THE WALL OF FACES

If I should die, and leave you here awhile, be not ike others, sore undone, who keep long vigils by the silent dust and weep. For MY sake, turn again to life and smile. Nerving thy heart and trembling hand to do something to comfort other hearts than thine. Complete these dear, unfinished tasks of mine, and I perchance, may therein comfort you.

In memory of one of the most outstanding leaders of men in the 20th century. George, you would have been Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army had you lived. It is the Army's, the nation's, your family's, and my personal loss that you will be forever 48 years young. You will always have a special place in my heart.

I commanded a company in the 1st Air Cav when Gen Casey was an Assistant Division Commander, Support. He had a reputation for being a soldier general, like Gen Bradley of WWII fame, as he was always thinking of his men. He died on a return flight insuring his men were safe. When I found out about Gen Casey's death, I felt as though I lost a member of my family, as did others, because Gen Casey was very well liked by all who knew him. He was a good officer and a fine leader to all, but I have a personal reflection of the kind of Officer Gen Casey was. While I commanded Company A, 15th S&S Bn during the period Jul 69 - Feb 1970, my job was to supply and support all field operations going on at the time, which, then in the 1st Cav meant 25 hours a day, 8 days a week. I had worked my men and myself continuosly, day and night, with the men getting only 3-6 hours sleep a day, mostly from cat-naps, for almost 2 months. We were finally beginning to get caught up and the Division was getting everything it needed to reduce the enemies capabilities. After an exhastive 96 hour run of non-stop, non-sleep action to support a build up along the Cambodian border, I was summoned to Division Headquarters to brief the CG and the Division staff on status of supply support. I wasn't alone, as my battalion commander, and the Division Support Command Commander, two tough cookies, were there also, and were scheduled to brief before me. We arrived about 1400 hours and sat on one of those really cushy chairs that the headquarters people always seem to find in a combat zone. I was in charge of supply and I didn't know these chairs were in country. Anyway, I sat down - the first time in 96 hours - and began to await my turn to speak, listnening to my bosses go first. The air was filled with common Army talk of things about how the war was being fought, could be fought, and wasn't being fought. But, for me I was sitting down in a real comfortable chair, smoking PX cigarettes, it was cool, with a slight warm breeze and the hard talk began to fade away as I fell further and further into my newly found world of bliss. Pretty soon, all I became aware of was Gen Casey shaking my shoulder saying something like, "you are the only one around here that knows what you are doing." or words to that effect. I was alarmed. I looked around and everyone was gone. The briefing was over and all that was left in the tent was Gen Casey His aide, my two bosses, and ole tired eyes me. I jumped to, and took up a rigid position of attention and began to apologize when Gen Casey interupted me to ask,"When did you last sleep?" I lied and said recently, Sir! Gen Casey said to my battalion commander, I want this man on the first R&R flight out of here. Send him some place quiet where he can get caught up on his sleep. At approximately 0630 hours the next day I was on an R&R flight to Taipei where I spent the next 5 days doing just what the General had ordered. I often reflect on that day as a turning point in my own style as an officer. I was Airborne, Special Forces and rather a hard type. Gen Casey put the art of command in my heart. I previously had it very much positined in my butt. I could have been chewed out royally for what I did at the Commanding General's Briefing - I was the only Company grade officer scheduled to speak that day as all the others were Lieutenant Colonel's or above, and it was because I had insight into supply operations that were needed by all the others. I never spoke. I slept. I should have been court martialed. And, I probably would have been, except I just made a good friend, and he was a General. I was blessed. And General Casey will forever be in my mind, and heart, as the one who showed me leadership has to be firm, it has to be valid, and that most importantly, leadership must also be kind.