Generally Speaking: The Memoirs of Major-General Richard Rohmer

by Richard Rohmer

Major-General Richard Rohmer is arguably Canada's most decorated citizen. A commander of the Order of Military Merit and an Officer of the Order of Canada, his career began in World War II where he earned the reputation as one of Canada's top Mustang reconnaissance pilots. For his service, which includes flying over the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross. A lawyer, litigator, journalist and best-selling author of 28 fiction and non-fiction books, Rohmer has met with such public figure as Queen Elizabeth, General George Patton, "Intrepid" Sir William Stephenson, Presidents Eisenhower, Regan, and Clinton, and has flown with John F. Kennedy. He is currently a member of the board of directors of Hollinger Inc. Recently, he chaired the 60th anniversary of the D-Day Advisory Committee to the Minister of Veterans Affairs. His autobiography, Generally Speaking: The Memoirs of Richard Rohmer, is written with Rohmer's characteristic frankness and insight.

656 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Major-General (Ret'd) Richard Heath Rohmer, OC, CMM, DFC, O.Ont, KStJ, CD, OL, QC, JD, LLD (born in 1924). Canada's most decorated citizen, an aviator, a senior lawyer (aviation law), adviser to business leaders and the Government of Ontario and is a prolific writer. Rohmer was born in Hamilton, Ontario, and spent some of his early youth in Pasadena, California as well as in western Ontario at Windsor and Fort Erie.

The Peterborough Examiner's lead editorial of 14 January 2009 says this: "Rohmer, one of Canada's most colourful figures of the past half-century, was a World War II fighter pilot, later a major-general in the armed forces reserve, a high-profile lawyer and a successful novelist and biographer."

Reviews

[Les Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't add anything to the book summary given on Goodreads except to say that the book was an enjoyable experience and certainly worthwhile reading.
I became interested in this title initially because my first cousin once removed was H L Wolf, an RCAF First Lieutenant and pilot during World War II. He served with reconniassance pilot Rohmer during the war. Wolf was killed while flying during the Battle of Normandy.
This book is a celebration of the life of a man who has made the best of his years and has contributed a great deal to the advancement of many worthwhile causes not only to the benefit of Canada, but also to the free world.
I definitely plan to read Patton's Gap and Rommel and Patton after reading this book.

[Reading Rohmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Richard Rohmer’s father, a loveable bounder, plays in the Grey Cup and uses the attendant good will to get ahead in business. Young Rohmer joins the RCAF, makes valuable connections, and then pursues a post-war career as an amiable and civic-minded political fixer. He invents and patents the portable gas station. He meets Ike, Patton, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Di, Farley Mowat, John Diefenbaker and Rosemary Clooney, but not at the same time. He gives a speech about how Canada couldn’t repel an airborne invasion from the Soviet Union, and is encouraged to leave the Reserves. Later they let him back in. One time, Prime Minister Trudeau attends a slide show Rohmer is giving about a plan to relocate Canada roughly 500 miles to the north of where it presently sits. Trudeau doesn’t follow up. Another time, Rohmer is going to a party and realizes, what with one thing and another, that he’s allowed to wear an admiral’s uniform, which he does. He becomes chancellor of a university, and gives honorary degrees to many useful and influential people, and when he hears that the Canadian publishing industry is in trouble, he arranges financial aid and protectionist legislation, and subsequently starts publishing books as fast as he can dictate them.

More: Generally Speaking discussed at Reading Richard Rohmer.