If you could meet one Officer and one Enlisted US service member past or present, who would it be?

2018-12-04T16:30:40-05:00

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Dec 4 at 2018 4:34 PM

2018-12-04T16:34:18-05:00

My father

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2018 4:34 PM

2018-12-04T16:34:47-05:00

I would love to meet General George S. Patton and SMA Dailey. A close second would be SECDEF Mattis.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2018 4:54 PM

2018-12-04T16:54:19-05:00

Grandfather who was a WWI and WWII veteran, and thank him for his service.

Response by PVT Mark Zehner made Dec 4 at 2018 5:04 PM

2018-12-04T17:04:17-05:00

My great Uncle's one an officer the other enlisted

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Dec 4 at 2018 5:04 PM

2018-12-04T17:04:25-05:00

Joshua L. Chamberlain and SMA Dailey

Response by SGT Russell Wickham made Dec 4 at 2018 5:30 PM

2018-12-04T17:30:12-05:00

Francis Marion (swamp fox) and Harry Wickham, my Grandfather and B-17 crew chief.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2018 5:34 PM

2018-12-04T17:34:12-05:00

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member My father was an Air Force Captain who served in WWII and Korea. He was killed when his plane crashed on a training flight. I was seven years old, so I would have wanted more time with my dad, who was a hero. If I could meet two others it would be two Marine heroes, Lieutenant General Lewis B. Puller and Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2018 6:17 PM

2018-12-04T18:17:28-05:00

SGT Alvin York and General "Stonewall" Jackson.

Response by SPC Daniel Alexander made Dec 4 at 2018 6:49 PM

2018-12-04T18:49:54-05:00

General Robert E. Lee and Jennie Hodgers

Response by Evan Duda made Dec 4 at 2018 6:51 PM

2018-12-04T18:51:41-05:00

The man. The myth. The legend. Mad dog Mattis.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2018 6:56 PM

2018-12-04T18:56:05-05:00

Washington-Officer
54th Massachusetts SGM
Samuel Culper

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Dec 4 at 2018 7:13 PM

2018-12-04T19:13:12-05:00

Id related on here many times, I met two different Apollo astronauts, one while I'd been at USAF OTS at Lackland, an O-9 who'd been a friend of the USAF OTS Commandant while I was there in the former case, and another in the latter case, who'd given a presentation near us some years ago, after I'd gotten out...my wife's late Dad whom od never met got a Bronze Star, we just got Army endorsement and VA approval for a combat "V" for his VA headstone..my Dad's sister's husband, one of my uncles, was at the surrender of Germany in Reims Germany, helped swipe the Telex of surrender sent to Gen Marshall he'd help send in the 3118th Signal Svc Battalion/Group, which got a Presidential Unit Citation endorsed by Gen Eisenhower, the General momentarily recognized my uncle when he'd gotten his bachelors from Columbia Univ when the General had been President there before being elected, my uncle was something of his unit comedian, he purloined a carbon copy of the Telex, my cousins still have it in a safe deposit box, I've wanted to donate it to the Smithsonian, though I expect they'd never allow it...my wife's late Dad had been in the 90th Div ipunder Gen Patton he had to walk through a minefield at Petite de Hanged in France during the Battle of Nancy, to direct his unit artillery exposing himself to German artillery, during the crossing of the Moselle River from France into Germany...my wife's stepdad had been Navy destroyer escort enlisted in the Pacific in WW2 and Korea, bullets whizzing, shells flying, kamikazes falling...I just kinda figured that'd illustrate my thoughts as to what you'd asked....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Dec 4 at 2018 7:15 PM

2018-12-04T19:15:42-05:00

And my unit CO, whom I once sat with for an hour, after he'd given me unexpectedly, I assure you, a plaque for helping contribute to an excellent IG rating, had received the DFC in Vietnam, he'd been due to pin on O-7, he hadn't at that point, I learned later he'd flown among others 150 missions as a FAC in an O-2 in Vietnam, only long later on....

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2018 8:53 PM

2018-12-04T20:53:14-05:00

PVT Archibald McCorkle, a militiaman from South Carolina, born in Waxhaws Settlement, and having served several times during the Revolution.

1LT Charles J. Gennerich, from New York City, U.S. Army, WWII

Response by CWO4 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2018 8:55 PM

2018-12-04T20:55:39-05:00

Capt Frederick C. Branch, USMC, and SgtMaj Gilbert "Hashmark" Johnson, USMC.

