Posted on 09/01/2004 5:31:22 PM PDT by SandRat
WEST POINT, N.Y. (Army News Service, Aug. 31, 2004) -- Great Army leaders not only live up to the values of duty, honor and country -- they also demonstrate courage, commitment, compassion and caring, according to a recent 101st Airborne Division brigade commander.
That was the message Col. Mike Linnington, commander of 3rd Brigade, 101st, from June 2002 through this past June, gave cadets from the U.S. Military Academy class of 2005 shortly after the West Point seniors donned their class rings for the first time.
“As I flash back to 1980, I can’t help but wonder if my classmates and I didn’t question our ability to take on the responsibility of leading the Corps (of Cadets), or leading platoons after graduation,” said Linnington, a USMA 1980 graduate and father of cadet in the class of 2005. “What I didn’t know then I know for certain today – we were ready, just as you’re ready to be leaders of character at West Point, and on graduation, in places like Fort Campbell, Afghanistan, Iraq, Korea, the Balkans and others we might never predict. Our Army needs leaders of character; our Soldiers deserve leaders of character.”
Linnington highlighted a number of academy graduates who have gone beyond the institution’s values of duty, honor, country recently and demonstrated they were leaders of character.
Demonstrating Courage Under Fire
Leading a platoon of Company A, 3-197 Infantry Battalion, 1st Lt. Jared Wharton, USMA 2001 graduate, organized one of the flank defenses of Baghdad International Airport, shortly after it was captured in 2003. Attack by an Iraqi infantry battalion and an armor battalion. Using direct and indirect fire, his platoon stopped the attacks 50 meters short of Wharton’s position.
“Afterward, when talking to him, you would have barely known anything had occurred at all that night -- in Jared’s mind, all that he did was what was expected of him,” Linnington said.
Commitment Means Leading From The Front
Another 101st Airborne platoon leader and a USMA 2002 graduate, 2nd Lt. Sandy Boucher, exemplifies commitment to duty and to the Soldiers she leads, Linnington said.
“Thorough some of the most dangerous, harsh and physically demanding missions in all of Iraq, (she) could be found leading from the front on virtually every patrol…usually in 120 degree heat with Kelvar and body armor on, because in her words, ‘If my guys are gonna get in a fight, I need to be there,” Linnington said.
And while her duty has been demanding, her commitment to her Soldiers led her to participate in a company boxing smoker event during down time. Standing at 5-foot three-inches tall and weighing in at 120 pounds, Boucher pummeled her opponent into the mat, much to the delight of her platoon, Linnington said.
Leaders Are Compassionate
Capt. Christian Teutsch, a 101st air assault company commander and 1997 USMA graduate, has ably demonstrated warriors can be compassionate, Linnington said.
A few days after some tough fighting in the northwestern part of Iraq, Teutsch was surrounded by Iraqi children who he gave all his food, and talking with tribal leaders about getting water deliveries to needy families in the area.
“That’s one of the more difficult things to teach Military Science 401,” Linnington said.
Loyalty Is A Two-Way Street
Maj. Rob Gordon, a 1993 USMA graduate and 101st Airborne Soldier, demonstrated loyalty to superiors and his Soldiers while with the 101st -- extending his tour of duty following a tour in Afghanistan to stay with his unit through major operations is Iraq.
When orders finally came for him to serve at West Point, he wasn’t ready to go.
“His words at his departure ceremony remain indelibly etched in my mind to this day, `I leave under protest, because I know our work is not done,’” Linnington said. “That’s loyalty to the mission and those that accomplish it.”
Caring Means Sharing Dangers
Lt. Col. Lloyd Miles, 1980 USMA graduate and a 101st battalion commander in the summer of 1996, cared so much for his Soldiers, that when a Soldier lost a grenade on a Fort Campbell, Ky., live-fire range with its firing pin pulled out but thumb safety clip still on, he was one of 10 volunteers who went looking for it. The clip failed when Miles found the grenade and lost a leg in the resulting explosion.
Miles fought to recover from his wounds and ended up returning to command the same 101st battalion two years later, Linnington said. Miles is now a colonel and a brigade commander with the 25th Infantry Division.
“I believe [these rings are] different than other college rings because they carry with them the legacy of the long gray line – forged in the values of courage, commitment, compassion, loyalty and care for subordinates. I have had the privilege to serve with many young West Point officers who truly exemplify these characteristics,” Linnington said.
Duty, Honor, Country
Sounds like Kerry missed this one way back when...
Thanks for posting this excellent article about real heroes instead of phoney ones who write up their own recommendations for medals.
Screaming Eagles.
Date with Destiny
In Kerry's case, it's a traffic circle revolving around him.
Grateful, bump!
For the leaders, America's next generation and our awesome Veterans, sitll serving - getting better by the year. (oh, and for the post and ping. *g*)
HJ, JB, SPIFF, and I get to see the new generation of warriors every day and they are good and we have every right to be (forgive my french) Damn Proud of them!
Thanks for the ping!
Thanks for the post.
My daughter's adopted soldier graduated from West Point. I sent this to her to e-mail to him.
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