[June 18, 2023] Happy Father’s Day to all those who make a difference to their children. Here, I deviate from the commercial, modernist Father’s Day idea. We should not celebrate Fathers … well, in the strict sense of the word. We should be celebrating Dads. Dads are those who raise their children. To be a father is easy.… Read More »
[June 13, 2023] I was one of those army officers who somehow managed to get plenty of medals during my 40 years. These medals were for various military campaigns, for bravery in combat, or for doing a good job. I might be unusual, but I never wanted to get a “medal” for doing something good. What I really… Read More »
[June 6, 2023] Codenamed Operation Overlord, the invasion of German-occupied France had long been coming. Success was an outgrowth of the many leadership lessons from the failures at Dunkirk and other battlefields. Those lessons were hard-earned and cost the lives of tens of thousands of military and civilians. Yet, what did the military and civilian leadership gain from… Read More »
[June 2, 2023] It looks like the superstore Target failed to get the message from parents. “Don’t mess with our kids.” In support of Pride Month (was this just Pride Day recently), Target put displays of children’s wear in front of their stores that included a line from a Satan worshiper, including tuck-friendly girls’ swimsuits for boys. … Read More »
[June 1, 2023] Did you ever see the face of a troop in a combat zone who sees, for the first time, a young beautiful Red Cross Donut Dolly? That troop is magically transformed from a mentally hardened, physically grubby and weary Soldier, Marine, Sailor, Airman or Coastie into a smiling, joking, happy, jolly, friendly person you… Read More »
[May 31, 2023] By discussing U.S. Army values, selecting an organization that clearly articulates its values is easy. The U.S. Army has seven values that follow the acronym LDRSHIP. They are Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Integrity, and Personal Courage. There is the expectation that every Soldier, regardless of rank, memorizes and lives by those values. The… Read More »
[May 29, 2023] Memorial Day is a time of recognizing those military men and women who have given their lives for our nation. It is also a time of parades, speeches, cookouts, and the unofficial beginning of summer. Below is the Memorial Day speech that I gave nine years ago, at my retirement from 40 years in the… Read More »
[May 28, 2023] If you don’t have the answer, don’t pretend you do. Yes, I know; the most hated words someone can say is, “I don’t know.” But the shortest way to lose credibility is to claim you do know. Nothing is more frustrating for someone pretending they know something when they do not. No one is expecting… Read More »
[May 27, 2023] I originally wrote this blog post with the title “Disrespect to Leaders” but realized that I was leaving out a big part of the picture by not including “anger.” What brought me to this conclusion was an article entitled “America’s Anger Epidemic: Why?” by Dan Bowens. It’s really about workplace dysfunction. To buy into the… Read More »
[May 14, 2023] As we walked out of a U.S. Marine Major General’s office, a good friend told me, “There are too many army Generals in this world.” This General was a real SOB, but he got the job done, which was a valuable skill. Generals? Eventually, they retire. One recently asked for a helping hand, as he… Read More »