The FReeper Foxhole Profiles Major General Fox Conner - May 23rd, 2006

see educational sources

[snippy_about_it]

Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.

...................................................................................... ...........................................

.

U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

Where Duty, Honor and Country
are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.

.

.

Our Mission:

The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans.

In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support.

The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer.

If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions.

We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.

To read previous Foxhole threads or
to add the Foxhole to your sidebar,
click on the books below.

.

.

.

Major General Fox Conner

.

“The Man Who Made Eisenhower”

Men such as Douglas MacArthur and George Patton came from families with rich military heritages. They regarded the United States Military Academy at West Point as their first important step in a lifetime of military service. Dwight Eisenhower, on the other hand, saw “the Point” as little more than the source of a free college education and a place to play college sports, especially football. Ike was by no means certain he would make the Army a career.

By graduation in 1915, the future supreme commander of allied armies was known to his classmates as a fun-loving maverick, one who had earned little in the way of academic distinction or knowledge of military science. Four years of schooling above the Hudson River had yet to shape Ike into a military leader.


Dwight D. Eisenhower (With the Tank Corps, Camp Meade, Maryland, 1919.)

Indeed, after several years in the service, Eisenhower was downright discouraged. Despite enormous personal effort, he had not been sent overseas during World War I, the “Great War.” Then, when his intellectual potential began to emerge, he was slapped down by his superiors. In 1920, he was given a stiff verbal reprimand for having published an article about the future of tank warfare, an article deemed provocative and heretical by the Army’s chief of infantry. Less than a year later he was stoutly reprimanded for an honest mistake that would have seemed trivial outside the Army.

Without a combat record and having earned the disapproval of important superior officers, Ike’s military future looked bleak. Then, in 1921, his three-year-old son, Doud Dwight, died of scarlet fever. Ike and Mamie were devastated. It was a depressed and deeply dejected Captain Eisenhower who took up his new assignment in January 1922 at Camp Gaillard, in the Panama Canal Zone.


Camp Gaillard, Panama, 1922 General Fox Conner awards a commision to Eisenhower

The Army commander at the Canal Zone, Brigadier General Fox Conner, had been General Pershing’s Chief of Operations in France during the Great War. Wealthy, intellectual, and immensely respected throughout the Army, Conner had pulled some heavy strings to get Eisenhower transferred to Panama as his executive officer.

A top Army strategist and military historian, Conner was convinced that the peace treaty following the war was deeply flawed and would inevitably trigger a second world war. To prepare for that struggle, Conner set out to identify and guide the most talented younger officers, those who were likely to become the future leaders of the American Army. George Catlett Marshall was an early choice for his cultivation and then George S. Patton, Jr., followed. Patton introduced Conner to Eisenhower in 1919, and Ike soon became the next addition to the General’s list of promising officers.

For the next three years Fox Conner taught graduate courses in military history, strategy, and leadership in a “virtual” classroom located in the humid jungle of Panama. This classroom contained a single student, Dwight David Eisenhower. Military history classes at West Point had been poorly taught. But Fox Conner stirred Ike’s interest in history — he taught Ike how to read it, think it, and intelligently discuss its lessons. He drummed into Eisenhower his belief that another world war could not be escaped and that whenever it came it would have to be fought with allies. He imbedded this thought in Eisenhower’s mind: “Dealing with the enemy is a simple and straightforward matter when contrasted with securing close cooperation with an ally.”


Ike in Panama

Eisenhower was transformed by his mentor. Three years of rigorous service and education with Fox Conner changed his life. Ike became a more serious reader of everything from military history to science, philosophy and the classics. With Conner’s help, Eisenhower overcame depression and set out with determination to resurrect his military career.

General Conner’s mentorship continued long after Eisenhower’s assignment to Panama ended. Conner helped Ike in gaining admission to the Army’s Command and General Staff School. Ike graduated first in his class. Conner later influenced Eisenhower’s assignment to the American Battle Monuments Commission. This gave Ike the chance to work directly under General Pershing. Conner’s final act as a mentor was to bring Ike’s talents to the attention of George Marshall. When World War II came to America in 1941 — just as Conner had predicted — one of Marshall’s first actions was to have Eisenhower appointed to his personal staff.

Little wonder that in 1969 Frank Van Riper characterized General Conner as “the man who made Eisenhower.”

© Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission, Washington, DC, 2004

[mark502inf]

Fox Connor is one of the unknown, unsung and largely unremembered heroes of the U.S Army. His contribution in preparing the next generation of Army leaders is staggering.

Absolutely agree!

[snippy_about_it]

His message must have gotten through to the Army. I was so thoroughly drilled in preparing ops orders I could do it off the top of my head.

And you too, when you think about it. How cool is that?

[snippy_about_it]

His contribution in preparing the next generation of Army leaders is staggering.

Indeed it is! He certainly had foresight and forethought I guess, just look at who he had his eye on. Marshall, Patton, Eisenhower.....just to name a few and he knew WWII was inevitable.

[Mr Ducklips]

Mighty fine post. I had never heard of this man. Thanks!

[The Mayor]

May 24, 2006

Can We Rejoice?

LISTEN TO ODB RADIO: Real | MP3 | WMA

READ: Habakkuk 3:17-19

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord . . . . The Lord God is my strength. —Habakkuk 3:18-19

I’ll never forget the question our Bible-study leader asked: “What do you fear would test your faith in God the most?” We were studying Habakkuk 3:17-18, where the prophet said that even if God sent suffering or loss, he would still rejoice.

