They Do Serve Us Well

DURING the past two years, while teaching courses on performance management, I’ve had the privilege of visiting many different Army, Navy and Marine Corps bases across the country. I call it a privilege because even though some of the training rooms I’ve taught in have been…let’s say somewhat “Spartan,” the trainees – many of them active duty military – have been outstanding examples of Americans humbly serving their country.  And as far as gender, race and ethnicity they are an incredibly diverse group.

While I can’t say that every one of them eagerly attended my course and hung on my every word, I noticed a common commitment to wanting to understand the material and to execute the management system I am teaching as best they can.  Quite simply, every time I lead the course I am struck by the professionalism and humble, no-nonsense attitude of our men and women in uniform.

And as I look out over my classrooms, I am constantly reminded of my father, a former Marine combat correspondent who fought in the South Pacific during WWII.  When I was a youngster, avidly watching John Wayne and Audie Murphy movies from my dad’s lap, I would often turn to him and ask “Was that what it was really like?”  And he would pause and without taking his eyes from the TV say, “no, not really.”  But, like so many of his generation who served, he would never offer any clarification.

One day, when I was a teenager, a large parcel addressed to my father arrived at our Long Island home.  We opened it together and inside was a two volume History of the US Marine Corps.  My father explained that he’d been asked to write the chapter on the Battle for Tarawa atoll. “Now will you tell me what it was like?” I asked.  The abruptness of his reply surprised me. “No,” he said, “just read the chapter.”

Although every Marine I’ve ever met knows the story of that battle, many other Americans do not.  To call it “bloody,” with “devastating losses on both sides,” would be understatements.  The assault on the beaches began at low tide, forcing the Marines to wade hundreds of yards over razor sharp coral while being mowed down by Japanese machine gun emplacements.  Many never made it to shore.  If they did, they faced an enemy who was determined to fight to the death.  Victory came after three incredibly difficult days. The Marines suffered nearly 3,000 casualties, and of the 4,700 Japanese defenders, only 17 survived.

After reading the chapter, I wept for my father and the Marines who died on Tarawa and I realized for the first time how serious the commitment to serve in America’s armed forces really is. I have never forgotten, and I hope I never do. So, it seems to me that this Memorial Day, in fact every Memorial Day, the least we can do is to honor that commitment by thanking those who serve and have served.

To all of America’s men and women in uniform, thank you.