[July 25, 2014] In the late 1950s when our family traveled to a big southern city (population 10,000) to go shopping, there were two places we always went. We never missed a trip to the Piggly Wiggly grocery store and to Walgreens. I remember two things about each one. First, they each had air conditioning. Second, the workers… Read More »
[July 14, 2014] It was 1916. If you were part of General Pershing’s punitive expedition against Poncho Villa, you may have been riding one of the U.S. Army’s Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Motorization of bicycles in the early 1900s started a movement that has never gone away. Any person who has spent time on a motorcycle understands that “it gets… Read More »
[July 06, 2014] “Honest Abe” is the most well known leaders in the United States and around the world. Abraham Lincoln was in office during the U.S. Civil War where he was able to keep the nation together. He was the reason that America did not break into two separate nations and he was the key to ending… Read More »
[June 29, 2014] A small group of 10-year old boys from northern Louisiana collected empty “coke” bottles to exchange for 2 cents each back in the early 1960s. My two friends and I would spend Saturdays scouring our small, no-traffic-light town for coke empties. This was my first memory of Coca Cola. We would each, maybe, make enough… Read More »
[June 23, 2014] “Now, the rest of the story.” Those iconic words represent the essence of radio personality Paul Harvey. Certainly not a traditional great leader and not even in the minor leagues with the greats like General Eisenhower. Yet, Paul Harvey was one of the greatest communicators in America. Born Paul Harvey Aurandt (1919-2009), he was on… Read More »
[June 15, 2014] I don’t remember when I bought my first book from Amazon.com but it was more than 10 years ago. At the time I was having a hard time finding good books on military leadership. I paid both retail and shipping costs but I had the book within a week. This was something that struck me… Read More »
[June 10, 2014] A pattern emerges from the study of great leaders demonstrating that many of those who are the greatest of leaders were successful at both governance and military leadership. This pattern holds for Ramesses II (1303 BC – 1213 BC), also known as Ramesses the Great – the third Egyptian pharaoh of the 19th dynasty. He… Read More »
[May 30, 2014] As regular readers know, I travel across the United States and overseas. Spending time in airports is second nature to me and many other military travelers. Airline service is important. Another important supply of services is rental car companies. I have rented from all the major companies in America – too many to count. Enterprise… Read More »
[May 23, 2014] The greatest of leaders around the world, all appear to have been successful in both military and government affairs. We can find examples anywhere, especially in the most economically successful nations. Regardless of how far back we look into written history, this trend is rather robust. Today, I will profile one of the better known… Read More »
[May 18, 2014] Before I deployed to combat, I never really gave much thought about the USO. Sure, I saw old newsreels of Bob Hope, Betty Hutton, and many other famous entertainers doing shows for the troops from World War 2 to Vietnam, but I never really understood or appreciated their real value. The United Service Organizations Inc.… Read More »