26 minute read
Commander in Chief in the 21st Century
PRESIDENT GREETS SAILORS after entering the hangar bay of USS Gerald R Ford. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Cathrine Mae O.
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COMMANDER “As Commander in Chief, I never forget for one instant the immense sacrifices we ask of those who wear this nation’s uniform.”
– President Donald J Trump
On the evening before Thanksgiving, 2019, a Boeing 747 with the distinctive color scheme of light blue, deep blue, white, and tan was parked on the tarmac of Palm Beach International Airport with an American flag on its tail and a presidential seal below and catty-corner to the cockpit. By all outward appearances, its primary passenger was in for the night, looking forward to a relaxing day at Mar-a-Lago, but looks can be deceiving. In fact, as Air Force One stood idle, Donald J Trump, 45th president of the United States, was on his way to see US troops in Afghanistan.
During the surprise visit, the president served up dinners that included turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes to about two dozen troops. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, broadcast from New York, was the featured entertainment. Among the things the president told those gathered: “There’s nowhere I’d rather celebrate this Thanksgiving than right here with the toughest, strongest, best, and bravest warriors on the face of the Earth.” g
In July 2017, the hat of a Marine standing by the president’s helicopter flew off at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. President Trump bent down, picked up the hat, walked over to the Marine, and placed it on his head. The serendipitous interaction was captured on video. It went viral.
In February 2020, President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence visited Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. They stood at attention in the rain and saluted as two flag-draped caskets were carried from a C-17 Globemaster and put into an awaiting vehicle. One casket carried the remains of Sergeant Javier Jaguar Gutierrez of San Antonio, Texas; the other held the remains of Sergeant Antonio Rey Rodriguez of Las Cruces, New Mexico. The two 28-year-old servicemen were killed in Afghanistan.
Serving Thanksgiving dinner to the troops, retrieving a Marine’s cap, honoring fallen soldiers – such is the life of a Commander in Chief in the 21st Century.
In his book The Hardest Job in the World: The American Presidency, John Dickerson of 60 Minutes writes that, “The presidency is a job of unrelenting difficult decisions.” He notes that Dwight D Eisenhower told his successor John F Kennedy, “There are no easy matters that will ever come to you as president. If they are easy, they will be settled at a lower level.”
Writing for The Atlantic, Dickerson had this to say about the presidency:
“No one man – or woman – can possibly represent the varied, competing interests of 327 million citizens. And it may be that no man – or woman – can perform the ever-expanding duties of office while managing an executive branch of 2 million employees (not including the armed forces) charged with everything from regulating air pollution to X-raying passengers before they board an airplane.” Even when the nation was young, its population paltry, and its leadership battle-tested, governing wasn’t easy. Little wonder, then, that 11 of America’s first 23 chief executives were generals: George Washington, Andrew Jackson, William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor, Franklin Pierce, Andrew Johnson, Ulysses S Grant, Rutherford B Hayes, James A. Garfield, Chester A Arthur, and Benjamin Harrison. Since then, only one president possessed such a high-level military pedigree: Dwight Eisenhower, a five-star general who served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe during World War Two.
Of course, not every general wants to be president. William Tecumseh Sherman, who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War, was clear about his intentions: “I hereby state, and mean all that I say, that I never have been and never will be a candidate for president; that if nominated by either party, I should peremptorily decline; and even if unanimously elected I should decline to serve.”
Some presidents who did serve departed the highest office in the land with less-than positive memories regarding their time as chief executive. Here are a few:
“I did not expect to encounter what has beset me since my elevation to the presidency. God knows, I have endeavored to fulfill what I considered to be an honest duty, but I have been mistaken; my motives have been misconstrued and my feelings grossly betrayed.” – Zachary Taylor
THE US MILITARY ACADEMY AT WEST POINT held its graduation and commissioning ceremony for the Class of 2020 on The Plain in West Point, New York, June 13, 2020. In attendance were commencement speaker President Donald J Trump, Secretary of the Army Ryan D McCarthy and Chief of Staff of the Army General James C McConville. Photo by Brandon O’Connor.
