American Soldier

by Tommy R. Franks and General Tommy R. Franks

Book Overview

To America, he was a hero. To his troops, he was a soldier. Now hear his story. Each new era in American history has given rise to a military leader who defines the nation's proudest traditions--of leadership and honor, of vision and commitment and courage in the face of any challenge. From Washington and U.S. Grant to Dwight D. Eisenhower and Norman Schwarzkopf, these men have captured the nation's imagination, and entered the small pantheon of

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060779543
• ISBN13: 9780060779542
• Release Date: April 2005
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 624 Pages
• Weight: 2.06 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

The One Most Important Book of the Year...

If you read one book this year...make it this one. I read a book every 2-3 days (between 120 and 150 books per year) and by far this has been the most heartwarming, educational and insightful book I have read in a very long time. General Franks has offered his insightful account of History at one of the major "creases" in American History. He has offered a historical perspective from one of the most important positions in America today.... A Commanding General with the job of defending America from brutal fanatics bent on our destruction. As a recently retired Air Force Officer and Fighter Pilot who participated in two conflicts for this country, I began reading this book with the feeling of "been there, done that". This book, however, goes well beyond just a detailed account of military actions or a simple autobiography. It is a detailed account of one Honorable soldiers view of America, our military and its leadership. In that respect, I have not read anymore touching accounts of sacrifice and honor as what are described within these pages. You will not read "self-serving" accounts of heroism by a hero who RIGHTFULLY won the Purple Heart, but rather human accounts about sacrifice and accountability. Written by a true American Hero. One who stood by our country, its principles, and its leaders. There are a few direct and honest criticisms of individuals by name, as well as "implied" references to individuals who did not best serve this country. However, if you are looking for a Bush or Clinton bashing book, you will not find it here. General Franks stands tall above petty blame games and instead focuses on successes and failures, why those failures may have occurred, and HIS solutions to some of those failures. You will find, contrary to the elite medias fabrications, that there are far fewer failures and many more successes than America is led to believe. You will NOT read a more accurate or detailed account of our actions in Afghanistan and Iraq, including the planning and the people behind the scenes, than can be gleaned from this book. I salute General Franks for his honorable service and commitment to our soldiers. The most memorable component of this book however, is not the story, but rather the storyteller. General Franks personifies what every American aspires to be in terms of Integrity, Honor, Duty, Sacrifice, and Commitment. A Great American Story, one that has earned a cherished place on my bookshelf. beullar...

a very good book by a very good officer

This book is a must read for anyone interested in getting a candid view of how America is fighting the War on Terror. Franks does a superb job outlining the strategic thinking of CENTCOM in planning the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, including the intelligence that had been gathered. A firm believer in speed and flexibility through "force mulitpliers" (drones, PGMs, SOF), as well as the value of truly joint operations, Franks offers civilians interested in military matters and those serving a glimpse of future American military doctrine. Franks also discusses the intelligence on Iraq leading up to the war. As theater commander Franks talked personally with many leaders in the region, ALL of which told him that not only did Saddam had WMD, but that he would use them in a war. No one else who has produced a book on the subject had this much access. Franks pulls few punches in AMERICAN SOLDIER, and he criticizes both the Clinton and Bush Administrations for what he perceived as pervasive arrogance on the part of some officials, including the now famous Richard Clarke. He also takes aim at America's depleted abilities to gather HUMINT (Human Intelligence), the Joint Chiefs (whose interference and constant jockeying for their Service to have more prominent roles in combat was a constant irritation), Pentagon leaks, and the media with it's taking head generals. All in all, most readers will be interested in the Third Part, which deals with his time as CENTCOM. The first two parts, however, are important if you want to understand why General Franks took such a different approach to war than did his predessors. And military buffs will find a few gems on strategy and generalship, as well as the diplomatic side of being a high ranking officer. General Franks spent nearly forty years in the U.S. Army, retiring in Aug. 2003 after declining to fill the vacant Army Chief of Staff position on the JCS. His insights are invaluable, and his fluid writing style makes them easy to spot and take in. I highly recommend this book!

A SOLDIER'S SOLDIER!

This is a great and informative read that gives a lot of perspective on the events that are currently shaping our world. Prior to Afghanistan and Irag I barely knew anything about General Franks, despite our family having heavy military ties. I feel like I know him a lot better now and am grateful for the long and dedicated service he gave to our country. I highly recommend this book!

Hard hitting, Concise, Excellent Insight

I started reading General Frank's book at 4:00 P.M. and did not put it down till 2:00 A.M. the next morning finished. A fascinating life story of a truly great professional warrior. The book clearly depicts the dedication and the professionalism of the American military. I believe the book could have been 1100 pages and still have been just as riveting. The General's description of the countless hours and meticulous care that went into the planning of military operations from Desert Storm to Operation Iraqi Freedom makes me appreciate the U.S. and Allied military forces even more than I did. I think his recounting of the facts as he knew them to be concerning WMD's in Iraq should but unfortunately probably will not silence the naysayers. I also found his narrative of the rebuilding of the morale and the professionalism of the U.S. Army following Vietnam of particular interest. A great work from an obviously very honest and sincere gentleman. Thank you Tommy Ray Franks.

American Soldier

Now here is a man that served his county well and gained the respect of every one that came close to him. A military man with class and did his job of Commander in Chief of the United States Central Command like it should be done. Growing up poor and not doing the best in school to being placed at the lead of his command makes this man a true leader of men. He tells of his life in Oklahoma and on to Texas to fighting in Vietnam and taking a few pieces of lead doing it. He knows what the word (Terrorism) means and what the united States fighting team is doing about it. I can't say enough about this book, its one every one should read if you really want to know what is going on in this fight that the United States is out to win. Larry Hobson- Author- "The Day Of The Rose"