In this chapter, the platoon leader remembered his last days in Vietnam. I thought it was interesting that he said he felt a lot of things about leaving Vietnam, but he didn't feel joy. I can understand that he would feel guilty about leaving his men and confused about going back to normal life after such a long time, but it still seems like he would be happy about going back. Though we are only in chapter one, he has already given us a good example of caring for your soldiers through the story of Phil Nail. So far, I like this book.
I really hope that in my future Army career I will have at least one leader like LT McDonough, and that is only after reading the first chapter of his book. For example how he moved his one platoon member Nails, out of the bush and onto a safer job after he had been shot three times. He knew that a soldier could only get lucky a few times before that luck ran out. His description of how he felt leaving Vietnam really surprised me. McDonough was not joyous as you would think most soldiers would be but rather he takes the time to take mental pictures of Vietnam so that he can remember it. I wouldn't think someone would want to remember all the things that went on there. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the book.
The opening chapter focuses on Lt. McDonough's thoughts of the vietnam war, death, and mental struggle. The few pages that make up this chapter give the readers a glimpse of how a war can affect every thought a soldier and infiltrate the mind completely. When the major approaches him and enquires about the places in Vietnam in which he served, McDonough finds that he can only reflect on his friends and companions who perished in the locations, rather than the locations themselves. Paragraphs later, we see McDonough awake from a dream in which he pictured his fellow West Point cadets perishing in the war. I have to admit, this first chapter was certainly better than the opening chapter of the book last semester.
The first chapter seems to set up the premise of this book. As a reader, we are clued into the fact that the author was a platoon leader during the Vietnam war. The first chapter definetely alludes to some distinct leadership qualities, mainly that of empathy. It is also clear that McDonough truly cared about those he lead, illustrated by him having his rifleman assigned to a new position. This first chapter also tells us that a lot of NcDonough's friends and classmates from Westpoint died in the war. It is clear that the war was a devastating experience and I'm sure it will be interesting, and probably depressing, to read about it.
In chapter one the platoon leader shows various qualities that are critical for being a good leader and achieving success in the military. More specifically in this chapter he shows the characteristics of a “leader of character.” Most vividly, he displays empathy for his men. He feels incredibly responsible for their injuries and situations in the war. He even feels guilt that they have gotten hurt and he hasn’t. The leader embodies the “take care of your men and they will take care of you” idea as well. When he transfers Phil Nail to a driver position from a rifleman in order to put Nail in the best position to survive the war he epitomizes that quality. Looking out for your men, recognizing that Nail had been injured three previous times and knowing that his odds for survival were diminishing, is the mark of a good leader. Two important army values, loyalty and respect, are displayed in this first scene. The platoon leader goes on to reflect over a few other key questions that a leader must constantly be reminding himself of. He asks himself, “Did I ask other men to do what I would not have done? Did I not take care of them?…did I lessen that evil [of war] by doing what was right, by doing what had to be done” (4). The first two questions he asks himself go along with empathy, putting yourself in your men’s shoes and not asking them to do anything unreasonable. Taking good care of them, food and rest-wise, is also important in order to earn their respect and appreciation. His third question reflects the Soldier’s Creed, doing what has to be done, putting the mission first in order to effectively serve our nation. In just a few short pages this platoon leader has exhibited many of the necessary qualities to excel at military leadership.
When I first picked up this book, I realized that Lt. James R. McDonough was in the 173 Airborne Brigades. This is the same brigade that SSGT Salvatore Giunta was in. This brigade was also the first major Army ground formation in Vietnam. James asks himself like any officer or soldier, how did I make it and others did not? Did I do my missions too zealously? The most important question is did I do what was right. Lt McDonough so far is a great leader taking care of his men specifically a soldier named Nails to safety .He has a need to be with his men and lead them to accomplishing their mission and caring for them. McDonough also points out the need for officers to lead from the front, when he talks about a Major who stayed in the rear instead of the front.
