Posted on 06/30/2021 8:41:33 AM PDT by Kaslin
For all of his personal faults and shortcomings - and there were many - General George S. Patton was a leader. He won battles. In fact, as a battlefield commander his contributions probably more than any other American general led to the Allied victory in World War II. Patton knew how to lead. He knew how to get the most out of his men to achieve victory.
Did General Patton ever make any mistakes? Sure he did, as we all make mistakes. But General Patton learned from his mistakes and then he put them behind him and moved on to his next victory. He didn’t dwell on the mistake, or worry about how it might affect his career. His job wasn’t to secure another promotion or another medal for his chest, he knew exactly what his job was. His job was to lead his troops in battle to victory.
Something that modern American military ‘leadership’ seems to have forgotten. The generals and admirals running things nowadays seem much more concerned about political correctness and protecting their careers than in leading men and women in battle.
The ‘BLUF’ - Bottom Line Up Front, to use a military phrase - is that the War Fighters are being ill served by the U.S. officer and senior NCO corps. And that goes all the way up to the top to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Vietnam legend and military critic Colonel David Hackworth had a name for them. He called them the “Perfumed Princes,” his own name for “the Brass,” which had been in common use by members of the military forever to describe the higher ranks that remained in safety behind the front lines, and not up front where the casualties occurred.
ry decoration for valor that the nation gives multiple times, including a whole handful of Purple Hearts.
A military hero, and more importantly a War Fighter in the truest sense of the word. He didn’t spend his career back at Headquarters giving briefings, drinking coffee, and puffing on cigars with the “Perfumed Princes.” He spent his time in the blood and the mud with soldiers fighting and dying for our country.
How many serving in our Armed Forces wearing lots of stars on their collars can come close to saying the same thing? I would venture to say very few. You see, War Fighters and true leaders don’t usually rise to the levels of high command in today’s Armed Forces. They’re far too valuable commanding units that are actually engaged with the enemy. You need leaders in combat.
I recall one day in 2006 when I was serving in Iraq as a civilian, watching an Army Command Sergeant Major (CSM) berating a couple of junior enlisted soldiers because they weren’t wearing the correct socks in their boots. For the uninformed, a Command Sergeant Major in the U.S. Army is a big deal and is usually assigned to a headquarters command, not a front line combat unit. So not just officers can qualify as “Perfumed Princes.”
This particular CSM was walking around Camp Victory, the large U.S. base out by the Baghdad International Airport, and was doing ‘sock inspections.’ The highest ranking Non-Commissioned Officer of the enlisted ranks in the Army walking around asking junior enlisted men to hike up their pant leg so he could see their socks.
The soldiers I saw being berated had white cotton socks on, which considering the oppressive heat in Iraq seemed to be a reasonable thing to wear. White socks would help keep one's feet drier and more comfortable while wearing combat boots in the heat I would think. The socks were concealed by the boots and uniform pants, so they weren’t at all visible. Yet here was this CSM berating soldiers over their socks. Apparently wearing white socks wasn’t acceptable.
I remember being struck by the thought that these two younger soldiers probably had more combat time, and more opportunities to display true leadership on the battlefield than this CSM ever did.
How so? You see, we had only been at war for about three or four years at the time. In order to reach the rank of Command Sergeant Major in the Army one usually spends at least 20 years before coming close to being promoted to CSM. And one has to rise through the ranks up to the more senior enlisted ranks, which would also include headquarters command positions in order to reach CSM. So the CSM berating these two soldiers about their socks could only have possibly had at most three years serving in combat – if any - out of a 20 or 30-year career. While these two junior enlisted soldiers had probably spent almost their entire time in the Army conducting patrols in the heat of Baghdad or Afghanistan, and serving in combat. Fighting and displaying battlefield leadership and making decisions to help keep those under their immediate command alive.
I relate this story not to be critical of all senior ranks, enlisted or NCO, since there are indeed and have been some damn fine Colonels and Command Sergeants Major in the Army. But they are the exception anymore. Far too many have become the “Perfumed Princes” that we’ve been told about. More worried about being politically correct, or even worse “woke,” than in protecting America and winning wars.
And nowadays in this dangerous world we could use a lot more Colonel Hackworths to lead our troops, and a lot fewer “Perfumed Princes.”
The socks I knitted for my husband, which he wore with his greens, and which he took in with him for inspection, were wool socks.
I’ve been in the military. And while CLEAN socks - if possible - are a good thing, the color of socks is not. Part of my time, white socks - ALL white - were the acceptable color. We had a special run made of white socks with stripes on the toes.
BTW - I ended up with both V-neck and round neck T-shirts in abundance. Seems like every other squadron required a different style. Just DUMB. Remember when one squadron switched from V-neck to round after the Sq/CC’s wife complained she could see chest hairs sticking out!
The current bunch - more aptly call 'traitors' - are looking for excuses to turn their guns on American citizens who 'think the wrong thoughts'...
Command Sergeant Majors...fine idea, but poorly executed. In my 24 years as an officer I can count on one hand the CSMs that fit the ideal and contributed to unit readiness. Those 5 were the real deal, and took care of soldiers. One of those 5 became Sergeant Major of the Army. The scores of others were glorified horse holders and butt kissers interested in only their benefits and careers. They were a hinderance rather than a help.
Wool. . . the only natural fiber that even when soaking wet will still retains body heat!!
Until I knew this I always ‘gripped’ about the fools that made wool (socks/glove liners/sweaters) part of our lucky bag.
Seems I was the uninformed fool!
I learned knitting in school in Germany, but I always had trouble with the heel, and needed help with that. I knitted a beautiful sweater for myself after I got married and still wear it.
EXACTLY!!! I never wore anything but those olive drab, wool socks. They did a much better job of keeping feet dry than any pair of cotton socks that were made back then.
The CSM was performing those inspections for a reason, something that effing civilian never could have understood.
Yep, that too.
He rode my ass my senior year, because I opted not to go to Airborne School after ROTC Summer Camp. It was a financial choice, as I made no money during summer, and I would have had to pay full freight to attend.
LOL, I flew back to Spokane after getting my wings, just to prove to him I did it.
Our CSM in Germany was a professional, low key, noncom. He was a great source for advice. I also had an infantry First Sergeant at the ADA battery I was assigned to, before getting kicked up to Bn HQ.
He was awesome, 3 tours in Nam as a First Sergeant. We worked together very well. When we underwent our ARTEP, he comes up to me, "Sir, what the hell am I supposed to do? I don't know anything about ADA." I laughed, "Top, you know how to set up a CP? That's it...just keep doing your job."
Our problem was our Battery Commander was a great staff officer who never should have been allowed near soldiers...and I'll leave it at that.
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