Paul “Greg” Smith
Town: Ashburnham, MA (45 years)
“For 35 years I led a dual-career life: as a public high school educator and as a Mass. Army National Guard officer. I retired from the Guard as a Brigadier General in 2014 and from Oakmont Regional High School as the Assistant Principal in 2016. For many years, I’ve written magazine articles in publications like Country Living, Career World, Military History, and others. I’m grateful to McFarland Books for publishing my first non-fiction book. These days I get to hike, bike, row up in Maine…and I spend a lot more time writing.
After I retired from the military, I wanted to inform non-military folks about the unsung heroes who serve as our “weekend warriors.” I also wanted to illustrate, in a humorous way, how our National Guard grew from a mob of play soldiers that I joined in the 1980s to today’s highly professional, adaptable military force. I call the Guard, “America’s Swiss Army Knife,” because soldiers and airmen leave their homes and jobs to respond to all sorts of civil emergencies, while honing a sharp edge to fight America’s enemies overseas. A significant chapter in the book details my recollections as commander of the Joint Task Force that responded to the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings, during which today’s minutemen and minutewomen performed incredible acts of heroism, skill, and compassion.”
Published
Confessions of a Weekend Warrior: 35 Years in the National Guard (Memoir, 2024)
From the publisher: America’s National Guard was once considered a ragtag gaggle of pretend soldiers. Beginning in the 1980s the National Guard gradually transformed into today’s highly flexible operational force that answers our nation’s call for overseas combat deployments as well as domestic emergencies that run the gamut from lifesaving disaster responses to staffing Covid clinics.
Brigadier General Paul “Greg” Smith describes his personal journey during these years, from a callow cadet to a committed commander leading military forces in response to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. Smith gives a humorous, gritty, and sometimes touching glimpse into the inner workings of this unique military organization while offering portraits of the men and women who serve as the minutemen of our age. His reflections on service, duty, and the complexities of command will enlighten anyone who seeks to better understand the challenges of leadership.
In the Works
I’m working on a collection of short stories with a working title – North of Nowhere, potential publication date of Spring 2027.
Where to Buy
Connect with Greg
Please feel free to reach out to me at bgrpaulgsmith@gmail.com
