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Two exceptional young men.
One story of duty and love.

After the deaths of their fathers, two distraught boys find close friendship and new meaning in their young lives, choosing to serve together in the Marine Corps, find the love of a good woman and the rewards and challenges that life holds for the four of them.

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A military romance

Can young Marines and two beautiful cousins overcome the challenges of duty in Vietnam, WIA, college degrees, Marine Corps drill instructor duty, Vietnam again, MIA, a new baby, marriage, and more?

A tale of duty, service, and love

Two Good Men tells of the challenges of service, and love, of two men and women and how they interact in everything they do in their lives.

About the Author

Bradley Mason Gates is a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel. He has a BS in Education and a MPA in Public Administration. During his career Brad participated in Operation Urgent Fury, the 1983 assault on Grenada, and later commanded the Marine Corps artillery force in Beirut, Lebanon. In 1985 Brad was presented, by the United States Navy League, the General John A. Lejeune Award for Inspirational Leadership. In 1987 he was the recipient of the George Washington Honor Medal from The Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge. In 1994, Brad completed ten years of survivor interviews, along with extensive publication research, and self-published The Last Great Banzai. This book is the only survivor personal account of the Japanese suicide attack against U.S. forces on Saipan.

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Praise

Prof. Edward Jaworowski

This story of two Marines and their families serves as a paradigm for countless American families. Not fanciful images of superheroes, but poignant episodes that delineate honest, down to earth portraits of the kinds of young Americans who gave and give so much. A warm tale of intense friendship, dedication, loyalty and love. Oorah!

Prof. Edward Jaworowski
former Chair, Classical Studies, Villanova University (retired)

Maria Francesca Nespoli Carlberg

The personal stories of four friends and their families are rendered epic by the skilled prose of Mr. Gates, who intertwines the families’ real-life events with scenes from Marine Corps’ recruits training, Vietnam battles, captivity and hospital stay, and finally, graduation. Love rules above all. A pleasure to read also for those who have no prior direct experience of the Marine Corps.

Maria Francesca Nespoli Carlberg
Congressional Liaison, Embassy of Italy in Washington, DC.

The Honorable James M. Byrne

Brad Gates belongs to that class of strictly upright, honest and true men, of whom Marines afford so many noble examples. A personal mentor and role-model since serving under him at The Basic School; I am a better man for my association with Brad Gates. Two Good Men captures the essence of what is truly great about our Nation - young men and their families honorably and quietly bearing the heavy burden of service in defense of our Nation’s values and democratic principles.

The Honorable James M. Byrne
8th Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Veteran Marine

Col Christopher J Gunther USMC (Ret)

“This is a story to which all Marines can easily relate. The bonds of friendship and their shared loyalty to Corps and Country link the lives of Manny and Kenny in ways very familiar to Marines, and indeed, all members of the Armed Force.”

Col Christopher J Gunther USMC (Ret)