Heroes

If you are reading this, you probably know that the Army announced this morning that I have been selected for promotion to Colonel. I got a ton of e-mails and FB comments and I appreciate them all, but I got one e-mail that is very precious to me. COL(R) Alfred (Fred) Channels e-mailed his congratulations this morning.

COL(R) Channels is the definition of selfless service. When I was in SAAL-RI, in the old "pit" he had a cube caddy corner to mine. He was the XO to one of the other DASAs. We worked a lot of late evenings together and had many conversations where he would give me his opinion of my co-workers and tell me about his kids (his son flew with the 160th SOAR). I would help him out with spreadsheets and powerpoint whenever he needed it. The thing is, COL(R) Channels was a voluntary retiree recall. He was (no kidding) about 70 years old, but he asked for the opportunity to serve in any capacity he could in war time, put on a uniform, came to the Pentagon everyday and worked like an "Iron Major" half his age. He's still at it, working as a civilian in the Office of the Chief of Engineers.

I assume he never served in combat because of his right sleeve, although we never talked about that, but that is irrelevant. That old son of a gun is the real deal when you talk about selfless service. He's a hero to me and I am honored that he took the time to send me a note today.

Military Uniforms at Rochester Schools

By now, if you're reading this, you probably have heard about the Lieutenant Colonel who was turned away at his daughter's school because he was wearing his Army Combat Uniform (ACUs).  I knew when I first saw the story that there was more to it.  That kind of thing just is not characteristic of the people and culture in south eastern Michigan.  The folks here are some of the most patriotic and pro-military people I have seen any where I have served.  

As a aside, the internet has caused a national (if not international) courtroom where too many people and institutions are presumed guilty before all the evidence is presented, by millions of jurors who have no "skin in the game" other than as an observer behind a keyboard.  Maybe we should all slow down just a bit before we share stories on facebook and express our personal scorn at the outrage of the day and wait for all the facts to come to light.  

Anyway, the Superintendent of Rochester City Schools is a former Marine officer.  He sent the following letter to every military organization in the area:

September 11, 2014

Dear Members of the Armed Services Community, 

I know that many of you may have heard through military networks or news outlets about an incident that took place at Adams High School Tuesday morning involving a parent in military uniform who came to school to visit his child.

First, I want to emphasize that the district does not have a policy excluding individuals in uniform and we will be working with the administration and the firm that handles our security to make sure district policies are understood and communicated accurately. Second, I want to assure you that we are investigating the incident and will take disciplinary action if appropriate.

Finally, I want you to know that we have spoken to the parent and have apologized for any perception that individuals in uniform are not welcome in the school. As a former officer of Marines and the Superintendent of an excellent school district, I deeply regret this unfortunate incident. I want to personally assure the entire armed services community, and particularly those who have students in our district, that we respect and honor your service to our country. I have personally spoken to many officers and enlisted men and women to convey this message, and will continue to make sure that respect for the United States of America and those who serve to preserve and protect is one of the core values instilled in our students.

Yours in Service,

Robert Shaner, Ph.D.SuperintendentRochester Community Schools

 I personally think that is pretty classy.  He could have made his case in the press and just waited it out until the storm died down.  However, he chose to explain and apologize to the people who were offended.  He didn't have to do that.  It's not like Rochester schools are a business that one can withhold their business from.  Even if a service member chose to home school or drive his kid out of district due to this incident, his tax dollars would still go to the schools - nothing lost for Rochester schools.  Dr. Shaner did this because he is a Marine and his honor and the honor of his schools matters to him.  That is much more characteristic of south eastern Michigan than the lone, misinformed, ignorant, or just stupid rent-a-cop that caused this uproar.

Ollivander's Wand Shop

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter section of Universal Studios/Island of Adventure features Ollivander's Wand Shop.  You stand in line to go in and "Ollivander" selects one "student" to select a wand (but we all know the wand selects the wizard, not the other way around).  The little show is similar to the scene in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and the selected student wizard is shuffled off to pay for the wand, if she chooses to take it home.

After that and after looking around the shop, Joseph really, really, wanted a wand.  I gave in.  They had replica wands from each of the characters in the movies, or you could choose your own "interactive" wand that could be used to "make magic" in the Harry Potter areas of Universal.  Joseph and I picked out a wand.  I let him hold it to see if it felt good in his hand.... kind of his own wand fitting.

Just across from Ollivander's is a bakery where the wand will make a snowman dance across a cake.  The kids were crazy excited about Daddy making the snowman move with magic.  They were so excited that a lady called her husband over to watch their reaction the third or fourth time we made it happen.