The book starts out telling of how Phil Nail was a rifle man in his platoon and that he had been injured 3 times so in Vietnam but that he was going home because of the odds of him surviving a fourth wound were not good odds. I think this was a good move by McDonough not only because Nail had been wounded three times and needed a long recovery time, but I believe that after someone gets injured that many times their moral probably goes down, and they probably believe they are a bullet magnet, and they might hesitate in crucial times to perform their duty. Also later On McDonough speaks of his survival guilt, and of his un openness about the war, and of night terrors of which he suffered from. This reminded me of an old man I had befriended at a nursing home who had served in the Navy during World War II as an anti-aircraft gunner, in battles like layette gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. In these battles his battle ship had been attacked by Kamikazes, and a lot of his friends had died from the attacks in front of him. He suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder Almost every night he had night terrors of the ordeals he went through even 50 years after the events took place. He also speaks of how the war changed him from being a Youngman .McDonough asks himself many questions as he looks back on his experience in Vietnam like if he could have done a better job? And all such questions that many men ask that have been in such a position. So far it seems that McDonough is a good officer, and this book seems very interesting.
I first want to talk about McDonough's Prologue. He made it clear in the beginning that the styles of war has certainly changed from when he was in the Army and that his story in Vietnam is his experience and every soldier's is different. In chapter one, McDonough describes how he moved his rifleman Phil Nail to a driver position, after Nail was wounded three separate times. I feel this shows McDonough as a leader who is concerned for his men and their safety. The story also shows the readers that soldiers can be wounded after returning home from battle. McDonough says he woke up from a dream sweating and thinking about his old West Point friends who died at war. So far this book seems pretty interesting and I am looking forward to reading more about McDonough at war.
The book starts of with McDonugh successfully switching Phil Nail as a driver. He did this for Nail's personal safty. This from the begining has set the tone that he cared for his men. I can tell that he's a good soldier and wants to be up in the front with his men, to lead by example.He doesn't want to leave them behind, and feels gulty when he comes back to America.McDonough introduces the dangers of vietnam. He talks of his buddies and the many of them that are now gone. He ask's the common question's that veterans often have. He appears to have post-traumatic stress disorder. From his nightmares it seems that he relives much of his time in Vietnam vividly everyday. From this chapter I can tell that I will enjoy reading Platoon Leader and can learn much from it.
Right from the get-go we see this platoon leader demonstrate effective and rational leadership. He demonstrates concern for his men, he realizes that Phil Nail's life is more noticeably at risk of dying than other men. Out of concern for his men's well being, he moves the rifleman to a driving position. He then goes through a brief bout of self doubt, worrying if he made the best choices for his men. But experiencing his decisive and effective leadership, I just think that it's a normal self-doubt device that wouldn't be uncommon when people make tough decisions. There's also a lot about McDonough talking about how the Major didn't have as much military bearing as he could have been. I think that I need to--regardless of my specific job--need to be military minded if I am to be taken seriously as an officer
The first chapter certainly sets up the rest of the book well. The author also gives a good introduction to himself, and he shows how living in Vietnam has affected him. It's also interesting to see how his attitude toward other people have changed. He tries to help a member of his former platoon by giving them jobs they are more likely to survive. He also shows his resentment towards the major who hasn't seen combat and doesn't know what it's like to be in the jungle, although he himself was once in the same position. so far the book is shaping up to be both interesting and educational, and certainly a somewhat dark view into what life as an infantry officer during wartime is like.
The first chapter definitely set up the premise and mood of the book. One thing that caught my attention was when Lt. McDonough said that he was going home and he stated, "I'm going home...doesn't he know that it's not joy? It's confusion; it's guilt; it's a sense of loss-but not joy. There is no room for joy in Vietnam." I found this saddening because he didn't even seem to be enlightened or happy to be leaving, only depressed. The things that he had gone through to put him in this melancholy state. Lt. McDonough shows he obtains leadership qualities and that he is empathetic. When he moved his rifleman to a new position it showed that he cared for the safety of his soldiers and I believe that he is leading by example. I anxious to continue to read, but it may be graphic and difficult to take in.
This chapter really helped to set the scene for book. His vague reflections on what happened to him in Vietnam shows readers that this story will be diverse but never boring. His quotes about his sadness just being in Vietnam also tells readers there will be no bull crap about war in this book; everything told will be accurate about war. I'm very excited about reading this book.
