Synopses & Reviews
A career in the U. S. Army in the second half of the twentieth century was a passageway to every conceivable locale, hospitable and decidedly otherwise. Henry Goles experiences lead the reader through the geography of one such career. The recollections of a professional soldier, Henry Goles account is a humorous and interesting tale of a man who loved soldiering but not necessarily the organization in which he soldiered. He feels the gratification of having served in the U. S. Army during an era when, personal doubts and political controversy notwithstanding, the world depended on America and its armed forces to preserve freedom. He offers the unique perspective of a member of the “silent generation,” those who immediately followed the World War II generation but find themselves often overlooked by historians and the media. From 1952 through 1988, covering the ordinary riflemans view in Korea to the Green Berets war in Vietnam, Gole also provides fascinating insight into the professional military at war and how these professionals relate to each other, both under great stress and during periods of decompression. Containing a wealth of leadership lessons that will serve as an invaluable guide for junior NCOs and officers alike, this thoughtful and introspective warrior has also written a moving tribute to the brave soldiers with whom he served.
Review
"An honest, forthright, even curmudgeonly soldier's memories across a turbulent, stirring half century."—Russell Weigley, author of The American Way of War
Review
"Colonel Gole is the real article . . . A dedicated, accomplished officer . . . A born storyteller. He writes with verve and clarity."—Allan R. Millett, Coauthor of A War to be Won: Fighting the Second World War
Review
"[Gole] chronicles his life and times with modesty and self-deprecating humor but also with a clear compassion for his fellow soldiers. He displays a keen insight into the organizational dynamics of the Army, an institution in which he takes a great deal of pride. . . . Gole has written an account of his service that will particularly resonate with those who soldiered in the period from the Korean War through Vietnam and its aftermath. Soldiering is accurately titled; it is about the essence of the profession of arms, at its core a profession of ordinary people performing heroically in extraordinary circumstances. The literature of the profession is enriched by the observations of this old soldier, observations that also have relevance for today's warrior."—On Point: The Journal of Army History
Review
"Gole . . . is a story-teller of note, an officer with extensive combat service and equipped with superb credentials as a writer and historian. . . . A modest man, he chronicles his life and times with modesty and self-deprecating humor, but also with a clear compassion for his fellow soldiers. He displays a keen insight into the organizational dynamics of the Army, an institution in which he takes a great deal of pride. . . . The literature of the profession is enriched by the observations of this old soldier, observations that have relevance for today's warrior."—Military Collector & Historian
Review
"The author provides a vivid portrayal of soldiering, honors a parade of deserving individuals, and adds more understanding of our Army operations during the third quarter of the last century. . . . A worthy addition to the Army library."—Parameters
Review
"Gole's strength lies in his portrayal of the soldier's view of events and the feel of matters at that point, which other writers might describe as where the rubber meets the road."—Army
Synopsis
- Presents an ode to brave American fighting men in the finest traditions of such books as We Were Soldiers Once . . . and Young
- Takes the reader behind the scenes on Special Forces operations in Cambodia and Laos
Synopsis
Takes the reader behind the scenes on Special Forces