– Thomas Jefferson
“The presidency is no bed of roses.”
– James K Polk
“When you get to be president, there are all those things, the honors, the 21-gun salutes, all those things. You have to remember it isn't for you. It’s for the presidency.” – Harry S Truman
“The presidency has made every man who occupied it, no matter how small, bigger than he was; and no matter how big, not big enough for its demands.” – Lyndon B Johnson
“The presidency has many problems, but boredom is the least of them.”
– Richard M Nixon There are many reasons why, as Polk noted, “the presidency is no bed of roses.” Conflict is one of them. Here’s a sampling of what American presidents have faced as Commandersin-Chief: War of 1812, Mexican-American War, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War One, World War Two, Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf War, Iraq War, the ongoing War on Terror.
One of the significant matters on every president’s agenda is to rally the troops on a regular basis – most notably by visiting America’s military academies for commencement addresses, a duty President Trump has embraced with enthusiasm on multiple occasions. Here are a few highlights: g
COAST GUARD ACADEMY – Class of 2017
“This is truly an amazing group of cadets that are here today for commission. You could have gone to school anywhere you wanted – and with very, very few responsibilities by comparison. Instead, you chose the path of service. You chose hard work, high standards, and a very noble mission – to save lives, defend the homeland, and protect America’s interests around the world. You chose the Coast Guard. Good choice. Good choice.
“From the first stormy days of your Swab Summer to your final weeks as a first-class cadet, you have been expected to take responsibility, to make decisions, and to act. You have to act, and you have to act properly. And you have to learn how to act under great, great pressure.
“Just days from now, you will put this vital skill into the service of your ships, your sectors, and your country. You’ll serve as deck watch officers on our amazing Coast Guard cutters. You’ll bring law and order to the dangerous waters as boating officers. You will block illegal shipments of cash, weapons and drugs. You will battle the scourge of human trafficking. Something that people haven’t been talking about. One of the big, big plagues of the world. Not our country only, the world. Human trafficking.
“Adversity makes you stronger. Don’t give in. Don’t back down. And never stop doing what you know is right. Nothing worth doing ever, ever, ever came easy. And the more righteous your right, the more opposition that you will face.”
NAVAL ACADEMY – Class of 2018
“The word impossible does not exist, because Navy never quits.
“You don’t give up. You don’t give in. You don’t back down. And you never surrender. Wherever you go, wherever you serve, wherever your mission takes you, you only have one word in mind, and that’s victory. That is why you are here.
“Each of you inherits the legacy of the heroes who came before you. It’s a living history passed down from officer to officer and generation to generation. Each of you will make your own mark on the Navy, the Marine Corps, the military, and the history of our great nation. Seize today and you will shape tomorrow.
“Each of you enters service at a truly exciting time for our country. For we are witnessing the great re-awakening of the American spirit and of American might. We are building a modern fleet manned by the greatest sailors. We’re sharpening the fighting edge from Marines infantry squads to combat ships to deliver maximum, lethal force. The enemy has to know we have that. We are re-committing to this fundamental truth: We are a maritime nation. Being a maritime nation, we are surrounded by sea. We must always dominate that sea. We will always dominate the oceans. We are showing what we can achieve when natural American confidence is backed by unrivaled American power and unquestioned American resolve. “As long as we are united with the same mission, the same purpose, the same patriotic heart, we will win, because we are one people, one family, and one glorious nation under God.”
AIR FORCE ACADEMY – Class of 2019
“The first air combat happened just one century ago. You are the ones who will invent and define the next generation of air warfare. And you are the ones who will secure American victory all the time. Victory. To dominate the future, America must rule the skies.
“This class has racked up a list of truly extraordinary achievements. Two graduating cadets recently received one of the most prestigious awards in all of academia: Rhodes scholarships.
“On the athletic fields, the Air Force has won 15 conference championships over the last four years, which is really something. A hundred and fifty-three athletes have earned All-American honors.
“More than half of you will soon head to pilot training, where you will prepare to unleash American thunder anywhere we need. Another 45 will join our Remotely Piloted Aircraft program. A record number of you will become space operators. You will specialize in combat rescues, intelligence, missile maintenance, weather, air traffic control, engineering, and much, much more.
