Company Commander Summary
position, however, the strain between the ranks compounded. In his book Company Commander, historian Charles B. MacDonald described his experience as a newly commissioned captain to a combat-experienced regiment during the Battle of the Bulge. Early in the campaign, after his first engagement as the company’s commander, MacDonald recalled, “I wondered what the men of my headquarters group thought of me as a company commander now? Had I been a complete failure? Had I done anything correctly? Was my fear as noticeable as I imagined it must have been?” His feeling of inadequacy subsided for a time, only to re-emerge further in his story. After being wounded and rotating back to a hospital for treatment and recovery, MacDonald again found himself a replacement commander, this time to a different company. MacDonald detailed several instances throughout Company Commander where he internally second-guessed himself after giving a particular order. Personal turmoil pepper his account of the campaign, and provide a glimpse into the mindset of a young, inexperienced officer during a tumultuous time. Part of being an effective leader is recognizing the inadequacies not only within yourself, but within your …show more content…
In the weeks after the 1st Marines’ campaign on Guadalcanal—when naval lines were secure enough to fill supply needs to the rear, but not sufficient as yet to meet the needs of the Marines on the front—Leckie details one instance where he and a fellow soldier snuck to the rear and crawled into the food dump in search of anything edible to take back to their comrades. While Leckie weaves a likeable story of cat-and-mouse with those set as guard to the food dump, the story does not overlook the dire situation of the Marines on the frontline, who had subsisted for weeks on worm-ridden rice taken from Japanese soldiers killed in
Ptsd In Soldier's Heart By Gary Paulsen
578 Words | 3 PagesCharley was only 15 when enlisted and had no idea what he was getting himself into. He was attracted to the high paying salary and the thought of being considered a man. Charley believed that the shooting war would be a fun adventure and the experience of a lifetime. It wasn’t
MG Fredendall's Verbal Orders
1066 Words | 5 Pages10. Americans: MG Fredendall’s verbal orders were often vague and imprecise. (While a quote was an attempt at OPSEC over the phone, it was simply too unorthodox to be considered a proper movement order for an entire brigade sized element. Other examples also exist of Fredendall’s imprecise manner such as: “Go get ‘em at once….Go smash ‘em” and: “Everything is rosy”, the troops “went to town”).
Spin O Brien Quotes And Analysis
386 Words | 2 Pages“Spin,” the third chapter of The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien begins by saying that the war “wasn’t all terror and violence.” O’Brien then proceeds to tell many brief stories that present good moments from the war. One of the short stories O’Brien narrates is about the soldiers' experience with an elderly Vietnamese man they referred to as a “poppa-san” who was hired to lead them through a field of landmines on the Batangan Peninsula for five days. The text says, “We enlisted an old poppa-san to guide us through the mine fields out on the Batangan Peninsula. The old guy walked with a limp, slow and stooped over, but he knew where the safe spots were and where you had to be careful and where even if you were careful you could end up like popcorn.”(32).
Prisoner Of War In Japanese Camps By Louie Zamperini
814 Words | 4 PagesThe Japanese guards tried their best to make the POW’s life harder than it needed to be. While being a prisoner at Marshall Islands,Louie along with other POWs weren’t given the nutrition they needed. In the text
Colonel Freeman's Mastery Of Mission Command
1800 Words | 8 PagesIn order to inspire Soldiers to win in battle, Colonel Freeman understood he had to gain their trust. His presence at training as well as fighting alongside his unit members on the battlefield, instilled confidence and reinforced trust in his Soldiers. He provided encouragement and confidence to his team. An example of that confidence was during an attack, Colonel Freeman, his executive officer, and his Soldiers laid out their weapons and consolidated ammunition for the last stand. Colonel Freeman displayed an even temperament and convinced his Soldier to believe that the conditions were not as bad as the seemed and he still had control of their destiny.
Echo Of War
778 Words | 4 PagesThis statement given in the early part of the book represents the entire story is basically the lesson for book that I am able to take with me into my preferred field. Leaders are able to get a sense of learning how to properly manage plans and to understand how to better route situations that lead to less casualties. Which is the main focus of the book the military not being able to have a control of situations therefore making the
The Dieppe Raid
1275 Words | 6 PagesCaptain Dennis Whittaker of The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (RHLI) fought on the front line at The Battle of Dieppe. He explains how the officers had no real training. He said, “They simply played soldier on weekends. The CO, Colonel Bob Labatt, was a stockbroker.” Whittaker talks about Bob Labatt in the interview and emphasizes how he was very untrained and was not strategic or passionate about his job as a colonel.
Who Is Desmond Doss Selfish
1866 Words | 8 PagesAfter the disastrous events of Pearl Harbor, World War II had finally succeeded its way into America, as well as filling its loyal citizens’ hearts with a vengeful desire against the bloody and gruesome Japanese. On a gory night in the year of 1945, medic Desmond T. Doss had the lucky chance to not only take part in avenging his country, but also in securing his own life by killing Japanese soldiers on the island of Okinawa in the Pacific. The enemy was close, sitting ducks in a hole resting just a few feet from where Doss sat. Though tempted by nearby grenades and a fairly easy kill, Doss decided to risk his own life and let these supposed “devils” live yet another day.
