. Parker, the radio operator. Two veteran sergeants clash when one of them precipitates a massacre of villagers. The Platoon Leader also indicated the ethics and morals of the war, the dehumanizing possibility a soldier might come across in the cruelty of the war. //. Had it confused at first w/the Book Company Commander; Charles B. McDonald, WWII. The writing is as riveting as Ernst Juengers and its lessons just as valuable for any combat leader, especially young lieutenants. As mentioned above, this essay basically would present a. I definitely would rate this book a 10 out of 10. More than any other book I've read about the Vietnam War, I really gained a sense of what life on the ground would be like as well as an understanding of what the job of an infantry officer entails in terms of tactical and operational decision making. Both were great reads. Later, while Lt. Knight is recovering from his wounds in an Army hospital, Major Flynn asks him if he is able to take command again and Knight agrees. This is a brutally honest self assessment of one infantry officers performance as a platoon leader in Vietnam. Note: this Platoon Leader is a true story that is told by James R. McDonough, a Vietnam War veteran. It starts out the story by talking about his leaving Vietnam and then him at home later in his life and flashing back to his experiences leading up to West Point, and then his deployment. The job of Platoon Leader is often referred to as the best job in an officer's career. This is a great book I had to read in college." Summary. LT McDonough was, as a rule, very successful in dealing with intellectually challenging problems. that could adapt to changes and change his leadership styles as need be. 48 Vitosha Boulevard, ground floor, 1000, Sofia, Bulgaria Bulgarian reg. That was one of the reasons I enjoyed it as well as didn't enjoy it. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. 3. number: 206095338, E-mail us: . He was not the leader of this platoon. Vivid details in the memoir bring the setting come to life along with the compelling set of characters. The first leadership lesson I gleaned from the book is the concept of absolute responsibility for all who follow me. A newly trained infantry lieutenant becomes the leader of 30-40 men in combat for a six-month period. I guess the "point" is that leaders are made on the battlefield and not in the classroom. It is an eye-opening description of the reality of combat and its devastating impact on the participants. As a sophomore in college, he signs up for the Reserve Officers Training Corps because it is worth a few credits and because his friends are doing it. This essay was written by a fellow student. In that same month, Austin Trunick of Under the Radar Magazine wrote a similarly mixed review of the film writing "Do come in prepared for some of the usual chest-beating and flag-waving of the subgenre; the Viet Cong are treated mostly as faceless baddies only there to be blown up and shot up en masse in gratuitous slow motion. A gritty and emotional look at the lives of a platoon of American soldiers as they patrol, fight and die in the jungles of Vietnam as seen through the perspective of a young recruit. Four men said yes, but two had to be talked into it. Debriefs seem to be a big part of what it takes to learn from the actions in the field and ensure that your platoon or team take the same lessons and learn which tactics are acceptable and which are not. This video is age-restricted and only available on YouTube. Though we dont face as much hardship now as they did in Vietnam, there were a lot of lessons and stories I can take away from it. Ability to describe armed tactics, army doctrine and drill, and command; apply leadership and supervision techniques; read maps and effective communications skills. For good or ill, McDonough recognized that the burden of authority was on him for everything his soldiers did. Mc Donough journeyed through a difficult period of founding leadership. This book helped me have a much better understanding of our soldiers and a greater appreciation of their sacrifices. Retrieved from https://phdessay.com/book-review-on-platoon-leader-a-memoir-of-command-in-combat/, Hire skilled expert and get original paper in 3+ hours, Run a free check or have your essay done for you, Didn`t find the right sample? Oftentimes we hear/study the Vietnam War only from news outlets from the time or documentaries that occurred during that time frame; however, very seldom do we hear from those who were actually in it. Be the first to contribute. According to McDonough, "he was the platoon, epitomizing its resilience, its dedication, its complete commitment" (p. 242). To see what your friends thought of this book. Are you bilingual? He gave much flexibilities to the staff and freedom to make the decisions by themselves. LT McDonough Leadership assessment The book Platoon Leader provides a wide range of leadership situations and challenges. There is rarely a clear, unequivocal shot of an enemy soldier. For the author's honesty and literary craftsmanship, Platoon Leader seems destined to be read for a long time by second lieutenants trying to prepare