Always a Soldier: Service, Sacrifice, and Coming Out as America's Favorite Black, Gay Republican

by Rob Smith

As Seen on Fox & Friends and The Next Revolution with Steve Hilton!

An Iraq War memoir and searing political commentary from Fox News regular and “America’s Favorite Black, Gay Republican” Rob Smith

Moonlight meets American Sniper in this groundbreaking memoir and political commentary from a bold new voice in American politics. Before he became a war veteran and political analyst, he was a young black man who enlisted in the U.S. Army right out of high school, survived the notoriously brutal Infantry basic training, and served while remaining a closeted gay man to all but a few of his colleagues. At his first duty station, he finds himself in dangerous territory when the United States declares war on Iraq; in fact, his unit was one of the first called in after the initial invasion.

Rob's experience offers a ground-level view of life on the front lines in the United States Army in an unforgettable coming-of-age story with a military twist. In addition to his memoir, Always a Soldier highlights his thoughts on current hot-button political topics like the new crop of Black Republicans and the escalating tactics of the LGBTQ community, announcing him as a voice in American politics that will be heard for years to come.

Genres: Memoir, Audiobook, Nonfiction, Military Fiction

320 pages, Hardcover

Published July 21, 2020

Reviews

[Stephanie Meyers Helms · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost rated a 3 because the first half of the book didn’t pull me in as the second half did. But that wouldn’t be fair, simply because the second half kinda blew my socks off.

Prior to reading this book, I’d seen Mr. Smith on a random news snippet as well as a social media video. I was impressed by his presence, poise, and point of view, and knew I wanted to hear more from him.

I do have to agree with other reviews - the two parts of the book were vastly different, both in style and content. I think the second part is better understood after reading the first, but the second part of the book could stand alone in a heartbeat.

I had some “a-ha” moments reading part two. The ways and means of the far left often leave me scratching my head. Mr. Smith breaks it down with a perspective I obviously didn’t have (reference profile pic). But it was the comparisons to cults that really helped me understand. Knowing a close friend’s entrance into and escape from a cult, this is the perfect analogy.

I enjoyed a lot of the phrasing. As simple as it sounds, Mr. Smith knits words together to perfectly express a thought. One I liked best:

“You’re subject to the will of the cult leaders, forced to jettison your own critical-thinking skills in service of what the cult wants, and risk excommunication from the cult when you step out of line.”

That’s exactly why I left the Dems 18 years ago! And sadly, the same mindset is driving the #VoteBlueNoMatterWho train now.

And other passage that resonates so strongly:

“The fundamental problem with the cult is that its sense of self is so weak and easily broken that its endgame is using the full control of the government to legislate ‘acceptance’.”

Following Mr. Smith’s social media now and look forward to hearing more from him!

[Krissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always a Soldier was a very good read, but felt like two distinctly different books to me. Rob Smith addresses this at the outset, explaining he wrote one book and by the time he found a publisher, his political views had changed in such a way he wanted to add more to the book.

Part 1 is very much a story of what one is willing to risk for their future, the hardships of growing up in an unstable home without strong parental figures, and serving in the military during the age of DADT. It’s a coming of age story, and the transformation from boy to man.

Part 2 addresses our current political and cultural climate through the eyes of Smith’s new political vantage points as a “black gay conservative” in America. This is the book I came for, but was too brief and short on the story of political transformation. I hope Smith writes a book that does this part of his life justice. Smith’s political views are not clear cut, and live in a realistic grey area where many things can be true at once. A place and time many of us feel has been lost.

Since the second part of the book felt anorexic and rushed, I knocked this down to a 4. This book is recommended for anyone who wants to hear from a new voice without being lectured to, and/or for a reader who feels they need some inspiration to allow your past to be an addition to your story, but not the defining trajectory of your life.

[☆☆Hannah☆☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good read. I follow Rob on social media and was glad when my online library had a copy of this. I felt bad for him while he was in the army. His basic training was horrible on him and not just in the physical sense. Thankfully he was able to overcome all that. He also talks about his feeling towards the LQBT community and how they treated him once he came out as conservative. The good news is that he is happily married and thriving.

[The Geeky Viking · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished the audio book and absolutely loved it. I'm a huge fan of Rob Smith. He's funny, charismatic, and extremely smart. He also has an abundance of common sense, which seems to be sorely lacking in today's society. In ALWAYS A SOLDIER, Rob talks mainly about his decision to join the Army in order to pay for his college, and coming out as Gay in the process. This takes up 80% of the story, and his journey from staunch leftist to conservative Republican only accounts for the last 20% of the book.

