Kelley Brown was described by Adam Brown’s parents as “an angel, sent by God.” She came into Adam’s life just weeks after Adam returned from a one year drug treatment program, and soon learned Adam’s story: that he’d spent time in jail, that he’d been addicted to hard drugs, including smoking and shooting up cocaine. He’dbeen shot at, he’d had multiple felonies; simply put—he was anything but a catch. Her parents, her friends, and even Adam’s parents urged Kelley to run the other way.

But Kelley knew the Adam she had heard about, pre-drugs, was in there somewhere. She knew that Adam had something more to offer. She knew he was ashamed of what he’d become, and felt in her heart that he would make something of himself. She stayed by his side, through many relapses, searching for him in crack homes, as the overpowering addiction was relentless. And she prayed. Later she would recall, “God never gave me one reason to leave.” In 1998, Kelley and Adam were married, and he joined the Navy, having miraculously been accepted after signing a truckload of waivers. Adam was the honor recruit in boot camp, and then, with Kelley by his side, Adam successfully advanced through SEAL training. When Kelley became pregnant and had an emergency birth while Adam was in training, she kept the complications unknown to Adam so he could focus on his work.

Kelley doctored Adam through multiple injuries as he rose through the ranks, and celebrated with him when he qualified for the Tier One level of the SEALs. The special mission unit only takes orders from the highest levels within the White House and the Pentagon. He became the first SEAL to pass the training for SEAL Team Six, despite only one eye, and the dexterous loss of his right hand. Kelley’s support helped Adam to find himself—the fearless, tough as nails, and compassionate youth he’d been. With her, he traded the selfish life as a drug addict for the selfless life of a Navy SEAL.

Although Adam was the tough SEAL, he knew the person with the toughest job in the marriage was Kelley, who persevered as he was deployed on the most dangerous missions, hitting the highest level targets in the hunt for Osama Bin Laden, and the terrorists who threatened his country and his family. He executed highly tactical strikes against their enemies; Kelley cheered their kids, answered their questions, quieted their tears, and calmed their fears. The night that Adam was killed, Kelley exemplified Adam’s own toughness by holding it together for her kids. Despite the heartache, in the months that followed, she would keep a promise to Adam—to tell the world his story, warts and all, of who he was before he became a Christian and who he was because of Christ.  Kelley Brown epitomizes the spiritof the American military wife, and as selflessly as her fallen husband, has been willing to share this inspirational story to honor her husband whose team ultimately was responsible for avenging the 9/11 attacks on the United States.