As a young boy growing up in Knoxville, Tennessee, James R. Montgomery's sense of patriotism and duty to country is sparked by the United States' entry into World War II. Too young to serve his country, he joins Junior ROTC in high school and takes the first steps in a long and illustrious military career in the U.S. Army Reserve. A Citizen-Soldier's Road to the Office of General traces Montgomery's career from those early days of marching on a football field through active duty in Greenland and finally into his role as a Reserve officer. The book details the Reserve officer's job – the never-ending preparation for mobilization to active duty – and highlights the dedication of men and women willing to serve during the troubled times of the Cold War. The picture that emerges is one of how mentors, friendships, luck, and persistence influence Montgomery's journey through a maze of military pathways to his ultimate rank as major general of the 310th Theater Army Area Command.