I Will Follow You Anywhere -
The True Story of the 9/11 Responders who Took on Congress

by John Feal with Charles Daly
Foreword by Jon Stewart

The untold story of an American hero who proved that one person can turn trauma into heroic action—from the wounded construction worker who became a relentless champion of the 9/11 responders.

On September 11th, 2001, John Feal rushed to Ground Zero to assist with the recovery and cleanup in the aftermath of the terrorist attack. 96 hours later, his destiny was forged by steel when an 8,000-pound beam crushed his left foot. As he adjusted to a partial amputation and went broke paying medical bills, he watched his fellow responders suffer and die from cancer and other ailments caused by the dust in the air they were told was safe to breathe. 

Forgotten by a broken healthcare system and lawmakers who had promised to #NeverForget, Feal knew it was time to fight. 

Now, in I Will Follow You Anywhere, he shares his “recipe” for getting things done. Accompanied by stories from his fellow responders in their own words, Feal lays out his rogue approach to the ground game of representative government, empowering readers in all walks of life to take on the system and win.

While working to get the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund and healthcare bill passed, Feal caught the attention of comedian Jon Stewart, who joined the cause and became a valuable ally and dear friend. In 2019, Stewart’s testimony before Congress went viral, placing a much-needed spotlight on the frustration and grief of those long abandoned by their government—and the bill was finally signed into law. In the years since, Feal, Stewart, and his team have championed the PACT Act for veterans exposed to burn pits and lent their expertise to other worthy causes. 

John is now a “hired gun” for activists fighting to get legislation passed. With I Will Follow You Anywhere, he shares his hard-won wisdom and expert strategies that will enable underdogs everywhere to stand up against a mighty system. 

Press & Praise

“A true get-in-your-face New Yorker who doesn’t back down from a fight.”

—Spike Lee

"Blunt and relentless, I WILL FOLLOW YOU ANYWHERE is a story of loyalty, accountability, and courage that didn’t end when the dust settled."

–Jake Wood, co-founder of Team Rubicon and author of ONCE A WARRIOR

“John created a system never seen before that others can learn and use for their own causes.”
—Michael McAuliffe, NY Daily News & Daily Beast

About the authors

John FEAL

John Feal is a native New Yorker and Army veteran who worked as a demolition supervisor at Ground Zero until a disabling injury five days into the cleanup. He lobbied Congress to pass the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, which he subsequently fought to defend and expand in 2015 and 2019 with the help of dozens of his fellow 9/11 responders, post-9/11 illness survivors, and comedian Jon Stewart. He has since gone on to pass 19 pieces of legislation and is working on number 20. 

Through the FealGood Foundation, he continues to advocate for the health needs of first responders nationwide. A clip of his appearance on Fox News with Jon Stewart has gone viral. John has spoken at the 9/11 Memorial Museum, Princeton University, and Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. Vanity Fair has covered his story along with NPR, The Daily Beast, The Wall Street Journal, all major news networks and many local affiliates nationwide, and two documentaries. 

John is a Pat Tilman Foundation Honoree, a recipient of the New York State Liberty Award and the New York State Medal of Honor for Civilians, the Founder & Chairman of the 9/11 Responders Remembered Park, and a kidney donor.

Photo by Faye Murman

Charles DAly

Charles Daly is the co-author of Make Peace or Die: A Life of Service, Leadership, and Nightmares, which was featured on Jocko Podcast. He has worked as a developmental editor on bestselling military memoirs, including From Lawyer to Warrior and Civil: Life After the Foreign Legion. His work has appeared in The Boston Globe, We are the Mighty, Kōkatat, and Thought Catalog. He is drawn to stories of rogues, reluctant heroes, and true originals. 

Charlie lives in a cottage on the west coast of Ireland with his wife, a Swiss crime novelist, their baby boy, and a black cat. He serves as a maritime first responder on his local Lifeboat.