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Regular Joe
 
Group: Registered User
Last Login: 11/9/2008 5:01 AM
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I think my first most influential NCO was SSG Simko from Jump School. He was one of our Black Hats and his nick-name was:"The Smoke Monster". This guy could do push-ups for days! I think he slept in the Front Leaning Rest Position! I remember my first jump at Jump School where I was #3 in the door. He was the first jumper and all the students were lookin around trying to find the courage to not show fear. I remember looking at him, he looked at me and just gave me this shit eating grin! It made me smile and laugh a little and took alot my fear away! My second was when I finally got to Bragg. 1SG Lewis. He was a tall Black man with skinny runners legs and a HUGE upper body. A 101st ABN Vietnam Vet. He was hard but fair. I learned a great deal from this man because he stressed the importance of the Squad Leader. When a joe f***ed up, he didn't go to the PSG, his words were: "WHERES YOUR SQUAD LEADER". He took it straight to Squad Leader and made them responsible! CSM Veitch and CSM Lockwood were very influential for me also. Both were GREAT LEADERS!
_________________________________________________ "Never argue with an idiot; they'll drag you down to their level and beat
you with experience." ~ Anonymous
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Malignant Narcissist
Group: Community Supporter
Last Login: 11/19/2008 2:05 PM
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| First Sergeant Larry O'Dell Lane. One of two men I have ever truly feared and worshiped. Look in the dictionary and you will see his photo next to "Leader" and "soldier". DSC with the 173rd I believe. I remember stories from old timers about him killing VC with an entrenching tool and stories from those who saw him punch out green LT's who's britches were too big... We were in awe of him...yelling at Cpt. Merrigan about "Leave my troops alone college boy!" and the very first day when he was our 1st Sgt he went into the barracks and found some open wall lockers....once the unemptied trash can and those people's belongings started to fly out of the 2nd story window we knew he ment buisness! The thing I remember most about him was when my mom flew over to Italy to visit me. We were in the commissary and he walked by with his wife. My mom, having heard the stories about him, actually walked over to him, poked him in the chest with her finger and told him that she had heard he was a bad-ass and that she didn't see what all the fuss was about. He was very nice to her and said "nice to meet you ma'me" etc and then asked to see me in private...I thought I was going to die...he got about 1/3 of an inch from my face and had me locked up and shaking...all he said was, "Tanner...don't sweat it son...I have a mom too..." He was in the movie "Stripes" as well, one of the best recruiting movies of all time!
 Do you listen to yourself when you talk; or do you just fade in and out?
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Green GI
Group: Registered User
Last Login: 12/7/2006 10:27 AM
Posts: 46,
Visits: 241
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1SG Jim Atchison ... We had guys go down to Suriname to help with the Haitian refugee camps that were set up there. I was in Russain BMLC, so didn't go, but about 10 guys from my company went. About 6 months later, SMA Kidd came to Bragg and spoke at the NCO Club. Top asked me if I wanted to go with him. As a PFC with a strong respect for the man, of course I would. There hundreds of NCOs and EMs at the club, all strainign to see Kidd as he gave his speech. I don;t even remember what he said. Probably something about traing tomorrow's NCOs and values, etc.
Afterwards, as Kidd was making his way through the crowd, Top said, "Follow me." Now, Atchison was about 6' 3" and 250. Didn't look like much, but he always maxed his APFT. We waded through the sea of guys from division and corps and came up to Kidd.
Top put his hand out and said, "Sergeant Major Kidd, my name is Jim Atchison, I'm the first sergeant for Alpha Company, 6th Psyop Battalion. Six months ago you came to visit some of my soldiers in Suriname. At that time you promised them Sergeant Major of the Army coins. They haven't received them yet."
WOW! Talk about intestinal fortitude and moral courage!
Kidd thought for a second and said, "Yes, I remember that. Give their names to my aide and I'll make sure that happens."
Top talked to his SSG aide and a couple weeks later our guys had their coins.
It was a small gesture. He never mentioned it to anybody at the company. He knew what the right thing to do was and he did it.
He's the only first sergeant I called "Top."
37F reclass to 11B: Born again hard.
