Quote:
Originally Posted by Adm.Lee
So, maybe not all of the Green Machine is stupid?
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The Green Machine somehow achieves that difficult balance of amazing you, for better or worse, and even both together!
When I enlisted in 1977, there was a large percentage of the pre Vietnam War officer corps in place who were more concerned with their next posting than taking care of the troops they were responible for. It was so bad, that many officers choose to take staff assignments rather than go for command. What really saved the Army were the NCOs, many of whom had 2-3 combat tours under their belts and a large cadre of officers who had served in Vietnam and were now getting into the O3-O6 slots.
Then there were those special officers like Colin Powell and Tommy Franks. I had the privilage of serving under General Franks and I still remember the first time he I attended one of his NCO conferences after I had made Corporal, he simply is one of the finest officers of his generation, a true combat leader tempered with a wicked dry wit. "General Tommy" was loved and respected by his troopers.
Then you had officers like Norman Schwarzkopf, who may have been brave on the battlefield, but firmly believed that rank had its privilages and had the leadership ability of, well, in spite of all the press hoopla about "Stormin Norman" and "The Bear", his service nickname perhaps expresses the opinion of those who served under him "Fucking Pimple".