Posted on Jan 16, 2016
Who is your personal favorite General or Admiral of all time that you served with and why?
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Who is your personal favorite General or Admiral of all time that you served with and why?
RP Members tell us about a General or Admiral that you worked with, served under, or were assigned under during your career in the military that really caught your attention. Describe what he/she meant to you and why he/or she is considered you favorite while serving?
Here is mine. His name was Charles W. Dyke (1 Star at the time) and retired as a Lieutenant General
Here is a picture of him running and doing pushups with the 357th Aviation Detachment, Chièvres Air Base, Belgium and his picture as the Deputy SACEUR, SHAPE, Belgium. I'm running right beside in front and I'm the second man from the left doing pushups!
He is my favorite because of his down to earth approach to talking with soldiers and actually getting out and meeting with the soldiers no what rank, and doing PT with the Soldiers. I received to Letter's of Commendation for maxing the Army Physical Fitness Test from BG Dyke two years in a row while stationed with the 357th Aviation Detachment. As an E-5 he made a lasting impression on me and my decision to go to OCS and become a commissioned officer. I consider him a great general working right under GEN Alexander Haig during my tour of duty with the Aviation Detachment.
CHARLES W. DYKE
FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
Charles W. ("Bill") Dyke retired from the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant General on September 1, 1988 after more than 34 years of service as a soldier, infantry officer, operations and planning staff officer at the unit, theater and national levels, and in high level political military assignments. He founded ITTA on September 1, 1989 and currently serves as Founder and Chairman Emeritus.
In addition to managing and directing ITTA, Mr. Dyke serves as a member of the board of directors of the George C. Marshall Foundation, Lexington, Virginia and with the Advisory Board of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.
Mr. Dyke served extensively in Europe, including tours with operational units as a junior officer, as an Assistant Division Commander and Community Commander, and at SHAPE as Executive to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). In the 1980s, he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations and Plans, U.S. Army, Europe and as Commanding General 8th Infantry Division (Mechanized).
In Asia, Mr. Dyke served in Korea as a Company Commander in the early 1960s. His thirty-three months’ service in Vietnam included battalion command and duty as G-3 (Operations and Plans) with the 101st Airborne Division. Mr. Dyke's final assignment was in Asia as Commanding General, U.S. Army, Japan and IX Corps, from 1985 to 1988.
Assignments in the United States included duty as Executive to the Secretary of the Army, Commander of the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, and with the Office, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Department of the Army, as head of the Army's cooperative weapons development and production program with NATO allies. This assignment was followed by Joint Staff duty where Mr. Dyke served as the Vice Director, J 3 (Operations), Joint Staff, and subsequently as Vice Director, Joint Staff. During this Joint Staff assignment, he headed the Contingency Review Group, reporting directly to the Chairman, JCS. This planning group was responsible for much of the detailed analysis and staff work required to form the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force (RDJTF) which evolved into the U.S. Central Command, now responsible for the Middle East and Persian Gulf region.
Over an Army career that included 13 years as a General Officer, Mr. Dyke gained substantial experience in the formulation and execution of foreign and national security policy, strategic planning, project management, and the direction of multi-national programs. As a senior commander in both Europe and Japan, Mr. Dyke worked with military, diplomatic, political, and business leaders to enhance understanding of the U.S. military and to promote the rationale for forward deployed units.
Mr. Dyke is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College, and holds an MA degree in International Affairs (1968) from the George Washington University (Sino Soviet Institute), a Master of Military Art and Science (MMA) from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (1967), and a BA in History from the University of Southern Mississippi (1963). During his service with the U.S. Army, Mr. Dyke was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal twice, the Silver Star twice, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit four times, the Purple Heart, the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun (2nd Class), and numerous other U.S. and foreign badges and awards.
RP Members tell us about a General or Admiral that you worked with, served under, or were assigned under during your career in the military that really caught your attention. Describe what he/she meant to you and why he/or she is considered you favorite while serving?
