The first officer I came to respect as a "role model" was Colonel Jim Bartholomees, the rock-solid Commander of the 3rd Special Forces Group. I joined the 3rd SFG as a captain in July 1964, when it was forming as part of President Kennedy's Special Forces buildup. Colonel Bartholomees knew how to get the most out of people, while "taking care of them" in the process. He created a command environment that provided the latitude and encouragement for subordinates to use their own initiatives and abilitics. I never heard him raise his voice or belittle anyone.
In the years ahead I worked for several other outstanding leaders — each with maybe a little different leadership style; yet all were role models, and worthy of emulation and application to my own leadership style and abilities. A leader should never try to be something — or choose a style-that he is not. He should take from the gifts of his teachers / mentors and apply them to his own abilities.
To the following men, in the positions they held then, I owe more than words can say:
GENERAL ROSCOE ROBINSON: My brigade commander, 82nd Airborne Division
GENERAL GEORGE BLANCHARD: Commanding General, 82nd Airborne Division
GENERAL EDWARD C. (SHY) MEYER: ADCO, 82nd Airborne Division; Chief of Staff, U.S. Army
GENERAL FREDERICK KROESEN: Commanding General, 82nd Airhorne Division
LIEUTENANT GENERAL DICK LAWRENCE: Project Manager, Saudi Arabian National Guard Modernization Program
GENERAL BILL LIVSEY: Commanding General, U.S. Army Infantry Center
GENERAL P. X. KELLEY: Commander, Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force
GENERAL BOB KINGSTON: Commander in Chief, U.S. Central Command
GENERAL Jim LINDSAY: Commanding General, 82nd Airborne Division; Commanding General, XVIII Airborne Corps; Commander in Chief, U.S. Special Operations Command
GENERAL JOHN Foss: Commanding General, XVIII Airborne Corps
GENERAL CARL VUONO: Chief of Staff, U.S. Army
GENERAL JACK VESSEY: Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
AMBASSADOR DONALD RUMSFELD: President's Special Envoy for Middle East Affairs
GENERAL COLIN POWELL: Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
Over the last decade, the services have greatly improved their education systems by taking advantage of the talents and experience of the likes of those above — making them "senior mentors in intermediate and senior-level service schools. Their talents are also used in the CAPSTONE Course and in senior-level joint warfighting exercises.
As I said at the beginning, I do not know of any institution that puts more into the training of its leaders, or any institution that produces better leaders. This is only fitting, considering that the responsibility for preserving our freedom rests squarely on the shoulders of our armed forces. It is indeed a most worthy and essential national investment.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks to all the people of the SOF, who have performed such magnificent feats over the years, and whose work, in this age of new warfare, is far from done. Thanks especially to Carl Stiner, a quiet hero if there ever was one, and a man you definitely want on your side.
— Tom Clancy
This book would not have been possible without the help of many great people, and to them I owe so much. Above all, to Tom Clancy, a great American and longtime friend, for making the opportunity possible to tell this story. To Neil Nvren, editor extraordinaire, for keeping us on track and focused on the end-state objective throughout the process. To Tony Koltz, for whom I have the greatest respect as a friend and professional; he showed patience and perseverance in producing the information needed by knowing what questions to ask. Without his writing and editorial skills, this book would not have been possible. To Marty Greenberg, for his advice, counsel, and assistance. To our original agent at William Morris, Robert Gottlieb, for all his help in bringing the book to fruition.
Writing this book has been a demanding challenge, lasting almost two years… and not just for me — trying to remember all the details and put them in context — but for my wife, Sue, who has typed and retypcd so much material many times over. Without her help day and night, we would never have made it. I also thank my daughters, Carla and Laurie, for their encouragement and help. In the midst of all the demands of this period, there was a miraculous happening, the birth of our first grandchild — Jackson Wade Reel, a gift from the divine power that gives life and sustains us every day.
These people were also helpful in the development of the book:
MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS
Bigadier General FrankAkers, USA (Ret.)
Lieutenant General Clay Bailey, USAF
CW4 Richard "Bulldog" Balwanz, USA (Ret.)
Lieutenant General Mark Cisneros, USA (Ret.)
Lieutenant Colonel Daniel D. Devlin, USA (Ret.)
Jim DeFelice
Colonel (P) John DeFritas, USA
General Wayne Downing, USA (Ret.)
Colonel Stan Florer, USA
Rudi Gresham
Major General James A. Guest, USA (Ret.)
Colonel Michael R. Kershner, USA
Colonel Chris Krueger, USA
Colonel Tony Normand, USA (Ret.)
Dr. John Partin, USSOCOM Command Historian
Colonel David B. Plummer II, USA (Ret.)
Major General Richard Potter, USA (Ret.)
Major General Richard A. Scholtes, USA (Ret.)
General Peter J. Schoomaker, USA (Ret.)
Lieutenant Colonel Bill Shaw, USA
Colonel Joseph R. Simino, USA (Ret.)
Major General John K. Singlaub, USA (Ret.)
Captain W. R. Spearman, USN (Ret.)
Lieutenant General William Yarborough, USA (Ret.)
BACKGROUND BRIEFINGS
Brigadier General Heinie Aderholt, USAF (Ret.)
Master Sergeant Sandy Atkinson, USAF
Brigadier General Michael W. Reasley, USA
Major General Ken Bowra, USA
Major General Jerry Boykin, USA
Master Sergeant Chris Crane, USA (Ret.)
Master Sergeant Jimmy Dean, USA (Ret.)
Lieutenant Colonel Francis Gabreski, USAF
Lieutenant Colonel Tony Gies, USA (Ret.)
Randy Gingrich
George Grimes, USSOCOM Public Affairs
Command Sergeant Major Jim Hargraves, USA (Ret.)
Lieutenant Colonel Charles Judge, USA (Ret.)
Lieutenant Colonel David W. Kinder, USA (Ret.)
Jerome Klingaman
Staff Sergeant Andy Kublik, USAF
Command Sergeant Major Joe Lupyah, USA (Ret.)
Herbert A. Mason, AFSOC Command Historian
Clay T. McCutchan, AFSOC Assistant Command Historian
Colonel Lee Mize, USA (Ret.)
Major Paul A. Ott, USA
Command Sergeant Major Paul Payne, USA (Ret.)
Colonel Kenneth Poole, USAF
Major Jon Peck, USAF
Major General Richard V. Secord, USAF (Ret.)
Major General Sidney Shacknow, USA (Ret.)
Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Smith, USA
Major Dave Snider, USA
Lieutenant General Michael Spigelmirc, USA (Ret.)
Brigadier General Joe Stringham, USA (Ret.)
Lieutenant General William Tangney, USA
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Trask, USAF
Senior Master Sergeant William Waiter, USAF
— General Carl Stiner (Ret.)