Category: Life Lesson

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Perfect Courage… laying your life down for your Brothers

Tonight, I raise a toast and remember.

18 years ago at 04:57 local time on March 4th, 2002 in the mountains of Afghanistan USAF MSgt John Chapman began the longest and most important walk of his life. 

That morning “Chappie” alongside USN SEAL PO1 Neal Roberts and five other heroic Americans gave their lives for our freedom.  Many others were wounded in action.

Never in the history of warfare has a Medal of Honor action been captured on film.  I hope you will watch this and remember our Fallen today and those that gave it all for our Freedom. 

You can learn more about John here.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” – John 15:13

The Author is currently serving as an active-duty military officer. Any comments or recommendations on this post or on this site are solely my personal views and do not represent the position of any branch of the United States Government.

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The Leader’s Playbook-13: Never miss the opportunity to be quiet and listen.

Being self-aware is something that I work hard on every day. Years ago I realized that I (and everyone else) talks too much and that we need to all be quiet and listen.

I must be an active, patient, and thoughtful listener. I must listen for understanding both with my ears and my eyes.

And, when I do make a decision to open my mouth, I need to think deliberately about what I’m going to say, how I’m going to say it, what the context is, the content of the message, the primary (and sometimes secondary audiences), the tenor and tone I’m going to take and the timing.

And as one of my former bosses once said, “Junior, never miss the opportunity to shut the #$% up”. Great advice.

The Author is currently serving as an active duty military officer. Any comments or recommendations on this post or on this site are solely my personal views and do not represent the position of any branch of the United States Government.