If I Dont Return – Mark Hertling

The land was broken by occasional small desert escarpments and low plateaus that led to wadis—nothing dramatic, not flat like we had experienced so far, and enough to mask movement in places. What struck me most was the absence of life. Not a single Bedouin tent, no herds, no dogs trotting after trucks. It was as if the land itself had held its breath, anticipating our invasion. The berm loomed across the horizon as we approached, a man-made ridge of earth, maybe twelve to fifteen feet high, stretching beyond the horizon in both directions.

On the Iraqi side was a parallel berm, forming a narrow trough between them. We later learned that in the 1st Infantry Division’s sector of attack, the ravine between the berms would be filled with diesel and set on fire. 1st ID soldiers smartly let it burn off before crossing.

But in our area, there was no defense. Guard towers were spaced at regular intervals, but there were no guards. We couldn’t see any indications of minefields on either side of the border. And there were no tank ditches, but even if there were, the plows that would break down the berms would fill them up.

All this could mean the Iraqis had pulled back to stronger defensive positions, that they were setting the stage for something we hadn’t anticipated, or they just didn’t expect us to be this far west. No matter, the berms would need to be breached and then traversed with speed, coordination, and a clear plan for what came after. Breaching, at the corps and division level, is one of the most choreographed forms of combat. It’s not just a matter of cutting a hole in an obstacle.

The breach must be secured, kept open, and fed with a constant flow of combat power without creating a traffic jam that strands forces in a kill zone that any good enemy would emplace behind an obstacle. Engineers lead the way—dozers, mine plows, and explosive line charges fired from what the army calls a “MICLIC”— and artillery suppresses any enemy who can fire on the breach site with both smoke and artillery.

Once lanes are cleared and marked, the assault forces—that would be us—surge through, fanning out into their designated sectors to counter any hasty enemy defense. It’s an operation where knowledge of the terrain is imperative, understanding of the enemy you’re up against is critical, and timing is everything.

Lose momentum, and you risk turning the breach into a choke point that invites artillery, air strikes, or a counterattack. A killing zone.

“Every great story rests on character, and General Mark Hertling’s character leaps from these pages. With a novelist’s eye for detail and a soldier’s honesty, he brings to life the realities of war and the timeless questions of love, family, and duty. This is storytelling at its finest—personal, powerful, real, and profoundly human. This is a book everyone should read.” —Daniel Silva, New York Times best-selling author “There are no thoughts more profound than the thoughts you have with yourself if you think they may be your last.

In this remarkable book, Mark Hertling shares those thoughts with you. This decorated soldier, national security expert, doctor of business administration, and professor of leadership reflects—and encourages you to join him in reflecting—on what’s really important in life; in relationships; in leadership; as individuals, families, and teams; and as a country.

If I Don’t Return is a timely and compelling story about hope. If that’s something you need, read this book first.” —General (Retired) Martin E. Dempsey, eighteenth chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff “As a division commander during Desert Storm, I saw firsthand the challenges young leaders faced as they prepared for battle. Mark Hertling’s book brings that era back to life with honesty, humility, and extraordinary detail about lessons from both life and combat. This book captures the experience of war and the enduring values of leadership and character that define the American soldier, and it’s a must-read for those who want to know more about our military.”

—General Barry McCaffrey, former 24th Infantry Division commander during Desert Storm, retired four- star general, and chief military analyst at MSNBC “If I Don’t Return is the story every soldier wants to tell but struggles to put into words. Deeply personal, incredibly moving, and storytelling at its finest! Mark Hertling has written a timeless tale of life as a soldier, a father, and a wartime leader, but this book is about more than combat—it is about how we face life’s greatest challenges with faith, wisdom, and gratitude.

Everyone who is searching will find something of value in this beautifully written narrative.” —Admiral William H. McRaven, US Navy (retired), former commander of US Special Operations Command, former chancellor of The University of Texas System “Mark Hertling is a natural storyteller. As my dear friend and colleague at CNN, he helped viewers make sense of military operations with clarity and compassion. In this book, he does something even more profound: He opens his private journal to show us the fears, hopes, and lessons of a soldier and a father.

This book is moving, accessible, and unforgettable.” —Jamie Gangel, CNN special correspondent, Edward R. Murrow Award recipient “At a precarious moment for our nation, its military, and the world, Mark Hertling has provided an important and captivating book on combat, values, and leadership.

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.

Book Information

• Unique ID: f07851dbe8366c86
• File Extension: .pdf
• File Size: 8,589,077 bytes (8.191 MB)
• Title: –
• Author: Unknown
• ISBN: 9781966786726, 9781966786733
• Pages: 292
• Language: English (en)

Reading & Word Statistics

• Estimated Reading Time: 511.0 minutes
• Total Words: 102,200
• Total Characters: 595,026
• Average Words per Page: 350.0
• Average Characters per Page: 2037.76

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