As a single woman in my twenties, my answer was “I don’t know if I could stand the pain of losing my parents.” But I told God that day that even when they died I would rejoice in Him. I found out too soon that it’s easier said than done.

A month later, Dad learned he had heart disease and didn’t have long to live. He didn’t know Jesus as his Savior, so I begged God not to let him die without coming to know Him. Not only did he die that year, so did Mom, who was a believer. I didn’t know if my prayer for Dad was answered. I couldn’t rejoice; I wondered if God had even heard my prayer.

As I wrestled with Him about my questions, I experienced the Lord as my “refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). I found hope in the truth that God, “the Judge of all the earth,” would do what was right by everyone (Genesis 18:25).

We can rejoice—when we are rejoicing in the Lord, our strong refuge and righteous Judge. Anne Cetas-->

Why must I bear this pain? I cannot tell;
I only know my Lord does all things well.
And so I trust in God, my all in all,
For He will bring me through, whate’er befall.  —Smith

God tries our faith so that we may try His faithfulness. Bible in One Year:   1 Chronicles 22-24; John 8:28-59

[alfa6]

Well folks in about an hour Mrs alfa6 and I will be off on our big adventure for this year. I have been loath to mention it to much as we have tried to have a big adventure several times the last few years only to have something come up to spoil it. This is the jinx part, snippy :-)

We plan to go to the Air Force Musuem in Dayton, Ohio. I will be sure to wave as we go through Indiana, Samwise :-). Then on up to Old Sturbridge Village in the Peoples Republic of Mass. If all goes well, Hope Hope, will have a update for ya this Saturday or Sunday.

We should be back at the home 20 next Friday so y'all have a great week and we will see ya then.

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[The Mayor]

You be careful on the road..

Will be watching for updates from you.

[Soaring Feather]

God's Speed alfa6 and Mrs.alfa.

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning Mayor, thanks for today's message.

[The Mayor]

Morning Feather..

[snippy_about_it]

You are going to have a wonderful trip. No jinxes. Have fun!

[Professional Engineer]

Good morning ladies and gents. Flag-o-Gram.

A Company (Gators) -- (L-R): 1SG Morman; PFC Andrew Pulford; PV2 Hurst; PFC Daye; PV2 Milikan; PFC Sprague; PV2 Johnson; PFC Patrick Hamick; PFC Cobarubio; PFC Stevenson; PFC Riggs; PFC Kang; PFC Jason Schulte; PFC Jonathan Tuttel; 1LT Jackman; SSG Olvera; CPT Jason Davis

[Professional Engineer]

We'll be looking for the 12 new threads generated from your excellent adventure.

[colorado tanker]

Why are those two guys on the right wearing 2nd I.D. patches?

[Professional Engineer]

I'm not sure of that. I kept looking for the 82nd patches in all the unit photos myself.

[colorado tanker]

This from GlobalSecurity.org: "On 16 August 1992, the Brigade became a Triple Threat Heavy-Light Force when the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment was assigned to the Brigade. On 1 January 1994, the 1st Battalion, 72nd Armor Regiment replaced 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment to make the iron brigade a Triple-Threat Heavy Force. "

This from Wikipedia: During the late Spring of 2004, much of the soldiers of the 2nd Infantry Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team were given notice that they were about to be ordered to further deployment, with duty in Iraq. Units involved in this call-up included (but was not limited to:) 1/503rd Infantry Regiment (Air Assault), 1/506th Infantry Regiment (Air Assault) , 2/17th Field Artillery Battalion, 1/9 Infantry Regiment (Mechanized), 2nd Forward Support Battalion, and portions of the 2/72nd Armor Battalion.

According to Security, the 1/506 and the 2nd Brigade were posted to Ft. Carson after the Iraq deployment. Apparently, 1/506 has been with the 2nd I.D. for more than 10 years. Learn something new every day!

[snippy_about_it]

Nice looking F-O-G.

[Professional Engineer]

I figured our Road Warriors needed a nice send-off.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Hi nice to see you and The FReeper Foxhole again. And as usual thanks for the ping. :)

[The Mayor]

May 25, 2006

Words That Defile

LISTEN TO ODB RADIO: Real | MP3 | WMA

READ: Matthew 15:17-20

He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction. —Proverbs 13:3

Recently I overheard an older woman speaking to a friend about the current obsession with dieting. “These days,” she mused, “I’m more concerned with what comes out of my mouth than what goes into it.” There’s a world of wisdom in those words.

Jesus put it this way: “Those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man” (Matthew 15:18-20).

What we say affects others. “There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword,” says Proverbs 12:18. But what we may overlook is the effect our reckless words have on us. When we gossip, or when we malign others, our words begin to ruin us, for we gratify the evil that is in us and strengthen it until it overthrows us.

On the contrary, when we guard our lips we strike a blow at this malevolence. “The tongue of the wise promotes health,” continues Proverbs 12:18. We protect our souls, for we weaken the very thing that lies in wait to ruin us.

Ask God to “set a guard” over your mouth and “keep watch over the door” of your lips (Psalm 141:3). Let your words promote life, not destruction. —

Guard well your lips, for none can know
What evils from the tongue may flow;
What guilt, what grief may be incurred
By one uncautious, evil word.  —Elliott

A word from your mouth speaks volumes about your heart.

Bible in One Year:   1 Chronicles 25-27; John 9:1-23