“It is a time for America to reclaim the ultimate high ground and prepare our young warriors of today for victory on the battlefield tomorrow. It’s a very different battlefield. It’s a very different type of warfare. But we are so advanced. And when you see what’s coming, you won’t even believe it. And hopefully, you know what? Hopefully, we never have to use it. Peace through strength. Peace through strength.
“As your Commander in Chief, I want you to know that we will pursue and maintain the overwhelming strength we need to deter any aggressor and thrash any foe.”
WEST POINT – Class of 2020
“The members of this class have come from every state in our union. You have come from the farms and the cities, from states big and small, and from every race, religion, color, and creed. But when you entered these grounds, you became part of one team, one family, proudly serving one great American nation. You became brothers and sisters pledging allegiance to the same timeless principles, joined together in a common mission to protect our country, to defend our people, and to carry on the traditions of freedom, equality, and liberty that so many gave their lives to secure. You exemplify the power of shared national purpose to transcend all differences and achieve true unity. Today, you graduate as one class, and you embody one noble creed, duty, honor, country.
“The survival of America and the endurance of civilization itself depends on the men and women, just like each of you, depends on people who love their country with all their heart and energy and soul. g
“It was the graduates of West Point, towering figures like MacArthur, Patton, Eisenhower, and Bradley who led America to victory over the sinister Nazis and imperial fascists 75 years ago.
“It was under the leadership of West Point graduates like the legendary General Matthew Ridgway, that the army was at the forefront of ending the terrible injustice of segregation. It was army strength that held the line against brutal opposition and depression from communism. And it has been thanks to patriots like you, that America has climbed to new heights of human achievement and national endeavor. This is your history, this is the legacy that each of you inherits.”
Now there’s a sixth branch of the service starting to write the opening chapter of its legacy: The United States Space Force (USSF). It’s the first new branch since the Air Force was created in 1947. USSF was established on December 20, 2019, the result of a directive that President Trump signed the previous February.
Here’s what President Trump said during a signing ceremony at Joint Base Andrews: “Space is the world’s new war-fighting domain. Among grave threats to our national security, American superiority in space is absolutely vital. And we’re leading, but we’re not leading by enough, and very shortly we’ll be leading by a lot.”
USSF’s goal is to “organize, train, and equip space forces in order to protect US and allied interests in space and to provide space capabilities to the joint force. Its responsibilities include developing military space professionals, acquiring military space systems, maturing the military doctrine for space power, and organizing space forces to present to the Combatant Commands.”
Here’s what Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said: “Our reliance on space-based capabilities has grown dramatically, and today outer space has evolved into a war-fighting domain of its own.”
President Trump chose General John Raymond to serve as the Space Force's first Chief of Space Operations. He is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and he previously served more than 35 years in United States Air Force.
“We are elevating space commensurate with its importance to our national security and the security of our allies and partners,” General Raymond said. Space Force’s Budget for 2020 is 40 million dollars; its proposed budget for 2121 is about 15 billion dollars. The new military branch is currently operating out of Colorado’s Peterson Air Force Base, home to its predecessor, the Space Command, since 1987. No location has been officially chosen for the new Space Force’s headquarters, though the president has indicated Colorado is being “very strongly” considered.
“We’ll be making that decision toward the end of the year,” he said.
USSF hearkens back to the Kennedy era, including a speech JFK made at Rice University in 1962:
“Space science, like nuclear science and all technology, has no conscience of its own. Whether it will become a force for good or ill depends on man. And only if the United States occupies a position of preeminence can we help decide whether this new ocean will be a sea of peace or a new terrifying theatre of war. I do not say that we should or will go unprotected against the hostile misuse of space, any more than we go unprotected against the hostile use of land or sea.”
As Commander in Chief, President Trump has not been shy about framing his own legacy: “I am for the strongest military that the United States ever had.”
A bold remark to be sure, but one that might have been appreciated by the Prussian general and military theorist Carl von Clausewitz who once said: “No military leader has ever become great without audacity.”
But the president has combined his words with actions.