for the future, veterans trying to remember. The original trailer in high definition of Platoon Leader directed by Aaron Norris and starring Tony Pierce, Robert F. Lyons, Michael Dudikoff, Rick Fitts an. Women fighting in combat is a topic that has stirred a lot of controversy in the last few months. James R. McDonough once stated that his story is not a comprehensive documentation of the Vietnam War, but a mere account of an American platoon leader in battle. Organizational structure from the field army to the fire team consists of corps, division, brigade, battalion, company, platoon, and squad. The other. In conclusion, the various leadership lessons learned from Platoon Leader by James R. McDonough include basic principles of accountability, responsibility and camaraderie. Lt. Jeffrey Knight, a new officer from the United States Military Academy, is airlifted to an outpost in Vietnam, where he meets his platoon, a group of tough-witted veterans of the war. This is a short but hard-hitting memoir from a lieutenant who served as leader of a US Army platoon in Vietnam in 1970. The next morning, Knight confesses that he feels that he can't be a leader, but McNamara tells him that he got them this far and can do the rest. It wasn't what I was looking for. Ranked in top 10% of class in Mechanized Leader's Course at Fort Benning, GA. Free Essay Examples - WowEssays.com. Interesting to see how he improvised, pulled from the strengths of his men, and became the man he needed to be. or the taking over of leadership by the platoon sergeant or ranking squad leader. One of the better books to read to understand what it's like to be a naive young officer thrown into combat. Here is a sample Platoon Leader Job Description, from one of my old OERs: Vignettes and lessons from current and former platoon-level leaders allow newly assigned leaders to learn from those who have . they didn't relate to. When you grow up in a world where things at least on the surface seem to make sense and at least follow some rules, one might be tempted t. One of the things that has always intrigued me about Vietnam War stories is the attempts to make sense of the pure senselessness. A remarkable memoir of small-unit leadership and the coming of age of a young soldier in combat in Vietnam.' "Using a lean style and a sense of pacing drawn from the tautest of novels, McDonough has produced a gripping account of his first command, a U.S. platoon taking part in the 'strategic hamlet' program. //]]>. We use cookies to enhance our website for you. Interesting to see how he improvised, pulled from the strengths of his men, and became the man he needed to be. In my point of view, his style belongs to the empowering one. Platoon Leader 2016 - Present. Platoon Leader is a 1988 war film set in the Vietnam War and directed by Aaron Norris; it stars Michael Dudikoff and Michael DeLorenzo and was filmed in South Africa. Everyone was in low morale and inefficient as the lieutenant McDonough was replacing refused to wage war all the time keeping the platoon from being harmed. 25 May 2007 . Her told me he thought it would be a good read for me to get an understanding of what life is going to be like. Kenner 1998 Small Soldiers Chip Hazard 12 . It is the only movie directed by Aaron Norris not to star his brother Chuck Norris . The author, James R. McDonough, introduces the book as a story of an "American platoon leader in combat." Having examples allows me to have a better grasp of the concepts and provided me with a guideline on how to use, MacGregor is an excellent leader as everyone knows. Women In Combat From Kelly Flinn to G. I. Jane, controversy has raged in recent months over whether women are fit for military service (Brown 326). I will revisit the book again later. performs and supervises maintenance on heavy fighting equipment. It is loosely based on James R. McDonough's memoir of the same name. Need urgent help with your paper? I will read this book multiple times in hopes of learning something new each time. Learning leadership principles taken from a military context are some of the most important and hard-earned lessons available; the stakes of military service are far higher than any civilian setting, including the corporate sector, and so that lends the lessons learned from this book an added weight. 1 Chelsea Parinas Mr. Thomsen English 12 14 December 2022 Final Exam Essay The men above are those men who, as members of a platoon, are somewhat responsible for one another. We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. I'm reading this book for my husband who is an officer in the Army getting ready to deploy to Iraq. A portrait of the platoon commander I should be and desire to be, James McDonough's gritty and honest recollection of his Platoon Leader tour has inspired me to hone my own skills, reexamine my heart with brutal honesty, and reflect consistently on my intentions, outcomes and mistakes (that should not be repeated). On one of his first patrols, Knight stumbles carelessly over a trip mine and is nearly killed. Knight realizes that he must take a different approach to have his men's respect. It was a man trying to do his best to lead men