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Post by quincannon on Oct 28, 2015 19:07:18 GMT
It is an often told tale, but one that bears repetition. Character begins at home, and in a person's formative years.
It is a mistake to think that any program that offers a commission can give you something that was not first given by your parents and your surroundings from the earliest days of childhood. A commissioning program such as West Point, ROTC, or OCS, just tests honor, integrity, truthfulness and all the rest of the characteristics of what we call character. If you don't have it when you show up, there is a slim chance you will transform. It does happen I suppose, but not often. You will quickly be found out by either the tactical staff or more probably your peers. Still some do slip through.
There are also those who start out with good character and something happens to change that along the way. The most common is reaching a position of power and authority, usually young, and have that position transform a person into one that thinks the rules men live by no longer applies to them, only others. This condition is much worse than the former. We see it manifested several times over the past few years, and unfortunately it has been manifested by officers that have achieved positions of great authority. I don't have to repeat them here as you all can bring them quickly to mind.
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Post by yanmacca on Oct 28, 2015 19:14:17 GMT
I must say that even though I am not a real fan on how Custer treated others, and Montrose’s post said it all, but would I be wrong to say that most of the men who accompanied him over the bluffs would rather be with him then say under the command of Reno and Benteen? Imagine them having faith in Custer and saying things like “the General will get us through this”, “he knows what he is doing” and Custer won’t let us down”
Even though we tend to think of him as this lucky sod who couldn’t command a battalion never mind a regiment, his men may have had the upmost confidence in him and be glad to have him leading them rather than his subordinates.
Yan.
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Post by Beth on Oct 28, 2015 20:54:29 GMT
I am sure they were very happy that day when they left the divide. They thought it as going to be a great romp after all the 7th would 'lick' those Indians. They had just spent ages coming from FAL and this battle was the payoff for that hardship. I don't know if the general enlisted man looked at Custer as more of the Custer in the press than as their commander. I imagine most of them knew him by reputation alone since the 7th didn't have that long working together and Custer had been off in Washington just before they left FAL. I suspect that their loyalty to the 7th might be more to their own companies than to the 7th as a whole.
Also Custer had to be a very personable person. he probably glad-handed himself through a great deal of his career, carefully placing himself so the right people noticed him and always making himself useful to someone who could help him up to the next level. People with just a small amount of talent can go a long way by just making sure the right people here about their abilities. Today we call it networking.
(It's why I think Reno was probably a much better military man than most people will admit--because he doesn't have the type of personality where he is going to win friends with his smile. He had to have made his way on his ability)
Haven't you ever met someone that just so pleasant when you first meet them--when they want to impress you or make you feel welcome but the longer you work with them you start to realize that the 'nice person' is just a facade and behind it there is a person who is totally different? I don't mean like a psycho killer but perhaps the guy who doesn't have an ounce of knowledge about the join assignment you are on and is very willing to let you take the lead and do the lions share of the work. However, when it comes time to present it to the big box manages to make it see they did 99% of the work and are just benevolently letting everyone else bask in their shadow?
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dave
Brigadier General
Posts: 1,679
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Post by dave on Oct 28, 2015 22:02:50 GMT
QC The Courtney Massengales of this world have been with us since the dawn of man. Custer was a psychopath who never played well with others. He had the charm and charisma to cloak his true inner-self most of the time but often his true self would appear. His indifference to the plight of his soldiers especially the so called deserters he had executed or denied medical attention to the wounded. His childish bragging to Libbie about how all the women adored him and wanted his company just confirm his manipulation of others to his benefit. Custer was a flawed creature who created his perfect image that his wife dedicated herself to maintaining till her death. Regards Dave
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Post by Beth on Oct 28, 2015 22:43:41 GMT
I'm not sure I would label Custer as a psychopath--that brings to mind someone who has no control and would do whatever it took to get what they want disregarding all others--someone without conscious or empathy. Custer very much cares how he is perceived by people who he wants to impress while on the other hand is welling to cast away without a thought anyone or thing that is no longer needed by him.
