Hazardous Duty: An American Soldier in the Twentieth Century

by John K. Singlaub

Book Overview

From the front lines of World War II to behind the scenes in the Iran-Contra affair, Major General John K. Singlaub recounts 40 years in the military.

Mixing personal anecdotes with well-researched history and previously classified documents, John Singlaub's Hazardous Duty provides a unique look at the military, including the early days of the CIA.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671792296
• ISBN13: 9780671792299
• Release Date: September 1992
• Publisher: Summit
• Length: 576 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.2" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Good Reading, but troubling.

Reading the biography of John Singlaub is like reading a Clancy novel. The man is a patriot who laid it all on the line for his country time and time again. What troubles me is his distrust of Richard Secord and Oliver North, heros as well.

1st Rate Story about one hell of a Stud

A great story about a model Major General in todays world. If you want a great war story about the story of a Stand and Deliver Man. Then go no further! I actually felt sorry when the Clueless James Earl Carter went up against this bandsaw of a man!

A Powerful, Necessary book

I have read about two-thirds of this book and must stop to send copies to my friend and to my daughter. General Singlaub's experiences and insights show the pattern in all the seemingly unrelated events between WWII and Viet Nam (that's as far as I've gotten), events that affected us all. I have been angry, amazed, amused, impressed and proud as I've read this book. I agree with the other reviewer: this should be the text for a history class. General Singlaub's integrity and intelligence illuminate many issues that were hidden in the shadows.

...should be required reading in every school in the world.

I have just read this book and sent General Singlaub the following letter.Dear Jack, Under"Acknowledgements", you mention the "ill-fated John Saar background briefs", I believe Churchill would have referred to them as the beginning of your "finest hour". Without that encounter with John Saar, Washington Post reporter, our appreciation of you as the ultimate super military soldier would have never been revealed to the American people. You were magnificent and fearless. No one was able to intimidate you nor could they compel you to change your stance on the issues, not even the most powerful people in the land including, Jimmy Carter, the president of the United States. Your courage met all challenges with integrity and honor and truth even though you understood that your whole brilliant career was in the balance. You did not waver or waffle as other great warriors have done when faced with loss of pensions, future advancement, even death. Many came to their "moment of truth" and stumbled miserbly. Your action of heroic patriotismand dedication to duty can not be surpassed in the recorded annals of U.S.History. Holding firm to your beliefs and convictions, your dedication and patriotism took on heroic proportions and should, at the very least, lead to The Congressional Medal of Honor. "Hazardous Duty" should be required reading in every school and college in the land as well as in the world. Your reference in Part III to "No Parade" perfectly presents to the world why democracy really works and why totalitarian governments fail, i.e. Hilter, Mussolini, Stalin whose systems are motivated by fear with no fair representation.