High Ground: A Review

I rose this morning and intended to sit down and write a remembrance of Memorial Day that reflected on those whom have given their lives in the service of all of use who live under the flag of the United States. I pondered some past posts, 2011 2010, then remembered an email I had gotten last week from good friend and fellow blogger, Kanani Fong offering to let me view a preview copy of a new film she was helping to publicize. The film, was about a group of wounded warriors who took on the challenge of scaling 20,165 foot Lobuche Peak near Mount Everest in Nepal. Retiring to our study/library, I put on headphones to keep the sound from disturbing my wife, taking the opportunity from her busy life to sleep in. That turned out to be fortuitous, in that I found myself inserted into the story as it unfolded; where the only sound was that of voices of the dozen souls, accompanied by the sounds of war, bleeping horns as they traveled the rural roads to the airport, and a short but hair raising flight, before beginning their trek up the ever inverting slope of Lobuche.

High Ground:The Journey Home is an Uphill Battle was produced by Don Hahn, directed by Michael Brown, five time climber of Mt. Everest, and led by Blind adventurer Erik Weihenmayer and his history making team of Everest climbers, led by Jeff Evans.

The film opens by introducing each team member, with scenes of chaos caused by IED's and gunfire, to add understanding to how they came to be at this point in their lives. Some were missing limbs, others suffered from traumatic stress and brain injuries, one was a Gold Star mother, and most remarkable of all, one was blind, and had a severely injured left hand. Each brought their own reasons for taking up this challenge that went far beyond what even the film makers might have hoped for. Beneath the physical effort to traverse the rock strewn pathways, and vertical stairs built against inclines that would bring vertigo to anyone pausing to look back down the steps that seemed to slide off into the valley floor, was the pain that many of those drawn this mountain, related during the outtake interviews that helped setup the next leg of the journey, but added insights into what happens to a warrior, when there are no more wars to fight.

Dan Sidles

One of  those moments came when former Marine Dan Sidles related that he felt making a warrior was similar to creating a nuclear bomb, where training to kill was like releasing nuclear fusion to be an effective soldier. He went on to explain that after the fighting was done, someone had to put out the fire to keep if from bursting into flame time after time. Listening to his reflection on how difficult that transition had been and how it affected his own life, gave immeasurable insight to how thousands of men and women have come home from past wars and felt the same sense of disconnect from society.

Steve Baskis

Chad Jukes

Joining Dan as a vividly memorable member of the team was Steve Baskis, blinded by an IED in Baghdad, who indelible desire to see (feel) the world, and experience all life has to offer, will make you marvel at how strong his heart and spirit shines. And then there is Chad Jukes who bears not only a slight resemblance to actor Owen Wilson, but conveyed the same uber-optimistic joy at being in the mountains, in a voice and delivery you would swear was Wilson's. You will see what I mean when you hear him exclaim in profane joy as he marveled about who had built the steps up the side of an almost vertical incline.

The film allows the viewer a very small window with which to understand that just because your don't wear scars that you are not wounded. Examples abound throughout the film of those who suffered the stress of not being physically injured but came to have what can't be fully understood by many including the military. It seemed that when the summit was at hand, it was the mental challenge that was harder to overcome than the physical challenges of missing limbs and sight, when the final assent was at hand.

For me there have been two really good documentaries made about the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. The first, Restrepo was about a platoon in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley, that captured men at war in a gritty portrait, told in much the same format as High Ground, using post combat interviews to support the story. High Ground, is the bookend of what happens to those soldiers who come home, wounded inside and out, and how they feel trying to belong and sensing that as Dan Sidles noted. "Thanks for your service, now go away." I can reflect that much of the same happened forty some years ago, when I returned from my own service. I did not display overt symptoms, but little things occurred to make me in hindsight, feel and act different. I can also reflect back on my fathers service in World War II; with five amphibious landings, and service later on an aircraft carrier off Japan in the final months of the war, left him different and feeling out of place when he returned. Confronting those times, takes awareness that you need to find a way to cope. They say that when one is an alcoholic or an addict, that you are never really cured, only learning to cope. Former soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines know that feeling; the forging of a warrior and the imersion in war, that Dan Sidles said was like nuclear fusion; that leaves spent fuel rods radiating inside even the most stoic warrior until their last breath.