In this chapter, the platoon leader remembered his last days in Vietnam. I thought it was interesting that he said he felt a lot of things about leaving Vietnam, but he didn't feel joy. I can understand that he would feel guilty about leaving his men and confused about going back to normal life after such a long time, but it still seems like he would be happy about going back. Though we are only in chapter one, he has already given us a good example of caring for your soldiers through the story of Phil Nail. So far, I like this book.
ReplyDeleteI really hope that in my future Army career I will have at least one leader like LT McDonough, and that is only after reading the first chapter of his book. For example how he moved his one platoon member Nails, out of the bush and onto a safer job after he had been shot three times. He knew that a soldier could only get lucky a few times before that luck ran out. His description of how he felt leaving Vietnam really surprised me. McDonough was not joyous as you would think most soldiers would be but rather he takes the time to take mental pictures of Vietnam so that he can remember it. I wouldn't think someone would want to remember all the things that went on there. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the book.
ReplyDeleteThe opening chapter focuses on Lt. McDonough's thoughts of the vietnam war, death, and mental struggle. The few pages that make up this chapter give the readers a glimpse of how a war can affect every thought a soldier and infiltrate the mind completely. When the major approaches him and enquires about the places in Vietnam in which he served, McDonough finds that he can only reflect on his friends and companions who perished in the locations, rather than the locations themselves. Paragraphs later, we see McDonough awake from a dream in which he pictured his fellow West Point cadets perishing in the war. I have to admit, this first chapter was certainly better than the opening chapter of the book last semester.
ReplyDeleteThe first chapter seems to set up the premise of this book. As a reader, we are clued into the fact that the author was a platoon leader during the Vietnam war. The first chapter definetely alludes to some distinct leadership qualities, mainly that of empathy. It is also clear that McDonough truly cared about those he lead, illustrated by him having his rifleman assigned to a new position. This first chapter also tells us that a lot of NcDonough's friends and classmates from Westpoint died in the war. It is clear that the war was a devastating experience and I'm sure it will be interesting, and probably depressing, to read about it.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter one the platoon leader shows various qualities that are critical for being a good leader and achieving success in the military. More specifically in this chapter he shows the characteristics of a “leader of character.” Most vividly, he displays empathy for his men. He feels incredibly responsible for their injuries and situations in the war. He even feels guilt that they have gotten hurt and he hasn’t. The leader embodies the “take care of your men and they will take care of you” idea as well. When he transfers Phil Nail to a driver position from a rifleman in order to put Nail in the best position to survive the war he epitomizes that quality. Looking out for your men, recognizing that Nail had been injured three previous times and knowing that his odds for survival were diminishing, is the mark of a good leader. Two important army values, loyalty and respect, are displayed in this first scene. The platoon leader goes on to reflect over a few other key questions that a leader must constantly be reminding himself of. He asks himself, “Did I ask other men to do what I would not have done? Did I not take care of them?…did I lessen that evil [of war] by doing what was right, by doing what had to be done” (4). The first two questions he asks himself go along with empathy, putting yourself in your men’s shoes and not asking them to do anything unreasonable. Taking good care of them, food and rest-wise, is also important in order to earn their respect and appreciation. His third question reflects the Soldier’s Creed, doing what has to be done, putting the mission first in order to effectively serve our nation. In just a few short pages this platoon leader has exhibited many of the necessary qualities to excel at military leadership.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first picked up this book, I realized that Lt. James R. McDonough was in the 173 Airborne Brigades. This is the same brigade that SSGT Salvatore Giunta was in. This brigade was also the first major Army ground formation in Vietnam. James asks himself like any officer or soldier, how did I make it and others did not? Did I do my missions too zealously? The most important question is did I do what was right. Lt McDonough so far is a great leader taking care of his men specifically a soldier named Nails to safety .He has a need to be with his men and lead them to accomplishing their mission and caring for them. McDonough also points out the need for officers to lead from the front, when he talks about a Major who stayed in the rear instead of the front.
