History and war are cruel pedants. Those who know too little of the former are likely to have too much of the latter.

I think as a rifle platoon and company commander your view is about 1,000 meters in front of you and you hope you can cover that ground and not have to back up and give it up again.

I would have promised those terrorists a trip to Disneyland if it would have gotten the hostages released. I thank God they were satisfied with the missiles and we didn't have to go to that extreme.

Heroes aren't athletes who set new sports records, or Hollywood actors who make 'daring' films or politicians who make bold promises. Heroes are people who place themselves at risk for the benefit of others.

We don't need a head of state who guts our defenses and draws phony red lines with a pink crayon.

God knows, we don't want prayer.

I haven't, in the 23 years that I have been in the uniformed services of the United States of America, ever violated an order - not one.