fallujah to Now Zad / Benjamin Wagner -- Part IV. Beyond battlefield bullets. Military diplomats / Graham Plaster -- Shaking the hand of fate / Courtney Senini -- Visit, board, search, and seizure : unsung heroes / Jason Jackson -- Lending a hand in tsunami relief / John Cauthen -- Training with the enemy : Iraq and U.S. naval partnerships / Travis Bode -- UN peacekeeping in practice / Dave Augustin -- Casey vs. the volcano / Casey Bruce -- Inland sailor / Joshua Welle -- Part V. Integrity, teamwork, and sacrifice. Sacrifices for country / Alex Katauskas -- Sometimes dreams do come true / Carol A. Andersen -- Forward deployed to-- Louisiana? / Kevin Stepp -- Working where the land meets the sky / Katherine Kranz -- On building submarines and building character / Lucas Adin -- Lost at sea / Glyndell Houston -- Dual military couples : twice the challenge / Brooke Waller -- When no one's watching / Lisa Freeman -- Part VI. The next great generation. One wild and precious life / Joshua Awad -- Serving beyond the uniform / Elizabeth Kreft -- Rings of courage and love : fighting for gay rights in the military / Gary Ross -- Command, citizenship, and government / Seth Lynn -- Part VII. Conclusion -- Epilogue / Mike Mullen -- In memory of fallen Naval Academy graduates since September 11.

"They were walking to class on 9/11 when the World Trade Center and Pentagon were hit. These midshipmen graduated from the United States Naval Academy into a nation at war, the first class to do so since Vietnam. The men and women of the Class of 2002 lost their youth to a decade of war and their innocence on battlefields in distant places. Each story provides a glimpse into the lives of modern-day military officers who were faced with unique challenges. Their stories bring to light the trials of war and reveal a world most don't understand. Refreshingly candid, their narratives take readers on a journey from Annapolis to the far corners of the world to experience operations at sea, on the land, and in the skies. Prophetically inscribed on the Class of 2002's Naval Academy graduation rings are the words "in harm's way." In the Shadow of Greatness pays tribute to classmates who paid the ultimate price for their nation within years after graduation. Mothers of the fallen reflect on their children's loyalty to their country, contributors provide visceral accounts of courage under fire, and others recount hardship in unexpected places, beyond the sands of Iraq and Afghanistan. The editors spent three years inviting their classmates to open their hearts and share experiences endured on the front lines. Serving as a virtual podium for those unlikely to speak about war, these first-person accounts are written with humility and respect for those with whom they served, bringing deserved recognition to all veterans of the era. As wars in Iraq and Afghanistan subside, those who depart the service are seeking a higher purpose at home. Read their stories of enduring commitment to country as they return from the battlefield and become leaders out of uniform"--Publisher's web site.