tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post4694548738021455459..comments2024-03-28T08:07:03.254-07:00Comments on Chant du Départ: Lead, Follow, or Get the Hell Out of the Way*OldAFSargehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-6078079934583351522016-05-28T07:34:02.375-07:002016-05-28T07:34:02.375-07:00I was about to type "Unbelievable," then...I was about to type "Unbelievable," then stopped myself when I realized that it's very believable.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-17363186741803187812016-05-27T21:00:37.738-07:002016-05-27T21:00:37.738-07:00The Air Boss on my first ship was an Army helo pil...The Air Boss on my first ship was an Army helo pilot in Vietnam. You'd never know it until you looked at all the DFCs he wore when King Hussein joined us one day for lunch. This was 10 years after the drawdown and he was still very bitter that the Army took all their pilots and told them that those without college degrees were not worthy. HMS Defianthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10024721130102173694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-62410044479697384762016-05-24T18:45:43.754-07:002016-05-24T18:45:43.754-07:00He's a good badger he is.
:)He's a good badger he is.<br /><br />:)OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-24645714905958916812016-05-24T18:31:27.993-07:002016-05-24T18:31:27.993-07:00I am envious, as well! I am envious, as well! SCOTTtheBADGERhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12859188068159799373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-76962485704877246792016-05-24T16:58:12.887-07:002016-05-24T16:58:12.887-07:00Impressive pilot, officer, and man.Impressive pilot, officer, and man.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-77721963745104448032016-05-24T16:31:20.477-07:002016-05-24T16:31:20.477-07:00Gee, that's him. Kinda hard to take. Never kne...Gee, that's him. Kinda hard to take. Never knew that he was almost exactly ten years older than me. Thanks. He was my drinking instructor, as well. ;-)Dave's Daily Day Dreamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17491764990082380190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-5843769668146673232016-05-24T16:22:00.071-07:002016-05-24T16:22:00.071-07:00The really good ones will do that. Rather than com...The really good ones will do that. Rather than compromise their principles and their honor.<br /><br />'Tis a rare thing these days.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-23113225235877272132016-05-24T16:20:53.315-07:002016-05-24T16:20:53.315-07:00Wow!
Yes, Flugelman, I am jealous. What a great t...Wow!<br /><br />Yes, Flugelman, I am jealous. What a great thing.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-22154108005324586662016-05-24T16:20:19.196-07:002016-05-24T16:20:19.196-07:00Abrams and Patton were both combat generals. Ike&#...Abrams and Patton were both combat generals. Ike's genius was in holding that coalition of Allies together. Haig I didn't care for, same with Powell. I wouldn't necessarily call Ike a political general, he was a damn fine officer even though he was a staff guy. (I'm a little prejudiced when it comes to Ike, my paternal grandfather served with him in Panama.)<br /><br />Not all staff wienies are bad, in fact they are indispensable. Ask Napoléon how things went without Berthier. Not too good.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-80424933005797565952016-05-24T16:15:51.656-07:002016-05-24T16:15:51.656-07:00I found some data on a Colonel Jesse C. Locke Jr. ...I found some data on a Colonel Jesse C. Locke Jr. <a href="http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=32810" rel="nofollow"><b>here</b></a> and <a href="http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=95087069" rel="nofollow"><b>here</b></a>. Three DFCs? Pretty impressive.<br /><br />Sounds like he knew his stuff. (Still love that callsign.)OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-84028267927013508422016-05-24T15:43:26.117-07:002016-05-24T15:43:26.117-07:00Had a relative by marriage. Enlisted man in Korea,...Had a relative by marriage. Enlisted man in Korea, commissioned in the field. Started flying helicopters after Korea. Did five tours in Vietnam. 0-5,on the 0-6 list, twenty five years, three months of service. Walked in one morning and turned in his papers. Told me the money wasn't worth the loss of self respect. Much more to the story but that is the part I know. He was a leader, who wouldn't follow the Carter crap, and, at considerable personal cost, got out of the way.Well Seasoned Foolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16670165728759453075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-83269640987413003712016-05-24T14:35:49.292-07:002016-05-24T14:35:49.292-07:00I had the distinct privilege and honor to meet the...I had the distinct privilege and honor to meet then Capt Hopper when she spoke at CCSU in '81. I was wearing my khaki uniform and after her presentation she came over to me and said hello. We chatted about Navy stuff for a bit and she seemed to take a genuine interest in what I was doing and the courses I was taking. What a gracious lady she was. Her demonstration of time intervals using lengths of wire it took an electron to traverse was classic. I have always treasured the opportunity to meet and talk with her.Flugelmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00158548139451148587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-441399521782252092016-05-24T13:22:37.703-07:002016-05-24T13:22:37.703-07:00Many decades ago when I was in the army I could di...Many decades ago when I was in the army I could distinguish warrior generals from political generals Creighton Abrams a hero with Pattons 3rd Army, was of course a warrior general and went on to become Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.I would say Alexander Haig was a political general. So was Colin Powell. And this is not necessarily to disparage political generals Can you imagine a George Patton trying to fill Eisenhower's shoes? Or would Dwight Eisenhower have done the job that Patton did ?