Sammy

Johnny’s best friend · Marine

His real name is Jose, but the nickname stuck in boot camp: too many Joses in the platoon, and his head looked like Sammy Sosa’s. Six-foot-five, broad-shouldered and stocky, with long black curls and a goatee going gray, he has been with Johnny since the war and saved his life more than once.

He’s a mess now, drunk, angry and lost, but Johnny owes him too much to kick him out. Sammy swears Big Pun is the greatest rapper of all time, and Kate, his ex-wife, is the only person who calls him Jose.

“Let’s go, Anthem. Let’s go see Kate.”— Sammy, Chapter 1