(2 x Award Winning Finalist in Military Category)
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PowerPoint Ranger Reviews
“PowerPoint Ranger is a delightful book. A wonderful read. Kelly Galvin’s wry, self-deprecating humor is wonderful, his eye for detail is exceptional, and his observations are forthright and thoughtful. His description of his service captures the experiences of a number of those who were not on the front lines in Iraq, but who nonetheless volunteered and contributed importantly to the effort in the Land of the Two Rivers.”
General David Petraeus, US Army (Retired), former Commander of the Surge in Iraq, US Central Command, and Coalition Forces in Afghanistan, and former Director of the CIA
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“Gripping. This book is a must read for everyone and I highly recommend it. Kelly Galvin has penned a masterpiece which explores intricate details of the operational backside of the battlefield: the senior officers strategic command center. While chronicling the steps and measures retired or former soldiers endure when involuntarily recalled to active duty, this author/patriotic warrior allows the reader to “see” the 24/7 workings of an in-country senior headquarters. Through the eyes of retired Army Captain Matt Jerome, Galvin provides vivid descriptions of people, places and events replete with intrigue and espionage, beginning with the first telephone call from his former “employer.” This phone call informed him of the army’s “intent” to recall him to active duty (and to war). Until his final redeployment, the reader lives the day to day second tour of duty of Captain Jerome. This is a best seller in the making. Recommended reading for military and civilians alike.”
Major General Peter J. Gravett, US Army (Retired), Former Commanding General, 40th Infantry Division (Mech); Secretary, California Department of Veteran Affairs (Retired); Watch Commander, Los Angeles Police Department (Retired); Author – From East Garrison to the Ranch House .
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“CPT Kelly Galvin (Ret) recounts an amazing story in Power Point Ranger: My Iraq War Logs, about his time with the US Army’s 1st Corps in Iraq. After being retired from the Army for 13 years, at age 52, he is called back to active duty with one assignment intended, but others given. How does that happen? Read his story, you will find the answer. The Army should have, could have, done a better job with taking these great soldier patriots called fillers (a slang term for Individual Mobilization Augmentee) and integrated them into the Army team. This sadly was not done. ”
Brigadier General Guido Portante, US Army (Retired), Former Assistant Division Commander, 40th Infantry Division (Mech) and Commander of the Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, California.
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“Kelly writes a compelling story with a unique combat-deployment perspective in PowerPoint Ranger: an older military retiree is recalled to active duty for service in Iraq. Kelly was serving as our state council (MOAA) Transition Assistance leader when he was recalled to active duty in 2009. I highly recommend the book for veterans and civilians alike.”
Colonel Ken Yamanouchi, US Army (Retired), Former President Arizona Council of Chapters, Life Fellow American College of Healthcare Executives, Chairman Arizona Veterans Services Advisory Council, and Inductee Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society.
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“Very Good Book! I highly recommend it! Kelly and I went to OCS together back in 1985. His book is a very accurate portrayal of what it was like serving in Iraq. It’s very enjoyable reading, especially to any soldier who served in Iraq.”
Lieutenant Colonel Elton Johnson, Jr., US Army (Retired), Founder and CEO of AmeriVet Securities, Served with 19th Special Forces Group and 12th Special Forces Group, Awarded Bronze Star, served two combat tours in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan.
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“A must read for all veterans and honestly anyone else that can appreciate the sacrifice of our Service Members. As I was preparing to join the Army, I remember always being told to “Never Volunteer for Anything”, as if enlisting wasn’t the ultimate manifestation of this behavior. As I became instantly captivated by CPT Galvin’s tale which began with his original phone call and subsequent decision to volunteer before being voluntold, I could not help but shake my head at what most would consider a crazy decision to lace his boots up after 13-years on the shelf. Most veterans would understand this call and the “Duty” that CPT Galvin felt when simply asked. It is what bonds veterans as a band of brothers. I appreciate the detail and humor that CPT Galvin provides as he opens a window to his world for all to see and appreciate.“
Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Warner, US Army, Combat veteran with three overseas deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait as well as overseas training exercises in Egypt and South Korea. Author – 20 Year Letter – An Afghanistan Chronicle
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“For those who wish to gain an appreciation of how the war in Iraq was fought using modern, high-tech lethal weapons and sophisticated satellite video and communication links, this is a must read. I loved the theme and Chapter 8 is captivating stuff. Great writing style and attention to military nuance and terminology. As a career Army Aviator who fought in the Vietnam “helicopter war”, it is fascinating to look inside the Multi-National Corps-Iraq Joint Operations Center (JOC) and marvel at how modern combat operations are conducted today. In this day and age of evolving technology and especially the development of drones, one can gain insight into how battlefield drone missions are performed and how soldiers’ lives are saved. Put me down for an autographed copy!”
