I was having a conversation with a friend the other day and we were discussing creative outlets. He’s a poet at heart and was a mariner by trade, and our conversations have ranged a wide variety of topics – from the evolution of leadership during the Second World War, to the source of inspiration, and finally – why we write.
Turkey, Leadership, and the Fire Pit
Originally posted November 27, 2015.
A post-Thanksgiving dinner brought the topic of my paper on Charles A. Lockwood,’s leadership during the Second World War and the feedback of the host was especially appreciated due to his prior service as an officer in the U.S. Navy:
“You wrote that Lockwood had both ‘transactional’ and ‘transformational’ leadership skills. Do you think most leaders have both types of leadership skills? Do you think a good leader must have both?”
Jump
Originally, this was posted January 15, 2016 – a few days before I received my DD-214 marking my official retirement from the Army after 20 years’ service… Since then it has been improved upon a bit…
“…That’s why I don’t believe you can fail. You only fail if you give up. The second you decide ‘Aw, I’m not gonna do it’… ‘Aw, I’ll just give up’, that’s YOU making that choice. You’re the one choosing to fail. You have to make the decision to fail. Whereas, if you don’t ever make that decision, you say ‘No… I’m just going to keep on going until it friggin’ happens’, well, then you don’t fail. You’re just in the process of making it happen.” Jeb Corliss (@ 8:58)
Controversy and History
A recent conversation on Facebook provided the inspiration and momentum to organize my thoughts on the around the removal of Confederate statues and monuments in New Orleans, LA. Sometimes, what one initially says actually can be surprisingly succinct:
History is like cooking – the end result is flavored by everything added during the process. Once something is added, it can never be taken away. You can add more to counteract too much of one ‘bad’ ingredient, but that original ingredient is still there.
On Redacted
I just realized that this post was missing from this blog. As it is pretty much the cornerstone of my views on participating in many discussions on social media, I feel that it is important to include this explanation for the sake of the reader.
As I have been retired since March 1, 2016, I realize that much of my professional concerns may be put to rest. However, given that I have not yet found my next career, I shall always be careful what is posted, my stance on selective participation and deliberate posting will remain…
A Means for “Better Understanding of History Beyond the Basics”
A recent academic conversation centered around the topic of finding ways to better inspire students as they embark upon the path towards a history degree, and the following question was posed by the professor:
“What would you recommend to them to help them get a better understanding of History beyond the basics? More research? More writing?” Continue reading “A Means for “Better Understanding of History Beyond the Basics””
Simo Orts and the Missing American [Redacted]
On January 17, 1966 – at the height of the Cold War – a B-52 and KC-135 tanker collided while conducting aerial refueling over the air above Palomares, Spain. Of the eleven total crewmembers of both planes, seven were found dead near the Palomares cemetery, and over the next three months, eighteen vessels and over 3,800 men would undertake a search and recovery mission which cost over $84 million.[1] Missing was one of four Mark 28 hydrogen bombs lost in the accident, and the man who led American rescue efforts was a 46-year-old fisherman – Francisco Simo Orts.[2] Continue reading “Simo Orts and the Missing American [Redacted]”