Custer would probably be under the narcissistic label. He knew how to mold himself to please the people he wanted to please. He 'proved' to Judge Bacon and Libby that he would make a good husband. He proved to people like Sheridan and Sherman that the was an able leader. There are countless times that he molds himself to fit the role he needs to play. For example do you think that the Custer who ordered deserters to be shot would present that aspect of his personality to the Grand Duke? Or the rich movers and shakers that he wants to be part of in NYC?
On the other hand he rather thoughtlessly severes any relationship with US Grant perhaps because he thought a lame duck president would have no further effect on his career. When Grant reminded Custer that he was still commander-in-chef, Custer had to run to one of his enablers (perhaps pseudo-parent) to plead his cause.
If Custer had been able to escape Last Stand Hill, I am sure that he would have cried buckets of tears for his poor lost friends and soldiers but at his court martial he would have placed all the blame on everyone else while bravely shouldering the grief and despair for the country.
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Post by quincannon on Oct 28, 2015 23:24:54 GMT
A leader is first and foremost a servant to those he commands. Never forget that.
When he stops being a servant, and seeks only to be served, he has stopped being a leader, and is undeserving of both his rank, and the loyalty of those he commands.
My classical public radio station has met its funding goals for the year, and is playing the complete Beethoven's Ninth, as is their yearly custom. What a joy to listen to
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Post by Beth on Oct 29, 2015 0:00:41 GMT
I am particularly fond of the "Fall of the Wall" concert from 1989. Just listening to it takes me back to all the things were thought were possible at that moment in time.
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Post by Beth on Oct 29, 2015 0:17:52 GMT
A leader is first and foremost a servant to those he commands. Never forget that. When he stops being a servant, and seeks only to be served, he has stopped being a leader, and is undeserving of both his rank, and the loyalty of those he commands. My classical public radio station has met its funding goals for the year, and is playing the complete Beethoven's Ninth, as is their yearly custom. What a joy to listen to It strikes me that Custer was particularly bad at being a servant to those he commanded. It seem more like he couldn't bother to spend a moment more than necessary in their company. Do you suppose he even gave them a moment's thought as he watched I don't remember how many performances of Lawrence Barrett's performances of Julius Caesar. I wonder if Custer identified with Cassius? Did he do anything to make sure they had the supplies they need, the training, Custer seems to have wanted to let someone else do all the day to day grind of being a leader then show up the day before the battle in shiny armor, give speech like likes of Henry V and then rush off into a glorious romp of a battle.
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Post by yanmacca on Oct 29, 2015 14:47:35 GMT
I am particularly fond of the "Fall of the Wall" concert from 1989. Just listening to it takes me back to all the things were thought were possible at that moment in time. Beth I thought you meant "The Wall" concert from 1990 featuring Roger Waters doing the Pink Floyd album "The Wall" I remember hearing "Ode to Joy" by Beethoven one morning during the summer, I recall it well as it was a lovely sunning morning and the Gold Finches and Blue Tits were hopping round the birdbath and I stood there looking through the dining room window with a toasted bacon sandwich in one hand and a mug of tea in the other thinking, life doesn’t get any better than this. Yan
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Post by Beth on Oct 29, 2015 19:30:29 GMT
The first time I heard "Ode to Joy" was at the end of one of the Olympic games when I was a pretty young so perhaps the 68 games. They used to show the credits of the production crews while showing the highlight of the games while playing "Ode to Joy". I've loved it ever since. I rank it high in my favorite things to listen to.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2015 14:00:38 GMT
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Post by deadwoodgultch on Oct 30, 2015 14:32:01 GMT
Will, Simply stunning, thank you. Appropriate as the birth of a child is certainly an Ode to Joy. Before 11:45 last night I had 4 granddaughters and one step grandson, now my oldest son and his wife blessed us with a new grandson, Tyler. My wife enjoyed your flash mob as well!
Regards, Tom
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dave
Brigadier General
Posts: 1,679
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Post by dave on Oct 30, 2015 16:47:02 GMT
Granddaddy Deadwood Congratulations on the newest family member. Your Christmas holidays will be great for at least another 7 years. Love mine and enjoy every moment with them. Regards Dave
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Post by Beth on Oct 30, 2015 20:22:10 GMT
Will thanks for sharing the video. It made my day!
Tom congrats on the new grandson
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