Posted on Jan 16, 2016
Who is your personal favorite General or Admiral of all time that you served with and why?
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Who is your personal favorite General or Admiral of all time that you served with and why?
RP Members tell us about a General or Admiral that you worked with, served under, or were assigned under during your career in the military that really caught your attention. Describe what he/she meant to you and why he/or she is considered you favorite while serving?
Here is mine. His name was Charles W. Dyke (1 Star at the time) and retired as a Lieutenant General
Here is a picture of him running and doing pushups with the 357th Aviation Detachment, Chièvres Air Base, Belgium and his picture as the Deputy SACEUR, SHAPE, Belgium. I'm running right beside in front and I'm the second man from the left doing pushups!
He is my favorite because of his down to earth approach to talking with soldiers and actually getting out and meeting with the soldiers no what rank, and doing PT with the Soldiers. I received to Letter's of Commendation for maxing the Army Physical Fitness Test from BG Dyke two years in a row while stationed with the 357th Aviation Detachment. As an E-5 he made a lasting impression on me and my decision to go to OCS and become a commissioned officer. I consider him a great general working right under GEN Alexander Haig during my tour of duty with the Aviation Detachment.
CHARLES W. DYKE
FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
Charles W. ("Bill") Dyke retired from the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant General on September 1, 1988 after more than 34 years of service as a soldier, infantry officer, operations and planning staff officer at the unit, theater and national levels, and in high level political military assignments. He founded ITTA on September 1, 1989 and currently serves as Founder and Chairman Emeritus.
In addition to managing and directing ITTA, Mr. Dyke serves as a member of the board of directors of the George C. Marshall Foundation, Lexington, Virginia and with the Advisory Board of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.
Mr. Dyke served extensively in Europe, including tours with operational units as a junior officer, as an Assistant Division Commander and Community Commander, and at SHAPE as Executive to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). In the 1980s, he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations and Plans, U.S. Army, Europe and as Commanding General 8th Infantry Division (Mechanized).
In Asia, Mr. Dyke served in Korea as a Company Commander in the early 1960s. His thirty-three months’ service in Vietnam included battalion command and duty as G-3 (Operations and Plans) with the 101st Airborne Division. Mr. Dyke's final assignment was in Asia as Commanding General, U.S. Army, Japan and IX Corps, from 1985 to 1988.
Assignments in the United States included duty as Executive to the Secretary of the Army, Commander of the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, and with the Office, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Department of the Army, as head of the Army's cooperative weapons development and production program with NATO allies. This assignment was followed by Joint Staff duty where Mr. Dyke served as the Vice Director, J 3 (Operations), Joint Staff, and subsequently as Vice Director, Joint Staff. During this Joint Staff assignment, he headed the Contingency Review Group, reporting directly to the Chairman, JCS. This planning group was responsible for much of the detailed analysis and staff work required to form the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force (RDJTF) which evolved into the U.S. Central Command, now responsible for the Middle East and Persian Gulf region.
Over an Army career that included 13 years as a General Officer, Mr. Dyke gained substantial experience in the formulation and execution of foreign and national security policy, strategic planning, project management, and the direction of multi-national programs. As a senior commander in both Europe and Japan, Mr. Dyke worked with military, diplomatic, political, and business leaders to enhance understanding of the U.S. military and to promote the rationale for forward deployed units.
Mr. Dyke is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College, and holds an MA degree in International Affairs (1968) from the George Washington University (Sino Soviet Institute), a Master of Military Art and Science (MMA) from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (1967), and a BA in History from the University of Southern Mississippi (1963). During his service with the U.S. Army, Mr. Dyke was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal twice, the Silver Star twice, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit four times, the Purple Heart, the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun (2nd Class), and numerous other U.S. and foreign badges and awards.
RP Members tell us about a General or Admiral that you worked with, served under, or were assigned under during your career in the military that really caught your attention. Describe what he/she meant to you and why he/or she is considered you favorite while serving?