Loren Thompson, Forbes Senior Contributor for Aerospace & Defense, has written what he believes were the “Top Five Steps Trump Has Taken To Prepare the US Military for Whatever Comes Next.”
Readiness: “The Trump Pentagon launched a multi-phase process to rebuild the military. In 2017, it would increase spending on readiness. In 2018, it would sustain funding for readiness – training, maintenance, etc. – while filling ‘holes’ in the military posture such as inadequate stocks of precision munitions. In 2019, it would begin making down payments on increased lethality to cope with the challenges posed by Russia and China, and in 2020, it would go fullbore on buying a new generation of weapons.”
PRESIDENT DONALD J TRUMP speaks to service members and their families onboard Naval Air Station Sigonella during an all-hands call. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Gordon.
Investment: “The Trump team greatly increased funding for development and procurement of new weapons. Outlays for R&D increased over 50 percent between 2016 and 2020, while outlays for the procurement of weapons rose 35 percent. Much of this money was devoted to fielding a new generation of war-fighting systems, including a more survivable bomber, longer-range rotorcraft and unmanned systems.”
Modernization: “Recapitalization of the nation’s aging nuclear arsenal was the first major military initiative Trump cited when he announced he intended to seek the presidency. Deterring nuclear attacks by sustaining a diverse and survivable retaliatory force has long been the foundation of the US defense posture, but by the time Trump decided to run the entire strategic arsenal had grown old, including its command and control network and its industrial complex.”
Space: “The Trump Administration has launched a major effort to increase the resilience of US space assets, which includes making orbital capabilities more survivable, protecting ground systems, and rendering downlinks/uplinks harder to jam or intercept. Much of the new money is going to secret projects such as sophisticated sensor arrays, but the organizational manifestations of increased emphasis on space are easy to see: a sixth branch of the military called the Space Force, a unified command, a dedicated Space Development Agency, and other bureaucratic constructs.”
Allies: “President Trump has not been shy about telling allies they must do more to support collective security. That goes particularly for the European members of NATO [The North Atlantic Treaty Organization], many of whom have stopped thinking rigorously about the military threat posed by Russia.”
Thompson closes his assessment with this observation:
“From hypersonic weapons to multi-domain warfare to soldier lethality, Trump has done more to rebuild US war-fighting capabilities than any president since Reagan.”
And the president did more than just add a branch to the services and dollars to the military budget: He has held men and women who serve in high esteem and honored them accordingly. The 2020 State of the Union was just such an occasion and Charles McGee was just such a person.
During the Second World War, McGee, one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen fighter pilots, flew a P-51B Mustang that he had nicknamed “Kitten” after his wife. He spent more than 30 years in the Air Force and was honored with awards numerous times, including the Congressional Gold Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Bronze Star.
“After more than 130 combat missions in World War II, he came back home to a country still struggling for civil rights and went on to serve America in Korea and Vietnam,” Trump said of McGee. “On December 7th, Charles celebrated his 100th birthday.”
The president had previously signed a bill promoting McGee to Brigadier General. “I pinned the stars on his shoulders in the Oval Office,” Trump said. “General McGee, our nation salutes you. Thank you, sir.”
Among those applauding McGee’s achievements was his 13-year-old great-grandson Iain Lanphier who wants to attend the US Air Force Academy and eventually join the newly instituted Space Force.
Also present at the 2020 State of the Union was Kelli Hake whose husband, Staff Sergeant Christopher Hake, was killed by a roadside bomb in 2008 during his second deployment to Iraq.
“Sergeant Hake now rests in eternal glory in Arlington. And his wife, Kelli, is in the gallery tonight, joined by their son, who is now 13 years old and doing very, very well,” Trump said. “To Kelli and Gage, Chris will live in our hearts forever. He is looking down on you now. Thank you.”
Perhaps one of the most heart-warming and surprising moments came when Amy Williams from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, was honored. Amy, who works full time and volunteers to help other military families, is married to Sergeant 1st Class Townsend Williams.
“Amy’s kids haven't seen their father’s face in many months,” the president said. “Amy, your family’s sacrifice makes it possible for all of our families to live in safety and in peace. And we want to thank you.”
