Post 3

The first full week of ILE is complete.  What have your tax payer dollars paid for me to learn?  In my leadership class, we talked about the great leaders (Napoleon, Patton, and some more names were mentioned, but I don’t remember) all keeping logs.  They wrote in particulars their thoughts, views, why they chose this course of action and why they did not choose that course of action…things from which prospering leaders can learn from today.  They were not emotional, unlike our “blog” writers today.  The great leaders’ logs were not the same as our blogs today.  Then why is one of my homework assignments to author a blog? 

I was very emotional on Saturday, 14 May.  That is the date I met the most bravest of American Soldiers:  WWII veterans.   They were on their honor flight to visit their memorial.  It was truly amazing.  I was part of a team that that greeted the veterans when they departed their flights.   We clapped, shook hands, hugged, and I kissed their cheeks, thanked them, wished them well on their day in DC, etc.  Their eyes were filled with tears.  Some kissed me back.  Some would not release from the hug (their “handlers” helped keep the line of veterans going).   Some said they were so happy (and they had not even seen the monument yet - - they were still in the secured area of the airport).  What an honor to help make them happy.    

I don’t know how those USO girls in the 1940’s did it…my lips were sore from kissing all the men on their cheeks.  And there were quite a few ladies amongst them as well.  They wore jackets that said:  Women Served in WWII too.  No one was in the Army, but met one Air Force lady and the rest were Navy.  One of the ladies told me was an operation room nurse in England.  She said she spent day and night in surgery.  I told them about me being in the Army and am a lawyer….  I thanked the ladies for leading the way so I could serve today.    

Please visit http://honorflight.org/.   If you have an airport in your area, you can go to the airport to send them off or greet them when they return.  If you are in the DC Area, you can even spend the day escorting them around as well.  And of course, they need donations to pay for the airfare for these most valiant Soldiers. 

required note:  MAJ Tara McCallum, Student, Command and General Staff College, Fort Belvoir, VA.  "The views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government."