Here is mine. His name was Charles W. Dyke (1 Star at the time) and retired as a Lieutenant General
Here is a picture of him running and doing pushups with the 357th Aviation Detachment, Chièvres Air Base, Belgium and his picture as the Deputy SACEUR, SHAPE, Belgium. I'm running right beside in front and I'm the second man from the left doing pushups!
He is my favorite because of his down to earth approach to talking with soldiers and actually getting out and meeting with the soldiers no what rank, and doing PT with the Soldiers. I received to Letter's of Commendation for maxing the Army Physical Fitness Test from BG Dyke two years in a row while stationed with the 357th Aviation Detachment. As an E-5 he made a lasting impression on me and my decision to go to OCS and become a commissioned officer. I consider him a great general working right under GEN Alexander Haig during my tour of duty with the Aviation Detachment.
CHARLES W. DYKE
FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
Charles W. ("Bill") Dyke retired from the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant General on September 1, 1988 after more than 34 years of service as a soldier, infantry officer, operations and planning staff officer at the unit, theater and national levels, and in high level political military assignments. He founded ITTA on September 1, 1989 and currently serves as Founder and Chairman Emeritus.
In addition to managing and directing ITTA, Mr. Dyke serves as a member of the board of directors of the George C. Marshall Foundation, Lexington, Virginia and with the Advisory Board of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.
Mr. Dyke served extensively in Europe, including tours with operational units as a junior officer, as an Assistant Division Commander and Community Commander, and at SHAPE as Executive to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). In the 1980s, he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations and Plans, U.S. Army, Europe and as Commanding General 8th Infantry Division (Mechanized).
In Asia, Mr. Dyke served in Korea as a Company Commander in the early 1960s. His thirty-three months’ service in Vietnam included battalion command and duty as G-3 (Operations and Plans) with the 101st Airborne Division. Mr. Dyke's final assignment was in Asia as Commanding General, U.S. Army, Japan and IX Corps, from 1985 to 1988.
Assignments in the United States included duty as Executive to the Secretary of the Army, Commander of the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, and with the Office, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Department of the Army, as head of the Army's cooperative weapons development and production program with NATO allies. This assignment was followed by Joint Staff duty where Mr. Dyke served as the Vice Director, J 3 (Operations), Joint Staff, and subsequently as Vice Director, Joint Staff. During this Joint Staff assignment, he headed the Contingency Review Group, reporting directly to the Chairman, JCS. This planning group was responsible for much of the detailed analysis and staff work required to form the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force (RDJTF) which evolved into the U.S. Central Command, now responsible for the Middle East and Persian Gulf region.
Over an Army career that included 13 years as a General Officer, Mr. Dyke gained substantial experience in the formulation and execution of foreign and national security policy, strategic planning, project management, and the direction of multi-national programs. As a senior commander in both Europe and Japan, Mr. Dyke worked with military, diplomatic, political, and business leaders to enhance understanding of the U.S. military and to promote the rationale for forward deployed units.
Mr. Dyke is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College, and holds an MA degree in International Affairs (1968) from the George Washington University (Sino Soviet Institute), a Master of Military Art and Science (MMA) from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (1967), and a BA in History from the University of Southern Mississippi (1963). During his service with the U.S. Army, Mr. Dyke was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal twice, the Silver Star twice, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit four times, the Purple Heart, the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun (2nd Class), and numerous other U.S. and foreign badges and awards.
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I met two while on active duty. The first was while I was in the Navy. The task force commander of the U.S.S. Oklahoma City was Rear Admiral (upperhalf) Gerald Thomas. I was a E-2 and didn't know at the time there were Black Flag Officers (there were, the Navy had Thomas and Adm. Gravely). We had an interesting conversation in CIC about how it was to be an officer (Black) during WWII-Vietnam, and he told me to just do your job, keep your mouth shut, and let a lot roll off of you and don't make waves. Later Adm. Thomas became an Ambassador to Ghana appointed by President Reagan. When I was in the Air Force, I met Gen. Chappie James twice. jovial man, and made an impression.
