The Toolbox

The following piece was previously included in the ASMBA's e-newsletter in June 2008 under the same title, simply the "The Toolbox!" Afterwards, I received numerous feedback from fellow veterans, each retelling their stories about how others they served with helped shape their persona. I have included a few of these stories at the end. After reading this post, please tell us your story...we all have something to share!

During our time in the service there are those individuals that, in one way or another, stand out as influential people who have indirectly or directly impacted our lives and ultimately our careers. As a side note, one of my favorite movies is "Follow Me Boys" staring the late Fred MacMurray. In the movie, Fred MacMurray becomes an at first reluctant scoutmaster in a small town. As the movie reveals, MacMurray and his wife, played by Vera Miles, discover that they cannot have children, so they find comfort in life nurturing and guiding the young boys who are members of the scout troop. One boy in particular, played by Kurt Russell (his first Disney movie) they adopt.

At the end of the movie, there is a retirement celebration for Fred MacMurray as scoutmaster and it is attended by nearly all of his former scouts. MacMurray and the other townspeople become misty eyed when they reflect on the fact that these scouts have had a significant impact on the local community, in State government, at the Federal level, and society in general (i.e. one is now the governor, another the mayor, one scout is a U.S. Senator, some are lawyers, some doctors, some were highly decorated soldiers, etc.) and they all attribute their success in life to Fred MacMurray’s influence and his leadership skills. I remember a similar theme in "Mr. Holland’s Opus", with Richard Dreyfuss. My point here is to help some of our younger service members to understand that what they say and do does, and will, make a difference in the lives of people around them and with whom they serve.

I remember my first commanding officer, Colonel Warren D. Curton. He had a presence that made him special and which garnered our respect whenever he spoke. I just remembered that he always seemed to remember my name (for good reasons...I think?) and that impressed me since we had over 100 cadets in AFROTC at Baylor during my freshmen year. Years later, I found out that Colonel Curton was a WWII flying ace. You know, he never mentioned it, I guess looking back I’m not surprised!

Reflecting some more, I still remember the names of my instructors during undergraduate pilot training and while I attended B-52 Combat Crew Training and Instructor school. However, I’m not sure they would remember my name easily since they probably had numerous students over the years. I guess they made an impression on me because they did things by the book and taught me the importance of flying safety by always following the rules. I remember my many supervisors who encouraged me in my work and trusted my judgment. They made me feel that I had a place in the bigger picture! I remember my first command and the realization that people were looking to me to set an example so they could follow my lead. A responsibility I never took lightly, especially when I was Professor of Aerospace Studies at Auburn University. It dawned on me my very first day on the job...this is where I started my Air Force journey, AFROTC, except that now I was setting the example and I wondered how many of these future officers down the road would remember my name. Hopefully they would recall that I was fair, personable, and always tried to do the right thing, especially when nobody was seemingly looking!

Over the years I tried to prepare myself for leadership roles by taking what I learned and putting them in what I metaphorically call "the toolbox"! Very often during my career I would have to open up my "toolbox" and reflect on what I had learned from my mentors, my instructors, my supervisors, my commanders, my contemporaries, my friends, and of course my parents and relatives to bring me through some tough times. Not everything in the toolbox has been used. Some of it will never be used because those tools have been replaced by better tools. However, I knew it was there if I needed it and if the situation warranted their use. In fact, I still have that same toolbox with me...I guess I’ll always have that toolbox with me. It’s not something you can easily lend out without instructions on how to use its contents.

So I don't believe I can focus on one human being that was a direct influence over my 30 year military career, except to say that I was fortunate enough to have served with some pretty amazing soldiers who instilled in me a sense of camaraderie, duty, integrity, and patriotism. To all of you...thank you for your patience, your encouragement, and your service. God Bless you and your families! God Bless America!

Just a few stories I received:

I'll always remember the first Commander I had, Col. Dick A. Cable at Cape Cod Air Force Station. Col. Cable was always optimistic, and always in a good mood. But more than anything, he always made you feel like you were important. As a young airman, he called my Mom and Dad to tell them of things I had accomplished, and this meant a lot to my parents. I took away from him to ensure my subordinates always felt they were accomplishing something. Thank you Col. Cable.

Joseph Proulx
Retired, TSgt, USAF
Orlando FL

After just recently retiring from the United States Army I have looked back over my 20+ years about the people that have influenced me. I was going to use this same kind of speech during my retirement ceremony but since I retired out of Korea I never got the chance – until now.

The first person that comes to my mind would be my first supervisor at Camp Darby, Italy. SSG Wilson wasn’t much of a people person. There are some stories that I could tell you but I would like to keep this as clean as possible. I was new to the Army and after being granted my security clearance I went to work for SSG Wilson. Needless to say, I was I little afraid of him. While waiting for my clearance, I heard "stories of the grumpy SSG" working in the SCIF. He treated me like a private (that I was) for the first several months. But after I proved myself to him things started to change. He started treating me with more respect and giving me more responsibilities. After 20 years I still ask SSG Wilson for advice.

Second would be SFC William Caldwell. I met Bill while I was going through AIT. We were both good old country boys from PA. He was there at Ft. Gordon re-classing into my MOS. He graduated about 2 months before I did and left. After I graduated, I was stationed with him at Camp Darby, Italy. Bill and his wife Gail (of 20+ yrs) would open their home during the holidays for the single soldiers from the barracks. If you needed a shirt to wear he would give you the one off his back. If you broke down on the side of the road – he would stop. I have kept in touch with Bill over the past 20 years and during his last duty assignment before his retirement he was my supervisor. Still married to Gail and they have two beautiful daughters. I like to think that over the years that I have helped people. While my family and I were stationed in Germany we had the single soldiers from the barracks to my house for the holidays. Those were some of my most cherished memories from the military.

The last person that I would like to talk about was SFC John Downing. John was my supervisor while I was in Germany. One of the hardest working people I’ve ever seen in my life. He expected the same from his soldiers. There was a period of time in Germany where I just relaxed a little too much. When John became my supervisor we sat down and had a talk. He put it bluntly that I was lazy. I was a little ticked off at the time – but he opened my eyes. As I spent more and more time with John, he mentored me and I feel that his work ethic has rubbed off on me. Thank you, John.

Here is little more information that I have learned over the years:

Family is everything (always remember that)
Have fun
Relax
Don't take things so seriously
Be nice to everybody – even if they are not nice to you
Don’t burn your bridges

I thinking that I have rambled on enough. I hope this information/advice helps somebody

Jeffery Schartiger
US Army Retired

Remember...we all have something to share! Thank you for your service!