Although John H. Bailey II's father attained only a third-grade education, he imparted an important message to his son: you only fail when you stop trying. This is a piece of advice that Bailey II followed diligently throughout his life.

In Up from the Fields, Bailey narrates his life story against the backdrop of his unflappable faith in God—following him from his birth on a Mississippi plantation, where as a boy, he watched the crop dusters and dreamed of flying a plane one day. This memoir recalls running in the fields of Mississippi, playing football in Texas, being stationed at various military bases in the United States and abroad, and running the Texas State Guard. It provides insight into the life of one man who spent thirty-two years in uniform.

A motivational story with photos included, Up from the Fields follows Bailey's journey from a lieutenant in the Vietnam War to a rank of major general.