A Route of Surprises releases on September 8, 2026. A Route of Surprises: A Soldier’s Story of Strength, Service, and Discovery is the memoir of an Army officer whose life took an improbable journey to the highest levels of military leadership. Growing up amid barriers and expectations that constrained African American life in the era, Larry R. Jordan would go on to serve thirty-five years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a three-star general. His story unfolds through moments of challenge, discovery, and unexpected connection. As one of the few African American cadets at West Point in the 1960s—and later as an officer who often served as a minority—LTG Jordan navigated a profession that tested both character and resolve. Interwoven with Jordan’s journey is the revelation of a six-generation family legacy of African American military service, beginning with the Civil War. Brief vignettes, at times humorous and at times deeply moving, capture the intersections of military life, family, and mentorship. A Route of Surprises is a reflective memoir about leadership, perseverance, and the unforeseen turns that shape a life in service.
Military professionals have already begun sharing their reviews of the upcoming memoir:
Larry R. Jordan offers great insight to the cross currents of American society extending from the mid-years of the 20th century through the first quarter of the 21st . . . The odyssey of an African American boy, later man, overcoming institutional and social prejudices of the times, and the impact of the stark challenges of a military career on him and his family.
– Colonel James McDonough, U.S. Army (Retired), Platoon Leader: A Memoir of Command in Combat
This is a phenomenal story of a man who rose from West Point cadet to the rank of three-star general during a 35-year Army career. His level of success was matched by only a small number of our class. While this was a demanding journey for any officer, it was made even more challenging because the author is an African American. The journey started in the mid 60’s when he entered West Point as one of only 10 Black cadets in a class of almost 1000 young men. His career included combat, commands at every level to include brigade, and a number of high level staff assignments to include as the TIG, the Inspector General of the U.S. Army. The myriad of jobs, locations and responsibilities makes for a fascinating read. A challenging road for anyone, the author’s was even more so because he had to meet additional challenges. Of potentially great value to any young person starting their adult life, the author fills his narrative with valuable lessons learned in a myriad of experiences. This work provides a framework for success for anyone, regardless of ethnic origin. A Route of Surprise is an easy read and hard to put down.
—Lieutenant Colonel John Hedley, U.S. Army (Retired); U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Class of 1968; Saddle Up: The Story of a Red Scarf and From the Shadows: A Tribute to the 1968 West Point Graduates Who Gave Their Lives in Vietnam
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