Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling on Letters to His Sons, War in the Middle East, and Leadership Lessons episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 26, 2026 · 30 MIN

Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling on Letters to His Sons, War in the Middle East, and Leadership Lessons

from The Bookum Nook Show · host Read More Media

Join the Author Talks Podcast as Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling shares his experiences from over 40 years in the United States Army, including combat in the Gulf War and reflections on leadership, courage, and character. Drawing from his book If I Don’t Return, Mark discusses the personal letters he wrote to his sons during wartime, the lessons he learned about faith, integrity, and leading under pressure, and what civilians need to understand about war in the Middle East.Whether you’re interested in military and veteran stories, leadership lessons, or understanding the personal cost of combat, this episode delivers insights you won’t hear anywhere else.Get your copy of "If I Don't Return" https://www.amazon.com/If-Dont-Return-Fathers-Wartime/dp/1966786727Download the Bookum App to join the conversation, explore author notes, and connect with other readers: https://www.bookumapp.comOptional Timestamps for Podcast Apps 1:06 ‑ Faith and Religion  3:48 ‑ Being in War  6:55 ‑ Writing Letters to His Son During War  9:02 ‑ Character & The Responsibility of Leadership  11:35 ‑ Revisiting Painful War Stories  13:19 ‑ Experiencing Survivor’s Guilt  14:10 ‑ Integrity & Leadership Values  17:43 ‑ Showing Emotions as a Leader  20:02 ‑ Fog of War // Making Decisions Under Pressure and Uncertainty  22:50 ‑ Wartime vs. Peacetime Leadership  26:19 ‑ Dealing With Fear During War This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs. Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Mar 26, 2026

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Join the Author Talks Podcast as Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling shares his experiences from over 40 years in the United States Army, including combat in the Gulf War and reflections on leadership, courage, and character. Drawing from his book If I Don’t Return, Mark discusses the personal letters he wrote to his sons during wartime, the lessons he learned about faith, integrity, and leading under pressure, and what civilians need to understand about war in the Middle East. Whether you’re interested i...

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Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling on Letters to His Sons, War in the Middle East, and Leadership Lessons

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