Be careful, Mr. President. None of the great commanders in military history — the ones who actually won battles — tried to win a popularity contest with the men under their command. Rather, they were respected for their cunning, their up-front leadership, and their ability to push them to their limit.
My uncle drove a truck with Patton. He always spoke glowingly. But I noticed that was AFTER the war. I knew my uncle pretty well. He was definitely “keep you ass down and your mouth shut.”