Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead

Bing West is not in the narrative text of Call Sign Chaos, but he is prominently listed as coauthor on the front of the book. West was also a Marine and has written a number of military-themed books. He served under the Reagan administration as the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, and he fought in Iraq and Afghanistan as well.

John Kelly is another retired Marine Corps general and was President Trump’s chief of staff for a little over a year. He appears frequently in battle in Call Sign Chaos, first as a brigadier general in the Iraq War, and then described as Mattis’s “deputy.” Mattis credits Kelly with figuring out that making common cause with the Sunni Tribes in Iraq is the key to stability and peace in the region. At the end of the memoir, Mattis shares a quote by Kelly (whose son died in Afghanistan) to the effect that America should have the will to see her wars through to the end in light of the sacrifices that have already been made in them.

Mattis never describes a close friendship in his memoir, but Toolan might be the closest thing to a friend he does describe. Toolan joined the Marines a few years after Mattis, and their careers brought them together a number of times.

It is Toolan who gave Mattis his “CHAOS” call sign, back when Mattis was leading the 7th Marines (1994-1996). Toolan is described as Mattis’s “operational officer” at that time, and Mattis says Toolan helped to keep him humble. Years later, when Mattis takes charge of I Marine Expeditionary Force and is told to invade Iraq, he chooses Toolan again to be his operational officer, stating that they work well together and that Toolan understands him. In Kuwait, while preparing for the invasion, Toolan shares a tent with Mattis, who makes suggestions to him until Toolan falls asleep from sheer exhaustion.

When Mattis makes the controversial decision to fire a popular regimental commander, it is Toolan whom Mattis assigns to take over the position; Mattis explains that Toolan had the “leadership savvy” to ingratiate himself with the men quickly. Many years later Mattis visits Toolan in Afghanistan, where Toolan is in charge of Helmand Province. Toolan shares with Mattis his concerns about the failure, thus far, of the Afghan people to embrace values of mutual cooperation and following the law. Mattis says that Toolan shares his fear that the sacrifices made by American troops will not bear any fruit in the long run.

Toolan retired from the Marines in 2016.