Oliver L. North is a combat-decorated Marine, No. 1 best-selling author, the founder of a small business, an inventor and holder of three U.S. patents, NRA Life member, a syndicated columnist, and the host of War Stories on the FOX News Channel.

North was born in San Antonio, Texas, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., in 1968, and served 22 years as a U.S. Marine. His combat awards include The Silver Star, The Bronze Star for Valor and two Purple Hearts for wounds in action.

Assigned to the National Security Council Staff in the Reagan administration, Lt. Col. North was the U.S. government’s counter-terrorism coordinator from 1983-1986, and was involved in planning the rescue of medical students on the Island of Grenada and the daring capture of the hijackers of the cruise ship Achille Lauro. After helping plan the U.S. raid on Quadaffi’s terrorist bases in Libya, North was targeted for assassination by Abu Nidal.

The New York Times best-selling author of 10 books, his most recent novel, The Assassins, was released in paperback in October 2006. North is also the founder of Freedom Alliance, a foundation that provides scholarships for the sons and daughters of service members killed in action.

North has spent months embedded with U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. His award-winning documentary series, War Stories, airs each Sunday night at 8 p.m., E.S.T. and P.S.T. on the FOX NEWS channel. He claims his greatest accomplishment is being the husband of one, the father of four and the grandfather of eight.