This Warrior Wasn’t Left Behind

An Internet buddy, who’s retired in Guam, a former USAF E-8, senior master sergeant, refueling boom operator, who naturally goes by the handle, Boomer, sent me a link to a video with the comment that this would be an excellent video from which our recently re-elected commander-in-chief could learn a lesson in leadership. Retired Brigadier General Steve Richie, who is delivering the talk on the rescue of a downed Air Force weapons officer in Vietnam, is an excellent, almost charismatic, speaker. After checking BG Richie out on Wikipedia, I learned that he is in fact, a bit of a charismatic warrior, who once was a youthful, wise guy, hotshot jet jockey with cojónes of steel, the kind of brash, self-confident young warrior who can scare hell out of his comrades and his commanders, but who gets results. In that regard, he is one of only three Air Force aces from the Vietnam War and recipient of the Air Force Cross, an award for valor second only to the Medal of Honor.

Take time to watch this short very entertaining video, The Rescue of Roger Locher, and see if you don’t come away feeling a bit better about our country, our military and even generals, a couple of whom having cast a pall upon their brethren recently. Watch it and I believe you will also agree with my buddy Boomer that our president and some of the perfumed princes in the Pentagon could pick up some pointers from General Richie and his colleagues. As someone who is in contact with other members of our military community on a frequent and ongoing basis, I can tell you, our younger warriors, both troops and leaders, don’t need those pointers.

This is code by which they have always and still do live.

Crossposted at American Thinker.

Category: Military issues