General Mark Hertling on War, Fatherhood, and If I Don’t Return episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 16, 2026 · 1H 38M

General Mark Hertling on War, Fatherhood, and If I Don’t Return

from The Scuttlebutt: Understanding Military Culture · host Veterans Breakfast Club

We welcome retired Army General and bestselling author Mark Hertling for a special VBC LIVE conversation about his powerful new memoir, If I Don’t Return: A Father’s Wartime Journal. Drawing from a journal he kept during Operation Desert Storm, Hertling reflects on combat, leadership, fear, family, and the deeply personal thoughts he recorded for his young sons in case he never made it home. More than a war memoir, If I Don’t Return offers a rare window into the mind of a soldier-father confronting uncertainty in wartime while trying to pass on lessons about courage, character, service, and humanity. Join us for a moving discussion about military life, memory, leadership under pressure, and the enduring bond between veterans and their families. #VeteransBreakfastClub #VBCLive #MarkHertling #DesertStorm #MilitaryHistory #Veterans #Army #Leadership #WarMemoir #MilitaryFamilies #EveryVeteranHasAStory

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General Mark Hertling on War, Fatherhood, and If I Don’t Return

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