Here is mine. His name was Charles W. Dyke (1 Star at the time) and retired as a Lieutenant General
Here is a picture of him running and doing pushups with the 357th Aviation Detachment, Chièvres Air Base, Belgium and his picture as the Deputy SACEUR, SHAPE, Belgium. I'm running right beside in front and I'm the second man from the left doing pushups!
He is my favorite because of his down to earth approach to talking with soldiers and actually getting out and meeting with the soldiers no what rank, and doing PT with the Soldiers. I received to Letter's of Commendation for maxing the Army Physical Fitness Test from BG Dyke two years in a row while stationed with the 357th Aviation Detachment. As an E-5 he made a lasting impression on me and my decision to go to OCS and become a commissioned officer. I consider him a great general working right under GEN Alexander Haig during my tour of duty with the Aviation Detachment.
CHARLES W. DYKE
FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
Charles W. ("Bill") Dyke retired from the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant General on September 1, 1988 after more than 34 years of service as a soldier, infantry officer, operations and planning staff officer at the unit, theater and national levels, and in high level political military assignments. He founded ITTA on September 1, 1989 and currently serves as Founder and Chairman Emeritus.
In addition to managing and directing ITTA, Mr. Dyke serves as a member of the board of directors of the George C. Marshall Foundation, Lexington, Virginia and with the Advisory Board of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.
Mr. Dyke served extensively in Europe, including tours with operational units as a junior officer, as an Assistant Division Commander and Community Commander, and at SHAPE as Executive to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). In the 1980s, he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations and Plans, U.S. Army, Europe and as Commanding General 8th Infantry Division (Mechanized).
In Asia, Mr. Dyke served in Korea as a Company Commander in the early 1960s. His thirty-three months’ service in Vietnam included battalion command and duty as G-3 (Operations and Plans) with the 101st Airborne Division. Mr. Dyke's final assignment was in Asia as Commanding General, U.S. Army, Japan and IX Corps, from 1985 to 1988.
Assignments in the United States included duty as Executive to the Secretary of the Army, Commander of the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, and with the Office, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Department of the Army, as head of the Army's cooperative weapons development and production program with NATO allies. This assignment was followed by Joint Staff duty where Mr. Dyke served as the Vice Director, J 3 (Operations), Joint Staff, and subsequently as Vice Director, Joint Staff. During this Joint Staff assignment, he headed the Contingency Review Group, reporting directly to the Chairman, JCS. This planning group was responsible for much of the detailed analysis and staff work required to form the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force (RDJTF) which evolved into the U.S. Central Command, now responsible for the Middle East and Persian Gulf region.
Over an Army career that included 13 years as a General Officer, Mr. Dyke gained substantial experience in the formulation and execution of foreign and national security policy, strategic planning, project management, and the direction of multi-national programs. As a senior commander in both Europe and Japan, Mr. Dyke worked with military, diplomatic, political, and business leaders to enhance understanding of the U.S. military and to promote the rationale for forward deployed units.
Mr. Dyke is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College, and holds an MA degree in International Affairs (1968) from the George Washington University (Sino Soviet Institute), a Master of Military Art and Science (MMA) from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (1967), and a BA in History from the University of Southern Mississippi (1963). During his service with the U.S. Army, Mr. Dyke was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal twice, the Silver Star twice, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit four times, the Purple Heart, the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun (2nd Class), and numerous other U.S. and foreign badges and awards.
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I never really got to hob nob with generals but I did serve under "Mad-Dog" Mattis when he was a Colonel commanding 7th Marines in the late 1990s. One time after Training at 29 Palms he was down at Camp Pendeltion visiting 3/4 ( My unit) he made it a point to pull our Lt aside and compliment him on the way our 81s Platoon maintained tactical readiness on the move.
Also he once came to one of our ranges and the strap on his sand goggles had "Trigga Happy Bitch Killa" on it.
Also he once came to one of our ranges and the strap on his sand goggles had "Trigga Happy Bitch Killa" on it.
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SPC (Join to see)
Likewise not much hob nobing with generals on my end either. However I was proud to serve under General Creighton Abrams Jr.