The Commander in Chief announced a “special surprise” for her family.
“I am thrilled to inform you that your husband is back from deployment,” President Trump said. “He is here with us tonight. And we couldn’t keep him waiting any longer.”
Sergeant Williams entered the gallery and greeted his wife and children, prompting many to chant: “USA! USA! USA!”
Honoring military men and women as well as their families has been a tradition at recent State-of-the-Union addresses. In 2018, one such guest was Corporal (Retired) Matthew Bradford. In 2007, he stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Iraq and was blinded when shrapnel struck his eyes. He also lost both legs. After multiple surgeries and extensive therapy, Bradford re-enlisted in the Marine Corps; the first blind, double-amputee to do so. He is now an inspirational speaker who shares his story with audiences, capturing their attention with his motto: “No Legs, No Vision, No Problem.”
Another special guest was Preston Sharp. The president told members of Congress that the youngster had noticed that some graves of veterans were not marked with flags on Veterans Day. He decided that trend needed to change, so he came up with this mission statement:
“Veterans fought for our freedoms and risked their lives whether or not we realized it or appreciated it. Without the services of our veterans, we would not have the freedoms we do today. Veterans have served all of us. This is why I have made it my mission to Honor Veterans everyday, not just the holiday.”
Among the results of his campaign: Ten of thousands of flags have been placed on the graves of veterans. g
A SUPPORTER OF PRESIDENT DONALD
TRUMP waits for his arrival at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base. US Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Chloe Ochs.
“Young patriots, like Preston, teach all of us about our civic duty as Americans,” the president said, adding that, “Preston’s reverence for those who have served our nation reminds us of why we salute our flag, why we put our hands on our hearts for the Pledge of Allegiance, and why we proudly stand for the National Anthem.”
Later in his speech, the president emphasized that those who’ve served deserve more than just lip service when their service is over. That’s why, he explained, he’d signed the landmark VA Accountability Act.
“Since its passage, my administration has already removed more than 1,500 VA employees who failed to give our veterans the care they deserve. And we are hiring talented people who love our vets as much as we do,” he said. “I will not stop until our veterans are properly taken care of, which has been my promise to them from the very beginning of this great journey.”
Taking care of those who’ve served goes hand-in-hand with the president’s stated objective of supplying those currently serving with the tools and training they need to succeed.
“As part of our defense, we must modernize and rebuild our nuclear arsenal,” he said, “hopefully never having to use it, but making it so strong and so powerful that it will deter any acts of aggression by any other nation or anyone else.”
Though optimistic about the future, he remained pragmatic: “Perhaps someday in the future, there will be a magical moment when the countries of the world will get together to eliminate their nuclear weapons. Unfortunately, we are not there yet, sadly.”
While committed to helping the military deal with the high-tech challenges it faces, the president is well-aware that low-tech weapons can also have devastating results.
“Army Staff Sergeant Justin Peck is here tonight,” the Commander in Chief said during his 2018 address. “Near Raqqa, last November, Justin and his comrade, Chief Petty Officer Kenton Stacy, were on a mission to clear buildings that ISIS had rigged with explosive so that civilians could return to that city hopefully soon, and hopefully safely.”
But danger is always lurking just around the corner in such deadly environments.
“Clearing the second floor of a vital hospital, Kenton Stacy was severely wounded by an explosion. Immediately, Justin bounded into the booby-trapped and unbelievably dangerous and unsafe building, and found Kenton, but in very, very bad shape. He applied pressure to the wound and inserted a tube to re-open an airway. He then performed CPR for 20 straight minutes during the ground transport, and maintained artificial respiration through two and a half hours and through emergency surgery.
“Kenton Stacy would have died if it were not for Justin’s selfless love for his fellow warrior. Tonight, Kenton is recovering in Texas. Raqqa is liberated. And Justin is wearing his new Bronze Star, with a ‘V’ for ‘Valor.’
