In this relatively brief memoir, Col. Johnson tells the story of his military career. He begins by discussing his roots in Arkansas and moves on through his enlistment in Vietnam, where he later received a direct commission to first lieutenant. He then moves on to other assignments, culminating with his command of Special Forces during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The book flows quickly and has a folksy style, as if the author were sitting down and telling readers his story. While there is no doubt that his service and contributions are very impressive, certain aspects of the book are awkward. Much of it seems like a collection of military tropes, like a 1980s-era Arnold Schwarzenegger film. The author makes some questionable claims but provides no evidence or citations. The mention of a feud with Tom Clancy and General Carl Stiner seems unnecessary. VERDICT While Johnson’s career is deserving of a deeper work with better treatment, the present work should appeal to fans of Cold War–era to present-day military memoirs.