Matthew Axelson: American Soldier (Unabridged‪)‬

"Do you think you would have the courage to risk your life to save a friend?"

That was the question Matthew Axelson asked his brother, Jeff, in the fall of 2001, as the boys sat around the fire pit at their home, drinking beer and sharing stories.

Matthew was on a weekend leave before starting his third phase of BUDs training (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEALs training), and the conversation was taking a serious turn.

"I never thought it would be a foregone conclusion that I would be seeing a fight when I entered the Teams. I thought that perhaps I would get the chance to answer that call, but I never knew for sure until today. I hope that I never get in a rough situation, but if I do, I hope I will have the courage to see it through."

Less than four years later, on June 28, 2005, Matthew Gene Axelson answered his own question.