Standing Tall: Leadership Lessons in the Life of a Soldier

“What an amazing opportunity! Standing Tall allows us to learn about leadership from a true American hero.” ― Mike Krzyzewski, former Head Coach, Duke University and USA Olympic Gold Medal basketball teams.

Finalist, 2022 Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing Awards

Robert Foley had only been in Vietnam for six months when he was promoted to captain and given command of a rifle company. In November 1966, Foley led his men on a mission to rescue another company that had been pinned down by Viet Cong forces. His leadership that day inspired his men and led to a successful operation—and the Medal of Honor. His actions in Vietnam were only a small portion of a long and varied career of service in the US Army, but Foley did not always seem marked for success. Coming from a blue-collar suburb of Boston, his years in West Point were marked by poor grades, injuries, and sickness. With a determination to lead by example and inspire trust among others, Foley served across the globe and rose through the ranks. He even returned to West Point as Commandant of Cadets, later retiring as a 3-star general and commander of Fifth Army.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 – Early Years
Chapter 2 – New Cadet Barracks
Chapter 3 – Plebe Year
Chapter 4 – Keeping the Faith
Chapter 5 – Wolfhounds
Chapter 6 – The War in Vietnam
Chapter 7 – Rifle Company Commander
Chapter 8 – Operation Attleboro
Chapter 9 – Two Decisions
Chapter 10 – About Face
Chapter 11 – Battalion Operations Officer
Chapter 12 – Moscow and Leningrad
Chapter 13 – Battalion Commander
Chapter 14 – Naval War College
Chapter 15 – Brigade Commander
Chapter 16 – Crisis Management
Chapter 17 – Assistant Division Commander
Chapter 18 – Commandant of Cadets
Chapter 19 – Company Tactical Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers
Chapter 20 – Mission Essential Task Enhancement
Chapter 21 – Honor and Respect
Chapter 22 – Deputy Commanding General, Second Army
Chapter 23 – Commanding General, US Army Military District of Washington
Chapter 24 – Commanding General, Fifth Army
Chapter 25 – Epilogue

Acknowledgements
Endnotes
Bibliography
Index

Lieutenant General Robert F. Foley graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1963. He served as an infantry company commander during the War in Vietnam, a mechanized infantry battalion and armor brigade commander with the 3rd Infantry Division in Germany, assistant division commander, 2nd Infantry Division in Korea, deputy commanding general of Second U.S. Army, commanding general, U.S. Army Military District of Washington and commanding general Fifth U.S. Army. His awards include the Medal of Honor, two Distinguished Service Medals, six Legions of Merit and the Purple Heart. General Foley and his wife, Julie, reside in Alexandria, VA, and have two sons, a daughter and seven grandchildren.