Oliver North

Oliver L. North is a combat-decorated Marine, a No. 1 best-selling author, the founder of a small business, an inventor with three U.S. patents, and the host of "War Stories" on Fox News Channel. Yet he claims his most important accomplishment is being "the husband of one, the father of four and the grandfather of 11."

North was born in San Antonio, Texas, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and served 22 years as a U.S. Marine. His awards for service in combat include the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for Valor and two Purple Hearts for wounds in combat.

Assigned to the National Security Council staff in the Reagan administration, Lt. Col. North was the United States government's counter-terrorism coordinator from 1983-1986. He was involved in planning the rescue of 804 medical students on the island of Grenada and played a major role in the daring capture of the hijackers of the cruise ship Achille Lauro. After helping plan the U.S. raid on Moammar Gadhafi's terrorist bases in Libya, North was targeted for assassination by Abu Nidal, the infamous terrorist found dead in Baghdad in August 2002. President Ronald Reagan described him as "an American hero."

Since 2001, North has been the host of "War Stories," the award-winning military documentary series on Fox News Channel. He also has authored 11 books, all of them New York Times best-sellers. His latest book, American Heroes, based on his extensive coverage of U.S. military units engaged in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Philippines, was released in May 2008.

North is a life member of the National Rifle Association and a member of the NRA's board of directors. He is also the founder of Freedom Alliance, a foundation that provides support to American service members and college scholarships for the sons and daughters of military heroes.