Pritzker Military Museum & Library to Host Major Tom Schueman for an Author Talk on 'Always Faithful'
On Thursday, Aug. 11, at 6 p.m., the Pritzker Military Museum & Library will welcome Major Tom Schueman for an author talk to discuss his newest book, "ALWAYS FAITHFUL: A Story of the War in Afghanistan, the Fall of Kabul, and the Unshakable Bond Between a Marine and an Interpreter." This event is free and open to the public.
In August 2021, just days shy of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, America ended its longest war. During this time, 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 and imminent danger. As the world watched the shocking scenes of desperation at the Kabul airport in the final two weeks of August, Major Tom Schueman fought to get his friend and former Afghan interpreter, Zak, out of Afghanistan before he and his family were discovered by the Taliban.
Now in his new book, "ALWAYS FAITHFUL: A Story of the War in Afghanistan, the Fall of Kabul, and the Unshakable Bond Between a Marine and an Interpreter," Major 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. This powerful book tracks the parallel lives of two men who each spent their childhoods in fear, peril, and poverty, and turned to war in an 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.
"In May 2008, I swore an oath to defend the constitution," said Major Schueman. "Fourteen years later, I have an opportunity to return to the exact location where I swore that oath. My time as a Marine has taken me all around the world, but Chicago has always been home. I'm excited to be back at PMML and grateful for the opportunity to discuss my journey surrounded by friends and family."
Major Schueman served in Afghanistan for 19 months, including on the single bloodiest deployment of the Afghan war as a platoon squad leader with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines in the Helmand Province. Schueman was awarded a Purple Heart after he and others were ambushed in a field on Nov. 9, 2010. Schueman went on to get his master's in English Literature at Georgetown University and currently teaches English literature at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, where he remains on active duty.
Registration for this discussion is free, with options to join the Museum & Library in person or online. Learn more and register by visiting the PMML website.
About Pritzker Military Museum & Library
The Pritzker Military Museum & Library aims to increase the public's understanding of military history, military affairs, and national security by providing a forum for the study and exploration of our military - past, present, and future - with a specific focus on their stories, sacrifices, and values. With national and global reach, these spaces and events aim to share the stories of those who served and their contributions as citizen soldiers, helping citizens everywhere appreciate the relationship between the armed forces and the civilians whose freedoms they protect. A non-governmental, non-partisan organization, the Museum & Library features diverse collections, scholarly initiatives, and public programs from its flagship center in downtown Chicago to its world-class research center and park currently under construction in Somers, Wisconsin.