[July 11, 2016] Having been in the military a long time has given me some perspective on leadership in its many forms and how its methods are used; both for good and bad. One of my earliest times as a lowly Private, I regularly witnessed leaders telling me to “do as I say, not as I do.” Well,… Read More »
[July 10, 2016] Like today, the early 1920s in the United States were a time when social patterns were in a state of flux and debates over values were at the forefront of politics. Who would dominate the future of American; the traditionalists or modernists? The showdown came at a courtroom when a jury would decide the fate… Read More »
[July 9, 2016] One the saddest events in my military career was when, as a company commander, I jumped to the conclusion that one of my soldiers had acted inappropriately. One of the most preventable mistakes a leader can make is to judge a situation without relevant facts on hand. Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton has done the same… Read More »
[July 8, 2016] The true test of the mantle of leadership is in the results obtained … regardless of obstacles. In the case of North Korea, it is widely known that the country is notorious for the abuse of human rights including extrajudicial killings, forced labor, and torture. If there is to be any country whose leadership is… Read More »
[July 7, 2016] I know that it’s been too long since my last book review back in May. Not that I’m failing to read but that finding just the right book is important for me to recommend. I believe that I found it in Lynne Olson’s book on America’s debates over entering World War II. Enjoy! Those Angry… Read More »
[July 6, 2016] Being a teenager means overcoming day-to-day issues on the transition from childhood to being an adult. For those who strive to be leaders, this time is even more difficult time because the teens are only beginning to gain crucial experience and knowledge for leadership success. That is why, more than anything else, teenagers need a… Read More »
[July 5, 2016] In early 1918, the German armies broke through on the Western Front and appeared ready to destroy much of the French and British armies. With the Allies suffering horrific loses and possibly defeat, French General Ferdinand Foch weathered the storm until American troops arrived in significant numbers. What he recognized more than any other senior… Read More »
[July 4, 2016] The first fireworks I ever saw was when, at the age of 11, my dad drove our family to see my great aunt in Little Rock, Arkansas. Late that evening as we crested a hill overlooking the valley where the city is located, from the backseat of the family’s ’49 Chevy four-door sedan, I got… Read More »
[July 3, 2016] Captain “Jack” Willis was a large man with a big personality. He was also intelligent, motivated, and experienced. Those of us new Second Lieutenants going through the U.S. Army Infantry Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning were in awe of him and we all expected someday he would be a general officer. He seemed to… Read More »
[July 2, 2016] The U.S. military’s culture of viewing war and conflicts as apolitical has created a blind spot from which it must recover if it is to successfully fight the nation’s enemies in the future. The means by which the military fights (its equipment, ammunition, etc.) is the best in the world and its fighting forces are… Read More »