December 3rd, 2008 Bouhammer
Back in July I was contacted by a book publishing company asking if I would be interested in doing a book review. They told me that I would be sent the book for free and all I had to do was read it and write a review on my blog. I have to say that I was very flattered and honored.
The book is titled Never Surrender: A Soldier’s Journey to the Crossroads of Faith and Freedom and was written by LTG (Ret) Jerry Boykin. The name sounded familiar, and after seeing that LTG Boykin spent most of his entire career in Special Operations community I called my dad. After talking to him, Dad said he had heard of him or may have worked with him a time or two. This information alone made me more interested and excited to read the book.
I started to read the book about a week after I received it, and once I started I could not put it down. I could not really figure out where I had heard LTG Boykin’s name until I read the First Chapter. I went to Wikipedia and searched on his name and then I was reminded of when he was in the news. The First Chapter starts off with him going to work at the Pentagon in 2003 and the firestorm that followed after he was appointed to a newly created position by then Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld. After the First Chapter, the book then takes the reader back to LTG Boykin’s boyhood and up-bringing. From the Second Chapter through the rest of the book it follows a chronological path through LTG Boykin’s life and career.
When you think of Special Operations, there are a few names that come to mind; Jerry Boykin, Pete Schoomaker, and Bo Gritz to name just a few. LTG Boykin was involved in every publicized ( I say publicized because I have no doubt he was involved with a few that were never went public) war, combat action, skirmish, etc. that our country has ever been involved with since 1979. He was on the ground in Iran at the scene of Desert One, in Grenada, Panama, Desert Storm, and the GWOT before he retired. He was also involved with our operations in Columbia which eventually led to the taking out of Pablo Escobar. He was one of the first officers, along with GEN (Ret) Pete Schoomaker, to try out for and be accepted into the ever-coveted and super-secret Delta Force. It was the stories from this time in his life that hooked me into the book.
I have never read or heard of such an honest and accurate account of what it is like to go through the Delta Force selection as I did in this book. Not only does the book describe what it was like to be selected, but what it was like to go through in the very first training class. These chapters not only put the reader into the mindset of how grueling this must have been, but they also give the history of Delta Force and how the concept, training, etc. came about. Through the entire book there is one theme that is evident; the crossroads he came to many times between his personal faith and the tasks that laid in front of him. LTG (Retired) Jerry Boykin is truly a God-fearing man. He has managed to stay as close to his walk with the Lord as he could while serving our country. I was as impressed by this as I was by his actions in the military on behalf of this country.
LTG Boykin takes the reader through every one of the combat actions mentioned above and he is not afraid to admit there were times when he was at his lowest and questioned God; as well as, times (usually still in his lowest) that he realized God was still there and allowing things to happen for a reason. He shares with the reader the times he falls to his knees in prayer, the times he wept and when he laughed in the worst of times. It was in reading some of these words that I had some self-realization myself. I realized that my walk with the Lord is not always what it should be and that I too need to do better on trying to stay honest in my faith. There are times when I think all hope is lost I should also and I also should just grab the bible and open it up to the chapter and verse that the Lord lays on my heart.
I went through the whole range of emotions reading this book. I honestly went from being in awe, then laughing, to crying and then back to being in awe again. It was the later chapters of this book that became an emotional journey for me, as he shares with the reader the operations in Somalia and Panama. It was the brutal honesty that he showed in the chapters about Somalia which caused me to have even more than 100% respect for the man. Ironically the controversy over his appointment in the Pentagon, the reason why he probably would never see a fourth star and why he was slandered in the very liberal and God-hating media all came from some of his actions in Somalia. Actions that were mis-reported, if not completely lied about.
This book is not only a book that can educate the reader on different combat actions in our country’s post-Vietnam history; it is also an education on Delta Force, the Special Operations Community, Leadership, Integrity, Ethics, and most importantly faith in one’s God. Whatever God that may be. It is not a book to glorify a person, but instead to provide an example on how to be an effective leader in today’s world. Not just a military leader either, any kind of leader.
As I was heading to Arkansas several weeks ago to visit my Grandmother, parents and other family I did my best to finish it before I got there. In fact I finished it on the flight from Detroit to Memphis. I did this so I could hand it to my Dad. I knew he would know a lot of the people in the book and I am convinced he will really like the book the way I did. Besides just knowing people or being able to relate to the tactics and techniques, I think he will like the message that is apparent throughout the entire book. In the end it is the message of this book is clear and strong, “That being the toughest of men, the most bravado of soldiers, and the true warriors of our great military must also look up to the Heavens for guidance and motivation in both the best and especially the worst of times.” This book is a must read for any military or history buff, or anyone desiring to be a better leader. It is also a must read for someone who desires to serve the Lord and is looking for an example to follow.
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