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Gen Lindsey, 3star XVIII Corps Cdr, Desert Shield/Storm, moved up to 4th Star, Far East and I think later FORSCOM. Level headed, no ego trips, smart as a whip, friendly to all his staff, a fine caring officer!
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General Depue--was not afraid to walk the front lines with the troops in VN.
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LTG Oren DeHaven. In 1975 while stationed at MacDill AFB with Readiness Command I had an assignment to Thailand. I was less then 24 hrs from leaving when my assignment got cancelled. MPC told me I would have to wait 3-6 months for another assignment. I had already cleared housing, shipped household goods and hold baggage and had no where to live. At the time, Brig Gen DeHaven called MPC and in less than an hour he got me an assignment to Korea and I departed on time. He went above and beyond for an Air Force troop,.
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My all time favorite was killed before he had the chance to make General in what was rumored to be someone else's suicide by plane crash. The late Col. Keith Grimes, USAF, was the commander of 10th Weather Squadron when I was in Thailand. A compassionate and consummate leader, he had been involved with the planning of the Son Tay prison raid, and subsequently deployed on the ill-fated mission. His leadership has always made me feel that if in combat he had said we are going down the mouth of this cannon, successfully complete our mission and everyone come back out of the cannon I would have believed him and had no qualms about the mission. We lost a great warrior with his death.
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My personal favorite, is BG Harry "Heinie" Aderholt. He was wing commander the the 56th Air Commando Wing, at Nakon Phanom, Thailand. He would lead A-1 missions and get down in the trees. He would take time to talk with any enlisted man. He passed on a few years ago, and book was written about him. "Commando One".
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The favorite Admiral I served under was Vice Admiral James A. Sagerholm. I was assigned, temporarily to his staff (Commander South Atlantic Forces) for UNITAS XVII (1976) and XVIII (1977). He was a submariner while I had aircrew wings. I was usually assigned to allied ships to assist in communications and operations (I was a CTI1 (E-6) Spanish Linguist) and he decided I needed to see how the submarine Navy worked. Anyway, I was told I was to embark on the USS Blueback (SS-581) for a couple of weeks for familiarization. I commented to the Admiral "Sir, I'm not a submarine volunteer". He responded to me "I really don't care if you volunteer or not. I'm and Admiral and you're a first class". I responded "Aye, aye, sir! When do I go aboard?" A couple of months later I was again called in by the Admiral and since the Blueback which was a conventional diesel-electric powered boat, had been relieved by the USS Shark (SSN-591) he wanted me to spend a couple of weeks aboard her to see the difference between a convention boat and a nuke boat. He also said "and I don't want to hear any bull about you not being a volunteer either". I responded that "I don't make the same stupid mistake twice, sir, when do I go aboard?" He was a great officer to work for and I received two Letters of Commendation from him one for each cruise, which helped me make Chief Petty Officer!
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As an E-4, my respect tends to be more for the officers who served with neither a commission nor a warrant but were officers just the same. I would have to say my favorite officer was a butterbar. He did five years as a machine gunner in the USMC before he got his college degree and commission into the Army through Texas A&M. The Aggies gave us some good officers. But LT Garrett had his stuff together. Last I checked about ten years ago, my butterbar was an Armored Major on his way to Iraq. I will also give kudos to my first permanent party Battalion Commander, LTC Calhoun, who bought me a beer in Crete, and whom it was rumored canceled my first FTX with the Battalion because it was raining. A rumor he subsequently denied several weeks later at a battalion meeting in the post movie theater. He and his wife had a baby during his tour with us and now one of the old man's sons is currently a LTC in Armor/Cavalry. LTC Calhoun may have made full bird before he retired, but I don't think he made flag rank. BG Blackwell was the post commander although he was not in my chain of command like Col. Schulte was in Babenhausen. I did not know General Blackwell very well but he did attend the post chapel every Sunday and seemed to enjoy the service. He was an ADC for Spearhead but I was one of two units belonging to 41st Field Artillery Brigade on post who did not wear the 3rd AD patch.
