Retired General George Joulwan signs copies of his autobiography Watchman at the Gates at the Schuylkill County Historical Society, Pottsville. PHOTOS BY JACQUELINE DORMER
This article was originally published in the Pottsville Republican-Herald on May 30, 2021.
POTTSVILLE - The volunteers of the Schuylkill County Historical Society are frantic. The General is almost here, but the crowd that has come to see him already fills the lobby, leading to one logistical problem - What if the General has to use the bathroom once he arrives, but the crowd blocks him? Thankfully, when the General walks through the SCHS doors, this quandary does not have to be solved.
“I’m old,” he says with a smile, slowly settling into his chair. He is slightly late, but nobody seems to care, because this is the General we’re talking about. His name is George Joulwan, but everyone refers to him as “the General,” “the gentleman” or simply “he.” A retired four-star general, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe and native son of Pottsville (a Historical Society plaque declares that he is “among the famous coal crackers”), Joulwan’s resume would make Uncle Sam himself envious. He served two tours in Vietnam, witnessed the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall and was Commander-in-Chief of the United States Southern Command in Panama, to name a few. Joulwan has witnessed history and made it. He was Special Assistant to Richard Nixon as the Watergate scandal unfolded. His career spans the second half of the American Century, from the Soviet Union to the Yugoslav Wars. The details of Joulwan’s remarkable life are revealed in his new autobiography, “Watchman at the Gates: A Soldier’s Journey from Berlin to Bosnia.”
“It is absolutely amazing to have the General come in here and do this for us,” said SCHS Executive Director Diana Prosymchak. “He’s been such an asset to the Society, having this exhibit here to begin with for so many years and sign books for us.”
She was referring to an exhibit at the Historical Society honoring Joulwan’s life and career. The exhibit contains photographs of Joulwan meeting with world leaders (Gerald Ford, Bill Clinton, Pope John Paul II) and his many awards, including the Bronze Star, the Silver Star, the French Legion d’honneur and the Orders of Merit of France, Poland, Honduras and the Czech Republic.
“One thing he was concerned about when he came is ‘Where are all my medals?’” said SCHS volunteer Carl Yeich. “We said we have them in a special alcove. I think it’s a tribute to the community, that the gentleman always maintained a close interest here, the Schuylkill County area.”
“It’s fascinating, the priceless things in this room,” said Linda Stephens of Orwigsburg. “I was so impressed and excited to meet someone that was so incredible and has done so much, but he was down to earth and friendly and chatted. Such a nice person and genuinely sincere.”
“I said ‘George, where’s your AK-47?’” Bill Webber, SCHS volunteer and Vietnam veteran, joked. “I don’t wanna come and see a dish, I want to look at a rifle!”
Joulwan greets guests waiting to meet him at the Historical Society.
As Joulwan signed copies of “Watchman at the Gates,” the line filled with those who knew him as a gallant leader, and those who knew him as a student at Pottsville High School.
First in line was Charles Marquette, who turns 90 on June 7. A fellow veteran, he waited over an hour to see Joulwan again and get his book signed. With trembling hands, Marquette gave Joulwan two mementos of mutual friends; a newspaper clipping and a photograph of a tombstone. The newspaper clipping was of Marquette’s regimental commander in Germany, William B. Rosson. The tombstone belonged to Frank Madara, a Pottsville native and World War II veteran who died in 2014. Joulwan recognized them both.
“He was a dear friend of mine and part of my church congregation,” Marquette said about Madara. He saluted Joulwan and shook his hand.
Marquette and Joulwan shake hands.
Bill Thompson, a lifelong acquaintance of Joulwan’s family, also waited an hour. Although he cannot read books anymore, he still bought a copy and had it signed.
“I don’t know if you remember me or not,” he told George. “I can’t see no good.”
Schuylkill County natives would follow Joulwan throughout his life. Minersville native Philip Collins served under Joulwan, who at the time was V Corps Commander in Germany, from 1988 to 1992. At the book signing, he and Joulwan reminisced about the men they knew and life as a “Blackhorse Soldier,” as the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment is called.
“He was very focused on the mission,” Collins said. “He was the guy who cared for his people. A humble hero. Someone who came from the coal region and hit the heights of his profession.”
Artist Martin Heffron, also from Minersville, reminisced about sculpting Joulwan in honor of his retirement in 1997.
“He was very accommodating when we went to the Pentagon,” Heffron said. “He was talking to two German officials fluently in German and he stopped dead in his tracks when he realized he had people from Schuylkill County to visit.”
When Heffron began his preliminary sketches, Joulwan asked “What do you want me to do?” It was the first time a General ever asked him what he wanted.
Co-written by Joulwan and David Chanoff, “Watchman at the Gates” is part of “American Warriors,” a series of biographies of influential figures in the United States military. Heffron loved it so much he bought two copies, one for his son graduating from medical school and the other for his 17-year-old nephew who wants to join the military.
Heffron and Joulwan shake hands.
The book’s first chapter tells of Joulwan’s upbringing as the grandson of Lebanese immigrants who came to Pottsville because its mountains reminded him of their home village. In the time of his “Giddu” and “Sittu” (grandma and grandpa) violence in Schuylkill County was random and vicious - when they came, the mine patches were still reeling from the war between the Pinkertons and the Molly Maguires. When George was growing up, the violence became more orderly, more ritualized, in the form of local football teams. Joulwan got his first taste of facing a larger and more dangerous enemy playing football for Pottsville High School against larger towns. He became an all-state center and attracted the attention of several schools, including West Point and the US Naval Academy. West Point’s coach at that time, Red Blaik, told Joulwan that if he went to school there, football would be secondary to becoming an officer in the Army. At the time, he had no plans to serve in the military, but doing so gave him a taste of duty and honor. “Great, great guy,” said Dave Derbes, a friend of Joulwan’s since high school. “He’s a team player, down to earth, just very easy to get to know him. He’s very conscientious and very interested in doing what he can for the country.”
Relics of Joulwan’s high school days are part of the exhibit, including his high school yearbook. The blurb next to his senior portrait calls him “popular, pleasant and poised.”
“Flip a coin for George’s future,” it read - “heads it’s engineering, tails it’s teaching and coaching.” Neither came true, but the yearbook went on to say that “whatever George’s goal may be, you can be certain that he will attain it.”
That prediction certainly came true.