Who is your favorite military figure past or present?

SGT James Elphick — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 20:18:50 -0400

There are many prominent military figures throughout history and today that are revered for one reason or another. Who is your favorite?

Mine is Gen. John "Black Jack" Pershing. His story is as amazing as his military abilities. He was known as much for his "by the book" mentality as he was for being able to think on his feet and accomplish the mission. Not to mention he attained the highest rank of any living service member in the history of the United States.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2014 8:53 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 20:53:09 -0400

Mine would have to be General Thomas " Stonewall Jackson. C.S.A, because of his courage and his Trust in God , I however do not believe in the dissolution of The Union. He always Led from the front with his soldiers..True bravery!

Response by SPC Michael Gutowski made Mar 29 at 2014 12:47 PM

SPC Michael Gutowski — Sat, 29 Mar 2014 12:47:19 -0400

General Custard. I just saw him, again, in the movie and he cracks me up. Talk about an ego. Do you think that the movie in any way depicted him as he really was? "Little Big Man" I think.

Response by MAJ Jim Woods made Mar 31 at 2014 4:23 PM

MAJ Jim Woods — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 16:23:59 -0400

I guess Norman Schwartzkopf (when he was a LTC) of the modern era. He kicked me and my team off a fire base in Vietnam. 10 years later, I was briefing him and his Brigade Staff at Ft. Lewis (9th ID) and got half way through it before he stopped me and asked if we had met before. I reminded him of the incident. He laughed and said "We've both come along was from there." Great guy to be around. Loved his troops and nobody messed with them but him, and MOST of the time, he was right.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2014 6:04 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 18:04:28 -0400

COL David Hackworth. About Face and Steel My Soldiers hearts and two of my fav military books.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Mar 31 at 2014 9:19 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 21:19:55 -0400

RADM Grace Hopper, Grandmother of the Computer Age. Challenged us all to look for a better way to do the Navy's Business. Famous last words for the few sailors that said it "That is the way we have always done it Admiral" She would verbally serve you your own ass if you ever said that to her. "There is always a better way to do anything".

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2014 3:22 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 19 May 2014 03:22:56 -0400

FM Irwin R. Rommel. Prior to his fame in North Africa revolutionized small unit tactics in World War I on the Italian front.

Response by SSG Joshua Locke made Jun 2 at 2014 4:34 PM

SSG Joshua Locke — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 16:34:08 -0400

General Patton didnt take lip off of anyone and he handled his business no matter what the circumstances were. He was a true hero.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2014 4:34 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 16:34:09 -0400

SFC Gilley!

That guy is awesome! LOL

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2014 4:46 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 16:46:08 -0400

Two different people for two different reasons - U.S. Grant because I love his style. Nothing pretty, just getting the job done. This guy traveled with a barrel of his own whiskey, yet was still 100% sober when it came time to fight. And GEN McClellan, because I'm fascinated by the insane logic behind most of his decisions during the civil war.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2014 4:51 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 16:51:20 -0400

Besides Lincoln, there was one other true genius in the Civil War (although you might argue for Lee as well). Nathan Bedford Forrest. I love his quote:

Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest had 30 horses shot from under him and personally killed 31 men in hand-to-hand combat. "I was a horse ahead at the end," he said.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 3 at 2014 8:21 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 20:21:48 -0400

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. Officer, GO, Statesman and probably one of the better examples of the citizen soldier. His biography, "In the Hands of Providence" is a great read!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 3 at 2014 8:39 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 20:39:14 -0400

Too many to pick!!!!!!

I am currently reading THE FOURTH STAR, and I will admit that the stories of Generals Petraeus, Abizaid, Casey Jr., and Chiarelli are definitely hitting home with me right now. I am seeing quite a bit of similiarities here and there between their careers, my career, and where I hope to go with mine (not neccessarily to the GO level, but just in general).

Historically, there are so many:
CW4 Durant
GEN Patton
GOA Bradley
LTG Hal Moore
MAJ Dick Winters
GEN Stanley McChrystal

...among many others. As you can see, if they have something to read by them or about them, I am generally interested and will learn the most about them.

However, right now....my favorite has become Francois-Louis Teissedre de Fleury. This is due to the fact that my regiment has a medal named after him and being located around so much Revolutionary War history, I am finding the base for our nation and Army takes an interesting take when you compare it to its beginnings in a tangible manner.

Response by 1SG Jason Fitzpatrick made Jun 4 at 2014 12:19 PM

1SG Jason Fitzpatrick — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 12:19:09 -0400

Sun Tzu- The Art of War.