May he rest in peace
Born at Springfield, Massachusetts, September 15, 1914, General Abrams was the U.S. commander in the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1972.
A graduate (1936) of the United States Military Academy at West Point, he served in World War II and, following numerous other assignments, in 1964 became a full general and Vice Chief-of-Staff of the United States Army.
Succeeding William Westmoreland as overall military commander in Vietnam, he implemented a program known as Vietnamization. This was supposed to bring a gradual end to US involvement in Vietnam and to enable the South Vietnamese to become increasingly responsible for winning the war. After returning to United States, he served from 1972 to 1974 as Army Chief-of-Staff.
He died in Washington, D.C. of lung cancer, September 4,1974, the first army Chief-of-Staff to die in office.
He was buried with full military honors in a special plot in Section 21 of Arlington National Cemetery.
May he rest in peace
Born at Springfield, Massachusetts, September 15, 1914, General Abrams was the U.S. commander in the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1972.
A graduate (1936) of the United States Military Academy at West Point, he served in World War II and, following numerous other assignments, in 1964 became a full general and Vice Chief-of-Staff of the United States Army.
Succeeding William Westmoreland as overall military commander in Vietnam, he implemented a program known as Vietnamization. This was supposed to bring a gradual end to US involvement in Vietnam and to enable the South Vietnamese to become increasingly responsible for winning the war. After returning to United States, he served from 1972 to 1974 as Army Chief-of-Staff.
He died in Washington, D.C. of lung cancer, September 4,1974, the first army Chief-of-Staff to die in office.
He was buried with full military honors in a special plot in Section 21 of Arlington National Cemetery.
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My personal favorite General COL Mikel J. Burroughs is General of the Armies Omar Bradley who I had the honor of parading before as a cadet at USMA West Point.
Omar Bradley epitomised what was legendary about the greatest generation. He was not flamboyant like Patton and he was much more humbler than MacArthur. He was more like Eisenhower in that he was quit before the public yet an ultimate professional with wisdom combined with a keen sense of strategic and operational know how.
Next to him would be GEN Wayne Downing who I served under when he was COL Wayne Downing in the early 1980s as he commanded the 3rd Brigade 1st Armored Division in bamberg, Germany. Wayne Downing led from the front in every sense of the word. When I had done exceptionally well in a field problem he lent me his seat in his helicopter where his pilot gave me a whirlwind treetop level tour of Hohenfels, Germany.
Then three of my old friends and classmates; Generals Joe Votel, Raymond Tony Thomas and Vince Brooks each graduated with me on May 28, 1980 from USMA 1980. Joe Votel and I served on the honor committee, Vince Brooks was our First Captain and Joe Votel and Tony Thomas were in my regiment at West Point. During the 4 years we were at West Point together I learned to respect and trust each of these men.
Images: General of the Army Omar Bradley; General Wayne Downing; General Joe Votel CENTCOM Commander and General Tony Thomas SOCOM Commander [USMA, 1980]; General Vince Brooks USFK Korea [USMA, 1980]
LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SP5 Robert Ruck CPL Eric Escasio SGT Michael Thorin Cpl Joshua Caldwell MSG Andrew White SPC Margaret Higgins
Omar Bradley epitomised what was legendary about the greatest generation. He was not flamboyant like Patton and he was much more humbler than MacArthur. He was more like Eisenhower in that he was quit before the public yet an ultimate professional with wisdom combined with a keen sense of strategic and operational know how.
Next to him would be GEN Wayne Downing who I served under when he was COL Wayne Downing in the early 1980s as he commanded the 3rd Brigade 1st Armored Division in bamberg, Germany. Wayne Downing led from the front in every sense of the word. When I had done exceptionally well in a field problem he lent me his seat in his helicopter where his pilot gave me a whirlwind treetop level tour of Hohenfels, Germany.
Then three of my old friends and classmates; Generals Joe Votel, Raymond Tony Thomas and Vince Brooks each graduated with me on May 28, 1980 from USMA 1980. Joe Votel and I served on the honor committee, Vince Brooks was our First Captain and Joe Votel and Tony Thomas were in my regiment at West Point. During the 4 years we were at West Point together I learned to respect and trust each of these men.