We made magic (or tried, sometimes we couldn't master the spell) all over the Harry Potter area to the delight of the kids.

That evening, when I was trying to get Joseph to bed, he asked me how the wand works.  I must add here that they have been watching youtube videos of the "Mystery Magician" because they are really interested in how "magic" really happens.  I forget what I told him but he said, "I noticed that there is a thing on the end of the wand that looks like it could be a magnet, and the snowman was metal.  Is that how it made the snowman move?"

I explained to his satisfaction how the wand is like a TV remote control and moving it certain ways made the magic happen, just like the remote makes the channels change and the TV turn on and off.

Maybe I ruined the "magic" for him, but if he's smart enough to think of magnets and metals at barely age 5, I'd rather encourage his critical thinking and scientific exploration instead of making up lies to preserve the "magic".

What's Important to Them

Just for some context, I need to break down how Army Acquisition organizations are laid out, so you understand the players.  I am a Product Manager.  In the operational world, that's equivalent to a Battalion Commander.  My boss (Mr. M) is a civilian (Colonel, retired) and the equivalent to an operational Brigade Commander.  His boss, or my senior rater for evaluation reports, is the Program Executive Officer (PEO). He is the civilian equivalent to a 2-Star General, or a Division Commander.  The Deputy PEO (DPEO) is a 1-Star General, or in our case COL C is a high potential Colonel who very well may be on the next BG list.

Now for the story:  You may or may not know that our organization recently lost a friend and co-worker, Brian, to melanoma.  He was only 49, a retired NCO, and had been with the organization since the very beginning.  When my deputy, Tom (a retired Command Sergeant Major), was just beginning in the organization he worked very closely with Brian and they were good friends.

Brian's funeral was on April 12.  Of course, most of our product office turned out.  Mr. M was out of state, or he would have been there.  COL C was the only person from the entire PEO, other than our folks, who was there.

Fast forward to today.  I was talking to Tom about another issue that COL C is involved in.  I told Tom that I think COL C is a good guy.  He said, "Sir, when COL C came to Brian's funeral, he showed me the kind of man he is. That's all I need to know about him."  After a little conversation, he added, "and I understand Mr. M would have been there if he wasn't out of state, because that's the kind of person he is."  Tom has probably exchanged some pleasantries with COL C at PEO functions, so he really doesn't know him, but when COL C walked into the church for Brian's funeral, that was all Tom needed to know.

Back to a point a day or two before Brian's funeral, I mentioned something Steve (the DPM, Mr. M's deputy) had said. As deputies at adjacent echelons, Tom and Steve talk and work issues almost every day. I don't remember the exact text of Tom's response, but the basic gist is this: "I've got nothing for Steve. Since Brian passed, I haven't gotten one phone call, one e-mail, nothing from Steve about Brian."

Long ago, a wise leader gave me some leadership advice.  He said, "be at the events that are important to them (your subordinates)."  Be at their promotions, retirements, birthdays, etc.  What you think is important is irrelevant.  The things they remember is what is important to them and they will remember that you were there.  The corollary to that is leave early.   You were there, now leave and let them have their moment with family and friends.

I know in my heart of hearts that COL C was not thinking about making a point or endearing himself to our organization. He was there because, as a leader and a good man, he thought that was the place he needed to be.  He didn't know Brian from Adam, but he knew that Brian was part of the PEO family and that our organization was hurting and he needed to be there.  However, he did make a point and he did endear himself to our organization and, as Tom said, he showed himself to be the kind of man he is.  He was there when it mattered to them.  I will never forget his example.

Football and Reality (big rant)

I caught a link to this on facebook tonight.  Go and read it.  You might enjoy it and pat yourself on the back.

Are you Strong Enough to be Our Fan

Frankly, I find this person a weak individual who needs to get a life.

Are you mentally strong enough to endure all of that?  If you knew going in, you could have everything on that first list, but have to deal with everything on that second list, would you do it?  Would it be worth it?  Could you pick yourself up and dust yourself off those 7 times all the while having to defend some of the greatest players to ever play college football for 7…SEVEN…transgressions in 5 seasons?

Really?  Are you mentally strong enough to deal with some trash talk about a college football team?  If that causes you mental anguish, you should not be breathing American air.  If you have to ask yourself that question, you have never buried someone who gave the last full measure for their country.

