Thank you, sir! I enjoy all of your posts and comments, whether written, on various TV shows, or Podcasts. You add so much content, clarity, depth, and insightful information to the conversations at this present time. Please continue contributing as you do, because what you say and write are sorely needed.
In July 1974, I was serving in the 1/6 Infantry in Illesheim, Bavaria, about 35 miles west of Nueremberg. On the 4th, I was the Duty Officer, but the following weekend, I was off and decided to see a place that had haunted my imagination since my history class on the Second World War my Junior year at the University of Montana. I wanted to see where Hitler addressed the troops and the citizens of Germany as he steered them towards war. I drove over and after some wandering around, found the site. It was the spookiest place I had ever been and I’ve never forgotten that time and place. We take our blessings for granted, but moments like that show how special they are.
I am struck by the fact that to Americans WWII was practically ancient history in 1976. But to Europeans in 1976 it was recent. The scars still there on the landscape and on the psyche of the people there even if they were born after the war ended.
We Americans do not recognize the impact of war on civilians because we've had no experience with it on US soil since the Civil War ended. We maintain our grudges based on things unrelated to actual deprivation of life and liberty.
During World War 2 while my Grandfather was serving in the army (we were fighting a Japanese invasion) he organised for his family to live in a less populated area. My mother was playing on the beach with her siblings and was astounded to see American landing craft arrive on the beach dispensing hundreds of marines in defence of Australia. They walked through the astonished children with warm smiles, handing out candy. She also remembers stockings given to women - these things were unobtainable at the time. She says her feelings were indescribable in terms of the hope and belief that everything would be OK. Relief, gratitude, admiration - all those things.
These accomplishments by millions of American soldiers serving overseas for more than a century are themselves worthy of defending. Because as our friendship with USA is being eroded by President Trump I feel it is the legacy of the amazing soldiers, especially those who fell on foreign soil and oceans, that is being disrespected when Mr Trump trashes their hard earned good will with allies and former foes alike. The way through this for us is to remember our Allince is with America, not Donald Trump. I cherish those stories and will forever cherish the friendship. Australia has always stood with America because of them. Lest we forget.
To those who have not read it, I strongly recommend General Hertling’s book If I Don’t Return. The book is based on a journal he wrote for his young sons while he served in the Gulf War so they could better know and what he was and what he stood for in case he didn’t return. Each original journal entry is followed by a section called Reflections. These were reflections on what he learned about being a leader. They touched on every personal trait and action that describes the profile of a true leader. He writes about friendship, trust, humility, empathy, foresight and planning, being present among his troops, developing confidence, and compassion. These are the traits that we wish any leader of this great country would possess. It is abundantly clear that greed, corruption, self interest, bullying, and demeaning those who disagree with one’s own beliefs are not what we desire in the highest office in the nation. Trump possesses none of the traits in the first description of a leader and all of those in the preceding sentence. God bless America.
Inspiring. Thank you again for reminding us of who we are, what we value, and where our real power lies - in our honor, our kindness, our sense of service to one another, and our ability to make friends even with former enemies. Those are our true strengths. All the silliness we see from this administration’s leaders are covers for their power leaks. This is what leadership looks like.
Thank you, sir, for taking me back to my own July Fourths in Baumholder Germany back in the early 1990s. As you say, leaving America can help a person truly understand how special it is.
Thank you so much General for your service, and your kind commentary and insightful thoughts here at the Bulwark. One thing that struck me in your essay, "In a democracy, the military exists not to preserve rulers, and certainly not to defend political parties or to protect personalities, but to defend the rights of a free people."
Do you believe when all of these ideas come into conflict (like now, when high-level military leaders are being purged politically) we can count on this? I guess as we celebrate the Fourth, I'd like to have confidence that the military will truly "defend the rights of a free people." But I do worry about what they would do in a complex situation within their chain of command.
Anyway, Happy Fourth General, and thank you so much for all that you do.
Ditto on these remarks. I left much of this out in my post about the General’s book. He continues to display the character of a true leader, even out of uniform, and he expresses it well, as he has in all of his essays for The Bulwark and The Atlantic.
Thank you, General Hertling. You write beautifully. Thank you for sharing with us civilians the demands and challenges that service requires of our military and their families.
🇺🇸🎆❤️🤍💙 To you, our troops, veterans and their families.
Beautifully said!
Thank you, sir! I enjoy all of your posts and comments, whether written, on various TV shows, or Podcasts. You add so much content, clarity, depth, and insightful information to the conversations at this present time. Please continue contributing as you do, because what you say and write are sorely needed.
