FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: LTG William Gerald (Jerry) Boykin~ February 6, 2012

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

LTG Gerald (Jerry) Boykin

Info from here.

           

Lieutenant General William G. Boykin (retired) was the United States Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence. He has played a role in almost every recent major American military operation, serving in Grenada, Somalia, and Iraq. He is currently an author and teaches at Hampden-Sydney College, Virginia.

William G. "Jerry" Boykin was born in New Bern, North Carolina. He graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) with a bachelor’s degree in English in 1971.

In 1971 Boykin was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Infantry. He later held positions within the 2nd Armored Division, 101st Airborne Division, and served as a company commander in the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized).

From 1978-1993 Boykin was assigned in various capacities to Delta Force. Lt. Col. L.H. "Bucky" Burruss, helping with Delta Force selection at the time, recalled that Boykin "had a bad knee and I thought he would never make it.... I thought, I hate to see this guy busting his [butt], I don't see how he can make it on this bad road wheel, but he surprised us." In fact, a Fort Bragg psychologist almost ended Boykin's career, wanting to exclude him from the Delta Force because he was "too religious". However, he was finally accepted into the Delta Force at the age of 29. Burruss wrote at the time that "Jerry Boykin is a Christian gentleman of the highest order." Boykin believed God had a hand in things: "God led me into the Delta Force.... And He said to me, 'This is where you ought to be.'"

By 1980 he was the Delta Force operations officer on the April 24–25 Iranian hostage rescue attempt. Boykin called it "the greatest disappointment of my professional career because we didn't bring home 53 Americans." Despite this, his "faith was strengthened" believing he had witnessed "a miracle": "Not one man who stood with us in the desert and pleaded for God to go with us was killed or even injured that night."

In October 1983, Maj. Boykin worked as an operations officer during Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada. During a dawn assault to free some Grenada government officials held by the Marxist People's Revolutionary Army, Boykin was shot in the arm with a .50 caliber round, splitting the bone completely in two. He was told he would never use it again, but his arm healed, which Boykin again believed God was responsible for.

In 1989, Boykin was in Panama as part of the mission to apprehend Manuel Noriega.

From 1990 to 1991 he was at the Army War College. In 1992 and early 1993, as a colonel, Boykin was in Colombia leading a mission to hunt for drug lord Pablo Escobar. Seymour Hersh later claimed in The New Yorker that there were suspicions within the Pentagon that Boykin's team was going to take part in the assassination of Pablo Escobar, and that US Embassy officials in Colombia were acting as support. Hersh refers to Mark Bowden's book Killing Pablo which made allegations that the Pentagon believed Boykin intended to break the law and exceed his authority in the operation. Mark Bowden states that “within the special ops community... Pablo's death was regarded as a successful mission for Delta, and legend has it that its operators were in on the kill.” Hersh quotes an anonymous retired army general as saying, “That's what those guys did. I've seen pictures of Escobar's body that you don’t get from a long-range telescope lens. They were taken by guys on the assault team.”

In April 1993, he helped advise Attorney General Janet Reno regarding the stand-off at Waco, Texas, between the Federal Government and the Branch Davidians.

In October 1993, Colonel Boykin was in command of the Delta Force tracking down militia leader Mohamed Farrah Aidid in Somalia, during which time the infamous Battle of Mogadishu took place. Boykin recalled seeing a truck pull up to the US base near Mogadishu airport filled with bodies: "I watched that tailgate open and I watched the blood of my soldiers pour out of that truck like water." Shortly after, Boykin was wounded in a mortar attack on the compound. The Hollywood movie Black Hawk Down which depicts the Battle of Mogadishu, omits Boykin's role as mission commander

Some time afterwards, Boykin served at the Central Intelligence Agency as Deputy Director of Special Activities, and was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. He was later made Deputy Director for Operations, Readiness, and Mobilization when assigned to the Army Staff.

From April 1998 to February 2000, he served as the Commanding General, U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. From March 2000-2003, he was the Commanding General, United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center, Fort Bragg, N.C. In June 2003, he was appointed Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence under Dr. Stephen Cambone, Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence.

LTG Boykin retired on August 1, 2007, and currently teaches at Hampden-Sydney College.

LTG Boykin is the author of Never Surrender: A Soldier's Journey to the Crossroads of Faith and Freedom, Danger Close: A Novel, and Kiloton Threat: A Novel

Boykin went to Armed Forces Staff College, Army War College, and Shippensburg University (where he received a Masters Degree). His badges include the Master Parachutist Badge, Military Freefall Badge, Ranger Tab and Special Forces Tab. Medals and awards include: "the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Bronze Star, Air Medal and the Purple Heart (with Oak Leaf Cluster).