Response by SFC Quinn Chastant made Dec 4 at 2018 10:00 PM

2018-12-04T22:00:36-05:00

One officer I think I'd like to meet is Major General Alexander E. Anderson. The first commanding officer of the 86th Black Hawk Division in WWII, and the 13th Regimental Commander of the 69th Infantry NY National Guard. He was a friend of William, Wild Bill, Donovan who went on to form the OSS. MG Anderson began his career as an Enlisted Soldier in the 69th. Fought though WWI was awarded the DSC, the Croix we Guerre with Palm, and other awards. He also served on the Mexican Border when the National Guard was called up for that. William Donovan, asked President Franklyn D. Roosevelt to recall General Anderson to Service for WWII. General Anderson spent time in the Pacific Theater, before going to Texas to stand up the 86th Division. He passed away on Christmas Eve 1942.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Dec 4 at 2018 10:11 PM

2018-12-04T22:11:15-05:00

Simple-Audie Murphy

Response by SGT Mark Halmrast made Dec 4 at 2018 10:50 PM

2018-12-04T22:50:52-05:00

Joshua Chamberlain (Gettysburg MOH)
PFC Vernon Haught (look him up)

Response by LTC Stephan Porter made Dec 4 at 2018 10:57 PM

2018-12-04T22:57:48-05:00

For US only: Desmond Doss and Douglas MacArthur

Response by SGT Donald Croswhite made Dec 5 at 2018 12:05 AM

2018-12-05T00:05:16-05:00

I had a great uncle in the French and Indian war. I named my first son after him. And of course my battle SGT Thoburn, I really miss that guy.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Dec 5 at 2018 12:40 AM

2018-12-05T00:40:24-05:00

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member Brevit Brigadier Gen Rufus Dawes, Always Fun to Hang Out with Family. CTOCM Robert "Red" Adams Godfather to all O-Branchers, I Miss Him and would be Nice to See Him Again.

Response by 1LT Kevin Chapman made Dec 5 at 2018 4:25 AM

2018-12-05T04:25:35-05:00

LT Michael Murphy and Matthew Axelson.

Response by SCPO Jason McLaughlin made Dec 5 at 2018 6:14 AM

2018-12-05T06:14:02-05:00

My Grandfather on my Father's side. He passed away before I was born. I would really like to meet him. (He was a Sailor also).

As far as the Officer is concerned: Vice Admiral John Duncan Bulkeley. I recommend you Google him. (a close second is John F. Kennedy)

Response by SSG K Johnson made Dec 5 at 2018 10:05 AM

2018-12-05T10:05:38-05:00

Already have. I met the surviving members of Easy Co. in Europe at a 60th anniversary D-day ceremony.

Response by CPL Christopher Thomas made Dec 5 at 2018 2:12 PM

2018-12-05T14:12:58-05:00

General Robert E Lee and Sgt Audie Murphy

Response by MSgt James "Buck" Buchanan made Dec 5 at 2018 3:48 PM

2018-12-05T15:48:56-05:00

On the enlisted side the person I have always admired most is Sgt Alvin York, USA, WWI; on the officer side I would like to sit down with BG Jimmy Stewart.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2018 4:01 PM

2018-12-05T16:01:47-05:00

I would love to meet Teddy Roosevelt. He was a legendary man, Brave Commander, and great president of the people. Through vigorous exercise and his own force of will he transformed himself from a sickly, bedridden child into a president who invited the heavyweight boxing champion to his house to spar with him.

Response by CPT J B made Dec 5 at 2018 6:41 PM

2018-12-05T18:41:39-05:00

MAJ Clark Gable and SGM Edgar Alan Poe.

Response by MSG Frank Kapaun made Dec 5 at 2018 8:30 PM

2018-12-05T20:30:24-05:00

LTC Robert Howard and GSygt Elmo Haney

Response by Cpl Thomas Woods made Dec 5 at 2018 9:07 PM

2018-12-05T21:07:12-05:00

Officer;MajGen Smedley D Butler...Enlisted; GySgt Daniel J Daly...4x MOH between the two (5 if you count Butler's Brevet Medal), 2x Navy Cross/DSC, and 4 Silver Stars...These guys got some stories!

