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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Never got within a football field distance from an Officer above O-6. Might be a message there. However, Patton and Nimitz would be at the top of my list. With totally different mannerisms and leadership styles.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs I'm going with Gen Al Gray, even though I didn't directly work for any Generals PER se, I feel he made the biggest impact on my Marine Corps career. He demonstrated how to be tough but fair, compassionate with a resolve, and he set the tone for the U.S.M.C. to follow.
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My career allowed me the opportunity to get to know several General officers on a personal level and there are three that I could easily pick as a favorite depending upon the circumstances; Lt. General James Pocock, Major General Bruce MacDonald and Major General John Kulhavi.
Each one contributed to my success as an officer through guidance, assignment selection and by setting and maintaining an exemplary example of a military officer worthy of emulation.
But to select the man having the greatest impact on my professional career, that would have to be Lt. General Pocock.
I served on his staff when he commanded the 70th Infantry Division (IT) and found him to be intelligent, level headed and personable while maintaining the highest standards and traditions of the U.S. Army.
General Pocock could challenge an individual in subtle ways, never leaving the impression that he was disappointed in someone, but always that he had a greater ambition for them and drew out the best in a leader. His technique made one want to produce for him and to exceed whatever his expectations were of them.
While other senior field grade officers and even some general officers played the role of the "hard core, tough-guy", General Pocock was the polar opposite of that style of leadership and his CIB and other awards spoke for his abilities as a warrior.
The following is an excerpt from the National Military Archives:
"For over 38 years, Major General James Pocock served in numerous important positions. These include guarding the East-West German Border as part of the 14th Armored Cavalry.
After serving in combat during the Vietnam War, Pocock commanded the 70th Training Division.
His 2006 novel, Across the Barbed Wire, tells the story of an East German family's attempt to escape into West Germany. It has been called "Fascinating, compelling and historically accurate."
I still serve with him today, as a member of the scholarship committee for the Michigan chapter of the Military Officers Association of America.
While much can be said about this highly decorated combat veteran and his military accomplishments, there is much more to be said about him as a person.
He is real - there are no pretenses with Jim Pocock. In the nearly 40 years that I have known him, he has been the same quiet, humble, gentleman I first met in the late 1970's and in all that time, I've never heard anyone cast a disparaging remark about his abilities, professionalism or character and I was certainly in a position to hear such things had they been uttered.
I am proud to have served under his command and prouder still to call him my friend.
Thank you for posting this Colonel Burroughs- have a great day!
Each one contributed to my success as an officer through guidance, assignment selection and by setting and maintaining an exemplary example of a military officer worthy of emulation.
But to select the man having the greatest impact on my professional career, that would have to be Lt. General Pocock.
I served on his staff when he commanded the 70th Infantry Division (IT) and found him to be intelligent, level headed and personable while maintaining the highest standards and traditions of the U.S. Army.
General Pocock could challenge an individual in subtle ways, never leaving the impression that he was disappointed in someone, but always that he had a greater ambition for them and drew out the best in a leader. His technique made one want to produce for him and to exceed whatever his expectations were of them.
While other senior field grade officers and even some general officers played the role of the "hard core, tough-guy", General Pocock was the polar opposite of that style of leadership and his CIB and other awards spoke for his abilities as a warrior.
The following is an excerpt from the National Military Archives:
"For over 38 years, Major General James Pocock served in numerous important positions. These include guarding the East-West German Border as part of the 14th Armored Cavalry.
After serving in combat during the Vietnam War, Pocock commanded the 70th Training Division.
His 2006 novel, Across the Barbed Wire, tells the story of an East German family's attempt to escape into West Germany. It has been called "Fascinating, compelling and historically accurate."
I still serve with him today, as a member of the scholarship committee for the Michigan chapter of the Military Officers Association of America.
While much can be said about this highly decorated combat veteran and his military accomplishments, there is much more to be said about him as a person.
He is real - there are no pretenses with Jim Pocock. In the nearly 40 years that I have known him, he has been the same quiet, humble, gentleman I first met in the late 1970's and in all that time, I've never heard anyone cast a disparaging remark about his abilities, professionalism or character and I was certainly in a position to hear such things had they been uttered.
I am proud to have served under his command and prouder still to call him my friend.
Thank you for posting this Colonel Burroughs- have a great day!
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COL., I had the opportunity to serve under numerous Outstanding Admirals in my 33 year Naval Career. My Two Favorite were Admiral Sullens who was my 4th FSSG 4th MedBn Commander! He always led from the Front and was a great mentor to me. The second was Admiral Frankin who was my Readiness Commander. We served on numerous boards together including a ComNavResFor Policy Board at Naval Headquarters Station New Orleans. He was Truly an inspiration to me as I advanced up to Master Chief. Both of these Admirals were Outstanding Leaders and we came to be on a first name Basis out of Mutual Respect for Each other's opinions and input. They called me John and I Always called them Admiral
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Upon mobilization of my USAR unit I worked on the staff of Colonel(P) David A Whaley, who was DCSTRANS 22nd Support Command, from 13 October 1990-31 May 1991 as a transportation Staff Officer. During that time I was responsible for the following: I was assigned as the Theater Tasking Officer during Desert Shield (Gulf War/Defense of Saudi Arabia) , Desert Storm (Gulf War/Liberation and Defense of Kuwait) and Desert Farewell (Gulf War/Southwest Asia Ceasefire Campaign), managing Third US Army, 22nd Sup Com, host nation, contracted and allied nations common haul transportation assets for the CENTCOM commander.
ADDITIONAL DUTIES:
US Army liaison officer for the November 1990 Presidential visit to Dhahran Saudi Arabia.
