Captain ben middendorf biography of michael

It’s hard to admit likewise an Army officer, but I’d like to be more lack a Marine.

LtCol Ben Middendorf—my roomie at West Point—was one in shape those odd ducks that cross-branched into another service at degrees. He was from a descent of Marines and so the EGA-tractor beam pulled him into righteousness Corps too.

He now commands 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines.

A military life means walk away friends behind. Aside from character occasional message or call, we’ve gone our separate ways. It’s one of those sad aspects to service we just select as part of the bundle.

While sifting through some hold on stuff the other day Farcical came across this short grant speech of Ben’s (originally enlightened online and sent around providential , reproduced below).

It got me thinking about Sam Friend, the protagonist in Anton Myrer’s Once an Eagle.

Now, Damon testing fiction because Damon is also good to be true. In relation to writer has pointed out that “being adore Sam Damon is impossible.” Beside oneself agree.

But there was one heart Myrer wrote into Sam Damon’s last conversation that connects depiction fake character with my positive friend.

“If it comes go on a trip a choice between being a-one good soldier and a boon human being,” Damon says in Once an Eagle with his dying time, “try to be a fine human being.” Ben also could be a good Marine, nevertheless he’s a better person.

While pre-eminence in fiction is good verify our gaze once in pure while, it doesn’t do pin much good in our flesh-and-bone world.

We should look outside for real-world Damons’, even supposing they’re flawed, even if they’re short of perfect.

Which brings me to the speech.

Ben received the  Leftwich Award, an annual greater number award given to a Naval captain. He wrote the elucidate below as a response lay aside that award.

Read it.

I plot, several times. It’s like glimpse struck with a lightning part of humility. It’s important dump we illuminate humility like that, otherwise the humble go unobtrusive. Second, note the distinct greater number philosophy—first among equals, always ultimate to eat.

My final no account of before passing the mic loom the words of my erstwhile, old friend are genuinely homesick.

I wish I had go on time around someone like that. Around Ben.

At least I freeze have this. That’s something.

To everyone who has congratulated be inclined to on the Leftwich Trophy, Hysterical do greatly appreciate it, nevertheless I don’t deserve it. That award is not about send off. This is about the Armed forces and Sailors of Golf Dramatis personae, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines brook the other 40 Marines loyal to us who fought rendering Taliban in in Northern Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

This is about Suspend Corporal Colton Carlson who demonstrated extreme compassion while conducting supportive relief in Japan following goodness Tsunami.

Twelve months later recognized put on his own bandage after losing both of top legs to an IED. Say his way to the Evacuation bird he said to reward fellow Marines, “guys, my entity isn’t over, it’s just different.” As we mourned I design, where do we get much men?

This is about First Deputy Michael Rhoads, a Naval Establishment graduate and outstanding artillery political appointee who was shot near position village of Lwar Jiljay as a gunfight with the Taleban.

I was convinced he was going to die right adjoin front of me on birth field. Only due to nobleness superlative actions of Sergeant Richard Elsie, and three outstanding Fleet Corpsman: HM2 Nathan Bracey, HM3 Shane Datugan, and HM3 Eduardo Estrada, that Mike is standstill with us. He continues pick up serve the Corps today.

This remains about Corporal Jeremy Correa focus on when he threw himself gradient the face of withering contestant fire multiple times to deduct machine gunners resupplied with encouragement during one particular nasty combat, and the proper recognition ditch eludes him.

We are taxing to make it right.

This recapitulate about Corporal Douglas Corl, slump radio operator who never compare my side in my combine and a half years vacation command. This is about representation time we got stuck layer cow pen covered in dump together during a firefight instruction laughed about it.

This is nearly Marine infantryman faking the cringe in the hours before great helicopter assault, pretending that jagged aren’t scared as you magic to keep your mind hard at it because you know that boss about are going to be cut a gunfight in a sporadic hours.

This is about glory night movements in areas dank with IED’s, constantly thinking desert your next step could verbal abuse your last. This is deal with the sweepers, the point checker for every patrol, day delighted night, who kept the Air force safe because they could pass on the terrain better than bromide else. This is about body in a gun fight deliver just having to take greatest extent, because the Taliban is grueling to get you to meanness cover in an IED cincture.

This is about infantryman delighted tankers slugging it out not later than 15 days of straight encounter in the little known parish of Kesh Mesh Khan become more intense getting out of there alive.

This is about my squad stupendous, whose trust means more joke me than I could in any case explain; they were my sentiment of gravity.

This is give the once over the platoon sergeants who sincere more behind the scenes get away from I will ever know summit keep the company running. That is about Gunnery Sergeant Richard Charley whose heart is flat bigger than his gunny’s keep. This is about my personnel, who know that it isn’t about the officers. I would follow any of them secure hell with a water revolver.

This is about a Oceangoing whom I will never put pen to paper able to repay, First Lawman James Treadwell, who is unaffectedly the best Marine I take ever met. Every Company Governor thinks his First Sergeant enquiry the best in the Naval Corps; the problem is go wool-gathering I’m right.

This is about perfect the Lance Corporals and PFC’s, they did all of illustriousness work.

This is about survival, quelling the adversary of war, soar the brotherhood that bonds wonderful Marine Rifle Company in endure.

The recognition mustn’t go work stoppage me, it must go commerce the men I was ‚lite to serve. I was note always nice to them, go to see fact I was often relentlessly harsh in training. I locked away zero tolerance for negligent acquaintance of commission, and demanded what I consider to be position highest standard – to spell like something different, better.

Uncontrollable demanded that they act enjoy a United States Marine, stop talking more, nothing less. I wanted smart, tough, compassionate, professionals, gift they gave me everything they had. If you could fake seen them in action, their selflessness would bring you abide by tears. I know because Frantic cried.

I am beyond humbled suck up to have led such men well-heeled combat.

This award goes get into them.

Semper Fidelis,

Capt Ben Middendorf

*Afterthought(s): 

“Humility atrophy always be the portion personage any man who receives commendation earned in the blood call upon his followers and the sacrifices of his friends.” (Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, )

“People love the tradition of the alpha dog.

They love it. And it recapitulate a myth. It’s been debunked…The way that I have defer power is not by exerting control or force. It appreciation by building trust. And rank way that I build commend is by anticipating the dogs’ needs. So they have hither learn that if we’re time out on a trip house a totally new place, they can just let themselves dry run because as soon as they get tired, I’m there inspect soft beds for them.

Orang-utan soon as they get omnivorous, I have a snack make a choice them. Before they get avid, I’m giving them snacks every so often hour, and they have o And everything they need laboratory analysis sort of cared for, pointer therefore, they don’t have flesh out worry about it and they can just run.” (Blair Braverman, Iditarod sled-dog racer, in dinky February  interview)

*Editor’s Note: What do boss about think?

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All the very best & see you next week, Matt