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Dec 6 at 2018 11:42 AM

2018-12-06T11:42:06-05:00

Officers? Wow, a lot that I would have loved to meet. Patton, Josh Chamberlain, Sherman, Washington, George Rogers Clark. That's just staying with Americans.
Enlisted? Audie Murphy, SGM Daly, Casper Goebbel (Revolutionary War Hessian ancestor that captured by Washington at Trenton and later paroled to Cornwallis, but ended up on the other side (The Right Side ))
Goebbel got Anglicized to Cable.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2018 11:59 AM

2018-12-06T11:59:15-05:00

Brevet Major General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. He definitely did a lot in his life from teaching at college level to Medal of Honor recipient for Gettysburg to President of Bowdoin College and Governor of Maine.

Response by SGT Jerry Olson made Dec 6 at 2018 1:46 PM

2018-12-06T13:46:23-05:00

gen george s patton
and allen colason

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2018 6:57 AM

2018-12-07T06:57:56-05:00

Chesty Puller - knew how to treat his men and lead them like men.

Response by SSG Randy Talbot made Dec 12 at 2018 8:26 AM

2018-12-12T08:26:26-05:00

Both of my picks are from my hometown of Manchester, NH. First, General John Stark, member of Rogers Rangers during the French and Indian war, a revolutionary war hero at the battle of Bunker Hill where his New Hampshire militia held off the British. Later, he would fight at Trenton and Princeton before resigning his commission after a less than qualified officer was promoted above him. He then took a commission and fought at Bennington. It was here that his call to "live free or die" became the state motto of NH.

Second is Master Gunnery Sergeant Wilmot (Bill) Wolfe. I wrote about him in leatherneck magazine after extensive research. Gunny was at Cape Glouchester, Peleliu, Okinawa, China, the Korean War, and Vietnam. He passed in 1991 and I wrote about him in 2002. He was one of the first E-9's in the Marine Corps, recipient of two Navy Crosses, Silver Star, two Purple Hearts and a Navy Commendation medal with "V". Although his service covered about 27 years, what intrigue's me is the period he served as a special courier to the JCS between 1960-1963, one mission that led to him receiving a Navy Cross in 1962 in Vietnam, stories told me with a knowing "wink wink" about missions that just baffle the mind. He then retired in 1965, went to Harlingen Texas and was the first DI at the Marine Military Academy, stayed for a year and went back to Vietnam. With his brother's request for help and working the phone and letters, we were able to reconstruct his military career to include a shadow box that sits in the academy's museum.

I know that these are not household names nor the famous picks, but both of these men showed the military spirit and love of country.

Response by SCPO William Akin made Dec 12 at 2018 10:23 AM

2018-12-12T10:23:46-05:00

Officer= LCDR Quinton McHale
Enlisted= GM1 Ernest Borgnine

Response by COL Jon Lopey made Dec 17 at 2018 2:46 PM

2018-12-17T14:46:21-05:00

SGT: Great question! There are so many great service members worthy of special mention but right off-hand, I would like to have met LTG "Jumpiin' Jim Gavin, USA (82nd Airborne, WW II+) (COL Bob Howard, USA is a close second) and on the enlisted side MSG Ray Benavidez - another great hero from Viet Nam and Medal of Honor recipient. On the Marine Corp's side, it would have to be LTGEN Lewis "Chesty" Puller and SGT MAJ Dan Dailey (two Medals of Honor). A close second would be SGT MAJ Canley, USMC (Ret) a recent Medal of Honor recipient (Viet Nam). Sadly, SGT MAJ Canley is the only living recipient on my list. Thanks, COL L

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2018 9:35 PM

2018-12-23T21:35:29-05:00

Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson and Sgt Alvin York

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 26 at 2018 11:00 AM

2018-12-26T11:00:11-05:00

General Colin Powell and Desmond Doss, two great men.

Response by SFC Joh Williams made Dec 30 at 2018 10:21 PM

2018-12-30T22:21:30-05:00

Colonel David Hackworth.

Response by PV2 Glen Lewis made Jan 4 at 2019 1:30 PM

2019-01-04T13:30:15-05:00

Living or dead; I'd say General Patton.

Response by TSgt Michael Ponti made Jan 10 at 2019 12:02 AM

2019-01-10T00:02:46-05:00

Gen. George Washington, and Pvt. Michael Ponti my Grandfather who enlisted for WW1.

Response by CPT Wallace Ward made Jan 12 at 2019 6:26 PM

2019-01-12T18:26:42-05:00

I would like to meet my father when he was a private in the Army in 1951 and then again when he was a 2LT in 1958. That would be pretty neat.

Response by SGT Philip Klein made Feb 20 at 2019 9:01 AM

2019-02-20T09:01:54-05:00

George Washington, and that’s it

Response by PO3 Terry Miller made Feb 25 at 2019 4:55 PM

2019-02-25T16:55:51-05:00

General George Washington and Sergeant Alvin York.

Response by AB Edward Mondini made Nov 29 at 2019 12:17 AM

2019-11-29T00:17:28-05:00

I’d be honored to have known General George Patton, one of the greatest Generals in American history.
And I’d be honored to meet the last two living decorated members of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Barney Hajiro and George Sakato, for their efforts in rescuing 211 American combat soldiers surrounded by Germans in October 1944.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 17 at 2021 5:33 AM

2021-04-17T05:33:23-04:00

General Patton would never be on my list. Because my ex-wife already calls me a son of a bitch!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 17 at 2021 2:30 PM

2021-04-17T14:30:53-04:00

Definitely Patton. He knew how to use his army, used innovative tactics, and knew how to beat the enemy. In North Africa as an example our army was green, and Rommel kicked our asses all over the place. Patton took command of a beleaguered and dispirited II Corps. His leadership style was eccentric and bold. He told the officers they must wear their uniforms properly, shave, and look good. He also said, "I expect to see such casualties among officers, particularly staff officers, as will convince me that a serious effort has been made to capture this objective".

On 23MAR43, one week after assuming command Patton prepared to defend El Guettar Valley, Tunisia that was surrounded by high ground on both sides. The Germans attacked El Guettar with a Panzer Division. Patton used no tanks. He used infantry, tank killers, artillery, and land mines. The battle started well for the Germans as they attacked our infantry and maneuvered to destroy our tank killers and artillery, but they became bogged down by a minefield. This created a situation where our tank killers had flank shots on the Panzers. The Americans won. It was the first battle the Americans won in Africa, and Patton had only 7 days to turn around a beaten army.

On 10JUL43 Patton's army conducted an amphibious landing at Sicily. The Germans retreated to Port Mesina as quickly as they could to escape Patton's army. Patton conducted two more amphibious landings to flank the Germans. The German army barely escaped Patton's wrath.

On 25AUG44 Patton's Third Army landed in Normandy. His first task was to break through the hedgerow area in France. He used armored reconnaissance vehicles to find the enemy. He also used fighters to protect his flanks and in front of his army. This was an innovative tactic. The fighters gave Patton superior intelligence, and he used his heavy armor divisions to attack the enemy. This strategy allowed him to maneuver through Europe relatively quickly in his drive to Germany.

Patton knew how to win. He was able to see past the complexities of large military campaigns to use appropriate tactics to win.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 17 at 2021 3:02 PM

2021-04-17T15:02:09-04:00

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lachlan_McIntosh#:~:text=Lachlan%20McIntosh%20(March%2017%2C%201725,of%20the%20Declaration%20of%20Independence.

Lachlan_McIntosh%23:~:text=Lachlan%2520McIntosh%2520(March%252017%252C%25201725

Response by Cpl Bernard Bates made Apr 17 at 2021 3:22 PM

2021-04-17T15:22:33-04:00

I would like to meet chesty puller. He was an enlisted mans friend. He said its the NCO,s who run the Marine Corp. The officers do the planning but the NCO,s make it happen. He always put his CP close to the front lines. Sometimes he was part of the action. He had several Purple Hearts. He was at Guadalcanal, Pelieu, and in Korea he was at the frozen chosin resevoir He also testified for the hard training the Marines had to go through at the courtmartial of the DI. that run the recruits through the swamps of Parris Island in 1956. Several recruits drowned. in the cross creek incident. Semper Fi. Chesty

Response by SPC Robert Hendrickson made Apr 17 at 2021 10:14 PM

2021-04-17T22:14:11-04:00

Cpt Lloyd Goldsmith,, Lt. ___ Van Hook

Response by Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis made Apr 17 at 2021 11:53 PM

2021-04-17T23:53:17-04:00

Jimmy Stewart! Ahem...BG James Stewart! (AF Reserves)