22nd Support Command JUMP-CP planning cell in December 1990 for the planning of the transportation portion of Operation Desert Storm.
Assigned, Port of Dammam Saudi Arabia March 1991 as redeployment officer and the C.O., 22nd Support Command Representative.
When I was demobilized and reverted back to reserve status on 4 July 1991 I left my unit and applied for a position as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee with Military Traffic Management Command eastern area. Brigadier General David Whaley had taken command of the unit and hired me. General Whaley is a brilliant planner and logistician who was extremely professional yet approachable. He had an ability to place people into positions that they could excel in. He also had the ability to bring out the best work product in subordinates even when those subordinates did not think they had to ability to do so. I learned a lot about leadership while working for him.
David A. Whaley – Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, The Linc Group
Prior to his current role, Whaley held the same position at ServiceCo and has served as CEO or President of several of The Linc Group’s current or former business units. Prior to pursuing a career in the commercial sector, Whaley served 33 years with the U.S. Army, retiring as a Major General. Major General Whaley served in the Pentagon as an Army War Planner and as a Joint Chiefs of Staff War Planner. He commanded soldiers and units at all levels including commanding the 11th Battalion at Ft. Story, Virginia from 1984 to 1986. From there, he went to the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, '86-'87; '87-'88, he was a War Planner on the Joint Staff JCS. From there, he commanded the 7th Group for 27 months here at Ft. Eustis, Virginia, and took it to Saudi Arabia, changed command in Saudi Arabia in November of '90. From November of '90 to September of '91, he was the Deputy Commanding General for Operations and Transportation, 22nd Support Command in Saudi Arabia for Desert Storm/Desert Shield/Desert Farewell. He left in September 1991 and took command of the Military Traffic Management Command, Eastern Area. He commanded that through July of '93. He was the Commanding General, U.S. Army Transportation Center; Commandant, U.S. Army Transportation School; and Chief of Transportation at Fort Eustis, Virginia. He also served as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics and Readiness, Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort McPherson, Georgia. His last duties before retiring in February 1999 were as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management, Headquarters, Department of the Army. In this assignment, he functioned essentially as the Army’s Real Estate or Property Manager developing and defending before Congress a $9 billion annual budget and was responsible for the operations and maintenance functions of all 264 Army installations worldwide representing 12.8 million acres, 169,000 buildings, 1.1 billion square feet of family housing, 70,000 miles of road, 13,700 miles of waterway, and 2,600 miles of railway. Additionally, he was responsible for the development and execution of the Army’s Outsourcing and Privatization Program, Base Realignment and Closure (“BRAC”) Programs, Environmental Restoration, Military Construction and Barracks Renewal Programs and the Army’s Residential Community Initiative. Whaley holds a BS from the University of Rhode Island and a MBA from Adelphi University. He is a graduate of the Army’s Command and General Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
ADDITIONAL DUTIES:
US Army liaison officer for the November 1990 Presidential visit to Dhahran Saudi Arabia.
22nd Support Command JUMP-CP planning cell in December 1990 for the planning of the transportation portion of Operation Desert Storm.
Assigned, Port of Dammam Saudi Arabia March 1991 as redeployment officer and the C.O., 22nd Support Command Representative.
When I was demobilized and reverted back to reserve status on 4 July 1991 I left my unit and applied for a position as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee with Military Traffic Management Command eastern area. Brigadier General David Whaley had taken command of the unit and hired me. General Whaley is a brilliant planner and logistician who was extremely professional yet approachable. He had an ability to place people into positions that they could excel in. He also had the ability to bring out the best work product in subordinates even when those subordinates did not think they had to ability to do so. I learned a lot about leadership while working for him.
David A. Whaley – Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, The Linc Group
Prior to his current role, Whaley held the same position at ServiceCo and has served as CEO or President of several of The Linc Group’s current or former business units. Prior to pursuing a career in the commercial sector, Whaley served 33 years with the U.S. Army, retiring as a Major General. Major General Whaley served in the Pentagon as an Army War Planner and as a Joint Chiefs of Staff War Planner. He commanded soldiers and units at all levels including commanding the 11th Battalion at Ft. Story, Virginia from 1984 to 1986. From there, he went to the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, '86-'87; '87-'88, he was a War Planner on the Joint Staff JCS. From there, he commanded the 7th Group for 27 months here at Ft. Eustis, Virginia, and took it to Saudi Arabia, changed command in Saudi Arabia in November of '90. From November of '90 to September of '91, he was the Deputy Commanding General for Operations and Transportation, 22nd Support Command in Saudi Arabia for Desert Storm/Desert Shield/Desert Farewell. He left in September 1991 and took command of the Military Traffic Management Command, Eastern Area. He commanded that through July of '93. He was the Commanding General, U.S. Army Transportation Center; Commandant, U.S. Army Transportation School; and Chief of Transportation at Fort Eustis, Virginia. He also served as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics and Readiness, Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort McPherson, Georgia. His last duties before retiring in February 1999 were as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management, Headquarters, Department of the Army. In this assignment, he functioned essentially as the Army’s Real Estate or Property Manager developing and defending before Congress a $9 billion annual budget and was responsible for the operations and maintenance functions of all 264 Army installations worldwide representing 12.8 million acres, 169,000 buildings, 1.1 billion square feet of family housing, 70,000 miles of road, 13,700 miles of waterway, and 2,600 miles of railway. Additionally, he was responsible for the development and execution of the Army’s Outsourcing and Privatization Program, Base Realignment and Closure (“BRAC”) Programs, Environmental Restoration, Military Construction and Barracks Renewal Programs and the Army’s Residential Community Initiative. Whaley holds a BS from the University of Rhode Island and a MBA from Adelphi University. He is a graduate of the Army’s Command and General Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
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