At the very heart of the matter is the audacity of anyone in this world HAVING to defend a group of 20-year-old kids who get up every morning, most days before any of us, go to the weight room, go to class, go to practice, study, go to bed and do it all, again every day, every single year.  The mere suggestion that any one of those kids has not worked themselves to death, put their bodies on the line, played through injuries, and endured mental anguish from people who neither know them nor have ever met them is ridiculous.   It is ludicrous to have to argue with someone who believes those kids did not deserve the success they have EARNED.  But as a fan, you will have to do just that.  You will have to stand up for them.  You cannot back down.

Yep, you big old fan you, you need to stand up for those kids who get a free college education and a chance at the NFL in exchange for playing a GAME.  A GAME we all play in the backyard on Thanksgiving. 

If our priorities were in the right place, men like this would get the respect and attention that our society gives Heisman trophy winners.  Men like this make that last quote a ridiculous parody: 

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty: Captain William D. Swenson distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as embedded advisor to the Afghan National Border Police, Task Force Phoenix, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan in support of 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, during combat operations against an armed enemy in Kunar Province, Afghanistan on September 8, 2009. On that morning, more than 60 well-armed, well-positioned enemy fighters ambushed Captain Swenson's combat team as it moved on foot into the village of Ganjgal for a meeting with village elders. As the enemy unleashed a barrage of rocket-propelled grenade, mortar and machine gun fire, Captain Swenson immediately returned fire and coordinated and directed the response of his Afghan Border Police, while simultaneously calling in suppressive artillery fire and aviation support. After the enemy effectively flanked Coalition Forces, Captain Swenson repeatedly called for smoke to cover the withdrawal of the forward elements. Surrounded on three sides by enemy forces inflicting effective and accurate fire, Captain Swenson coordinated air assets, indirect fire support and medical evacuation helicopter support to allow for the evacuation of the wounded. Captain Swenson ignored enemy radio transmissions demanding surrender and maneuvered uncovered to render medical aid to a wounded fellow soldier. Captain Swenson stopped administering aid long enough to throw a grenade at approaching enemy forces, before assisting with moving the soldier for air evacuation. With complete disregard for his own safety, Captain Swenson unhesitatingly led a team in an unarmored vehicle into the kill zone, exposing himself to enemy fire on at least two occasions, to recover the wounded and search for four missing comrades. After using aviation support to mark locations of fallen and wounded comrades, it became clear that ground recovery of the fallen was required due to heavy enemy fire on helicopter landing zones. Captain Swenson's team returned to the kill zone another time in a Humvee. Captain Swenson voluntarily exited the vehicle, exposing himself to enemy fire, to locate and recover three fallen Marines and one fallen Navy corpsman. His exceptional leadership and stout resistance against the enemy during six hours of continuous fighting rallied his teammates and effectively disrupted the enemy's assault. Captain William D. Swenson's extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Task Force Phoenix, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division and the United States Army.

 I say all that to say this:  Football is a game.  Win, lose, draw, it is a game.  Enjoy it for what it is.  In the end, it is not important.  If it causes you that much anguish and concern, you have misplaced your priorities.

Veterans Day Thoughts

I think I am now thinking more on the two major military oriented holidays than I used to because I am coming very close to the day when I will be a true Veteran, as in: a former member of the armed forces. (Merriam Webster).  As I evaluate my own service, even if I serve out 30 years, I will still "Hold my manhood cheap" because I wasn't there on "St. Crispins Day".  Don't get me wrong, I have done what God gave me the ability to do the best I could and I'm not ashamed of that, but there are two "Bands of Brothers", IMHO:  Those who belong to the VFW, and those who belong to the American Legion (there is a difference).  I will always be relegated to the latter.




That said, I'd like to convey a couple of stories of Veterans I've known.  I just so happens that both were barbers.

The first is Jimmy.  Jimmy cut hair in the Ft. Sill O'Club when I was there from 1999-2003.  Jimmy never saw St. Crispins Day either, because Jimmy served "between the Wars" (meaning WWI and WWII).  Jimmy played Negro League Baseball.  He used to regale us with stories about the Ft. Sill O'Club from back in the day; back when the satellite club in the Bachelors Officers Quarters was called "The Wing and Rotor" (because Army Aviation started at Ft. Sill as aerial observers) and they still had dancing girls.  One time Jimmy told me the following: "When I was in the Army, we made $12 a month and around $6 went to the laundry, the company fund, etc.  But in those days you could go to the PX and buy a pack of cigarettes for a nickle or a six pack of beer for a nickle, and if you didn't have a girlfriend, you could get a good hooker for $2."  I didn't ask Jimmy what defined a good hooker or what a bad one cost.  He retired from cutting hair just before I left Ft. Sill because his mother was sick and needed more of his time.  I assume Jimmy is no longer with us, 10 years later, but who knows....