Images: General of the Army Omar Bradley; General Wayne Downing; General Joe Votel CENTCOM Commander and General Tony Thomas SOCOM Commander [USMA, 1980]; General Vince Brooks USFK Korea [USMA, 1980]
LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SP5 Robert Ruck CPL Eric Escasio SGT Michael Thorin Cpl Joshua Caldwell MSG Andrew White SPC Margaret Higgins
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LTC Stephen F.
SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT - FYI. This is a response to the picture of you with Anita Bryant at West Point.
I was accidentally included in part of the Anita Bryant special because I was walking in front of MacArthur Barracks just across from the superintendent's house when the crew was filming. There was a little area surrounded by ornamental fruit trees which were short in the late 1970's. It was a very picturesque view which I just happened to be approaching in my class blue dark shirt uniform. SGT (Join to see) TSgt Hunter Logan COL Mikel J. Burroughs I uploaded a postcard picture which includes me in the first row, 2nd one in, which is focused on the front of the barracks from the opposite view. The area I was filmed at was at the end of the apron as it was called.
I was accidentally included in part of the Anita Bryant special because I was walking in front of MacArthur Barracks just across from the superintendent's house when the crew was filming. There was a little area surrounded by ornamental fruit trees which were short in the late 1970's. It was a very picturesque view which I just happened to be approaching in my class blue dark shirt uniform. SGT (Join to see) TSgt Hunter Logan COL Mikel J. Burroughs I uploaded a postcard picture which includes me in the first row, 2nd one in, which is focused on the front of the barracks from the opposite view. The area I was filmed at was at the end of the apron as it was called.
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SGT (Join to see)
LTC Stephen F., You really got around a lot when you were in. Accidentally huh? Yeah right! lol
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SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT
LTC Stephen F. - SGT (Join to see) TSgt Hunter Logan There was a lot historic events going on during that time period at West Point.
Iran is still a problem and 35 years ago the 52 hostages first night back on US soil was spent at the Thayer Hotel. SGT Carr worked the outside perimeter that cold Super Bowl weekend. It just so happens to be directly behind the Main "Thayer" Gate pic with Anita.
Iran is still a problem and 35 years ago the 52 hostages first night back on US soil was spent at the Thayer Hotel. SGT Carr worked the outside perimeter that cold Super Bowl weekend. It just so happens to be directly behind the Main "Thayer" Gate pic with Anita.
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SGT (Join to see)
SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT, What a small world we live in. I think it's awesome to be able to discuss things that happened long ago, in this forum of old, old farts, and not so old farts. lol
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Ah, the qualifier that you put on the question limits the field. I was born far too late to serve under Jackson (although he was on the wrong side) or Patton. I suppose that I'd have to say then Major General Thomas M. Rienzi, Stratcom. He went to bat for me when the Army wanted me out. (Wrote letters and made calls to DA) Sadly, even he couldn't save my ass. I had pissed off too many superiors before I reached him. He was a colorful leader. He used to lead pep rallies at West Point tearing the claws off living crabs in prep for the traditional Army/Navy Game. Other than that quirk, he had a lot going for him. He took responsibility. One evening I arrived at our Communications Center where I was operations officer to discover the vault door entrance ajar. I immediately went inside, closed and locked it, then called the MPs to close the base (Fort Shafter). While we were clearing the tunnel, Rienzi arrived in full mess kit, spitting mad. He had a dinner date with the governor and couldn't leave the post. I spoke with him over the intercom (couldn't open the vault door to let even him in until we completed our sweep) and figured out that the last person to exit the tunnel was him. He had stopped by to check on something before heading home to pick up his wife. He commended me for sticking by my guns even though he missed his dinner. Later, he got into trouble with CINCPAC (Adm McCain) when an eyes only msg to McCain was leaked through a fault in the new computer system that I had warned of. He had the good grace to accept responsibility for that. Although he wasn't able to save my career he awarded me an ACM for service (my OLC on the ACM) and sent me on my way feeling proud of serving under him.
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