<br /><br /> But there has to be some balance. I also knew people who rose in rank due to their connections and blandness. <br /><br />Sad to say if you accomplish great things you also make a list of enemies. Williamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05720206407574457665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-17636796198205333812016-05-24T13:18:20.115-07:002016-05-24T13:18:20.115-07:00Best leadership I ever got was "Fuzz, get on ...Best leadership I ever got was "Fuzz, get on my wing and stay there!" (Jesse Locke, Major USAF, 1964)Dave's Daily Day Dreamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17491764990082380190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-77925068581359200022016-05-24T10:42:25.443-07:002016-05-24T10:42:25.443-07:00I'd say that strikes close to the heart of the...I'd say that strikes close to the heart of the matter. True leaders do not surround themselves with "yes men."<br /><br />Of course, speaking truth to power can be an iffy proposition.<br /><br /><em>Who will rid me of this troublesome priest?</em><br /><br />While that may or may not be an historically accurate quote, St Thomas Becket still wound up dead.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-61949726585320652132016-05-24T10:35:51.099-07:002016-05-24T10:35:51.099-07:00I doubt many folks in government can even spell th...I doubt many folks in government can even spell that word.<br /><br />My favorite line from that link?<br /><br /><em>And people may obey the law because they think that being law-abiding is an important part of maintaining a viable society.</em><br /><br />As they say in Maine: <em>Ayup.</em>OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-25491879868422401002016-05-24T09:42:51.135-07:002016-05-24T09:42:51.135-07:00Not quite on point, but your post reminded me of t...Not quite on point, but your post reminded me of this quote, ascribed to Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury:<br /><br />“It is dangerous for men in power if no one dares tell them when they go wrong.”<br /><br />You can find the full quote, and more is here: http://www.serviampartners.com/the-necessity-of-candor/#sthash.DKi2ISN7.dpufColoCommentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-32658099692481217442016-05-24T09:33:57.715-07:002016-05-24T09:33:57.715-07:00What is this "integrity" of which Gen. E...What is this "integrity" of which Gen. Eisenhower speaks? That word rings echoes of a distant past, but to look for it in today's leadership (I speak only of civilian leadership) is to be a modern Diogenes fruitlessly staring out past his lamplight in search of an honest man.<br />It is preserved in the honor codes of our military academies, which decry lying, cheating, and tolerance of same. And which are violated almost with a cyclic regularity. (Or, at least that's my impression.)<br /><br />Coincidentally, Glenn Reynolds wrote recently of our civilian leadership:<br />http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2016/05/22/government-corruption-law-abiding-society-trust-irs-hillary-clinton-column/84744432/ColoCommentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-25590953483696410142016-05-24T07:52:28.055-07:002016-05-24T07:52:28.055-07:00"looked good in a suit"
Yes, I have see...<em>"looked good in a suit"</em><br /><br />Yes, I have seen that many times. Glad to know it's not just me!OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-59057223539037156022016-05-24T07:33:11.645-07:002016-05-24T07:33:11.645-07:00All great statements, I will consider them when ma...All great statements, I will consider them when making my vote this November.<br /><br />I found that all too often those that moved up in the corporation I worked for were simply people who looked good in a suit.<br />joehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08520161706680568508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-88916914349322799902016-05-24T07:15:42.687-07:002016-05-24T07:15:42.687-07:00Learning from those who went before, what a concep...Learning from those who went before, what a concept!<br /><br />Sad but true on your last.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-58591292165857373472016-05-24T06:50:06.789-07:002016-05-24T06:50:06.789-07:00Yes, butting heads with the power structure usuall...Yes, butting heads with the power structure usually has unpleasant consequences.<br /><br />One of the common elements of the outstanding list of people you've quoted on Leadership -they all were constantly questioning how and why they performed, and they were always learning for the great historical Leaders that had preceded them. Even Patton! :)<br /><br />Seems to be a constant that the ones causing a ruckus during peacetime are the very ones you need during wartime. Agree that we are fighting wars, and we should force the politicians to declare them as such, while most civilians really do not think about it. In general, Americans have the memory of a gnat.Ron Snyderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01217389199007968254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-24434695358474759282016-05-24T06:49:15.304-07:002016-05-24T06:49:15.304-07:00Reminds me of the Marine helicopter gunner in Full...Reminds me of the Marine helicopter gunner in <em>Full Metal Jacket</em>.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-84560341458428552962016-05-24T06:42:31.622-07:002016-05-24T06:42:31.622-07:00That was indeed high praise from a Marine!
(For t...That was indeed high praise from a Marine!<br /><br />(For those who don't know, I give you the seven P's: Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance. Popular in the British army and our very own US Marine Corps.)OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-51842381778573752212016-05-24T06:41:40.325-07:002016-05-24T06:41:40.325-07:00That was funny Scott!That was funny Scott!Ron Snyderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01217389199007968254noreply@blogger.com