Book tour highlighting WWII brothers stops in Wilmington

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A book tour highlighting the stories of American brothers who died in World War II brought author Kevin Callahan to Wilmington over the weekend.

Callahan is the author of Brothers in Arms, which profiles 72 sets of brothers who were killed in combat and are now buried side by side in American military cemeteries overseas. The book features more than 700 original photographs and family accounts, gathered over several years of research and travel.

During Saturday’s event at the Hannah Block Historic USO Building, Callahan shared stories of two North Carolina families featured in the book: The Summers brothers from High Point and the Pretty brothers from Greensboro.

The Summers brothers are buried in Normandy. Their sister, Betty Summers Neely, now lives in Wilmington. Though she was unable to attend the event, Neely is prominently featured in the book. According to Callahan, she has never visited her brothers’ graves due to a fear of flying.

In one section of the book, former U.S. Senator Richard Burr is documented calling Neely on Memorial Day in 2009 while standing at her brothers’ gravesite in Normandy. Burr made another call to Neely during Saturday’s event, thanking her for her family’s service.

Callahan began the project more than a decade ago after learning about a burial policy that ensures brothers who died in service are interred side by side when possible. There are 14 permanent American military cemeteries overseas, where more than 90,000 Americans are buried. Statistically, for every 250 graves, one is part of a set of brothers buried together.

Callahan is currently traveling with his oldest son to revisit the hometowns of the families featured in the book and share their stories with the public. Their next stop is Charleston, South Carolina.