"Leadership done right" Topic

On my Thanksgiving nights here at home I always think back to the one I spent overseas.

Every third week my platoon was responsible for guarding a "fixed site". Thanksgiving week was the week we were responsible for it so we would be working that day even though no one else would be. We had a nice lunch but were going out soon after (I think we had the 1600 to 2400 shift).

We had been there about an hour. For some odd reason I was in the lower (non-command) tower. I can't remember why I was there because normally I was the NCO in charge of the mission. But anyway, I was sitting there reading a book. (Tom Clancy Rainbow Six I think). Someone comes walking down the path to the tower (it was on a hillside so the path lead straight to the tower). I was surprised to hear someone and expected it to be someone from the command tower coming down to get me (meaning I was needed for something – never a good thing). To my HUGE surprise it was my platoon Sargent. Hey what are you doing here SFC Fine? (He hardly ever went outside the wire).

"We're here to relieve you SGT Lizak, take your guys back in and get a get a good dinner."

What a cool thing. The platoon Sargents decided they would fill in for the troops on Thanksgiving. So I took my guys back in for a GREAT Thanksgiving dinner and then a very unexpected night off. I think I will remember that for the rest of my life. Some LEADERS who really understood how a little thing would have a huge impact to the men they were in charge of.

Good story, thanks.

That is leadership in all the right ways.

I had a chat yesterday with my son in Afganistan. He is over there on a one month rotation, so not too bad. They flew yesterday. Show time was when turkey was being served, so they got boxed meals. Cabbage wrapped meat of some sort.