I really enjoyed this memoir, and I'm looking forward to whatever Rob writes next, although I'm hoping the next book will go into further detail about his time spent in the New York media machine and his journey from leftism to conservatism. He's one of the best young conservative voices out there right now and he's got a bright future ahead of him. Highly recommended.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pretty much two separate books. One was about Robs life as a gay soldier during don’t ask don’t tell. It was interesting and a bit of a cautionary tale of the difficulties of having to hide your private self from your professional self. Most soldier books I’ve read are written by people who are very gung ho and who make you think everyone there is ready to kill every insurgent around them. It was interesting to hear his take in the subject.
The second book was about his tale on being a conservative and how he views the LGBTQ community as a bit of a cult. This is the part of him that I know of rob. And like about him.
It is so important. To let people think and make up their own minds. He does not have to think a certain way because he is black and gay. I live to see people thinking for themselves.

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

First half of the book was interesting as a biography. The second half was full of name calling, fear mongering, begging the question, straw-man arguments and name dropping in what seemed lick a check list of talking points as self promotion. I’m it gay, people are treated as a monolithic culture ruled over by an authoritarian oligarchy. While reading the book, I frequently found myself wondering who are these “cult” leaders that mysteriously have so much power over me? Smith make good points regarding the need for improved race relations in America, and in gay communities, and the need for more personal accountability across the board.

[Mediaman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to support Rob Smith and I admire him, but this is not a well put together book. The writing is fine but he spends the first 80% of it talking about his four-year military career, in which not a whole lot happens beyond him having to hide is homosexuality. There's very little about his upbringing and he chooses to be very discreet about his sexual relationships, both in terms of number of men he has been with and what he did with them

Then once he leaves the service he skips over the next 15 years or so of his life (I'm unsure how long because he doesn't include dates) to jump to a final 60 pages (not the "second half" as other readers claim) that is a long rant about the LGBT Cult and the brainwashing of blacks by Obama and other liberals. While I agree with much of what he says, what happened during the most interesting time period of his life that he chooses to leave out of his memoir???

In a few sentences he says he did end up going to college, though he gives no details. He got a graduate degree at Columbia, again no specifics beyond him getting to go for free. Then he lived in New York City to work in television and live a wild liberal partying lifestyle at night, but not stories about any of it. He was in the cast of P. Diddy's reality show--but gives no details. What I just wrote is all we know about those years--and those are the years that would have made a great book.

So he was misguided in focusing mostly on his military career, which honestly sounded incredibly boring. He even ended up in Iraq but only encountered two minor skirmishes in six months. Otherwise it was hot, dull, and stinky. Something he could have summarized in a few pages.

The final section of the book is way too short, a Cliff Notes version of his beliefs about being gay, Republican, conservative, married to a man, and a Christian. He doesn't talk about his husband at all and tries to defend himself against evangelicals that objects to his lifestyle choices but doesn't devote enough space to do it credibly. He actually hurts his case by failing to put together good defenses of his positions beyond a footnote here or there. And at times he still uses liberal language to communicate what he claims are his conservative beliefs.

I wish I could help this guy--he has talent and potential, he just needs to get out of New York City and get some feedback from real people outside the East Coast media bubble. He slams his college education, especially at Columbia, but he was given bad advice from the start instead of getting it from people like me that would have helped him through his tough years. He puts down his career choice but seems naive about what he was getting into, expecting to be an overnight TV star.

If you are a left-winger that buys into the typical LGBT and Democrat propoganda you won't like the last 20% of the book. Smith switches so dramatically from a normal guy to a preachy conservative that it will be hard for those that don't agree with him to hear it. That's why he should have taken the time to better explain himself and allow us to read his entire story.

I can only hope he finds better people to surround himself with so that his message expands. Get him a radio talk show or a TV show on a conservative network, but mostly get him someone to help steer his career. What he has to say to America is needed. But don't hide it Rob by skipping over the most important formative years of your life--we need to know what went on in your wild liberal days to appreciate your conservative Christian conversion now.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've listened to Rob's podcast since it was called Problematics (now it's called Can't Cancel Rob Smith). I like his common sense views on issues, and it's good to hear a more middle of the road perspective that critiques both the left and the right. My favorite quote is from the last paragraph on page 304: I didn't jump from blindly following one party to blindly following another.

I was sticking with a Veterans theme this November when I decided to pick this up off my TBR.

The book is written in two parts. The first is when he was still on the left and serving in the army during the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" era.

