‘Friendly Fire’ author dies

‘Friendly Fire’ author dies

HARTFORD, Conn. — C.D.B. Bryan, whose 1976 book “Friendly Fire” about the accidental death of a soldier in Vietnam struck a chord with a disillusioned America, has died at his Connecticut home.

His wife, Mairi, says he died Tuesday of cancer at 73 at their home in Guilford. She says he was holding one of his iconic shaken martinis when he died.

Bryan wrote extensively for magazines and other outlets over the decades but was best known for “Friendly Fire.”

The book chronicled the death of Iowa soldier Michael Eugene Mullen, his parents’ doubts about the Army’s official account and his mother’s transformation into an anti-war activist.

It was adapted into an Emmy-winning television movie.

Today’s birthdays

Country singer Little Jimmy Dickens is 89. Actress Cicely Tyson is 76. Singer Maurice White of Earth, Wind and Fire is 68. Actor Tim Reid is 65. Singer Alvin Lee of Ten Years After is 65. Musician John McEuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is 64. Actress Elaine Joyce is 64. Country singer Janie Fricke is 62. Actor Mike Lookinland (“The Brady Bunch”) is 49. Actress Jennifer Beals is 46. Actor Scott Cohen (“Gilmore Girls”) is 45. Actor Robert MacNaughton (“E.T.”) is 43. Magician Criss Angel is 42. Actress Kristy Swanson is 40. Model Tyson Beckford is 39. Actress Alyssa Milano is 37. Actor Jake Gyllenhaal is 29. Actress Marla Sokoloff (“The Practice”) is 29. Rapper Lady Sovereign is 24.