I would strongly recommend going to see High Ground. Watch it, and let yourself join this fine group of Americans as they make their journey home by seeking the high ground.

September 11, 2001 in The Rearview Mirror of Time.

September 11, 2001

Rick Rescorla, singing to the evacuees of WTC South Tower

1st Cavalry Division patch

Lt. Rick Rescorla, LZ Xray, 1965

2nd Lt. Mark Daily, Mosul, Iraq 2006

Major Robert Soltes, OD, USAR

The images seared into the minds of all who saw the events of this date continues to fade from the collective memory of many Americans as the years roll by and the toll of those who have given their lives in the long war that began that day, overtook the numbers that then, shocked the world. My small tribute to that day, links three men whose lives are connected to the yellow and black shield of the First Cavalry Division, America's First Team. This division's storied history reaches back through Vietnam, Korea and World War II to the middle years of the 19th century on the American Frontier. Our story begins with a man who saved thousands from sure death on September 11.

Cyril Richard Rescorla was Vice President of Security at Morgan-Stanley the largest tenant in the World Trade Center on that day. When the first plane struck, Rescorla implemented an evacuation plan and was able to get almost every employee from 44th to the 74th floors in the south tower out, before the next plane struck. After getting all his people out Rescorla headed back to help others escape. The tower fell and his body was never found. His story, is told better by his wife who dedicated this web site to his memory, Rick Rescorla.

Rescorla was no stranger to stepping up and doing his duty. His image graces the cover of the book, We were Soldiers Once...And Young by Harold Moore and Joe Galloway taken during the Battle of Ia Drang Valley in November 1965. Rescorla, wore that big yellow and black patch and led a company in the battle and also battle at LZ Albany, a day later.

This coming January 15, will be the third anniversary of the death of Lt. Mark Daily, a soldier in the 1st Cavalry Division, who was killed along with four others in a massive roadside bomb while on patrol in Iraq. I wrote about Lt. Daily last year, REFLECTION ON A NOBLE SOUL. His unit, the 2nd Battalion 7th Cavalry was the same unit Rescorla, came to support back in 1965.
Read more:http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/mjdaily.htm

A couple of years ago, I needed to go get my eyes checked. Looking over the list provided by the insurance company I selected one, a Dr. Soltes and made an appointment. I was escorted into the exam room and awaited the doctor. The door opened and a women entered and introduced herself as Dr. Dang. As it turns out, Dr. Robert Soltes had been killed in Iraq while serving with the 426th Civil Affairs Battalion, an Army Reserve unit from California. Dr. Dang was his wife, and learning that I was a Vietnam Veteran, told me the story of Major Soltes, and how his father, also a Vietnam Veteran had served with the 1st Battalion 9th Cavalry of the 1st Cavalry Division as a gunship pilot. We ended talking for some time, and my soul was forever touched by learning about this man and his commitment to family and country.
Read more:http://www.robsoltes.com/
and http://www.fallenheroesmemorial.com/oif/profiles/soltesjrcharlesr.html

The link that these three souls share is to that black and gold shield, for two, it was membership, for the last, it was the link from a father, who instilled a sense of honor and service in his son. The First Team as they are called seems to have a special mojo for taking responsibility that infects those who have served in their ranks. It seems in the case of Dr. Soltes, to have been passed from father to son.

As the years turn to decades and the image seared into the mind of that day, begins to fade in the mist of time and the faces of Rick Rescorla, Mark Daily and Rob Soltes standing along side the long road that had led from that place, being to fade in our rearview mirror, I vow to never forget, and will always remember these men for their love for this country and their sense of duty and service.

The words that have come to haunt me, are the ones spoken by President George W. Bush when he told the American people in his famous speech after September 11, that the losses from combat in this new war would be less than those lost in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. How wrong was his vision, and how many more will fall before the inevitable next attack comes. The only sure thing is that in the future, other's will step forward to serve their fellow citizens and in doing so will forfeit their lives.

What We Fight For, and Why We Lead.

Where In The Hell Is Matt?

