Overview

"An insightful analysis of the US Army's conduct and development from the early 1960s to the 1990s. Gen. George Joulwan built his 36-year military career during one of the most tumultuous eras in US history - the 1960s. Raised in a small Pennsylvania coal mining town, Joulwan would be present at the rise and fall of the Berlin wall, fight in Vietnam, play a part in university debates on the Vietnam War, and command over twenty operations in the Balkans, Africa, and the Middle East. He ended his career as the supreme commander of NATO forces in Europe (SACEUR). In his memoir, Watchman at the Gates: A Soldier's Journey from Berlin to Bosnia, Gen. Joulwan chronicles his accomplished career in the upper echelons of the armed forces. A reflection on the US military's role in history at a time when moral leadership was regarded as paramount to America's global mission, Joulwan's memoir merges memory and lessons in leadership. He pays tribute to his teachers and colleagues and explains the significance of their influence on his personal approach to leadership. As a commander of combat troops in Vietnam, he appealed to his subordinates on a man-to-man basis, taking time to build relationships that proved vital to the unit's capability to execute their mission. He also reveals how similar relationships of mutual understanding were crucial in his peaceful and productive dealings with both allies and enemies. Watchman at the Gates is, as the author himself claims, a ""soldier's story."" Drawing upon firsthand experience and his time as a military history professor, Joulwan provides an insightful analysis of the Army's conduct and development from the early 1960s to the 1990s. AUTHOR: Gen. George Joulwan retired from the army in 1997 as a four-star general. His career spanned 36 years and included roles in some of the highest leadership positions in the armed forces. Joulwan also gained teaching experience at both the United States Military Academy and Loyola University, where he earned a master's in political science. 28 b/w photographs"

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9780813180847

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Reviews

A terrific book. Joulwan's exceptional memoir is not just a paean to his service, but touches upon many of the key issues of this forty-year period: the wrenching trauma of the Vietnam War and its aftermath, the role of the military in a democratic society, Watergate, the US Army in the Cold War, the war on drugs, and the role of NATO in the post-Cold War world. -- James Scott Wheeler, author of Jacob L. Devers: A General's Life Watchman at the Gates is a major contribution to American military history and a magnificent leadership primer. General Joulwan's narrative of his experiences at West Point, in the crucible of Vietnam, in the maelstrom of the Nixon White House, and in military positions from platoon leader through SACEUR provides profound insights for civilian and military readers alike. His account of events he helped to shape offers unique perspectives that clarify key moments of recent history and speak to today's challenges. -- Peter R. Mansoor, author of Baghdad at Sunrise: A Brigade Commander's War in Iraq Wonderfully done. The right tone, no puffery, a journey tracking the maturation of a statesman-general. -- Maj. Gen (ret) Mark Hamilton, former president, University of Alaska In this extraordinary chronicle drawn from decades of service, General George Joulwan lays bare insightful and crystal clear wisdom for today's leaders confronting the challenges of our time. Skillfully presented, Watchman at the Gates is a must read for all those committed to our nation's survival in the face of new challenges. -- General Jim Mattis, US Marines (ret.) and 26th Secretary of Defense Geostrategic leaders and thinkers need this book, so do all of us concerned with America's well-being. Gen. George Joulwan commanded American and NATO forces on the German border. He led a 60,000 person stong NATO army into Bosnia to stop the ethnic massacres there. Building alliances takes commitment and trust. That's what General Joulwan has done for 60 years, building trust with allies. America needs allies now more than ever. Watchman at the Gates is the playbook. -- LTG (ret.) Ben Hodges, former Supreme Allied Commander and current Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the Center for European Policy Analysis George Joulwan and I served together from the 1968 Chicago riots, through tours in Vietnam, the Cold War years, and the Gulf Wars in the Middle East. He was a wonderful leader in peace and war, with duty and experience at the tactical, operational, national and strategic levels. I found his judgement, keen insight, clear focus on mission, and leadership superb. He was, importantly, very much a teacher. As such, Watchman at the Gates is a splendid read for current and future military and political leaders, who must set the best conditions for success of the mission. -- General J.H. Binford Peay III, US Army (Retired), superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute and former Commander in Chief of the US Central Command

