Brothers of the Five O Deuce: A Screenplay
Based on a true story of two brothers who deploy together to the Iraq War, enduring combat as one unit, and discovering that surviving the battlefield does not prepare them for the cost of coming home.
Brothers of the Five O Deuce
Our Story
A Powerful Screenplay
Brothers of the Five O Deuce is a true story set during the Iraq War, following brothers Matthew and Jeff Nancarrow who deploy together in the same unit despite military policy meant to keep siblings apart. As combat intensifies, Matthew grows hardened by war, while Jeff carries a quieter emotional burden. Both men begin to unravel in different ways, shaped by wounds seen and unseen.
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After suffering devastating losses in Mosul, the brothers return home changed in different ways. Their attempt to reclaim normal life exposes the lasting cost of war, leading to a tragic loss that forever reshapes Matthew’s understanding of survival, responsibility, and memory.
Brothers of the Five O Deuce is a deeply personal war drama about brotherhood, service, and the unseen aftermath of combat.
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Writer Statement - Andrew Koponen
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Brothers of the Five O Deuce is a true story developed through years of conversation and collaboration with Matthew Nancarrow, whose lived experience forms the foundation of this screenplay. At its core, this film is not about combat, but about brotherhood, responsibility, and the quiet weight carried home after the war ends.
I was drawn to this story because it explores how two brothers can endure the same war and return fundamentally changed in different ways. Matthew’s journey is one of survival and accountability, learning the difference between what we believe we need to endure and what we truly need to heal. Jeff’s story reflects a more silent struggle, one that many veterans face but rarely articulate.
This screenplay was written with deep respect for those who served and the families who live with the long aftermath of war. It is my hope that Brothers of the Five O Deuce honors all veterans, those who returned changed, and those who did not make it home.
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Writer Statement - Matthew Nancarrow
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Brothers of the Five O Deuce is my story, but it’s also the story of my brother, my platoon, and a time in our lives that never really ends. I didn’t set out to write a screenplay. For years, I just carried these memories with me, like most veterans do, trying to live a normal life while holding onto things that never quite let go.
This story exists because of brotherhood. My brother Jeff and I went to war together, and that bond shaped everything that followed, both during combat and after we came home. War doesn’t affect everyone the same way, even when they stand side by side. Some wounds are obvious. Others stay hidden until it’s too late.
Working on this screenplay has been a way to tell the truth, not just about what happened in Iraq, but about what happens afterward. About loyalty, guilt, responsibility, and the things we don’t always know how to say to the people we love. This story is for those who served, for their families, and for anyone who has tried to find their way back after losing someone they couldn’t save.
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Writer Biography - Andrew Koponen
​​Andrew Koponen was born in 1971 to parents Brian and Mickie Koponen. He was raised and educated in Livermore, California. An accomplished wrestler throughout high school and college, he went on to take the Bronze Medal at the 1990 United States Olympic Festival, and earned two additional All-American honors at the Greco-Roman Nationals. A military veteran himself, Andrew deployed to Kuwait in 2002 during the war in Afghanistan. Andrew accomplished his dream of becoming a police officer for Oakland, California; though after 8 years, he left the department due to the strain of police work. He has since dedicated 20 years as a peer counselor for current emergency responders struggling with PTSD. He possesses a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, a master’s degree in Education, and a second master's degree from the University of Southern California in Emergency Management.
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Writer Biography - Matthew Nancarrow
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Matthew Nancarrow was born in 1984 to parents David and Paula. He grew up between Santa Barbara, California and Paonia, Colorado, spending much of his childhood adventuring and traveling, largely unaware of the realities of the world. At just 17 years old, the events of 9/11 shattered that innocence. His older brother, Jeffrey, joined the 101st Airborne shortly after the attacks, and Matthew followed, enlisting in the U.S. Army on September 11, 2002.
Both brothers were assigned to the 502nd Infantry Regiment and deployed during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. After returning home, Matthew became an online business founder and later worked within his family’s company. Following the withdrawal from Iraq in 2012 and the profound losses it left behind, he dedicated himself to supporting fellow veterans.
Matthew currently serves as Commissioner and Chair of the 1st District Santa Barbara County Veterans Advisory Commission. Writing has become a way for him to come to terms with what was, what was lost, and what remains.
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