I did not know my generals personally. As a short guy, I was always in the back of the formation at their Change of Command ceremonies and I could only see them for a split second in passing upon review under the hot sun. One actually came and inspected us shortly after taking command and I got to see him walk quickly through the ranks without questioning us. Then we went to our rooms sort of expecting the general and sure enough, we call attention for only Sgt. Cavanaugh of A Btry. That is just wrong. We in Bravo Btry busted our butts all night for CAVANAUGH???? Are you kidding? What kind of sick joke was this? Among the lower enlisted, one cannot really be blamed for wondering about the integrity of our generals.
I did not know my generals personally. As a short guy, I was always in the back of the formation at their Change of Command ceremonies and I could only see them for a split second in passing upon review under the hot sun. One actually came and inspected us shortly after taking command and I got to see him walk quickly through the ranks without questioning us. Then we went to our rooms sort of expecting the general and sure enough, we call attention for only Sgt. Cavanaugh of A Btry. That is just wrong. We in Bravo Btry busted our butts all night for CAVANAUGH???? Are you kidding? What kind of sick joke was this? Among the lower enlisted, one cannot really be blamed for wondering about the integrity of our generals.
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My favorite General of all time is Lt. Gen. Thomas N. Griffin (U.S. Army, Retired), as a Maj. Gen. he was The 3AD Commander from June 86 - March 88. His tour with the 3AD was almost identical to mine, Gen. Griffin was always of the troops and for the troops and knew all of his MP's by name. He always kept it straight with us and we loved him for it! Never met a better leader under pressure! After my year at Ft. Stewart and HAAF was complete, I begged to go to Italy and back to his command, it was not meant to be.
The passage below is from the 3AD Assosiciation Newsletter that was printed in early 2013:
Prior to retirement Lt. Gen. Griffin’s most recent military
assignment was as the Chief of Staff , Allied Forces South-
ern Europe in Naples, Italy in 1988. Other positions that he has held include: 3rd Armored Division Commander and the Commander of the Frankfurt Military
Community, U.S. Army Berlin Brigade Commander and
Commander of the Berlin American Military Community,
Assistant Division Commander (Maneuver) 3rd Armored
Division (Spearhead) and Commander of the Giessen
Military Community, Deputy Director for Plans and
Policy for the U.S. Pacific Command, Chief of Colonels Division in the Military Personnel Center, Chief of Readiness Division in the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, and Commander of the 3rd Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea from 1978-1979.
Lt. Gen. Griffin’s awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, The Army Distinguished Service Medal (two awards), the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, Air Medals, two Meritorious Service Medals, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and two Army Commendation Medals. He was also awarded the Gallantry Cross with Gold Star and the Staff Service Medal by the Republic of Vietnam. He earned the Combat Infantry Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Ranger Tab.
Lt. GEN Griffin retired after 35 years of active service in 1991.
The passage below is from the 3AD Assosiciation Newsletter that was printed in early 2013:
Prior to retirement Lt. Gen. Griffin’s most recent military
assignment was as the Chief of Staff , Allied Forces South-
ern Europe in Naples, Italy in 1988. Other positions that he has held include: 3rd Armored Division Commander and the Commander of the Frankfurt Military
Community, U.S. Army Berlin Brigade Commander and
Commander of the Berlin American Military Community,
Assistant Division Commander (Maneuver) 3rd Armored
Division (Spearhead) and Commander of the Giessen
Military Community, Deputy Director for Plans and
Policy for the U.S. Pacific Command, Chief of Colonels Division in the Military Personnel Center, Chief of Readiness Division in the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, and Commander of the 3rd Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea from 1978-1979.
Lt. Gen. Griffin’s awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, The Army Distinguished Service Medal (two awards), the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, Air Medals, two Meritorious Service Medals, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and two Army Commendation Medals. He was also awarded the Gallantry Cross with Gold Star and the Staff Service Medal by the Republic of Vietnam. He earned the Combat Infantry Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Ranger Tab.
Lt. GEN Griffin retired after 35 years of active service in 1991.
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Smedly Butler who single-handedly saved the nation from a coup. Not to mention perhaps being the most bad-ass Marine officer in US History. His book should be required reading for all who serve.
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