The Free Press | September 11, 2026 — Twenty-five years after 9/11, Elliot Ackerman reflects on Band of Brothers, the wars that followed, and what combat taught him about heroism, leadership, and the ordinary people asked to do extraordinary things.
Watching Band of Brothers Before 9/11
Ackerman recalls watching the HBO series premiere on September 9, 2001, while still a college student in ROTC. At the time, the heroism of Easy Company felt distant and almost mythic. After 9/11, the possibility of war became immediate.
Heroism in Iraq and Afghanistan
Across multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, Ackerman encountered Marines and service members whose actions reminded him of Richard Winters, Ronald Speirs, and the soldiers portrayed in Band of Brothers. They were not larger-than-life figures, but friends and colleagues who displayed extraordinary courage under fire.
The Value of Service
Ackerman argues that heroism retains its value independent of a war’s eventual political outcome. Even when military campaigns end badly, the courage and sacrifice of those who served are not rendered meaningless.
Heroes Still Walk Among Us
The essay closes with a simple point: societies often wonder whether they still produce heroes. Ackerman’s experience convinced him that they do.