Major Matt Serletic, US Army (Retired)
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“Kelly Galvin could have titled this book SNAFU. It is a well written humorous account of how an older volunteer soldier coped with a wrong assignment in a wrong war in the wrong place.“
Leon S. Robertson, Yale University, Author of Make America Great Again: Myths, Lies and Facts; co-author of six books and sole author of nine books.
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“When Kelly first asked me to read Power Point Ranger: My Iraq War Logs, I was happy to do a friend a favor. I wasn’t sure what to expect, however the premise sounded intriguing. As an “outsider”, it provided a fascinating look into the seeming dysfunction of leadership while resonating with the understanding that our soldiers face considerable challenges in an ever-changing environment. The story allowed me to peek behind the curtain of historical events to bring to light aspects I would never have known, but now appreciate more. The underlying theme of the “melting pot” of those called upon to serve provides life lessons not just for the military – but for all of us who build teams in an increasingly diverse world. It has definitely given me a new perspective, and a greater appreciation for those who faced such difficult times.
Philip P Pappas II, Ph.D., CFP®
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“Interesting read, especially since I know little about life ‘in the sandbox’. I think many of us older G.I.s, who haven’t experienced the “Sandbox”, would find this book informative, entertaining and good reading. Working with other services can indeed be an experience, and realizing how hard it must be to protect classified info today. I thought it was an interesting book.”
Master Chief Petty Officer Scott Anderson, (SMCM), US Navy (Retired); PBRs (Patrol Boat, River): Boat Captain/Patrol officer, Mekong Delta 1968-69; 716th Military Police Battalion Saigon, 1971-72.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”A book that is compelling. Grabs you by the collar and pulls you in at the very start. A real page turner. I enjoyed reading it and highly recommend it.” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fred Krebsbach, Author of “OKAY OKAY: Holy Sh*t Vietnam”, M-60 Machine gunner, 9th Infantry Division, US Army Vietnam 1969.
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“Great introduction & set up for the book, clear, easy to follow, and provides a very good understanding of the author. Using his fictional character “Captain Matt Jerome, US Army, Retired,” Kelly brings to life conversations, locations and people that he encountered during his recall and the many adjustments that he endured during this physical trip down memory lane. The Author’s Closing Note provides a statement that appeared to be very good target information for understanding the full worth of the book. I found the book interesting and entertaining. Well worth the read.”
Captain John L. Grand, US Army (Retired), Infantry Officer, Intelligence Officer, 2 Tours Vietnam Service 1967 thru 1969, Silver Star, Bronze Star (4 Awards), Bronze Star with V Device (2 Awards), Combat Infantry Badge, Tucson Toastmasters.
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“A powerfully informative and important book, at times entertaining and at times scary, about the U.S. military in Iraq written by a former army captain whose views are based on his own direct observations.”
Joseph Sorrentino, Former Judicial Officer (Pro Tem Judge), Former US Marine, Former Deputy District Attorney, ALA Notable Book Award winner, Author (Prentice Hall, Bantam Books, and major newspapers, magazines, and legal publications).