I have read somewhere that Gen MacArthur once said that before he went to bed at night, he read a chapter of the Bible and a Chapter of the Art of War.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2014 12:34 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 12:34:27 -0400

Ghengis Khan - Uniter, leader, & statesman. By todays standards he was brutal, even for his time he was brutal, but as for a military leader wow he created/led to the creation of one of if not the largest empires in history.

Response by Sgt Packy Flickinger made Sep 10 at 2014 2:08 AM

Sgt Packy Flickinger — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 02:08:29 -0400

Greg Boyington. Ever since I saw Ba Ba Blacksheep when I was a kid. I met him once at an RC airshow around 1980 and had no idea who he was until we were leaving and someone asked "so how was it talking to your hero"?

WHAT!!!!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2014 7:45 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 19:45:13 -0500

Another good one. I would say Sun Tzu since he truly understood strategy, tactics and logistics.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2014 11:27 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 23:27:51 -0500

Number 1: George Washington, Continental(US) Army; Not generally considered a brilliant tactician or strategist, but knew what he and his countrymen were fighting for and was able to convey it to the soldiers under his command. Part militarist, part statesman, this was his brilliance. Strategically, knew when to press the attack and when to retreat, always keeping in mind the overall goal of his army as well as the goal of his enemy. By all accounts, outstanding officer of the British Army during the French and Indian Wars. Also, the first President of the U.S.

Number 2: Napoleon Bonapart: How did you see what you saw when so many others didn't? Why did you let your ambition get the best of you? Goes without saying. Master of warfare of the age. Lack of long term strategic thinking was his undoing. 1st Emperor of France.

Number 3: Field Marshal Graf Helmut von Moltke(Prussia). Brilliant tactical and strategic thinker. Chief of Staff of the Prussian Army during the Franco-Prussian War. He is the one who devised the modern military staff system and came up with the Blue/Red strategy for wargaming/keeping track of forces. Pushed idea of Tactical, Operational, and Strategic formations. Far more than that, he codified into the military modern advancements of the age. Battle on multiple fronts during the Silesian Wars and Austro-Prussian Wars.

Number 4: GEN(later FM) Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington; Masterful coalition builder and identifier of Napoleon's weaknesses. Understood the long term consequences of Napoleon's power shift in Europe and the danger it posed to the British Empire. Realized the strategy of the "soft underbelly of Europe"(during the peninsular wars) that would be replicated many times over during the World Wars.

Number 5: LTG U.S. Grant; Commander, Army of the Tennessee(US) and eventual General in Chief of the US Army. Many of the same reasons as Moltke. Understanding of the changes to warfare and a grasp of the strategic importance of the battlefield. By all accounts a practical and forgivable human being as well. A view that would change American military leadership for generations to come.

Number 6: FM Erich von Mannstein, Germany; brilliant tactician and strategist who greately prolonged the war on the eastern front, defied Hitler(both in Military and Humanist ambitions), builder of the (formerly)W. German Bundeswehr.

Number 7: FM Erwin Rommel, Germany; A superb tactician, strategist, and (unfortunately) example of complete and unquestioning devotion to his countries civil leadership, for a while anyway. Rommel was no dedicated Nazi, but had the opinion that "politics are for the politician" and didn't think much of his countries "elected" civil leadership; like Mannstein, he was pushed by the ideal of his country in general and skilled in the art of war. Walked the fine line of military vs. civilian leadership. Rather than resigning; he opted to believe that the civilian leadership of Germany(Nazi party) had the best interest of the nation and it's people in mind. Finally, came to terms and was a minor conspirator to remove Hitler from power. Conflicted man, who ceded his opinion to "elected" civilian leadership, much like von Mannstein.

Number 8: John Churchill; 1st Duke of Marlboro(American English spelling); like Wellington, masterful coalition builder; challenged the crown in a time before Parliament dominance. identified as the first great English/then British military leader post Cromwell.

Response by SSG John Erny made Dec 10 at 2014 2:32 PM

SSG John Erny — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 14:32:37 -0500

Well if you look at Joan of Arc she was the last French Military Leader to put fear in the hearts of the Enemy.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Dec 10 at 2014 5:26 PM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 17:26:48 -0500

One clarification to GEN Pershing. His rank was "General of the Armies" which he and GEN Washington were both given (GEN Washington posthumously). This is a five star rank with gold stars which is different from "General of the Army" which is considered a lesser rank of five stars with silver stars. Only five Army officers have achieved this rank (all WWII: Marshall, MacArthur, Eisenhower, Arnold, Bradley). We then get into the four star general rank of which several officers have achieved throughout US history.