Biography
Born in New Bern, North Carolina, Lieutenant General William G. “Jerry” Boykins is currently the Wheat Professor of Leadership Studies at Hampden-Sydney College in Farmville, Virgina. Previously, LTG Boykin served at the Pentagon as Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence, overseeing the gathering and exploitation of intelligence during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
LTG Boykin had a distinguished military career that began in 1971 when he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Infantry from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). In his thirty-six years in the Army, he served for more than 24 yeas in Joint Special Operations, with a command at every level. He was one of the original members of the US Army’s Delta Force and was privileged to ultimately command these elite warriors in combat operations. He participated in clandestine operations around the world, beginning with Desert One, the failed 1979 mission to rescue American hostages held in Iran after the Islamic revolution that toppled the shah. He participated in the invasions of Grenada and Panama in 1983 and 1989 respectively, accepted the surrender of Manuel Noriega and headed the chase to capture Colombian drug czar Pablo Escobar in 1992. In 1993, he clashed with Muslim warlord Osman Atto in Somalia, chronicled in the film Black Hawk Down. LTG Boykin ultimately served as the Commander of the US Army Special Forces Command and as the Commandant of the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. LTG Boykin also served six years in Intelligence (two with the CIA) and was a member of the National Security Policy Coordinating Committee for Terrorism and Coordinating Sub-Group for Homeland Security. His memoir, Never Surrender: A Soldier’s Journey to the Crossroads of Faith and Freedom, was released in 2008. He has also authored two novels, Danger Close and Kiloton Threat. LTG Boykin continues to support our military and promote a strong national defense as a board member with Freedom Alliance, and he encourages patriotism and public service as a board member with the Joe Foss Institute. His important mission is as an ordained minister and Founder/President of Kingdom Warriors, a non-profit ministry that encourages Christians to be bold in their faith.
Philosophy of Time
Friends and Fellow Americans I am sure that most of you share concerns for the future of our nation. Not that I have six beautiful grand children, my concerns for the direction our leaders are headed have become a matter of critical concern for me and my wife Ashley. As I study the history of founding of this nation, I have become more convinced that the founding fathers of this nation were men of tremendous courage and a sacrificial nature. Many of the leaders in our nation today are just opposite. They have failed to show courage and seem to expect the people of America to simply support their personal agendas without questioning their motives, America is in serious jeopardy and “We the People” must get involved in order to preserve “The American Dream” and to protect our Constitution. Sadly, there are many in America today that want to make the nation more like the European continent, which is currently failing financially and socially because of its socialist trends. Socialism has never succeeded, yet many still believe in it. We must protect America from this Socialist movement which wants to destroy our “Free Market” system. We must reject the notion that the Federal Government is responsible for our future or that we are “entitled” to anything other than OPPORTUNITY. It is the responsibility of each American to help a neighbor–in–need, but the politicians in Washington, DC have created an attitude of entitlements that must be stopped. We need to emphasize hard work and the entrepreneurial spirit rather that redistribution of wealth.
The issues facing America today are varied and complex. They include the following: (1) Growing debt that mortgages our future and threatens an economic collapse. (2) Insecure borders that allows millions of illegal immigrants to enter nation and to leverage our social services, health care, schools, and prisons. Many of the immigrants coming across our borders are know to be associated with terrorists groups. (3) A growing encroachment of Shariah (Islamic Law) in our US Court system. A recent study that showed that 27 court cases in America were adjudicated according to Shariah. Article VI of the US constitution prohibits the use of religious or foreign law. (4) Dependence on imported oil which leaves America vulnerable to the geopolitics of unstable regions on the world like the Mid-East and Africa. (5) Growing influence of the Anti-Christian and Anti-Semitic elements in America while the influence of the church and synagogue declines. As a result, morals in America are in decline as well. (6) Growing influence of the Environmentalists movements hindering businesses and energy independence. Why does America depend on energy from nations who want to destroy us rather than becoming energy independent? (7) Increasing encroachment of the government on American civil liberties and individual freedoms. The abuse of airline passengers by TSA is a prime example The efforts to pass “Cap and Trade” legislation reflect an effort to establish more government control of many aspects of the lives of American citizens. (8) A declining education system that alters the history of the US, removing the history of the influence of faith in the building and sustainment of America. (9) An increasing trend to “Globalization”, including global governance, Any coalition of nations for economic unity, (ex: The EU), requires the forfeiture of elements of the constitutions of member nations and adherence to legislation passed by the coalition. (10) Declining morals in America resulting to growth of same-sex marriage, abortion, pornography, disintegration of the family, and corruption at many levels. Working together with each person doing his or her part, we can change the direction of the nation. It begins with exercising our rights as a free citizenry. The most fundamental of those rights is that of the ballot. Americans must vote and support candidates. I would not advocate for the candidates nor encourage that you vote for one party over another as both parties have failed in their basic responsibilities. The key is that each of us vote our conscience and our values.
May God bless you all,
Jerry Boykin
Lieutenant General, U.S. Army, (ret)
