ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Most new novelists seem to thank everyone they have ever met. I wanted to avoid that temptation. But this particular project is vast and varied, and I need a couple of pages to give credit to those who are making it happen:
Bryan Yost, design partner and friend, who leapt out with me in faith. Todd Hillard, ace writer, true friend, and mentor who has proven invaluable to this endeavor time and again. Nic Ewing, Mike Altstiel, and Jesse Ewing, for helping me shape the concept. The rest of the team at Men of War, including Lee Rempel, Jeremy Banik, Adam Haggerty, and Jerry Smith, who have all contributed more than they know. Col. (ret.) James O’Neal and the other warriors I interviewed, for giving such poignant insight into the mind of the combat soldier during the hell of battle. Julie Mecca, for seeing something in this story at its earliest stage and patiently giving advice. Jim Miller, who believed in it, worked tirelessly on its behalf, and will always be a part of it.
The Army chaplains who have given me invaluable instruction about the spiritual and psychological effects of battle on both warriors and their loved ones, and who demonstrate loving care of the souls of warriors on a daily basis: Gordon Groseclose, Mike Dugal, Bob Hart, David Bowlus, Rabbi Henry Soussan, Leon Kircher, and Eddie Barnett.
My agent, Joel Kneedler, who took on this highly unorthodox project at the right time, guided it skillfully, and proved himself to be the missing link in the chain. The rest of the team at Alive Communications, including Donna Lewis, Sarah Ring, Lee Hough, and Rick Christian.
David L. Cunningham, Grant Curtis, John Fusco, Nicole Nietz, Jeremy Wheeler, and the rest of the highly talented folks at Giant-Killer Pictures and Global Virtual Studio who are bringing David and his Mighty Men to the big screen, for your tremendous efforts and personal enthusiasm for the project. Also to Alden Dobbins for being willing to sweat in the Negev Desert in August while figuring out ways to make me interesting on camera.
The team at Zondervan: Cindy Lambert for breaking land-speed records in acquiring it; Dave Lambert for omitting needless words in the manuscript; Alicia Mey, Don Gates, and Jessica Secord for promoting it. Especially to Bob Hudson for his careful editorial eye and enthusiasm for the material.
Michael Hedrick, for letting us spend time with you and your team in the Holy Land. For anyone looking to take a tour of Israel and the places where David and his men bled and sweated, please consider CJF Ministries.
A few people who don’t know me but had a tremendous hand in shaping this book regardless, including Matt Chandler, Ravi Zacharias, and Charles Swindoll. Also to Michael Shaara, Stephen Pressfield, and Bernard Cornwell, authors of the golden standards in combat novels and the inspiration for my own efforts.
My family, including my parents, grandmothers, in-laws, and sister, for being supportive fans regardless of what I actually wrote.
Most of all my wife, Cassandra, for stubborn faith and naive optimism, which always kept me going during the trying hours.