Mike Guardia

Mike Guardia

Guardia attended the University of St. Thomas where he received a Master of Arts degree in Education and the University of Houston where he received a Master of Arts degree in History.

Mike Guardia is a speaker, author, and military historian who has done a lot of work in leadership studies and modern military history.

For half a dozen years, Mike was an Armor Officer in the United States Army. During this time, he was involved in staff and leadership roles at different levels as he managed equipment, soldiers, and even took on responsibilities in operations.

When he left the military, Mike Guardia became a writer of military history and wrote on topics such as World War II in the Pacific, armored warfare, the Vietnam War, and Guerilla warfare. He often writes about historical events and real military leaders to present clear accounts of combat experience, leadership, and strategy.

For his work in military writing, he has received several awards, including A Distinguished Writing Award from the Army Historical Foundation and a 2021 Military Writers Society of America’s Author of the Year Award.

Outside of his work as a writer, Mike Guardia is a public speaker who has lectured on leadership. He has lectured at institutions such as presidential libraries, museums, and the military. Among his lecturers has been the lessons and life of Hal Moore.

Guardia has also made appearances in documentaries and media programs where he shares his insights on major events. He has also had his work published on platforms and in publications on historical and military matters.

In 2010, Mike Guardia published his debut work titled American Guerilla, in which he tells the story of a US Army officer from the Second World War named Russell Volckmann.

When Bataan fell, he managed to avoid getting captured by the Japanese and went on to hide in the forest. In the dense jungle, he brought together and led thousands of Filipino guerrilla fighters.

His fighters collected intelligence on enemy forces, conducted attacks, and provided much-needed support for Allied operations as the war raged. It was his efforts that ensured the resistance continued to run even as the islands were occupied by Japanese forces.

The book also looks at how his experience was influential in U.S. Army doctrine following the war. His ideas would shape early thinking on how to conduct and deal with guerrilla warfare and would also result in the formation of the Army Special Forces.

In his 2013 published work, Hal Moore, Mike Guardia published a biography of Hal Moore, the U.S. Army officer.

He chronicles his long career in the US Army, particularly when he served in Vietnam and in the Korean War. Much of the focus is on his leadership during one of the first major battles, known as the Battle of Ia Drang. This was one of the biggest battles between the North Vietnamese and American forces.

Hal is shown as a man who stayed with his men in combat, and during training, he was very much involved and trained them with utmost care. Even while outnumbered, his focus was always on survival, teamwork, and discipline.

The work also showcases his later roles in the military and how he taught the values of leadership to soldiers following the War in Vietnam.

Related Authors

Readers who follow Mike Guardia also follow these authors:

1. Ken Follett, author of the Kingsbridge Series.
2. Michael Connelly, author of the Harry Bosch Series.
3. David Baldacci, author of the Amos Decker Series.
4. Dean Koontz, author of the Odd Thomas Series.
5. Lee Child, author of the Jack Reacher Series.

Mike Guardia: F.A.Q