"""Retired Gen. George Joulwan's Watchman at the Gates: A Soldier's Journey from Berlin to Bosnia provides a compelling mix of history, memoir and cogent insight. It will be invaluable to anyone interested in the Army and its experiences through the last third of the 20th century. Beyond that, the book also speaks to issues and suggests solutions that remain strikingly relevant now, a generation later."" -- Association of the United States Army "" Watchman at the Gates is an incredible story of turbulent times and events where leadership, partnership, professionalism, discipline and decency combined to prevent conflict and restore peace. And General George Joulwan was at the helm. A SECDEF could not have asked for a more capable SACEUR."" -- William J. Perry, 19th US Secretary of Defense ""George Joulwan and I served together from the 1968 Chicago riots, through tours in Vietnam, the Cold War years, and the Gulf Wars in the Middle East. He was a wonderful leader in peace and war, with duty and experience at the tactical, operational, national and strategic levels. I found his judgement, keen insight, clear focus on mission, and leadership superb. He was, importantly, very much a teacher. As such, Watchman at the Gates is a splendid read for current and future military and political leaders, who must set the best conditions for success of the mission."" -- General J.H. Binford Peay III, US Army (Retired), superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute and former Commander in Chief of the US Central Command ""Geostrategic leaders and thinkers need this book, so do all of us concerned with America's well-being. Gen. George Joulwan commanded American and NATO forces on the German border. He led a 60,000 person stong NATO army into Bosnia to stop the ethnic massacres there. Building alliances takes commitment and trust. That's what General Joulwan has done for 60 years, building trust with allies. America needs allies now more than ever. Watchman at the Gates is the playbook."" -- LTG (ret.) Ben Hodges, former Supreme Allied Commander and current Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the Center for European Policy Analysis ""In this extraordinary chronicle drawn from decades of service, General George Joulwan lays bare insightful and crystal clear wisdom for today's leaders confronting the challenges of our time. Skillfully presented, Watchman at the Gates is a must read for all those committed to our nation's survival in the face of new challenges."" -- General Jim Mattis, US Marines (ret.) and 26th Secretary of Defense ""Wonderfully done. The right tone, no puffery, a journey tracking the maturation of a statesman-general."" -- Maj. Gen (ret) Mark Hamilton, former president, University of Alaska "" Watchman at the Gates is a major contribution to American military history and a magnificent leadership primer. General Joulwan's narrative of his experiences at West Point, in the crucible of Vietnam, in the maelstrom of the Nixon White House, and in military positions from platoon leader through SACEUR provides profound insights for civilian and military readers alike. His account of events he helped to shape offers unique perspectives that clarify key moments of recent history and speak to today's challenges."" -- Peter R. Mansoor, author of Baghdad at Sunrise: A Brigade Commander's War in Iraq ""A terrific book. Joulwan's exceptional memoir is not just a paean to his service, but touches upon many of the key issues of this forty-year period: the wrenching trauma of the Vietnam War and its aftermath, the role of the military in a democratic society, Watergate, the US Army in the Cold War, the war on drugs, and the role of NATO in the post-Cold War world."" -- James Scott Wheeler, author of Jacob L. Devers: A General's Life"

Author Information

General George Joulwan retired from the army in 1997 as a four-star general. His career spanned thirty-six years and included roles in some of the highest leadership positions in the armed forces. Joulwan also gained teaching experience at both the United States Military Academy and Loyola University. He lives in Arlington, Virginia. David Chanoff is the author and coauthor of numerous books and articles on foreign affairs and military history, including Warrior: The Autobiography of Ariel Sharon and The Line of Fire: From Washington to the Gulf, the Politics and Battles of the New Military. He lives in Somerville, Massachusetts.

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