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“This is a book that all should read. This is a story about a career, retired veteran who was recalled to service when he was 50+ years old and married with two daughters and grandchildren. He was not called upon for a desk job in the Pentagon; he was sent to a combat zone in Iraq. The reason he was asked to make this sacrifice is because there is no longer a draft and only a half of one percent of the population volunteer to serve in the military. The typical citizen complains about traffic congestion, but is oblivious to the life-threatening risks and stresses soldiers face daily. There is always the possibility of being deployed at a moments notice. You may hear a statistic about the high rate of veteran suicides (20—22 a day), the high rate of veteran homelessness and unemployment, but typically Americans are unaware of what has been going on with our military. This book will be enlightening for you, engaging and give you things to ponder, which is always good!”
Jodi Galvin, Esq. Founder & Executive Director of the Community Veteran Justice Project; Chair of the Legal & ReEntry Committee of the Los Angeles Veterans Collaborative
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“Very cool reading of parts of the military behind the scenes that is not publicized or makes it into movies. The ending part about Manning was a shocker to me; I did not put the name and Wikileaks together. Then the almost sudden ending to the deployment, reminded me very much of the MASH movie when their papers came through to go home. Closing notes were great commentary.“
Stewart Tagg, Green Valley, AZ
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PowerPoint Ranger: My Iraq War Logs. Order Books from Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
Fellow Military Authors
“Doc” Jacobs: Doc’s book, There and Back Again: Stories from a Combat Navy Corpsman, can be found on Koehler Books and Amazon.
Benjamin R. Warner: Ben’s book, 20 Year Letter: An Afghanistan Chronicle, can be found on Koehler Books and Amazon.
Robert E. Lofthouse: Robert’s book, Honor Through Sacrifice, can be found on Koehler Books, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Maj. Gen. Peter J. Gravett, USA (Ret): From East Garrison to the Ranch House can be found on Amazon Books. COMING SOON: Battling While Black: General Patton’s Heroic African-American WWII Battalions
Supporter Links
We want to thank our supporters and hope you will take the time to visit their website and patronize their business or organization:
- Sticks and Stones Freelance Editing
- Laura M. Foley Design (Cheat Death by PowerPoint)
- VITAL Study (Brigham & Women’s Hospital)
- Romney Chiropractic, LLC (Sahuarita, AZ)
- Woodworkers of GVR (Green Valley, AZ)
- Community Veteran Justice Project (Los Angeles, CA)
- American Legion Madera Post 131 (Green Valley, AZ)
- Doc Jacobs Foundation (San Diego, CA)
- KKR Global Institute
- The Book Shop (Green Valley, AZ)
- Valley Verde Rotary Club (Green Valley, AZ)
- My Smart Home – Integrated Smarthome Capability for Your Home
- Whaling Fire Line Equipment
- Veterans in Media & Entertainment (We unite current and former members of the military working in film, television, media, gaming, music, and more)
- Veterans Breakfast Club (The mission of the Veterans Breakfast Club is to create communities of listening around veterans and their stories to ensure that this living history will never be forgotten.)
- Stellar Echelon (Great ideas, prolific insight, and content developed at a high standard)
YouTube Videos
STUCK at Home? Go Write Your Book: In this 14-minute YouTube video, Kelly Galvin offers an idea on how to avoid “Cabin Fever” while being home-bound for any reason. Whether you’re under a “Stay at Home” order for coronavirus, convalescing long-term after a medical procedure, or maybe you’re newly retired, “STUCK at Home? Go Write Your Book” provides the basics concepts of how to begin writing. Here’s the YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROmtq6ZIooE When you’re done watching it, I hope you can provide feedback there or here on the ABOUT page of this website where you can leave a reply.
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STUCK at Home? Create a FREE Blog on Blogger.com: In this 15-minute YouTube video, Kelly Galvin offers an idea on how to avoid “Cabin Fever” while being home-bound for any reason. Whether you’re under a “Stay at Home” order for coronavirus, convalescing long-term after a medical procedure, or maybe you’re newly retired, “STUCK at Home? Create a FREE Blog on Blogger.com!” provides a step by step tutorial on how to create a basic Web Log (BLOG) on Blogger.com. Here’s the YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROmtq6ZIooE When you’re done watching it, I hope you can provide feedback there or here on the ABOUT page of this website where you can leave a reply.
