Who was the best leader you've ever known...and why? What made them great?

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 10:01:45 -0400

With all the talk of toxic leadership, it seems there isn't enough talk about the other kind. That ONE leader who is the example that you looked at and wanted to be like. My first Battalion Commander, my third Company Commander...both of those guys fit the bill. They had an air of confidence, a committment that was unquestioned and the charisma to bring their brilliance to bear. Who was it...and why? What made you want to follow them to the gates of hell?

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Mar 31 at 2014 10:29 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 10:29:35 -0400

For me it would be LTC Ernest "Rock" Marcone, my Bn Cdr during OIF. He trained his Bn with a common sense approach to what we would be facing when we crossed the berm, was confident without being arrogant, trusted his young Officers and NCOs and possessed the warfighters mentality that allowed us to close with, fight and destroy every enemy unit we came into contact with from Kuwait to Baghdad. His enthusiasm, charisma and toughness was contagious! Speed and Power!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2014 10:36 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 10:36:00 -0400

CSM (retired) William Burns!! As my 1SG in HHT 1-4 CAV when I was a PFC and SPC. He came in and turned that troop upside down. He was the number one NCO in my career that I wanted to emulate and be exactly like him. He was hard and fair, but was also knowledgeable on just about any and everything Army, as well as life in general. I learned so much as a young Soldier from him and what an NCO should be and look like.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2014 12:49 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 00:49:20 -0400

My first PL. He genuinely cared about his soldiers. He always came around to check on us and find out what was going on in our lives. He'd go to pretty great lengths to work with us on issues.

Also, my first SCO, then LTC, now MG Anthony Ierardi. He made it a point to know everyone in that Squadron. I found him to be very charismatic and motivational and he wasn't one of those guys that does things to "show" he cared. He actually did care.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 14 at 2015 9:02 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 14 Feb 2015 09:02:21 -0500

Capt Daniel C. "Red" Cross, USN (R.C.). Yhe man took a personal interest and knew everyone's story and ambitions. If a sailor needed a pay check, he found them orders to do something. He valued mission, but insisted his sailors take care of the Homefront first. He genuinely cared for his sailors. His leadership has inspired me for years, and I look to him as my ultimate role model and mentor.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2015 9:35 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 09:35:11 -0500

My first Motor Sergeant; SFC Jeremiah Larson (then SSG). He is a great motivator and teacher. The thing I enjoyed most about him is he taught us to be self reliant and did not micromanage, he allowed the junior leaders to do their job. He would always put the Soldier first...always.
SFC Larson was such a great leader and person that we would work our hardest everyday because we did not want to disappoint him. We all trusted him and definitley missed him when he PCS'd.
I still keep in contact with him and he still is my go to person for advise and questions.

Response by CWO2 Richard Rose made Aug 20 at 2017 10:41 AM

CWO2 Richard Rose — Sun, 20 Aug 2017 10:41:54 -0400

Commander Ken Holcomb, he believed in those he commanded. He went from E-1 to O-5 without missing a paygrade. Mission was always first, but his sailors and their families were next. When I checked into the commander he immediately remembered briefing my unit when he was a CWO 20 years earlier and recognized me. He had a memory that very few have. He knew the names all of the officers spouses and children. This often included the children. Pretty much the same with the enlisted folks. High Year Tenure cost the Navy and armed forces one of the best officer it had. I retired from the communications station in Sigonella and it was an honor for him to attend my retirement ceremony.

Response by SSgt Holden M. made Aug 24 at 2017 9:22 AM

SSgt Holden M. — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 09:22:53 -0400

There was a one star that I worked for that I'm now proud to say he is now a 2 star general that is an amazing leader. He truly cares about his people, he would ask about your wife and kids by their names, and his wife is just as amazing in caring about people as he is. I am proud to say that I worked with him and proud to have helped at his promotion ceremony and he coined me as a two star. It is the highest ranking coin I have and one of the coins I'm proudest to have received.

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made Aug 24 at 2017 4:13 PM

SFC Jim Ruether — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 16:13:21 -0400

LTC. Bill Kilgore (Robert Duvall) Kilgore: Smell that? You smell that?
Lance: What?
Kilgore: Napalm, son. Nothing else in the world smells like that.
[kneels]
Kilgore: I love the smell of napalm in the morning.

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Aug 25 at 2017 8:31 AM

SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 08:31:20 -0400

SFC BAILEY, He was bad ass PLATOON SERGEANT in Korea in 2002-2003 He knew Artillery and wasn't not afraid to grab you out of the chiefs seat of the howitzer and put you in line. This guy made me a real NCO and stand up to be a man to who I am today.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2018 11:40 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 23:40:55 -0500

My division commander in 1975 with the 82nd ABN Div., General Henry Emerson (Gunfighter).
He carried a cowboy-style revolver, six shooter.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2018 11:56 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 11:56:17 -0500

COL (R) Mike Steele. He absolutely cared about bringing his Soldiers home, and did everything he could to make it happen. He traveled around and visited his Soldiers (Tal Afar to Baghdad and everywhere in between), ensured SMs were recognized for their accomplishments, instilled more pride in a unit than I could ever imagine. He treated us like a leader should, knowing that we were the ones out doing missions and in harms way, while he had to sit back from the fight and make the tough decisions regarding his "boys". He would prefer to use a JDAM instead of sending in a maneuver element, and he made it his mission to conduct at least 1 combat patrol with every Infantry/Scout/Artillery platoon under his command.
He was a true commander of troops, didn't use his rank to intimidate or feel important, he had the respect of his entire Brigade by the way he expected training and missions to occur. When you get an entire BCT expert weapon qualified, level 1 combatives, and a RSTA squadron fully qualified in all light AND heavy tactics (yes we even had Bradleys....in the 101), not to mention he wasn't afraid to tell a star wearer the truth about a situation. That's a man I'll follow to the end.

Response by CPT Robert Boshears made Jun 15 at 2018 2:53 AM

CPT Robert Boshears — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 02:53:14 -0400

CAPTAIN William A. Kanakanui, Jr. While in open water in the Pacific, a Soviet Fleet pulled in front of us. He radioed them and told the Fleet Commander that “No foreign flagged vessel would cross the bow of a US warship, unless it intended to do battle.” This was a fleet of new Soviet vessels. He then asked all non duty personnel go topside, shirts off and sunbathe. The Soviets went to battle stations, but did open up and let this WW2 vintage Light Cruiser pass in the middle. A visibly shaken junior officer (after we passed through) asked him who and where that order originated? The CO said, oh, sometime back in John Paul Jones time..... I think. Balls. In the Army, our duty was to protect go to war stock in the Philippines. An Abu Sayef group attacked, creating a feint from a shear cliff, a good 100 Feet plus up, the attack was from the opposite side. ONE Female SPC held her ground and stopped the individuals coming over a 16 Ft fence on ropes and ladders.