Did you respect your Company Commander? Why did you respect him/her? If you did not respect your C.O., why not?

I was lucky. I had all great company commanders and I got along with all of them.

Captain Macamee was my first CO at El Toro. He had just changed MOS's. He had come from the 0300 field and was super gung ho. I held him in high regard. Even though our MOS was 1345, he took great pains to teach us demolitions, hand to hand, field maneuvers and all other knowledge he had gained in the 0300 field. He really wanted his command to be ready in any scenario that may present itself. We actually got great training in two MOS's under his outstanding leadership.

I didn't really know the CO's of the Hospital. Too far removed from the command structure. I respected the hell out my first CO in Lima 3/3. Capt (later Major) Tom Dickens. Me and my second CO (whose name I refuse to remember) didn't like each other.

I respected one so much, I got a Field Grade article 15 for telling him to go F**k himself. He was well known for thinking he could do no wrong, and often called for artillery on his own men, fortunately it was only in training. He was also convinced that the entire troop was out to kill him, he was promoted to a new position to get him away from us. Then I had one who, after transfering to an EOD unit, prematurely detonated a Claymore mine that was being set up for a demonstration for local dignitaries, killing the 2 men who were readying the mine. Quite a demonstration there.

21 Years I only remember the Complete Whack Job (Even though he did give me a Meritorious Mast) and the Good Ones. Also Nature of my Business I didn't have CO's or CC's as such. Engineers, Scientist and Technicians. I had maybe 5 CO's in 21 years had COS/ACOSs, OICs, Proj Officers more often than not. Thought the World of RADM Dixon, Both OICs in Sugar Grove, My Project Officer in DC and the first skipper on the Cali and my Skipper on the Ark.