All American: Why I Believe in Football, God, and the War in Iraq

by Robert McGovern

Imagine what it's like to come face-to-face with a terrorist in a foreign courtroom—and you're the lawyer looking to put him away. Imagine what it's like to see happy children in Iraq and Afghanistan smiling and waving at U.S. military helicopters. Imagine what it's like to be an undersized linebacker in the National Football League, where most of the players you're supposed to tackle weigh more than you. Imagine what it's like to be the seventh of nine kids growing up in an Irish Catholic family in the 1970s. Imagine what it's like to be Robert McGovern, current captain in the U.S. Army, National Football League veteran, and proud member of a loving New Jersey family. Robert McGovern has a story to tell—not about himself, although he's a part of it—but about the men and women he has called friends, mentors, and heroes. From his days in Catholic school to his years as a college and professional football player to his current career as an army judge advocate general, McGovern knows an all-American when he sees one. And in this book he introduces you to the ones he's met from all walks of life. McGovern traded his shoulder pads for legal briefs more than a decade ago. He prosecuted drug dealers while working in the office of Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau. On September 11, 2001, he was in lower Manhattan when the Twin Towers fell. After working the pile at Ground Zero, McGovern asked to be mobilized from his Army Reserve duty to active duty. He was first sent to Afghanistan, where he advised battlefield commanders on legal rules of engagement. He then went to Iraq to prosecute terrorist suspects. He returned from both tours convinced that Americans needed to hear another side of the war on terrorism—the side he saw firsthand.

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[RICK "SHAQ" GOLDSTEIN · Rating 5 out of 5]

“YOU AND I ARE THE “ALL AMERICANS” THAT CAPTAIN McGOVERN IS TALKING ABOUT”
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The life story of Captain Robert McGovern, is almost “Forrest Gump” like. Rob is one of nine Irish Catholic children, born to Howard and Terry McGovern in New Jersey. Though born in New Jersey, if I were to describe his morals, character, and upbringing, I would describe it in the highest of terms, that most Americans would consider as “mid-western”. One of the many, emotionally uplifting themes in this book, is the absolute, enduring, love, and respect, that Rob, constantly proclaims for his parents. He was raised from the beginning, to have high goals, and his older brothers got football scholarships to Holy Cross, as Rob also did later on, but with less fanfare. Just as importantly, he and his siblings were raised to “service” the community. To give something back, and Rob continued this process in college at Holy Cross and while in the National Football League, with outreach programs. When Rob graduated college, no one gave him a chance of making it in the NFL. But he was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs, as an undersized, underdog, linebacker, and special team’s player. He lasted a few years with numerous teams, making the most of his non-star ability. The way he accomplished this, is with dogged, determination and dedication. To quote Rob: “Being the best at what you do has to be more important to you than partying or chasing girls or hanging out with your buddies. It has to be worth sacrificing the comforts and pleasures of an undirected life and replacing them with long hours of sweat and tears. In football, it also helps to be one tough character.” At the end of Rob’s short NFL career, he attended law school, and upon graduation, became an assistant D.A. in Manhattan. In keeping with his personal goal, of giving service to his community/country, he also joined the Army Reserves.

Then, on the forever-fateful day, of September 11, 2001, Rob was on the way to work in Manhattan, when he saw the smoke, and the planes, at the World Trade Center. He couldn’t get to work, so he went home and put on the TV, and heard an announcement, that military men were needed at “ground-zero” to help look for bodies. Even though he was in the reserves, he donned his uniform, and went to “ground-zero”, and helped recover the remains of victims for days. Rob, happened to be there, when President Bush arrived, and shook the Commander In Chief’s hand, and was so moved, he decided he wanted to go on active duty and help America fight back. Because Rob was 38 years old, they wouldn’t let him go on active duty. He persisted in every way possible, and was finally accepted as a Judge Advocate General. (JAG) He proceeded to go to Afghanistan and Iraq and assisted in “Rules Of Engagement” (ROE) enforcement. From there, he went in to criminal prosecution. He wound up on the successful prosecution team, that convicted Sergeant Hasan Akbar, probably the worst, United States Military criminal, in the last 30-40 years. To refresh your memory, Akbar, was the traitor, who the night before, we were going to launch Operation Iraqi Freedom, attacked his comrades, with grenades and small-arms fire. He wounded more than a dozen troops. Two were dead.

There is much more, to the life story, of a man who loves his country, loves his family, loves God, and has dedicated his life to enforcing freedom throughout the world, but let me conclude my review, by having Rob tell you why he named his book “All American”. “You might wonder about the use of “All-American” in the title. First of all, let me say off the bat that I’m not talking about myself here. What is an “All-American” anyway? I’ve met some real “All-Americans- quiet, unassuming, heroic people who inspire students, protect us from crime, and defend our values. They are “All-American” in every sense of the phrase. I chose this title in part to pay tribute to these “All-Americans”, I’ve been lucky enough to meet and work with through the years. I also chose it to pay special tribute to the men and women of our armed forces, especially those in the 82nd Airborne Division. That famous unit happens to be called the All-American Division.”

[Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Captain McGovern gives you exactly what you would expect from a uberConservative, Irish-American Catholic Army JAG. I was relatively disappointed with the outcome of McGovern's memoir -- although the recollections of his glory football days as an undersized Division I-AA linebacker who eeks out comically humble three-year NFL career are humorously pleasant, his political opinions on "why we fight" are entirely too safe. It is a wicked quick read that deserves to be tackled based on Captain McGovern's credentials alone. The impressive name-dropping is entertaining for any fan of popular American spectator sports, and his anti-terrorist, post-9/11 vigor does well for the connection with any American reader. Although the execution of his words leave something to be desired, I think it is the impressive resume of an NFL Linebacker who prosecuted over 200 Iraqi terrorists in the Central Criminal Court of Iraq in Dowtown Baghdad that makes this book a worthwhile read.

[Mary Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's so refreshing to hear the story of someone who's been there, as opposed to what you're fed on the evening news. GREAT read.

[Nick · Rating 1 out of 5]

what a goon!