Books Authored by LtC Robert Bateman, USA

Economic Freedom Map 2008

Todays, two Americans, both great lovers of their country, take center stage here at HG's World. The first article is by Lieutenant Colonel Robert L. Bateman, USA, who describes himself as an infantryman, historian and prolific writer. I admit that Colonel Bateman has ruffled my feathers a few times in the past, but this time he hit a homerun, and in the words of the editors of the SWJ Blog was "spot-on." I totally concur and recommend, What I Fight For by Robert Bateman.

The story in Bateman's words:

Recently on an e-mail based discussion group in which I participate, there was some extended debate about how much language training was enough and which was more important, language training or history/culture education, for deploying soldiers. It was an informed and interesting squabble, with practitioners from every American war since Korea piping in with opinions and points of evidence. Then one fellow, a former-soldier-turned-photojournalist named Jim, plopped down the Truth. His simple formulation? "It's a people thing."

Now I am not a big one for the whole "emotional" thingeemabob. In most debates I want footnotes, documentation, and fracking proof for everything. People who know my history know this about me. But there are limits, and Jim's simple statement hit the mark. Sometimes, some very rare times, you don't need proof. You don't need evidence. You need only know how to feel, and be human. Jim, I knew instantly, was right.

.....OK, so a few years ago this doofus Seattle kid, a 20 something named Matt, decided he wanted to see the world. He took off, and it being the internet age and all, he updated his friends with short snippet videos from all over. The hook was that all of his friends firmly believed that this fellow, Matt, was quite possibly the worst dancer in all of human history.

They were probably right.

But because young Matt had a sense of humor, the snippet videos he sent to his friends from around (that time) South and SE Asia, were all of him dancing his somewhat, ahhhh, unique "dance" in various locals.

Then somebody tied all the videos together. It went "viral"...meaning that people across the planet watched it. Millions upon millions of them. Including some very saavy marketers at an Australian gum company called "Stride." They wrote to Matt and said, "Hey mate, like to do it again on our dime?" So Matt went around the world again, doing his doofy dance. That video was even bigger. Matt was inundated with mail, and Stride saw a global marketing boost, so they (being Aussies) said, "Double down mate." And Matt fused the two...all of the e-mail he had from around the planet...people who loved his video, and a travel expense account that his unemployed butt could have never supported.

This video was the upshot: Where The Hell is Matt?

And THIS, ladies and gentlemen, is what we fight for. Or at least it is one part of what I fight for. Your mileage may vary, but for me, the vision of the world that this dumb-ass, 20-something, no-talent Muldoon gave us through his genius is enough. Our world is farked up, or at least large parts of the world...the parts that we Soldiers (and our brothers, the Marines) see, are often farked up. But young Matt, with this effing magnificent, transcendent, unifying-the-whole-goddamned-planet vision, which he demonstrated to the world all by his lonesome far better (judging by the 26 million hits on this video) than DoD, or State, or than any part of our government ever has, is a vision of the planet that represents what I want for our collective future.

My friend Jim is right. "It's a People Thing."

I hope this is what you fight for as well. Regardless of your nationality.

Watch this video.

Colonel Bateman gets it totally right. The essence of this story goes hand in hand with this next post by Thomas Barnett in his weekly column. His topic is that America's role has not diminished so much that it is poised to reclaim the traditional role of moral leadership, that we have had for the past century.

Barnett begins:

Wise men tell Americans that our nation no longer leads this world: We bankrupted ourselves first ideologically through unilateralism, then militarily through "global war," and now financially through the debt crisis. Rising great powers, we are told, now lead the way.

But where do we locate this new leadership?

In Europe's self-absorption over its rising Muslim quotient?

In Russia's self-inflicted economic penance for its smackdown of Georgia?

In India's crippling obsession with Pakistan?

In China's super-cooling economy and the social unrest it'll trigger?

In Japan's - whatever Japan is doing nowadays?

So which foreign leader has captured the world's attention with his promise of changed leadership?

Read the whole column to find out.

Barnett: World still needs America to lead

Barnett closes with this observation:

We can't borrow any more and thus can't police anywhere else without a dramatic renegotiation of that great power compact.

Furthermore, both aging West and rising East must come together to create and nurture markets among globalization's bottom-of-the-pyramid populations, for there will be found, in China's and India's rural interior as well as Africa's untapped labor pools, tomorrow's dramatically expanded global middle class. That's where our economic competition with China truly lies: seeing who captures the most new markets in coming years.

