What is your best story?

SGT Ben Keen — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 09:18:46 -0400

As some of you know, I have been afford the great opportunity here in Pittsburgh to join other Veterans from the area in a leadership course designed to take Veterans and help teach us about the community and how to take our existing leadership skills and make a true lasting impact in the region.

Our class last night focused on office politics and while that phrase might have some negative feelings around it; office politics play a major role both in the office and in the community. Knowing how to understand those around you can make or break you. And part of gaining that knowledge is to allow others to know more about you. So towards the end of the class, the instructor asked this room full of Veterans to write a story about an accomplishment we each had that no one else really knows.

Now of course in this room, there was no short supply of accomplishments. Both in the military and in the civilian sector, the Veterans that I'm so lucky to be a part of have done some truly amazing things. Yet with all these accomplishments we each found it difficult to brag. So the instructor challenged us to get out there and be more willing to share our story, to share some sort of what we would consider an accomplishment.

So here is what I am asking the RP community, again a place overflowing with accomplishments. What is YOUR accomplishment that very few people know about? It can be anything. Do not worry about what others share, share your story. I think if you look back and things you have done both in the military and out of it, you would be surprised to see all you have done.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jul 15 at 2015 9:31 AM

COL Charles Williams — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 09:31:05 -0400

SGT Ben Keen 31 Dec 06, Operation Black Horse, I personally (with a heavy MP squad of 16, an a translator - Mission Easy43) escorted Saddam Hussein to turn him over to the GOI for his execution as ordered by the IHT.

Response by SSG Rob Lawrence made Jul 15 at 2022 9:47 AM

SSG Rob Lawrence — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 09:47:27 -0400

While serving aboard the heavy cruiser USS Newport News CA 148, we suffered a malfunction in a fuse located in an 8” HE round. The resulting explosion caused catastrophic damage to the number 2 gun turret. Due to my duty station while at General Quarters, as an OBA man I was sent inside the number 2 turret to help fight the fire. I remember thinking upon entering the turret that it was very much the way hell is described. Heat and smoke surrounded me very quickly upon my entering this turret. Also, the deceased bodies of those on duty in the turret when the projectile exploded were all around me. Even now, 50 years later, the memory of that night is as vivid as the day I went into hell.