“Staff Sergeant Peck, all of America salutes you. Terrorists who do things like place bombs in civilian hospitals are evil. When possible, we have no choice but to annihilate them. When necessary, we must be able to detain and question them. But we must be clear: Terrorists are not merely criminals. They are unlawful enemy combatants. And when captured overseas, they should be treated like the terrorists they are.”
That explosive moment near Raqqa when Chief Petty Officer Kenton Stacy was wounded helps remind Americans that virtually every day military personnel step into life-and-death situations. It’s such dedication and commitment, despite distractions and detractors, that make up the core of a speech delivered by Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne in Paris on April 23, 1910. Though formally entitled “Citizenship in a Republic,” it’s more popularly known as “The Man in the Arena.” Here’s an excerpt: g
“It is not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong man stumbled or how the doer of deeds might have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred with sweat and dust and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, if he wins, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
When he spoke at Annapolis, President Trump, who in his life has stepped into “The Arena” on more than one occasion, had this to say:
“Together we struggle. Together we strive. Together we pray. And together we triumph as citizens, as patriots, as Americans. We stand on the shoulders of heroes who gave their sweat, their blood, their tears, and their very lives for this great country of ours. This is our heritage. This is our home. And this is our pledge. We are all-in for America, like never before. We are all-in for our great country.”
Nowhere was that “all-in” attitude more evident than during World War Two, which, as President Trump has noted, resulted in a massive clash of wills and weapons.
“This year marks the 75th anniversary of the conclusion of World War II – a monumental struggle between the forces of freedom and tyranny. In both the European and Pacific Theaters, the United States Army was critical to the success of the Allied Forces. The historic triumph came at a somber price, as the Army bore the brunt of the fighting – and human cost – of our Nation’s contribution to victory in the war. As we celebrate the United States Army’s incredible accomplishments, we also pause to remember those Soldiers who laid down their lives to defend our freedom and protect their fellow Americans.”
Citizen-soldiers have volunteered to step into “The Arena” for a long time. In 1775, the Second Continental Congress established the Continental Army to fight for the nation’s independence. Blood was shed at the birth of America just as blood is being shed now to keep the promise of freedom alive. “In the 245 years since, the United States Army has helped defend our freedom all over the world and has made countless contributions to our Nation’s security and the American way of life,” the president said, adding that “We recognize the United States Army for its many achievements and pay tribute to all those who have served in America’s oldest military branch.
“This year, we celebrate our brave soldiers – active, guard, and reserve, past and present – who are willing to put themselves in harm’s way and make the ultimate sacrifice for our country during times of both war and peace. As Commander in Chief, I join a grateful Nation in wishing the United States Army a happy 245th birthday.”
As a part of that celebration, America has built (though not yet opened) a 185,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, that holds 15,000 pieces from the Army Art Collection as well as 30,000 artifacts, documents, and images, the majority of which have never been displayed in public. Its official name: The National Museum of the United States Army.
“This is a home for our soldiers,” said Tammy E. Call, the museum’s Director. “This is a gathering place … to bring their families, to bring their friends, and to be able to showcase where they served and what they did – and be able to tell that story.”
The stories of America’s Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen continue to be written: stories of heroics and victories; sadness and loss. Some will be shared in quiet moments of comfort and pain; others will be shared in exhilaration and joy, such as when President Trump in his capacity as Commander in Chief spoke to the graduating class at Annapolis:
“Live for adventure. Think big. Dream bigger. Push further. Sail faster. Fly higher. And never, ever stop reaching for greatness. Never stop reaching for the stars. You know you’re up to the task. You’re among the finest people anywhere in the world, the smartest, the strongest. You know you will make us proud. We know that glory will be yours because you are winners. You are warriors. You are fighters. You are champions, and you will lead us only to victory.”
THE US MILITARY ACADEMY AT WEST POINT held its graduation and commissioning ceremony for the Class of 2020 on The Plain in West Point, New York, June 13, 2020. US Army Photo by Sergeant First Class Torin Olsen. PRESIDENT DONALD J TRUMP WAVES as he exits Marine One onboard Naval Air Station Sigonella. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Gordon.
Jim lamb is a retired journalist. He served in Vietnam with the United States Navy and later went to college on the GI Bill.