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Stare Master
Group: Community Supporter
Last Login: Yesterday @ 8:07 PM
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Jay Arnold (3/2/2006)
1SG Jim Atchison ... We had guys go down to Suriname to help with the Haitian refugee camps that were set up there. I was in Russain BMLC, so didn't go, but about 10 guys from my company went. About 6 months later, SMA Kidd came to Bragg and spoke at the NCO Club. Top asked me if I wanted to go with him. As a PFC with a strong respect for the man, of course I would. There hundreds of NCOs and EMs at the club, all strainign to see Kidd as he gave his speech. I don;t even remember what he said. Probably something about traing tomorrow's NCOs and values, etc.
Afterwards, as Kidd was making his way through the crowd, Top said, "Follow me." Now, Atchison was about 6' 3" and 250. Didn't look like much, but he always maxed his APFT. We waded through the sea of guys from division and corps and came up to Kidd.
Top put his hand out and said, "Sergeant Major Kidd, my name is Jim Atchison, I'm the first sergeant for Alpha Company, 6th Psyop Battalion. Six months ago you came to visit some of my soldiers in Suriname. At that time you promised them Sergeant Major of the Army coins. They haven't received them yet."
WOW! Talk about intestinal fortitude and moral courage!
Kidd thought for a second and said, "Yes, I remember that. Give their names to my aide and I'll make sure that happens."
Top talked to his SSG aide and a couple weeks later our guys had their coins.
It was a small gesture. He never mentioned it to anybody at the company. He knew what the right thing to do was and he did it.
He's the only first sergeant I called "Top."Great story, Jay. But I have to ask if you have that much respect for him why the disrespect in calling him "Top". The rank is 1SG and I believe that is how he should be addressed. It is not "Sarge", it is Sergeant. And to many people's horror, it is not "El Tee" it is Lieutenant. While these terms were common during my time in the Army I believe that to refer to them by something other than their rank is to demean the rank and to demean not only the man or woman you are addressing, but also every other Soldier that wears that rank. In the summer of 1980, at the same time I was assigned to Tower Branch MSG Bell returned from Korea to be Branch Chief. One of the Blackhats asked him how he wanted to be referred to, if we should call him Top or would he like something else. His response was "a top is a kid's toy that you push down on and it spins. Try to push down on me m@#$%^f&*@#$, and see if I spin". He then proceeded to explain the Army's rank structure and how his rank fit into it.
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American GI. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
"History teaches that when you become indifferent and lose the will to fight someone who has the will to fight will take over." COLONEL BULL SIMONS
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Green GI
Group: Registered User
Last Login: 12/7/2006 10:27 AM
Posts: 46,
Visits: 241
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509Trooper sez:
Great story, Jay. But I have to ask if you have that much respect for him why the disrespect in calling him "Top". The rank is 1SG and I believe that is how he should be addressed.
I agree, 509. He asked all of his troops to refer to him as that. Out of his respect for his wishes, I did so. Also, Psyop runs a little differently than the rest of the Army. Not good, not bad, just is.
Being called "sarge" or "sar'nt" chaps my fourth point of contact!
37F reclass to 11B: Born again hard.
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Stare Master
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Last Login: Yesterday @ 8:07 PM
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| Jay, even then I don't think it should be done. IMO it diminishes the rank and all of those who wear it. He holds that rank and is not the embodiment. If nothing else it ingrains a bad habit in too many soldiers who will then use it on anyone in the rank. [b]Jay Arnold (3/3/2006)Also, Psyop runs a little differently than the rest of the Army. Not good, not bad, just is. It is bad. Soldiers are soldiers are soldiers, and all should be held to the same standards.
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American GI. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
"History teaches that when you become indifferent and lose the will to fight someone who has the will to fight will take over." COLONEL BULL SIMONS
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Green GI
Group: Registered User
Last Login: 12/7/2006 10:27 AM
Posts: 46,
Visits: 241
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509Trooper, I'll chalk this up to "agree to disagree." Knowing what I know now, I would call him "first sergeant." As a 19 year old PFC who was eager to please, when he asked to be called "Top," I called him "Top." I haven't since.
I've never used the terms sarge, sar'nt, smaj, el tee, looey, etc.
37F reclass to 11B: Born again hard.
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