Description: 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 a gifted historian and writer who taught and mentored generations of students.
Brief description: 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 Quotes:
Fighting the Cold War, which spans Galvin's life from youth to West Point to Vietnam to NATO command and beyond, is a free-roaming reflection on the events, people, and causes that made Gen. Galvin one of the key architects to the peaceful end of the Cold War. The fine balance between thinking and acting is one of the consistent themes in Fighting the Cold War. Whether dealing with the paperwork headaches in the 101st or disarmament talks with his Soviet counterparts, Gen. Galvin's memoir reveals an astute and self-reflective leader who grasped the many dimensions of senior command. The book offers ideas and examples of how to be an effective commander and staff officer at all levels, how to deal with foreign forces, and how to deal with profound change. As we prepare for an uncertain future, Fighting the Cold War provides insights on how to approach change thoughtfully, with emphasis on self-reflection, teamwork, and communication.
-- "Infantry"