The second part was written recently where he discusses today's issues and it was the easiest to read. I breezed through it as it was a lot like listening to his podcast.

The first part has its ups and downs for me. I liked the part when he tells us about his basic training. That was a strong coming of age story and inspirational how he went from the worst of his group to the best.

The middle lagged because I don't think I was the audience. While I felt for him as he hid his sexual orientation while serving in the military I was also a bit bored. I will say though that a few things surprised me:
1) That there was much antagonism between officers. I thought they were all "brothers in arms" and "brothers for life." This book made me realize it's like any other workplace environment. Some people just don't get along.
2) That gay officers while off duty went to gay clubs and hooked up. My impression of DA,DT was that officers didn't even act on it while serving. But then...
3) If other officers did find out they didn't snitch, because no one wanted to be known as THAT guy that snitches on others.

The story picked up again when Rob was serving in Iraq. Those near death shootouts with the psychotic, gun happy sergeant was terrifying. What a dangerous man. Not to mention their morale was down because they had no clear mission and why were we in Iraq in the first place?

In conclusion I know a bit more about Rob's life and experiences. It's also written really well. I like how it reads like a novel in first person.

3.5 out of 5 American Flags.

[Manny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book. I will be honest, I thought this book would be more about his current dealings and coming out as a Republican and Gay, but the book is 90% about his boot camp, Army life and gay relationships. Still that does not mean the book was not interesting. It is sad to know that while I was in the Navy, there were people in my ranks that lived in fear of who they were.

Smith is a well-known Conservative spokes person representing Turning Point USA as well as Candice Owen's "BLEXIT" (Black Exodus). He is outwardly gay man that struggled as a youth with his weight and sexuality. Before the 2000 elections, I stepped away from the Republican Party, and found my current libertarian mindset that has guided me since then. The non-aggression principle has been the foundation of my dealings with people since my transformation. One of the reason I left the Republican Party had to do with their acceptance, or lack thereof, of the gay community. I had plenty of gay friends that although I disagreed with their lifestyle, they were great people that I could count on more so than some of my straight friends.


I will say that it seems that he wrote the book about his military service and dealing with his sexual orientation and later added the Conservative portion. But either way, the book is a refreshing view from a former Liberal, current Black and Gay man. He blows up all the typical stereotypes. He chapters on the Woke insanity is on point. I truly believe that that movement and the Liberal movement we see today will collapse on itself. It is impossible to be a “good liberal” unless you log into the wokeness website so you can get your updated offensive words and phrases. The other day read an article saying white males could never be transgender. This tells you where this is going. God have mercy on us all.

[Deanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rob Smith grew up about a half hour away from me, yet his experiences in inner-city Akron are completely different than mine in the small, rural town that didn't even become a city until I was in high school. The child of divorced parents, Rob lived with his grandmother while his mother shuttled around the country following boyfriends. After graduation, Rob enlisted in the Army with the ultimate goal of going to college (the first in his family) on the GI Bill.

His dreams were in danger - due to Clinton-era "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policies, he could be dishonorably discharged and refused the educational payout simply for being gay.

Post 9/11, Rob's unit was one of the first deployed to Afghanistan. He relates his experiences with the locals, of firefights and endless weeks between showers and decent meals. His frustration over a constant lack of information ("What are we doing here?") overshadowed the peacekeeping initiatives.

Rob states it was exponentially more difficult to come out as Conservative than it was to come out as gay. In modern woke culture, he's continually attacked by what he refers to as the "Leftist Cult" for his political beliefs far more than he ever was by the Right for being Black or gay. Anyone who follows him on social media can see these attacks firsthand.

The book would benefit from a bit more editing ("The road to hell is paved with adverbs." - Stephen King).

[Joycelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What an amazing story of the ins and outs of life as a black, gay man in the military during DADT. Rob’s honest experiences really kept me captivated, and wanting to know what happened next in his story. His courage of serving in the US Army, and having had to put his life on the line, truly makes me appreciate all that the US Armed Forces does to maintain the freedoms we enjoy here in the United States of America (being a Navy kid and all, it helps hearing of such experiences). I also appreciated his perspective on the LGBT community, helping to break the stereotypes one might hold of the community and the mindsets they may or may not hold. It is definitely a breath of fresh air, and very eye opening and informative. Thank you, Rob!