In the end, this unfolding drama we call globalization cannot advance without its chronically ambivalent lead - its Hamlet. For, if America does not lead the world's great powers against today's sea of troubles, there will be no fortunes preserved - much less won - and only further slings and arrows to be suffered.

These two converging ideas represent the best America has to offer the world. The crusty, evidence demanding soldier-historian Bateman gets it. Barnett has been preaching this message for the past two decades. To see the pen and the sword both understand, that it is in the words of Bateman's friend Jim, "It's a people thing" the future however currently in doubt, will sail on and our human resilience will meet the challenge.

Words From Heros

Under Fire Afghanistan

Firefight Afghanistan

Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers

Mario Vittone, U. S. Coast Guard

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Heroic behavior in many corners of today's self indulgent world is looked upon as a fool's mission, lumped together with religion, scruples and honor. Our political leaders, from all stripes are tarnished with countless lapses in public trust. Our sports and entertainment icons are given a pass for every fax pas, no matter how despicable their behavior.

Doing your duty today is mostly given lip service and honors are fleeting, even for those described below. Posting their words here may be preaching to the choir, but the examples of heroism and wise words about leadership deserve every forum.

This first story is going to piss all over the shoes of late Colonel S. L. A. Marshall, and his Ratio of Fire theory, Fire Away.

John Wayne Lives!

As Ford and Staff Sgt. John Wayne Walding returned fire, Walding was hit below his right knee. Ford turned and saw that the bullet "basically amputated his right leg right there on the battlefield."

Walding, of Groesbeck, Tex., recalled: "I literally grabbed my boot and put it in my crotch, then got the boot laces and tied it to my thigh, so it would not flop around. There was about two inches of meat holding my leg on." He put on a tourniquet, watching the blood flow out the stump to see when it was tight enough.

Then Walding tried to inject himself with morphine but accidentally used the wrong tip of the syringe and put the needle in this thumb, he later recalled. "My thumb felt great," he said wryly, noting that throughout the incident he never lost consciousness. "My name is John Wayne," he said.

The battle described above began:

After jumping out of helicopters at daybreak onto jagged, ice-covered rocks and into water at an altitude of 10,000 feet, the 12-man Special Forces team scrambled up the steep mountainside toward its target -- an insurgent stronghold in northeast Afghanistan.

"Our plan," Capt. Kyle M. Walton recalled in an interview, "was to fight downhill."

But as the soldiers maneuvered toward a cluster of thick-walled mud buildings constructed layer upon layer about 1,000 feet farther up the mountain, insurgents quickly manned fighting positions, readying a barrage of fire for the exposed Green Berets.

Read the whole story: 10 Green Berets to Receive Silver Star for Afghan Battle - Ann Scott Tyson, Washington Post

The United States Coast Guard has served our country and come to the aid of those in need across the world since 1790. Admiral Thad Allen, Commandant of the Coast Guard posted the following essay on his personal web blog, it is written by rescue swimmer Mario Vittone and is about leadership, and the full measure of inspiration it takes to be an effective leader.

Inspired Action:

Inspired action is a totally different thing altogether. Inspiring is hard work. It takes time, and integrity, and effort. It's harder (way) than giving orders. For old "do it cause I say so" types it requires a sometimes painful change from believing your people work for you, to making them believe that you work for them. You do, you know...you do work for them. That was the subtle idea that I had missed. I thought it was my job to tell my guys what to do. But the primary job of a leader is to make them believe they should be doing it.

"You don't just do a mission, you believe in it."~Story Musgrave

The only way to create a truly great place to work is to ensure that each of the team members under you (read: next to you) are raging evangelists for the cause or...whatever your cause is.

The Power of Why:

This is where the harder work starts. This is where you learn why so many people are locked in the chain. Inspiration requires more work than giving orders does. If you have a hard time with that (the hard work part), remember that the reason you get paid more when you advance is because the work is supposed to be harder.

Read the whole post: Must Read from the Coast Guard

I have written before about service people doing their duty. The trait to be resilient is in our human DNA. These two brief examples of fortitude and insight have been replayed millions of times in human history. The above is a brief reminder that the ability to face challenges and think is built into every one of us.