—” personally led the scouts to perform a particularly important combat mission when he was killed.”
There are different styles of leadership; different answers depending on the source.
A reputable source with five styles of leadership.
Mastering the art of dynamic leadership
NCO Journal Staff
https://www.armyupress.army.mil/journals/nco-journal/archives/2018/august/dynamic-leadership/#:~:text=The%20Army%20Leadership%20Requirements%20Model&text=After%20reviewing%20the%20LRM‘s%20five,6%2D22%2C%20Army%20Leadership.
Quite true. The LtCol may have been there for a special reason, not just general leadership. If he had highly specialized knowledge of a particular piece of equipment he may have been sent on the mission to install or operate it. Delicate sensor for very special type of monitoring?