[Wendy Merrill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a fan of Rob Smith so I was excited to read this. Honestly, I didn’t think the first part was written very well. I remember a lot of descriptions of fellow soldiers as robust and guts hanging over belts. A lot of description of heavier dudes (nothing against heavier dudes, just thought it was odd that he described it so much). And I felt lost sometimes but that could just be me haha. It was interesting reading about the war in Iraq. I never paid much attention to it before, but now I see how people were pissed about it. When I got to Part 4, I sailed through the rest of it. Like a totally different book! I would’ve liked a bit more from Part 4 actually, which is one if the reasons I gave it 3 stars. Still a fan and would recommend this book to anyone (left or right).

[Théotime · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of mixed feelings with this book. I loved discovering the youth and autobiography of Rob Smith. I would simplify recommend skipping the last part of the book talking about politics. There aren't any clear explanations of how he went from being Democrat to Republican. Worse, it's mostly just a rant sprinkled with attacks on the left with no evidence, no facts, just all caps sentences and personal opinions stated as truths.
It's exactly what you would expect from someone who likes to throw vitriol than do proper research. He uses specific examples to create generalities and then complains about people doing it.

TLDR: read the autobiographical section, drop the book before the political nonsense.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5
It was, like someone else mentioned, kind of like two books in one. The first portion describes his experience of being a closeted gay black man in the army, which I found very honest, heartbreaking and a bit terrifying. The second portion discusses his more recent experiences in life, ones that led him to leave the Democrat party. Although I appreciate how he calls out the hypocrisy of some of the so-called tolerant groups (i.e. LGBTQ), I do wish he would have spoken more thoroughly about his transition from the Democratic mindset to the Republican one. Overall though, a very interesting, informative + engaging read.

[Jodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. Almost cried at times to hear his struggle coming to terms with being gay and having to hide it while in the military. Didn’t realize that DADT meant quite literally don’t get caught doing. Now in hindsight, that seems obvious. Difficult to read how the policy was lived out.

The second part of the book, if expanded, could have been a book in itself. I disagree with another review that we need to know more about his 15 year span of life after the military. He summarized it perfectly, a party. Use your imagination.

Highly recommend. Very heartfelt and educational about the Iraq War, DADT and other contemporary issues that intersect with being gay.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first two-thirds of the book were really detailed and laid out an interesting story that I found myself really captivated by. Unfortunately the last third felt incredibly rushed. I wanted to know more about what was going on in the later part of the story, there just wasn't much there to grab onto. I feel as though the first half could have used just a little less detail and the second a little more. I think Rob Smith has an interesting point of view, speaks very eloquently and has lived a fascinating life this far. I listened to the audiobook so it was great to hear things in his own voice, I just wished the storytelling had been a bit more balanced.

[Aleksandar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am ever so glad I did not join the army when I couldn't afford to go to college; I would not have lasted a nanosecond in an environment even half as hard as the one the author thrived in. This is a book full of obstacles overcome, and an account of the culture of the American army, and as one can expect, the army life is hard. It is also a book about personal growth, attained with great perseverance and the success such hard work can bring. It is inspirational and sincere. I respect the author for his many accomplishments, and wish him all the best in life.

[Jack Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is really a great book that describes how he escaped the liberal plantation where racists like Biden can say that you aren't black if you don't vote for him and get away with not being called on his history.
Rob Smith is a great example of how intact families, as was the norm before the liberals who passed the "Great Society" and "War on Poverty" laws were destroyed to create the killing fields of Democrat controlled cities today.

[jj Grilliette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked how the author opened up about his life and how he learned from his past. He was promiscuous for awhile which I am not a fan of no matter sexual orientation. However, I liked how he learned from that life that he did not want to continue that way. The lessons he learned from war and from every step of his life was an eye opener and helpful for someone like me who grew up with good parents.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written. An informative, powerful look into Rob Smith's life. I look forward to hearing more from him.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this book and have so much admiration for Rob Smith.

[Joseph Rispoli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed a new perspective to follow a persons life journey.

[Rhea Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

A super interesting and unique perspective. I couldn’t put it down and enjoyed his personality and honesty through the pages. Skipped a couple graphic sections but overall would highly recommend.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last part of the book was too rushed.

[Catherine Stark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome! I couldn’t put it down. Read this book. You will not regret it!

[Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling and sometimes uncomfortable view off a struggle that most of us can't even imagine

I enjoyed reading this very much. I won't deny parts of the book made me uncomfortable, but then, I blush and look away when I see a couple kissing. 😁

Rob very much bares his heart to the reader and I like to think I might be an even slightly better person for it.

He's spot on, on his assessment of the cult mentality in our world today.

A very good read,

[tamar boussi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent autobiography the ups and downs of real life from someone who ,at a young age, finds his way to living his own life successfully and in his own way.