RESPECT

I will admit that I am more than slightly weird. When girls my age were reading romances I was reading about submarines, DNA, the history of almost anything, the geography of almost anywhere. Did read a couple of romance novels. Bored me to tears. 

 "When that moment comes, men will not follow you because you're a big, mean, tough son of a bitch. They will not follow you because they fear you. They will not follow you because you're better educated, or older, or more experienced. They will not follow you because you out rank them. They will not follow you because you're their friend or father figure or because they love you. And they damned sure won't follow you for freedom and democracy or other high ideals. No, Sailors, Marines, Soldiers, Airmen will follow your orders in that moment, they will give up their lives on your command, for one reason, and one reason only - respect.

Respect cannot be bought, it cannot be forced, it cannot be bargained for - it must be earned. It must be earned each and every day, by every action, by every word, because when that moment comes it is far, far too late. You'll have seconds at most, and either you are that person men will follow into battle, or you're not. It's that simple. That is what it is to be a Chief. That is what it is to be a Warrant.

That is what it is to be a leader.

Rest in peace, Ed. Your sacrifice was not in vain."

From Jim Wright at Stonekiettle Station.. It is part of his Remembering December 7 entry back in 2007.  It's the story of a ship and two men. The ship was the battleship Nevada. The men were an ensign, Joseph Taussig, and a Chief Warrant Officer, Edwin Hill. It was Sunday morning. Taussig was officer of the deck and in charge of the anti air cratt guns. Hill was the chief Boatswains mate. Part of his duteis involved the mooring lines and anchors. As luck or providence would have it drills were being conducted in engineering and several of her boilers were hot. As luck or providence would have it the Nevada was at the end of the line on Battleship row, sister ship the Pensylvania was in dry dock. 

Already under fire Ensign Taussiig ordered the ship to make for open sea. There was no one on the dock to release the lines. Hill ordered his crew to swim to the dock and let go the mooring lines. At that point, at Wright relates the events, Hill and his crew had done their duty. The Nevada was clear of the dock. heading open sea. He ordered his crew to swim back to the ship. And they obeyed that order. As Wright put it "that's when you find out what you are made of." And that is when your crew follows that order, 

Note: The west coast and Hawaii are not exactly known naval bases sitting right next to open sea. If the Nimitz batle group is in harbor in an emergency she has to make her way through Puget Sound first. I believe its at least a hundred miles. Pearl Harbor is a lovely sheltered harbor with a relatively narrow channel entrance and Ford Island right in front of it on the navy side.The Nevada had to make her way past Ford Island. Past the blazing Arizona, past the capsizing New Jersey and past the Oklahoma. 

Battleship row December 7, 1941. Those ship images are not to scale and darn it Hospital Point is not labeled but I believe it's just past the dry docks before a ship would enter the main channel. Just in time for the second wave of Japanese planes. The Nevada became a prime target. On fire, taking on water, Taussig was ordered to beach her at hospital point. Hill and part of his crew were on the stern probably trying to release the anchor when a five hundred fifty pound bomb hit the ship. Hill and his crew were killed. Ensign Taussig was in charge of his anti aircraft guns when he was severly wounded. Lost a leg, was awarded the navy cross, and returned to duty. Hill was awarded the Medal of Honor. Posthumosly.

I'm not a big believer in wars. I wish fervently that humans could find a way to settle our differences without blasting the living hell out of each other. I realize this entry is sort of disjointed. Take the time, please to read Chief Warrant Officer, retired Jim Writght's entry. After four years of the current occupant if our military is still functional it's because of officers like him and not the individual in the oval office who has been quoted "they're losers and suckers." Couldn't get to the Tomb of the Unknown on time on Verteran's Day, acted like he'd rather be somewhere else. (That or he's having trouble standing still for any length of time. I can't either but I have problems with my back and bum legs.What's his excuse?) 

I guess that's my biggest problem with #45. I can't respect the man. You can not respect someone but still admit that they are good at their jobs. He can't even do that and I won't waste my time cataloging everythig else he's either failed at or proved he's a boor, a bore, and a borderline pedophile.