"What happened in Long Branch to achieve Pier Village is an atrocity, " says the 53-year-old Mr. MacCloud, who now lives in Tom's River in a ranch-style home a couple of miles from the water.

WSJ: Battle of the Beach

Phillips lives in Underhill, Vermont, where neighbor and longtime family friend, Tom Walsh, told CNN the captain's wife, Andrea, was surrounded by relatives.

CNN: Source: Pirates repel sailors attempting to reach captain

At this exciting time in this important sector, I can attest to Tom's commitment to harness the power of communications technology to improve people's lives, to drive our global competitiveness, and to advance the public interest.

ENGADGET: President Obama nominates Tom Wheeler as next FCC Chairman

For a while, after Tom Brokaw's "The Greatest Generation" focused belated attention on the quietly heroic lives of our parents and grandparents, it finally seemed that the oldest Americans were being allowed to take a victory lap.

CNN: Commentary: We owe oldest Americans an apology

You honor him by living your lives to the fullest, and I suspect Rob would be especially proud of his younger brother Tom, who, inspired by his big brother, is now training to be a Green Beret himself.

WHITEHOUSE: Medal of Honor for Staff Sergeant Robert J. Miller