19 October 2021
Colonel Howard was my Commanding Officer during Phase 1 of Green Beret training. This is what a real combat leader looks like. Colonel Howard was one of many Officers and NCOs who were our generation's mentors, and they are hard men like this. They didn't care about anything but loyalty, competence, performance. Colonel Howard was a church going man.
And so when you see men of my generation looking at a subset of the officers today, we know the difference. We know it instantly. Read my book DANGER CLOSE where I talk about Colonel Howard during our selection class.
There were tons of men lined up trying to get into Green Berets and so Colonel Howard and his men could afford to be hard and picky. They were both.
He got shot up and did all sorts of things in war, got a bunch of real medals, and kept on going. He was from Alabama and so he had that southern style of storytelling, which you will see here.
Most importantly, pay attention to what he says about Vietnam and Afghanistan. Notice the incredible similarities. I did not notice until just now watching my old Commander.
There is a qualitative difference in men like this and many of whom I see today, taking war trophies in Afghanistan and leaving Americans behind. And when I say women should not be in infantry, in Rangers, Green Berets, or any of that, this is coming from a great deal of combat experience. As Green Beret, I did not go to war. As a war correspondent, I saw more combat than most Soldiers. Year after year.
A lot of people wondered how I was able to do so much combat and keep going back for more. Easy. My mentors were people like Robert Howard. What would Colonel Howard do? You think this man would go hide in a closet after a shootout? Hell no. He'd clean his weapon and get back out there.
While some 'generals' take a knee, leaders take a Stand. I am one of Colonel Howard's men. I know where I Stand.
I am not expected to quit. I am expected to win. This is my tribe. And I will live up to the expectations of my tribe, or die on the way, and not on my knees. Because I am American.
Any so-called American who does not proudly salute our flag can go to Hell. They are not Americans. The are US citizens. Paperwork trash. My tribe are Americans.
Anybody who is ashamed to fly the Colors of my Tribe can join them in Hell.
Let my Commanding Officer do the talking: