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The last 3 were...
Clint Eastwood: American Rebel - Marc Elliot - a very comprehensive look at Clints life, going from childhood right thru present day. It delves very deeply into the intrigues of Hollywood that he had to navigate his way thru to make it to the top. Like a lot of stories of Tinseltown succcess', we find that our hero is capable of being very cutthroat to get his way, usually its necessary but not always. A few interesting tidbits - Clint was in a military plane that crashed into the pacific when he was an Army swimming instructor & saved the pilots life, also, Gene Hackman had to be asked atleast 3 times to take the role of 'Little Bill Daggett', because he thought the character was too repugnant for him, i dont get that at all, Little Bill was the kind of rough ass lawman that the old west called for IMO.
Colin Powell: Statesman/Soldier - Howard Means - a straightforward look at the famous 4 star. A man that leaped ahead of other candidates with regularity throughout his career, but yet noone was ever able to make the charge of 'ticket puncher' (an officer that only volunteers/goes after assignments that help them get ahead) stick. The guy simply went where the Army seemed to need him most & for a Washington insider like himself VERY few people to this day have anything bad to say about him. Not many good war stories since he only did 1 tour in Nam & was often not in the field there. Nonetheless an interesting read about a guy that i still wish would run for President, he's a straightforward man that has kept his dignity & self respect.
It Doesnt Take a Hero: Norman Schwarzkopf - Peter Petre - a very thorough look at the Lion of the Gulf War. Great read on a guy that took a lot of flak for being too brash etc. I found him to be very humble about all of his accomplishments, somewhat surprising since he grew up for the most part in relative high style, his dad was an Army general & he spent much of his childhood traveling the world with his dad, living in Iran, Switzerland, Germany to name a few. Another guy that nobody can call a ticket puncher, he always took the assignment that put him in charge of troops, a true field commander. Lots of great war stories from Vietnam, Panama, Grenada & Iraq. Greatest quote from the book comes from Saudi General Khalid that oversaw all Arab forces during the Gulf War... 'If there is only one superpower in the world, thank God its the United States of America'.
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