Warfighter: The Story of an American Fighting Man

by Jesse L. Johnson, Alex Holstein (Editor)

Overview

In Warfighter, Colonel Jesse L. Johnson, one of the most decorated living American veterans, recounts the action-packed true-life tale of a man who stood and fought at the crossroads of history. Spanning forty years of conflict, from the jungles of Vietnam to the deserts of Iran and Iraq, never has a modern military memoir covered such a vast landscape of all-out warfare. Never has one man fought on the frontlines of so many of America’s most heroic battles. Johnson led the most elite forces on operations that defined eras past and present, mentoring young soldiers who would rise to become some of America’s greatest generals. He held the ear of princes, kings, presidents, and even Hollywood movie stars. With an all-star cast worthy of an epic war film, this extraordinary hero’s journey sheds new light on some of the most transformative events of our time—crises, conflicts and covert operations that have shaped the world as we know it today. More important, Warfighter offers us a deeper understanding of the personal sacrifice and human toll of a lifetime at war, and the honor-bound code of a man whose instinct in battle was to always charge ahead of those under his command—into the fight.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781493065561
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	05/25/2022
Pages:	264
Sales rank:	521,827
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Colonel Jesse L. Johnson is one of the most highly decorated combat veterans living today—the man General H. Norman Schwarzkopf called “an unsung hero of the Gulf War.” Having spent the majority of his four-decade career in Special Forces, Delta Force, and the most legendary units of both the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, Colonel Johnson holds more awards for valor than any other special operator or covert commander in the United States Armed Forces, with the exception of the few that hold the Medal of Honor. His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross; the Defense Distinguished Service Medal; three Silver Stars; four Bronze Stars (two with “V” device); two awards of the Legion of Merit; the Soldier’s Medal; the Army Commendation Medal (with “V” device); three Purple Hearts; and the Gold Medallion and Seal from the Central Intelligence Agency. He lives in Valrico, FL. Alex Holstein is a writer, producer, and military affairs analyst who has developed several factual and dramatic series with prominent film and television production houses in Canada and the United States. He received a BA in Theatre from the University of Southern California, and an MSc in Russian and Post-Soviet Studies from the London School of Economics, where he wrote his thesis on the Soviet KGB. He lives between Toronto, Canada, and West Palm Beach, Florida.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Principal Participants xiii

Prologue: My Enemy xix

Part I Airmobile

1 Gung-Ho NCO 3

2 Happy Valley Blues 19

3 Fog of War 33

4 A Long Way from Pocahontas 41

5 Crazy Horse 49

Part II Soldier-Charlie-Six

6 False Flag 57

7 The Righteous Side 67

8 Jackpot 77

9 Crossover Point 83

10 Next of Kin 93

11 Initial Contact 99

12 Mr. Smith Goes to Vietnam 103

Part III The Calling

13 What Charlie Wants, Charlie Gets … 111

14 Eagle Claw 121

15 Desert One 131

16 Hot Wash 145

17 Brigate Rosse 151

Part IV Into the Storm

18 Internal Look 169

19 Snowflakes in the Desert 175

20 Back to Saigon 185

21 Resistance 189

22 Task Force Normandy 195

23 The Mother of all Battles 201

24 Liberation Day 207

Epilogue: Route Irish 213

Index 215

Editorial Reviews

Jesse Johnson was a hero to me when I worked for him as a young airborne Lieutenant, and he remains a hero to me and countless others some 45 years later. His incredible courage on multiple battlefields, his inspirational leadership, his sacrifice over many decades, and his genuine love for soldiers and soldiering make his story a timeless one, as relevant and inspiring today as it was at each juncture along the way – including when I was privileged to serve under him.” —General David Petraeus, US Army (Ret.) Fmr. Commander, International Security Assistance Force Fmr. Commander, US Central Command Fmr. Director of the CIA “It is imperative that all Americans read Colonel Jesse Johnson’s story. At a time when fiction, fantasy, and facade too often displace actual accomplishments, courage, and character, we should recognize the authentic heroes among us. I served with Colonel Johnson for more than four decades, in both peace and war, and there is no doubt that he is the real deal. Jesse Johnson’s life’s journey transcends decades of American conflict, our own national development, and societal transformation. His life is a history lesson in and of itself. I am proud to know Jesse Johnson as a brother in arms and as a friend.” —General Peter J. Schoomaker US Army (Ret.) Fmr. Commander in Chief, US Special Operations Command Fmr. Chief of Staff, US Army “Colonel Jesse L. Johnson is a warrior's warrior. For over 40 years from Vietnam to Iraq, from the 1st Cavalry Division to the Delta Force, Johnson was there standing tall and doing his duty. WARFIGHTER recounts his stories from start to finish and is a real page turner. Compelling work.” —Joseph L. Galloway, co-author of We Were Soldiers Once...and Young "A gut-punch of a memoir. Part thriller bouncing from the jungles of Southeast Asia to the sands of the Persian Gulf, part gripping history of America's wars - overt and covert - since Vietnam, this timeless story of duty, honor, and sacrifice is a testament to the power of the American soldier and a reminder of the debt owed to those who serve at the tip of the spear. In the finest tradition of war memoirs, Warfighter depicts with razor-sharp clarity the horrors and heroism of combat through the eyes of those who experienced it."—David McCloskey, Former CIA officer and critically acclaimed author of Damascus Station  “My late husband, General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, always displayed the utmost respect for Colonel Jesse L. Johnson, as both a fellow Vietnam veteran and as his special operations commander during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.  It is no surprise to me that in his own book, It Doesn’t Take Hero, he referred to Colonel Johnson as ‘an unsung hero’ of the Gulf War.  Warfighter superbly depicts the personal and professional bond that developed between them as two veterans dedicated to fighting for their country while protecting the brave young soldiers under their command.”—Mrs. Brenda Schwarzkopf

"The book flows quickly and has a folksy style, as if the author were sitting down and telling readers his story...[Warfighter] should appeal to fans of Cold War–era to present-day military memoirs." -Library Journal

"[Warfighter] should appeal to fans of Cold War-era to present-day military memoirs."-Library Journal

“A stirring, highly readable and satisfying work…a superb book tracing the life of a modern-day warrior—in other words, the quintessential American story of an ordinary person doing extraordinary things.”—Army Magazine

“After racing through the book’s 264 action-packed pages, the reader will get to know an extraordinary American warfighter. Johnson’s memoir covers his four-decade-long service to his country and makes fora compelling and well-told story. I highly recommend this book written by the ultimate combat insider–one of the most-decorated US soldiers of all time.” -Military Writers Society of America

From the Publisher

04/02/2022

In this relatively brief memoir, Col. Johnson tells the story of his military career. He begins by discussing his roots in Arkansas and moves on through his enlistment in Vietnam, where he later received a direct commission to first lieutenant. He then moves on to other assignments, culminating with his command of Special Forces during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The book flows quickly and has a folksy style, as if the author were sitting down and telling readers his story. While there is no doubt that his service and contributions are very impressive, certain aspects of the book are awkward. Much of it seems like a collection of military tropes, like a 1980s-era Arnold Schwarzenegger film. The author makes some questionable claims but provides no evidence or citations. The mention of a feud with Tom Clancy and General Carl Stiner seems unnecessary. VERDICT While Johnson's career is deserving of a deeper work with better treatment, the present work should appeal to fans of Cold War-era to present-day military memoirs.—Matthew Wayman

Library Journal