The second is a gentleman who's name I never knew.  He cut my hair in a strip mall outside Ft. Stewart in the 1996-1998 time frame.  He'd had his St. Crispins Day.  I don't know why he started telling me this story, but one day he did:  "I was on a ship in WWII.  When we crossed the equator going south, we were all happy, because the South Pacific was pretty much over by then.  We practiced assaulting an island and then we stayed there overnight.  There was an island nearby that they wouldn't let us go to, because all the women over there were naked.  Then we crossed back over the equator into the North Pacific.  We practiced assaulting another island.  Then we got back on the ship and went to another island.  That's when all hell broke loose, because that was Okinawa."  That was the end of the story.  I guess what struck me about that was this gentleman had no certificates or mementos on the wall.  He didn't advertise the fact that he was a WWII veteran.  He was just a man making a living who shared a story with a kindred soul.

This Veterans Day, I have done more than I ever have.  Usually I just stay at home, but Friday we went to a spaghetti supper in New Baltimore to support Wreathes Across America.  I would say that 93% of people there were Veterans.  Today, we went to Texas Roadhouse for their Veteran's Day lunch.  Seeing these guys, who every other day of the year are the guys who change your tires, or cut your hair, or manage your investment account, whatever, all in one place and accepting the recognition they deserve every day on this one weekend of the year was moving.

I say all that to say this:  Our veterans, especially the older ones, are a rare commodity.  They walk among you in anonymity.  Seek them out.  Listen to them.  Go where they go when you are welcome.  You will be better for it.

Janelle's First Day of School

Today was Janelle's first day of Kindergarten at Carkenord Elementary here in Chesterfield, MI.  She has been really excited about starting kindergarten.  Ever since she went to preschool and Christ Presbyterian in Fairfax, VA, she has been talking about "when I go to kindergarten..".

We live, literally, right across the street from Carkenord Elementary, where she goes to school, but they put her on a bus route on the "apple" bus.  When we first started talking to her about going to school, she was excited about riding the bus.  Her excitement hasn't subsided, so we were going to let her ride the bus across the street this morning.  She was up, excited, and ready to go way before the bus, so Jeni put a cartoon on the TV but she was waiting at the ready.

We went out and waited for the bus at 0830, as directed, for the scheduled 0840 stop but by 0843 the bus hadn't come so Jeni walked her to class (school starts at 0855 and we didn't want to be late for the first day).

I am on leave, but I was going to a change of command ceremony in Warren today at 0930, so I headed out.  On the way back, I stopped in the office for a while and got home just before school let out (that becomes relevant in a minute).

Jeni told Janelle's teacher that she would be taking the bus home.  That thing hanging around her neck in the picture above is the name tag that they are supposed to wear for the first three weeks of school.  It has their name, their teacher, and their bus.  It's a pretty good idea for the little ones that may or may not be able to tell a teacher or administrator where they are supposed to be.

When school let out, we stood in the front of the house and watched the kids load the buses (we're just across the street, remember.  When we had that big storm and the trampoline blew away, it landed in the bus bay at the school.)  As the buses drove away  none of them turned in front of the house and let Janelle out.

Waiting on the bus.

After Jeni walked back and forth a couple of times trying to see if Janelle was on a bus, the crossing guard from the corner, 50 yds away, walked down and told us the bus that comes by here services the neighborhood behind us before it comes back by here to drop kids.

When Janelle got off, she had forgotten her backpack in the excitement and had to get back on the bus to get it.

She was crazy excited about her first day at school.

From talking to her, here's what I learned about her first day:

They went to the playground twice.  The same playground she has played on several times a week since we've lived here.

The lunchroom has a big window where you get your hotdog, but the hotdogs weren't that good (note: they were Turkey dogs.  She's used to all beef).  Several kids bring their lunch and she wants to also.

She made some friends, but doesn't remember their names.

The school bus goes around the circle behind us to let those kids off before it comes to our house.

The school bus doesn't have seatbelts.

She didn't learn to spell or to read!  Jeni explained that kindergarten isn't a one day deal, it's a process [channeling Nick Saban].


She's ready to go back tomorrow and ride the bus again.

I claim success on the first day of school.