Leadership

I have studied leadership for most of my adult life. Watching the ultimate example of my own Father and the men of his generation was my first exposure to what it should look like. Honesty, even when it hurts. Integrity, even when it costs you. Dependability, even in the face of extreme challenges.

My Dad’s generation were called to serve the nation in tie of great peril. The rise of totalitarian regimes forced a whole world into unbelievable acts of heroism and bravery. Too many people died because of evil men and their foolish followers. But the Greatest Generation rose to the occasion and fought with every weapon they could muster and ultimately defeat one form of evil.

There was a cost of course. August 7 is the day where we recognize some of that cost. It is the day set aside as Purple heart Day.

From the Revolutionary War to WW I

The Purple Heart was first created on August 7, 1782 by the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, General George Washington. Then known as the Badge of Military Merit, it was awarded to 3 Revolutionary soldiers in 1783.

After the end of the American War of Independence, no medals were awarded until 1932, when the medal was revived on the bicentennial anniversary of George Washington’s birth.

According to a circular dated February 22, 1932, Purple Heart Medals were to be awarded to those wounded or killed while serving in the United States Armed Forces as a result of enemy action on or after April 5, 1917. The United States officially joined the First World War on April 6, 1917.

1.8 Million Awarded

At current estimates about 1.8 million Purple Hearts have been awarded since then.

Today, in addition to being awarded to those who fight wars overseas, the Purple Heart is also given to military personnel who display bravery and valor as prisoners of war and while fighting certain types of domestic terrorists.

A Symbol of Bravery

The Purple Heart is a heart shaped purple medal with a gold border. The front has a profile of George Washington, while the back has the words for military merit inscribed on it. The medal is attached to a piece of purple silk with a silver border.

Public Life

The observance is also called the National Purple Heart Day, Purple Heart Appreciation Day, and Purple Heart Recognition Day.

Purple Heart Day is an unofficial observance. This means that businesses, government offices and public transport do not close on this day.

Veteran and military organizations hold remembrance meetings for fallen heroes and special events to thank soldiers, veterans, and Purple Heart recipients on this day. Many people fly the American flags at their homes and businesses as a way to show their solidarity with the troops.

The Purple Heart Foundation, the fundraising arm of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, recommends donating time and money to the foundation or to other organizations working with Purple Heart recipients and their families on this day. They also encourage people to listen to soldiers and veterans and learn more about their life stories and their military service.

https://purpleheartfoundation.org/

From their web site:

HELPING VETERANS RECOVER

“The scars of battle go far deeper than the eye can see.

“Returning war veterans may face a multitude of physical and mental challenges. Veterans’ families are often unprepared to deal with a family member who may experience pain, nightmares, feelings of detachment, irritability, trouble concentrating, and sleeplessness. These are some of the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress (PTS).

“Experts estimate that between 25% and 30% of Vietnam veterans who fought in combat have symptoms of PTS and the experiences associated with combat. It’s been recently estimated that 30% of combat soldiers returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan are experiencing similar trauma.

Twenty Years of War

The twenty year war on terror that was brought to an end only brought the overt fighting to an end. Our hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan will be a model of failed leadership for decades to come. I will never forget the sight of those Afghani men trying to climb aboard an already full US Air Force transport as it lumbered down the runway attempting to take off. Before they were cleansed, footage from the withdrawal showed bodies falling from the plane as it took off. What level of desperation would cause a man to do that?

And we abandoned so much equipment on the ground that our tax dollars had paid for.

From CNN:

• A total of 9,524 air-to-ground munitions, valued at $6.54 million, remained in Afghanistan at the conclusion of the US military withdrawal. The “significant majority” of the “remaining aircraft munitions stock are non-precision munitions,” the report states.
• Over 40,000 of the total 96,000 military vehicles the US gave to Afghan forces remained in Afghanistan at the time of the US withdrawal, including 12,000 military Humvees, the report states. “The operational condition of the remaining vehicles” in Afghanistan is “unknown,” the report states.
• More than 300,000 of the total 427,300 weapons the US gave to Afghan forces remained in Afghanistan at the time of the US military withdrawal, according to the report. Less than 1,537,000 of the “specialty munitions” and “common small arms ammunition,” valued at a total of $48 million, are still in the country, the report states.
• “Nearly all” of the communications equipment that the US gave to Afghan forces, including base-station, mobile, man-portable and hand-held commercial and military radio systems, and associated transmitters and encryption devices also remained in Afghanistan at the time of the withdrawal, the report states.
• “Nearly all” night vision, surveillance, “biometric and positioning equipment” totaling nearly 42,000 pieces of specialized equipment remained in the country, the report adds.
• And “nearly all,” of the explosive ordinance disposal and demining equipment, including 17,500 “pieces of explosive detection, electronic countermeasure, disposal and personal protective equipment” also remained in Afghanistan, according to the report.

The question is this: Why did we choose a path that allowed such a large cache of equipment so easily gained by a known enemy?

But this is Purple Heart Day.

On this day in California, a hearing was held in Escondido. The speakers were the parents and family of the last 13 members of our military that died in Afghanistan. They were sons and daughters. Husbands and wives. Americans each and every one. And they all had a very similar message. When is anyone going to tell the truth about what happened to their loved ones? When is anyone going to be held accountable? Why was this such a botched operation despite the illusion that we are the most capable and powerful military force on the planet???

I fear we will never know the answers. Just like the horrific leadership during the Vietnam era, the leaders will retire to their country estate. They are immune from the prosecution they so justly deserve. They are seemingly immune from the suffering they caused.

But I believe in a lengthier justice. The justice that will come when they face their maker face to face.

I salute all of those who have served with honor and gave their best to defend others from tyranny. Their sacrifices will forever be honored by a people who seek truth and justice. Their names should never be forgotten.

• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas
• Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Sacramento, Calif.
• Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City
• Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tenn.
• Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, Calif.
• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, of Jackson, Wyo.
• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, of Norco, Calif.
• Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Mass.
• Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Ind.
• Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles, Mo.
• Navy Hospital Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio
• Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha, Neb.

I began this post talking about leadership.

True leadership would stand up for their mistakes and do everything in their power to make sure the sacrifices that have been made are never forgotten. True leadership would accept the responsibility for those mistakes and spend the rest of their days seeking forgiveness from the loved ones who they have so easily dismissed, I do not expect anyone who was involved in the “leadership” to do so. But I do expect that everyone who comes behind them to seek justice and bring those people’s actions to light. That is also true leadership.

Mister Mac