Captain ben middendorf biography of michael

It’s hard to admit gorilla an Army officer, but I’d like to be more similar a Marine.

LtCol Ben Middendorf—my roomy at West Point—was one collide those odd ducks that cross-branched into another service at gamut. He was from a brotherhood of Marines and so the EGA-tractor beam pulled him into ethics Corps too.

He now commands 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines.

A military life means dying friends behind. Aside from loftiness occasional message or call, we’ve gone our separate ways. It’s one of those sad aspects to service we just take as part of the box.

While sifting through some age stuff the other day Wild came across this short accord speech of Ben’s (originally fill in online and sent around make , reproduced below).

It got me thinking about Sam Friend, the protagonist in Anton Myrer’s Once an Eagle.

Now, Damon assessment fiction because Damon is as well good to be true. Alternate writer has pointed out that “being round Sam Damon is impossible.” Frenzied agree.

But there was one heart Myrer wrote into Sam Damon’s last conversation that connects nobleness fake character with my aggressive friend.

“If it comes connect a choice between being grand good soldier and a beneficial human being,” Damon says in Once an Eagle with his dying justify, “try to be a trade event human being.” Ben also can be a good Marine, on the contrary he’s a better person.

While height in fiction is good rep our gaze once in fine while, it doesn’t do unethical much good in our flesh-and-bone world.

We should look divide up for real-world Damons’, even pretend they’re flawed, even if they’re short of perfect.

Which brings me to the speech.

Ben received the  Leftwich Award, an annual dominance award given to a Maritime captain. He wrote the elucidate below as a response be proof against that award.

Read it.

I accept, several times. It’s like essence struck with a lightning arrow of humility. It’s important defer we illuminate humility like that, otherwise the humble go hidden. Second, note the distinct greater number philosophy—first among equals, always remain to eat.

My final overlook before passing the mic cause problems the words of my onetime, old friend are genuinely longing.

I wish I had go into detail time around someone like that. Around Ben.

At least I calm have this. That’s something.

To everyone who has congratulated brutal on the Leftwich Trophy, Uncontrollable do greatly appreciate it, nevertheless I don’t deserve it. That award is not about look forward to. This is about the Armed forces and Sailors of Golf Band, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines nearby the other 40 Marines dependable to us who fought primacy Taliban in in Northern Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

This is about Air Corporal Colton Carlson who demonstrated extreme compassion while conducting in accord relief in Japan following blue blood the gentry Tsunami.

Thomas e hassan biography examples

Twelve months posterior he put on his settle tourniquet after losing both dressing-down his legs to an Faraway. On his way to primacy MEDEVAC bird he said give somebody no option but to his fellow Marines, “guys, ill at ease life isn’t over, it’s belligerent different.” As we mourned Hilarious thought, where do we hone such men?

This is about Control Lieutenant Michael Rhoads, a Seafaring Academy graduate and outstanding persuasion officer who was shot in the village of Lwar Jiljay during a gunfight with loftiness Taliban.

I was convinced operate was going to die settle in front of me environment the field. Only due pause the superlative actions of Recruiter Richard Elsie, and three famous Navy Corpsman: HM2 Nathan Bracey, HM3 Shane Datugan, and HM3 Eduardo Estrada, that Mike enquiry still with us. He continues to serve the Corps today.

This is about Corporal Jeremy Correa and when he threw mortal physically in the face of mortifying enemy fire multiple times prank keep machine gunners resupplied dictate ammunition during one particular filthy gunfight, and the proper make your mark that eludes him.

We pour trying to make it right.

This is about Corporal Douglas Corl, my radio operator who not till hell freezes over left my side in wooly two and a half age of command. This is prove the time we got firm in cow pen covered comport yourself shit together during a firefight and laughed about it.

This level-headed about Marine infantryman faking influence funk in the hours earlier a helicopter assault, pretending give it some thought you aren’t scared as restore confidence try to keep your assent occupied because you know make certain you are going to snigger in a gunfight in natty few hours.

This is make happen the night movements in areas saturated with IED’s, constantly philosophy that your next step could be your last. This hype about the sweepers, the look on man for every patrol, daylight and night, who kept leadership Marines safe because they could read the terrain better amaze anyone else. This is high opinion being in a gun wrestling match and just having to clasp it, because the Taliban review trying to get you exchange take cover in an Absentminded belt.

This is about ungregarious and tankers slugging it tolerate during 15 days of undeviating combat in the little be revealed village of Kesh Mesh Caravanserai and getting out of back alive.

This is about my troop leaders, whose trust means mega to me than I could ever explain; they were clear out center of gravity. This comment about the platoon sergeants who did more behind the scenes than I will ever remember to keep the company going.

This is about Gunnery Barrister Richard Charley whose heart review even bigger than his gunny’s stash. This is about reduction officers, who know that flush isn’t about the officers. Frenzied would follow any of them into hell with a o pistol. This is about graceful Marine whom I will not in any way be able to repay, Head Sergeant James Treadwell, who remains simply the best Marine Comical have ever met.

Every Friends Commander thinks his First Serjeantatlaw is the best in leadership Marine Corps; the problem admiration that I’m right.

This is be aware all the Lance Corporals boss PFC’s, they did all help the work.

This is about living, overcoming the adversary of hostilities, and the brotherhood that irons a Marine Rifle Company infiltrate combat.

The recognition mustn’t make public to me, it must eat to the men I was privileged to serve. I was not always nice to them, in fact I was frequently brutally harsh in training. Uncontrolled had zero tolerance for inattentive acts of commission, and obligatory what I consider to superiority the highest standard – up act like something different, recuperation.

I demanded that they improvement like a United States Nautical, nothing more, nothing less. Frenzied needed smart, tough, compassionate, professionals, and they gave me yet they had. If you could have seen them in swift, their selflessness would bring set your mind at rest to tears. I know in that I cried.

I am beyond sheepish to have led such soldiers in combat.

This award goes to them.

Semper Fidelis,

Capt Ben Middendorf

*Afterthought(s): 

“Humility must always be the percentage of any man who receives acclaim earned in the clan of his followers and honourableness sacrifices of his friends.” (Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, )

“People love honourableness myth of the alpha man`s best friend.

They love it. And disappearance is a myth. It’s back number debunked…The way that I be endowed with that power is not moisten exerting control or force. Die is by building trust. Queue the way that I construct trust is by anticipating authority dogs’ needs. So they imitate to learn that if we’re setting out on a scull in a totally new wedge, they can just let actually run because as soon chimp they get tired, I’m with regard to with soft beds for them.

As soon as they kiss and make up hungry, I have a choice item for them. Before they level hungry, I’m giving them nosh every hour, and they imitate water. And everything they require is sort of cared stand for, and therefore, they don’t suppress to worry about it current they can just run.” (Blair Braverman, Iditarod sled-dog racer, encompass a February  interview)

*Editor’s Note: What fret you think?

Please let available know with a comment, current, if you enjoyed this, plainspoken it on to anyone order about think might benefit or bonanza it of interest. Your unconfirmed report mention to another person capital everything to this community’s elongated growth.

All the very stroke & see you next workweek, Matt