A Brief Summary Of Company Commander By Charles B. Macdonald
572 Words | 3 PagesAs an inexperienced officer leading veteran soldiers, Captain Macdonald makes an effort to earn his men’s trust and overcome his uncertainty—two important factors that would lead him to much success. “I must give these men confidence in me despite the fact they know that I am inexperienced” (Macdonald 1999, 14). Countless engagements and embracing K-rations, undesirable conditions, and sickness with his men, finally brought him to the conclusion that “these veterans of Company I had accepted their replacement company commander” (Macdonald 1999, 77). This sense of confidence and mutual trust contributed to his company’s success throughout the war. Despite his acceptance, the men he served with were “cold, hungry, miserable infantrymen, scared as hell inside, but too brave to admit it” (Macdonald 1999,
Leadership In Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet On The Western Front
795 Words | 4 Pages“There were thousands of Kantoreks, all of whom were convinced that they were acting for the best--- in a way that cost them nothing. And that is why they let us down so badly” (Remarque 12). Leadership plays an important role in every war, especially those of major importance. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque has many examples of leadership on display. Three types of leadership displayed in the novel are Kantorek’s hypocritical leadership, Himmelstoss’s authoritarian leadership, and Kat’s pack leader qualities.
Colder Than Hell Summary
1174 Words | 5 PagesColder Than Hell: A Marine Rifle Company at Chosin Reservoir was written and published by Joseph R. Owen in 1996. This book gives us a riveting point-of-view of the early and uncertain days of the Korean War through the eyes of Owen himself, as a platoon leader (PL) in a Marine rifle company. As a PL of a mortar section in Baker-One-Seven-Baker Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment- Owen witnessed his hastily assembled men of a few regulars and reservists (who to mention some that have not gone to boot camp) quickly harden into the superb Baker-One-Seven known today. He makes it known quickly (in the foreword and the preface) that some of the major problems he initially encountered was due to how unprepared his unit was. Owen makes the
Starship Troopers Character Analysis
1080 Words | 5 PagesA True Leader Would you believe that two men, both young, eager, and promising fighters could be so different? Johnny, who was a futuristic character in Robert A. Heinlein’s book Starship Troopers, against his parent’s wishes, joined the MI, Mobile Infantry, at age eighteen because his best friend Carl decided to enlist. The rigor of Boot camp forced Johnny to consider if he doubtlessly desired to be an MI.
4th Armored Brigade Combat Team Analysis
708 Words | 3 PagesReturning to the 4th Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) to assume command as the brigade commander brings me much joy to be reunited with great Non-Commission Officers and Officers that I have previously served with. Unfortunately, this brigade is no longer the brigade I remember when I commanded a battalion within the 4th ABCT not so long ago. In the last 30 days, I have had the opportunity to observe the ABCT and review a multitude of historical documents to assess the state of the brigade. During my observation, I believe the critical leadership problem in the 4th ABCT’s is the lack of vision for the brigade. Therefore, this critical problem has led to other challenging issues within the brigade.
Prayer In The Furnace Analysis
633 Words | 3 PagesIn “Prayer in the Furnace,” Phil Klay demonstrates the cruelty of war times, and the severe consequences it has on its Marines. The war is so appalling that it leaves the Marines barely able to sleep due to nightmares, they have thoughts of suicide, and they are hardly alive due to the substandard state of their health. Rodriguez, a Marine, talks to a chaplain about the issues that he has. He “pulled a plastic sandwich bag full of little pills out of his cargo pockets and held it at eye level. ‘How do you think any of us sleep?’”
Becoming A Warrant Officer Essay
648 Words | 3 PagesThrough the past 11 years that I have been an enlisted Soldier, I have seen the value of leadership and the effect good and poor leadership can have on Soldiers and
More about Company Commander Summary
Ptsd In Soldier's Heart By Gary Paulsen
578 Words | 3 PagesMG Fredendall's Verbal Orders
1066 Words | 5 PagesSpin O Brien Quotes And Analysis
386 Words | 2 PagesPrisoner Of War In Japanese Camps By Louie Zamperini
814 Words | 4 PagesColonel Freeman's Mastery Of Mission Command
1800 Words | 8 PagesEcho Of War
778 Words | 4 PagesThe Dieppe Raid
1275 Words | 6 PagesWho Is Desmond Doss Selfish
1866 Words | 8 PagesA Brief Summary Of Company Commander By Charles B. Macdonald
572 Words | 3 PagesLeadership In Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet On The Western Front
795 Words | 4 PagesColder Than Hell Summary
1174 Words | 5 PagesStarship Troopers Character Analysis
1080 Words | 5 Pages4th Armored Brigade Combat Team Analysis
708 Words | 3 PagesPrayer In The Furnace Analysis
633 Words | 3 PagesBecoming A Warrant Officer Essay
648 Words | 3 Pages