Brookhaven Mom, Army Widow Publishes Book About Her 'Special Hero'

A Brookhaven mom and Army widow has just written a book that has been picked up by Barnes & Noble for a Dec. 1, 2012, publication.

Heather Means wrote "RPM Rockin' In The Free World," as a tribute to her husband, Ryan, after he died of cancer in 2009 ('RPM' stands for Ryan Patman Means, and one of his favorite songs, performed by Neil Young).

Ryan Means joined the U.S. Army after his best friend from childhood, . White was on the 105th floor of one of the World Trade Center buildings during the attacks.

Shortly after the attacks, Ryan wrote this entry into his journal: “First time writing since World Trade Center attacks. Adam was on floor 105 and certainly killed. I’ve now officially given up and simply ask that my best friend watch over me – as he always did.”

White grew up in Buckhead and Ryan, in Brookhaven. They met and became friends while attending Christ The King School in Buckhead.

After the attacks, Ryan left his six-figure Manhattan job to join the U.S. Army. He had Adam's initials tattooed on his rib cage, and took Young's "Rockin' In The Free World" as his anthem. In emails to home, Ryan signed, "R.P.M." and the song line.

While on leave from Special Forces training, Ryan met Heather, whom he later asked to marry. The couple would have two children: Elizabeth, now 4, and Sophie Ryan, age 3.

Ryan became a Green Beret, and served during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was stationed in Baghdad in May 2009 when he became ill. After being diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer, Ryan was flown back to the United States, first to Walter Reed Army Hospital and then to Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

Heather was pregrant with the couple's second child when news of her husband's illness arrived. Sophie Ryan was born while her father was in the hospital.

Ryan is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Ryan kept a handwritten journal following 9/11. which would become the basis for Heather's book.

"Ryan left us a handbook by which to live," she said. "We are forever grateful to have his words now that we can no longer have his embrace. He was a true American hero and I am honored to tell his story."

"R.P.M. Rockin' in the Free World" begins with this line: “Once in a while, right in the middle of ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale.”

And the final line of the book reads: “In the end, if everything is not okay-it is not the end.”

Portions of the book's proceeds will be donated to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

The Means family also hosts the 9/11 Victory Run each year in Chastain Park to honor, support and celebrate all veterans and civilian Americans who, they say, ultimately would ‘Keep on Rockin’” after the horrid events of 9/11.