How far as a Leader have you gone to help a Soldier?

About a million years ago, when "Vietnam" was still in our every-day vocabulary, I had one of the proudest days of my life when, as a O2 Plt Ldr, I stood at attention in front of the Company Commander and told him -- very respectfully -- that he had just given me an illegal order, and I could not obey it.
Had to tell him twice.
He was not happy.
He had ordered me not to look after one of my troopers against whom the Co 1st Sgt had taken a dislike.
(Fortunately, I had already talked to JAG about the situation, so I knew I was standing on good ground.)
Of course, the next 6 weeks until I left Active Duty was a long time, but I never regretted what I did.

the team and i went to his base housing (he was being ordered out) and got it prepared for exit inspection. have lent money from time-to-time (not much, never expected repayment, but if i got it BONUS!) bailed a few out of jail.

Not as significant as what many of you have posted, but I thought I'd share this. The wife of one of my sailors went into labor at 1AM Monday morning. The command got their panties in a bunch because I didn't tellt he guy to leave the delivery room and come to the ship because it would have been a 72-hour liberty. I had him send me a photo of the birth certificate, got the ball rolling on his paternity leave paperwork so he wouldn't have to worry about bringing anything to the ship, and took the tongue lashing from the CO and XO about overstepping my place as a lowly division officer. They eventually relented after I showed them the birth certificate on my phone. It was worth it; there is no reason that someone should miss the birth of their child while your in the damn shipyard.

It wasn't even my soldier. I was on Army leave in Germany (45 too many leave days on my LES) and was just kinda wandering around Europe. I had arrived in NAVSTA Rota, Spain and got a room at the Monterrey Costa in Chipiona as a place to stay as I 'toured' the surrounding countryside (read as bars) sights. I still had four days of seven to go but decided to check if there were any flights going to Greece at the end of the week. There were and I put my name down for stand-by on it.
As I left I noticed a young 19-ish sailor and his dependents. She was obviously pregnant and had another toddler in hand. She was crying and saying she couldn't stay another night at the terminal. He was trying to explain that their flight had been held up until Saturday and they didn't have enough money for a room.
I said, "Ahhh shit" to myself and went over. I read his nametag (from his bag handle) and asked, "Are you Seaman Yadi-yadi?" He answered yes and I told him to get their stuff together and follow me. I took him out got a taxi, taking him and his family down to my hotel. I told them to wait in the lobby while I checked on their room. I quickly went up and threw my things into an AWOL Bag, went downstairs and hid it behind the check-in desk. I then went out into the hobby, found them and gave them the keys to my room.
I introduced them at the check-in desk to the manager then asked the clerk for the #2 envelope that I had placed in the hotel safe. I took it containing $200 I had set-aside for my stay in Rota (leaving another $500 and my traveler’s checks in the safe) and gave it to the sailor. The staff assisted them up to their new room that looked out over the beach. I then explained to the manager that the sailor and his family would be staying in my paid-for room till Saturday. I gave him $20 so the hotel would wake them up on time and transport them to the Rota Air Station for their flight home.
I collected my bag and the other envelope. I stayed in the terminal that night and catching a different stand-by to Naples in the morning. Two days later I made it to Greece on the same flight I would have flown on out of Rota when it did a stopover in Naples. Naples was also a nice place with lots of scenic bars too. :D

As a Chaplain I have seen many more examples of leaders not assisting soldiers when they can. It's one of the reasons I became a chaplain.

The reason I say that is because these stories show its possible to help soldiers and their families. When leaders do this, they not only help that soldier, but show everyone in their chain what type of leader they are. Soldiers become loyal to leaders like this.

Every leader should always try to assist when it doesn't take away from the mission. It will increase moral, teamwork, and a happier unit that will fight for the person next to them.

But ignore the chance to help soldiers? Don't wonder why you have a unit with bad moral and poor soldiers.

run a charity every day that puts food on the table of troops ive never met and never will, as a volunteer and never have taken a dime. screw the stories of bad leadership, they will always be there, but what are you really doing to make sure joe gets taken care of next time? we need volunteers guys, check out http://www.wishforourheroes.org and tell joe we are here, donate to CFC or think about volunteering to help us make $ to help with. Our ratio is 96% and that 4 pct pays the accountants and legal fees so us troopers don't have to go to jail cause we are better Soldiers than bean counters LOL... Hit me up!!!!!

Given my time, place to stay, loaned the money for a sibling 's funeral, loaned the car, etc. I have to be more careful now as an officer, but I'll always help where needed.

I bought groceries for a soldier who didn't belong to me.

I had to go get one of my joes from the back of a police cruiser one night before he was going to be put in jail for the night.

On a Brighter note, when I was a HHB First Sgt. with 223 Assigned the Commander and I had a thing where over Thanksgiving and Christmas no Troop were in the Billets alone. All Married Accompanied Officers and Sgts. along with lower EM took some one to their Quarter's for the Day. My Old Troopers ,who I have keep in contact with remember those days, to this Day, 30 years Later. As for Day to Day Taking care of my People well just to many to Mention. To Me taking Care of my Troopers was #1 I always believed if I did that then what ever Mission we had would be Taken Care of. So Mission and Care of Troops where Hand in Hand.