in combat. IMDb's Most Anticipated New TV Series of 2023. This book is a non-fiction riveting work that tells the story of a platoon that spent sixteen months on an operating base in the Bermel Valley, the border of Pakistan. This is cruelly evident in his final goodbyes to them; they all express genuine, heartfelt gratitude at the time they served with him, and he finds that he will miss them all. WowEssays, Dec 03, 2019. Platoon Leader was a book my dad gave to me saying, "Here. . Available from: https://www.wowessays.com/free-samples/book-review-on-platoon-leader-and-leadership-lessons/, "Book Review On Platoon Leader And Leadership Lessons." The men were expendable; he was not. The Islamic State, the Syrian government and Russia blamed the United States, but the dam was on the U.S. military's "no-strike list" of protected civilian sites and the commander of the U.S . 25 May 2007. Knight finds Bacera expired with a needle still in his arm, having suddenly overdosed, causing Knight to be angry with himself. Knight calls up his Medic to save Parker, but Parker's wounds are mortal and he dies in Knight's arms. Your platoon sergeant gave you an order to write a platoon SOP for the entire platoon (16 personnel) for the M4 or M4A1 carbine's weekly maintenance. Knight is airlifted back to his platoon's outpost but is not greeted by his men and finds his gear missing from his quarters, as they did not expect him to return. , Tuesday, May 15, 2018. A world without rules, mercy and pure ruthless reality. Even so, Bacera sneaks a hit when recusing himself to urinate. Rating: R Genre: War. It is also a significant commentary on the conduct of the war in Vietnam at all levels and war in general. "The bond that men form with each other in the heat of battle is incomprehensible to those who have not experienced warfare for themselvesYou make close friends. How can one cope with being thrown into the middle of chaos from a structured society? Highly recommend for people in leadership positions, whether it be. Each time we left the base these men placed full confidence in my ability to keep them out of danger from hidden explosives., Winston Churchill was such a great communicator because he used simple, but precise language which enabled him to deliver effective speeches to Britain, which all could understand. The platoon Extreme Ownership is how great leaders take responsibility for every aspect of their team and its mission. Nearly everyone knows that the Vietnam war was awful. He sufficiently weighs the main effort for each mission (for example, machine guns and antiarmor weapons) to ensure success. He used his superior intellect to get what he, I learned how to be a leader, the ability to have incredible attention to detail, and perseverance in the face of hardships. a well-written infantry platoon leader resume mentions the following core duties and responsibilities - planning and supervising tactical operations, battle drills, and ftxs, maneuvering the soldiers to get the mission done, planning, executing, and assessing the training needs at the platoon level; writing operation orders, requesting training As usual - we are going to watch and assess video, trying to analyze and define tactical successes and mistakes done by both sides. Even though I never served in the military, this book helped me have a much better understanding of the brutality of war and and the courage and bravery of our fighting men and women. He practiced careful observation and frequent combats with the enemy to lay out plans that would ensure an accomplished mission. It is not a boring book on tactics and how they work in theory. Platoon Leader May 2015Present US Army Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA - Led an artillery platoon consisting of 35 soldiers - Ensured compliance with annual and quarterly maintenance schedule Fire Direction Officer Apr 2014May 2015 US Army Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA - Led a Fire Direction Center consisting of 10 soldiers Knight and his squad fight to reach McNamera and bring him to an LZ to evac him via helicopter. Let us help you get a good grade on your paper. The 2017 second edition's ebook version forms the basis for this study guide. ), graduated from West Point and served in Vietnam as an infantry platoon leader in the legendary 173d Airborne Brigade.A military theorist who has helped shape the post-Cold War army's thinking, he is also the author of The Defense of Hill 781 and The Limits of Glory.Now retired from active duty, McDonough lives with his family in Tallahassee, Florida. Two had to be leadership assessment the book platoon Leader is often referred to as the best in... Of one infantry officers performance as a rule, very successful in dealing with intellectually challenging.... How they work in theory the memoir bring the setting come to life along with the compelling set characters. Their sacrifices a clear, unequivocal shot of an enemy soldier responsibility for all who follow.... An accomplished mission assessment of one infantry officers performance as a platoon Leader and leadership lessons. 2017 edition... 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