ReplyDeleteThe book starts out telling of how Phil Nail was a rifle man in his platoon and that he had been injured 3 times so in Vietnam but that he was going home because of the odds of him surviving a fourth wound were not good odds. I think this was a good move by McDonough not only because Nail had been wounded three times and needed a long recovery time, but I believe that after someone gets injured that many times their moral probably goes down, and they probably believe they are a bullet magnet, and they might hesitate in crucial times to perform their duty. Also later On McDonough speaks of his survival guilt, and of his un openness about the war, and of night terrors of which he suffered from. This reminded me of an old man I had befriended at a nursing home who had served in the Navy during World War II as an anti-aircraft gunner, in battles like layette gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. In these battles his battle ship had been attacked by Kamikazes, and a lot of his friends had died from the attacks in front of him. He suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder Almost every night he had night terrors of the ordeals he went through even 50 years after the events took place. He also speaks of how the war changed him from being a Youngman .McDonough asks himself many questions as he looks back on his experience in Vietnam like if he could have done a better job? And all such questions that many men ask that have been in such a position. So far it seems that McDonough is a good officer, and this book seems very interesting.
ReplyDeleteI first want to talk about McDonough's Prologue. He made it clear in the beginning that the styles of war has certainly changed from when he was in the Army and that his story in Vietnam is his experience and every soldier's is different. In chapter one, McDonough describes how he moved his rifleman Phil Nail to a driver position, after Nail was wounded three separate times. I feel this shows McDonough as a leader who is concerned for his men and their safety. The story also shows the readers that soldiers can be wounded after returning home from battle. McDonough says he woke up from a dream sweating and thinking about his old West Point friends who died at war. So far this book seems pretty interesting and I am looking forward to reading more about McDonough at war.
ReplyDeleteThe book starts of with McDonugh successfully switching Phil Nail as a driver. He did this for Nail's personal safty. This from the begining has set the tone that he cared for his men. I can tell that he's a good soldier and wants to be up in the front with his men, to lead by example.He doesn't want to leave them behind, and feels gulty when he comes back to America.McDonough introduces the dangers of vietnam. He talks of his buddies and the many of them that are now gone. He ask's the common question's that veterans often have. He appears to have post-traumatic stress disorder. From his nightmares it seems that he relives much of his time in Vietnam vividly everyday. From this chapter I can tell that I will enjoy reading Platoon Leader and can learn much from it.
ReplyDeleteRight from the get-go we see this platoon leader demonstrate effective and rational leadership. He demonstrates concern for his men, he realizes that Phil Nail's life is more noticeably at risk of dying than other men. Out of concern for his men's well being, he moves the rifleman to a driving position. He then goes through a brief bout of self doubt, worrying if he made the best choices for his men. But experiencing his decisive and effective leadership, I just think that it's a normal self-doubt device that wouldn't be uncommon when people make tough decisions.
ReplyDeleteThere's also a lot about McDonough talking about how the Major didn't have as much military bearing as he could have been. I think that I need to--regardless of my specific job--need to be military minded if I am to be taken seriously as an officer
The first chapter certainly sets up the rest of the book well. The author also gives a good introduction to himself, and he shows how living in Vietnam has affected him. It's also interesting to see how his attitude toward other people have changed. He tries to help a member of his former platoon by giving them jobs they are more likely to survive. He also shows his resentment towards the major who hasn't seen combat and doesn't know what it's like to be in the jungle, although he himself was once in the same position. so far the book is shaping up to be both interesting and educational, and certainly a somewhat dark view into what life as an infantry officer during wartime is like.
ReplyDeleteThe first chapter definitely set up the premise and mood of the book. One thing that caught my attention was when Lt. McDonough said that he was going home and he stated, "I'm going home...doesn't he know that it's not joy? It's confusion; it's guilt; it's a sense of loss-but not joy. There is no room for joy in Vietnam." I found this saddening because he didn't even seem to be enlightened or happy to be leaving, only depressed. The things that he had gone through to put him in this melancholy state. Lt. McDonough shows he obtains leadership qualities and that he is empathetic. When he moved his rifleman to a new position it showed that he cared for the safety of his soldiers and I believe that he is leading by example. I anxious to continue to read, but it may be graphic and difficult to take in.
ReplyDeleteThis chapter really helped to set the scene for book. His vague reflections on what happened to him in Vietnam shows readers that this story will be diverse but never boring. His quotes about his sadness just being in Vietnam also tells readers there will be no bull crap about war in this book; everything told will be accurate about war. I'm very excited about reading this book.
ReplyDelete