A Father’s Journal.
LESSONS ON LOVE, LEADERSHIP, AND WAR.
In 1990, Major Mark Hertling began a journal for the sons he feared he might never see again. Decades later, those private entries have become a profound meditation on service, leadership, and the enduring values of the American soldier.
“A timeless tale of life as a soldier, a father, and a wartime leader... storytelling at its finest!”
— Admiral William H. McRaven, US Navy (Retired)
About Mark Hertling
Lieutenant General (Retired) Mark Hertling’s 38-year military career spanned from tactical command as a tanker and cavalry officer to strategic leadership as the Commander of U.S. Army Europe. A veteran of three combat tours—including Desert Storm and the Iraq Surge—Hertling has spent a lifetime leading in the world’s most challenging environments.
Beyond the battlefield, Hertling is a Doctor of Business Administration, a Professor of Practice in Strategic Leadership, and a national security analyst for various media outlets. He currently writes for The Bulwark and co-hosts the "Command Post" podcast. His latest book, If I Don’t Return, features the private journals he wrote to his young sons while stationed in the desert in 1990. Hertling has been married to his wife, Sue, for over 50 years; they are the proud parents of two sons and grandparents to seven.