Fighting the Cold War: A Soldier's Memoir(American Warriors)

When four-star general John Rogers Galvin retired from the US Army after forty-four years of distinguished service in 1992, the Washington Post hailed him as a man "without peer among living generals." In Fighting the Cold War: A Soldier's Memoir, the celebrated soldier, scholar, and statesman recounts his active participation in more than sixty years of international history -- from the onset of World War II through the fall of the Berlin Wall and the post--Cold War era. Galvin's illustrious tenure included the rare opportunity to lead two different Department of Defense unified commands: United States Southern Command in Panama from 1985 to 1987 and United States European Command from 1987 to 1992. In his memoir, he recounts fascinating behind-the-scenes anecdotes about his interactions with world leaders, describing encounters such as his experience of watching President Jose Napoleon Duarte argue eloquently against US intervention in El Salvador; a private conversation with Pope John Paul II in which the pontiff spoke to him about what it means to be a man of peace; and his discussion with General William Westmoreland about soldiers' conduct in the jungles of Vietnam and Cambodia. In addition, Galvin recalls his complex negotiations with a number of often difficult foreign heads of state, including Manuel Noriega, Augusto Pinochet, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Ratko Mladi . As NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe during the tumultuous five years that ended the Cold War, Galvin played a key role in shaping a new era. "Fighting the Cold War "illuminates his leadership and service as one of America's premier soldier-statesmen, revealing him to be not only a brilliant strategist and consummate diplomat but also a gifted historian and writer who taught and mentored generations of students."

About the Author :
General John R. Galvin, USA (Ret.), was dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and is the author of "The Minute Men: The First Fight: Myths and Realities of the American Revolution" "; " "Air Assault: the Development of Airmobile Warfare" ";" and "Three Men of Boston: Leadership and Conflict at the Start of the American Revolution." He has received numerous awards, including the Legion of Merit and the Army Distinguished Service Medal.

Review :
"Galvin played a vital role in the Cold War, and his experiences spanned much of America's history from the 1960s to the 1990s--from Vietnam to Central America to Europe. In "Fighting the Cold War" he tells this important story with style and verve." -- Lawrence S. Kaplan, author of "The Conversion of Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg: From Isolation to International Engagment" "The Cold War could not have been won, nor ended so peacefully, without individuals like Jack Galvin manning the front lines. "Fighting the Cold War" is a thoughtful record of service by a distinguished leader in a tumultuous period." -- Henry Kissinger "Widely respected as a soldier, scholar, and statesman--who stood out in his generation as a brilliant strategic thinker--General Jack Galvin was also a voracious reader with a wonderfully inquiring mind and a keen intellect. The joy he takes in observing, commenting, and writing--with a wry sense of humor--on an extraordinary range of experiences emerges wonderfully in the pages of this book. "Fighting the Cold War" thus is an exceptional commentary not only on General Galvin's life and times, but also on timeless issues like leadership, strategic thinking, family, and relationships." -- General David H. Petraeus, USA (Ret.), from the foreword