Happy Fourth!!
General Hertling,
In July 1974, I was serving in the 1/6 Infantry in Illesheim, Bavaria, about 35 miles west of Nueremberg. On the 4th, I was the Duty Officer, but the following weekend, I was off and decided to see a place that had haunted my imagination since my history class on the Second World War my Junior year at the University of Montana. I wanted to see where Hitler addressed the troops and the citizens of Germany as he steered them towards war. I drove over and after some wandering around, found the site. It was the spookiest place I had ever been and I’ve never forgotten that time and place. We take our blessings for granted, but moments like that show how special they are.
All the best,
Tom Cannon
Asheville, NC
Thanks for this piece.
I am struck by the fact that to Americans WWII was practically ancient history in 1976. But to Europeans in 1976 it was recent. The scars still there on the landscape and on the psyche of the people there even if they were born after the war ended.
We Americans do not recognize the impact of war on civilians because we've had no experience with it on US soil since the Civil War ended. We maintain our grudges based on things unrelated to actual deprivation of life and liberty.
Excellent as always.
Happy 4th of July USA from Australia!
During World War 2 while my Grandfather was serving in the army (we were fighting a Japanese invasion) he organised for his family to live in a less populated area. My mother was playing on the beach with her siblings and was astounded to see American landing craft arrive on the beach dispensing hundreds of marines in defence of Australia. They walked through the astonished children with warm smiles, handing out candy. She also remembers stockings given to women - these things were unobtainable at the time. She says her feelings were indescribable in terms of the hope and belief that everything would be OK. Relief, gratitude, admiration - all those things.
These accomplishments by millions of American soldiers serving overseas for more than a century are themselves worthy of defending. Because as our friendship with USA is being eroded by President Trump I feel it is the legacy of the amazing soldiers, especially those who fell on foreign soil and oceans, that is being disrespected when Mr Trump trashes their hard earned good will with allies and former foes alike. The way through this for us is to remember our Allince is with America, not Donald Trump. I cherish those stories and will forever cherish the friendship. Australia has always stood with America because of them. Lest we forget.
What a beautiful and thoughtful piece. Thanks for making my 4th a little better.
To those who have not read it, I strongly recommend General Hertling’s book If I Don’t Return. The book is based on a journal he wrote for his young sons while he served in the Gulf War so they could better know and what he was and what he stood for in case he didn’t return. Each original journal entry is followed by a section called Reflections. These were reflections on what he learned about being a leader. They touched on every personal trait and action that describes the profile of a true leader. He writes about friendship, trust, humility, empathy, foresight and planning, being present among his troops, developing confidence, and compassion. These are the traits that we wish any leader of this great country would possess. It is abundantly clear that greed, corruption, self interest, bullying, and demeaning those who disagree with one’s own beliefs are not what we desire in the highest office in the nation. Trump possesses none of the traits in the first description of a leader and all of those in the preceding sentence. God bless America.
Inspiring. Thank you again for reminding us of who we are, what we value, and where our real power lies - in our honor, our kindness, our sense of service to one another, and our ability to make friends even with former enemies. Those are our true strengths. All the silliness we see from this administration’s leaders are covers for their power leaks. This is what leadership looks like.
Excellent essay, General
Thank you, sir, for taking me back to my own July Fourths in Baumholder Germany back in the early 1990s. As you say, leaving America can help a person truly understand how special it is.
I am not religious, but AMEN!
Thank you for your service. Beautifully written essay
Thank you so much General for your service, and your kind commentary and insightful thoughts here at the Bulwark. One thing that struck me in your essay, "In a democracy, the military exists not to preserve rulers, and certainly not to defend political parties or to protect personalities, but to defend the rights of a free people."
Do you believe when all of these ideas come into conflict (like now, when high-level military leaders are being purged politically) we can count on this? I guess as we celebrate the Fourth, I'd like to have confidence that the military will truly "defend the rights of a free people." But I do worry about what they would do in a complex situation within their chain of command.
Anyway, Happy Fourth General, and thank you so much for all that you do.
Ditto on these remarks. I left much of this out in my post about the General’s book. He continues to display the character of a true leader, even out of uniform, and he expresses it well, as he has in all of his essays for The Bulwark and The Atlantic.
Mark as a 22 year Navy guy, thanks I really enjoyed your essay.
Go Navy beat Army
Thank you, General Hertling. You write beautifully. Thank you for sharing with us civilians the demands and challenges that service requires of our military and their families.
🇺🇸🎆❤️🤍💙 To you, our troops, veterans and their families.