LTG Boykin has faced harsh criticism and ostracism because of his deep Christian beliefs and his outspokenness about those beliefs.  According to an article at TownHall.com...

A three-star Army general and war hero cannot speak at West Point because he’s an outspoken Christian. So the Obama administration’s hostility toward religion—and especially Christians—continues even to the detriment of our men and women in uniform.

Lieutenant General William G. (“Jerry”) Boykin is like an action-movie hero. When the super-elite Delta Force was formed in late 1970s—our top counter-insurgent military unit that the Pentagon still does not officially discuss—this ranger in the 101st Airborne unit was tapped to be part of it.

...

Jerry Boykin has done it all. He’s been in battle as part of America’s most elite fighting force, then rose to command those troops as a general, and also served in the CIA and Pentagon on the strategic planning and management side of this equation.

He is also a Christian evangelist who speaks at churches nationwide. As a private citizen retired from the Army, General Boykin was invited to speak at a prayer breakfast at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He seems like an ideal choice, as someone who has served as the tip of the spear at the highest ranks, who is also a man of profoundly deep faith.

But the Far Left exploded. Boykin has cast America’s war against radical Islamic terrorists as fighting Satan. So his religious language has made strange bedfellows of various Islamic groups joining with atheists to call on West Point to disinvite this American hero who risked and achieved so much for this country. Evidently it’s not politically correct to suggest that blowing up children is the devil’s work.

After heavy pressure, General Boykin chose to withdraw. This soldier fears no foe, but the situation evolved in a direction where his message of faith and courage would be overshadowed by controversy to the possible detriment of the West Point cadets.

LTG Boykin is truly someone worthy of the title "Hero."  You can see his testimony here.

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

 

[ConorMacNessa]

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!

Tattoo

Must retire – the 0500 Reveille approaches relentlessly – the bugler already mounts the parapet. Will chat with you all on the morrow.

Good night, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America!

Godspeed our Troops around the Globe – especially those in harm’s way – by virtue of their service and sacrifice we continue to live in Freedom!

Etiam non princeps sed usque ad genua, Principis Pacis!

[luvie]

Nite, Conor! See ya on the flip side! :)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hear! Hear! Torture is the only thing that would get me to watch her and her surroundings.

The NFL has been anti-family values for a long time. I REALLy hate the actions of some players on the field. If I had a kid I would be forever explaining why you will NEVER behave in that manner.

[Kathy in Alaska]

God Bless you good, Mac. Good night and rest well. Thanks for helping honor our troops, past and present. Thank you for your service to our country.

[luvie]

I pray you feel better soon, Conor!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, Luv...((HUGS))...have a great day.

Eventually the sun came out here yesterday and it was beautiful with all the new snow.

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning/afternoon/evening/night Troops, wherever you are.

Thank you for doing your part to help keep all of us free and safe.

Thanks, unique, for the pastries.

Coffee is always on........

How about a donut?

Cookies?

Veggies?

Sandwich?

[Kathy in Alaska]

God bless and keep safe our troops worldwide.

Good night.

Statler Brothers ~ How Great Thou Art

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

((HUGS))Good morning, Ladies. Thanks for this morning's thread, Star. How's it going?

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[luvie]

Good morning, Kathy! Glad you got some sunshine to go with your snow! How much did you get? Is the mailbox taller with it? :)

[luvie]

Can't. Open. Eyes.
Need more sleep and/or caffeine!
I don't see any of the Early Birds this morning!
Hope all of you have a good day when you wake up!
((((hugs))))

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, Ladies. How’s it going?

[Arrowhead1952]

Good morning to everyone at the Canteen. 41º at the house this morning.

[ConorMacNessa]

Good morning, Luv!

*HUGS*

Great to see you this morning!



Etiam non princeps sed usque ad genua, Principis Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[ConorMacNessa]

Good morning, Kathy!

*HUGS*

How are you doing this morning?



Etiam non princeps sed usque ad genua, Principis Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[PROCON]

Morning Beachie!! (Where are you?)

A fairly entertaining Super bowl, other than the halftime show, SHEESH!

Lovely weather continues out here, can't complain.

Well, it's off to work and more coffee, have a scrumptious day!

[MEG33]

Thank You To All Who Serve Our Country

To The Canteen
Hope Your Week Goes Well
(((Hugs)))

[Gritty]

God has blessed us with freedom, liberty, and men like General Boykin to lead and encourage us. But because of our wicked ways, He is also chastising us with wicked rulers, like 0bama, to humble us and see if we will still seek His face and cry out to Him to heal our land...

...if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. - 2 Chronicles 7:14