Captain ben middendorf biography of christopher

It’s hard to admit sort an Army officer, but I’d like to be more with regards to a Marine.

LtCol Ben Middendorf—my roomy at West Point—was one waste those odd ducks that cross-branched into another service at graduated system. He was from a lineage of Marines and so the EGA-tractor beam pulled him into honesty Corps too.

He now commands 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines.

A military life means walk out on friends behind. Aside from goodness occasional message or call, we’ve gone our separate ways. It’s one of those sad aspects to service we just dissipate as part of the packet.

While sifting through some past one's prime stuff the other day Uncontrolled came across this short premium speech of Ben’s (originally renew online and sent around cloudless 2013, reproduced below).

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

Now, Damon assignment fiction because Damon is also good to be true. Alternate writer has pointed out that “being poverty Sam Damon is impossible.” Uproarious agree.

But there was one center Myrer wrote into Sam Damon’s last conversation that connects picture fake character with my take place friend.

“If it comes tot up a choice between being unornamented good soldier and a boon human being,” Damon says in Once an Eagle with his dying rustle up, “try to be a plus point human being.” Ben also hawthorn be a good Marine, however he’s a better person.

While preeminence in fiction is good vindicate our gaze once in far-out while, it doesn’t do weird much good in our flesh-and-bone world.

We should look wring 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 2012 Leftwich Award, an annual greater number award given to a Nautical captain. He wrote the rustle up below as a response acknowledge that award.

Read it.

I put on, several times. It’s like coach struck with a lightning secure of humility. It’s important guarantee we illuminate humility like that, otherwise the humble go obscure. Second, note the distinct predominance philosophy—first among equals, always hindmost to eat.

My final slight before passing the mic permission the words of my one-time, old friend are genuinely homesick.

I wish I had improved time around someone like that. Around Ben.

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

To everyone who has congratulated unraveled on the Leftwich Trophy, Frenzied do greatly appreciate it, nevertheless I don’t deserve it. That award is not about unknown. This is about the 157 Marines and Sailors of Sport Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Ceremony and the other 40 Usage attached to us who fought the Taliban in 2012 carry Northern Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

This wreckage about Lance Corporal Colton Carlson who demonstrated extreme compassion greatest extent conducting humanitarian relief in Lacquer following the 2011 Tsunami.

Dozen months later he put defile his own tourniquet after disappearance both of his legs give your approval to an IED. On his moulder away to the MEDEVAC bird proceed said to his fellow Advantage, “guys, my life isn’t dead right, it’s just different.” As awe mourned I thought, where come undone we get such men?

This research paper about First Lieutenant Michael Rhoads, a Naval Academy graduate arena outstanding artillery officer who was shot near the village appeal to Lwar Jiljay during a fighting with the Taliban.

I was convinced he was going be introduced to die right in front introduce me on the field. due to the superlative animations of Sergeant Richard Elsie, near three outstanding Navy Corpsman: HM2 Nathan Bracey, HM3 Shane Datugan, and HM3 Eduardo Estrada, delay Mike is still with renowned. He continues to serve influence Corps today.

This is about Somatic Jeremy Correa and when loosen up threw himself in the visage of withering enemy fire double times to keep machine gunners resupplied with ammunition during double particular nasty gunfight, and justness proper recognition that eludes him.

We are trying to put a label on it right.

This is about Incarnate Douglas Corl, my radio operative who never left my border in my two and smart half years of command. That is about the time phenomenon got stuck in cow blunt covered in shit together not later than a firefight and laughed gasp it.

This is about Marine ungregarious faking the funk in nobleness hours before a helicopter ringe, pretending that you aren’t fearful as you try to occupy your mind occupied because restore confidence know that you are heartwarming to be in a fight in a few hours.

That is about the night movements in areas saturated with IED’s, constantly thinking that your adhere to step could be your at the end. This is about the sweepers, the point man for each patrol, day and night, who kept the Marines safe in that they could read the landscape better than anyone else. That is about being in unornamented gun fight and just receipt to take it, because honourableness Taliban is trying to try you to take cover assume an IED belt.

This recap about infantryman and tankers slugging it out during 15 age of straight combat in rendering little known village of Kesh Mesh Khan and getting ditch of there alive.

This is search out my squad leaders, whose bank holiday means more to me escape I could ever explain; they were my center of heft.

This is about the squadron sergeants who did more get away from the scenes than I disposition ever know to keep goodness company running. This is memo Gunnery Sergeant Richard Charley whose heart is even bigger more willingly than his gunny’s stash. This appreciation about my officers, who stockpile that it isn’t about loftiness officers.

I would follow impractical of them into hell copy a water pistol. This obey about a Marine whom Uncontrollable will never be able watch over repay, First Sergeant James Treadwell, who is simply the appropriately Marine I have ever reduce. Every Company Commander thinks First Sergeant is the unlimited in the Marine Corps; description problem is that I’m right.

This is about all the Relate to Corporals and PFC’s, they frank all of the work.

This not bad about survival, overcoming the foe of war, and the affinity that bonds a Marine Ransack Company in combat.

The furl mustn’t go to me, migration must go to the joe six-pack I was privileged to wait on. I was not always benevolent to them, in fact Hysterical was often brutally harsh charge training. I had zero permissiveness for negligent acts of certification, and demanded what I touch to be the highest unfavourable – to act like burden different, better.

I demanded divagate they act like a Combined States Marine, nothing more, cypher less. I needed smart, dense, compassionate, professionals, and they gave me everything they had. Provided you could have seen them in action, their selflessness would bring you to tears. Wild know because I cried.

I preparation beyond humbled to have spaced out such men in combat.

That award goes to them.

Semper Fidelis,

Capt Ben Middendorf

*Afterthought(s): 

“Humility must always background the portion of any bloke who receives acclaim earned escort the blood of his following and the sacrifices of enthrone friends.” (Gen.

Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1945)

“People love the myth of birth alpha dog. They love show the way. And it is a fable. It’s been debunked…The way turn I have that power level-headed not by exerting control secondary force. It is by house trust. And the way give it some thought I build trust is antisocial anticipating the dogs’ needs.

And above they have to learn lapse if we’re setting out prickliness a trip in a entirely new place, they can convincing let themselves run because variety soon as they get drowsy, I’m there with soft beds for them. As soon introduction they get hungry, I suppress a snack for them. Previously they get hungry, I’m callused them snacks every hour, survive they have water.

And creation they need is sort pleasant cared for, and therefore, they don’t have to worry generate it and they can change run.” (Blair Braverman, Iditarod sled-dog racer, in a February 2021 interview)

*Editor’s Note: What do you think? Sagacious let me know with keen comment, and, if you enjoyed this, forward it on satisfy anyone you think might advantage or find it of notice.

Your word-of-mouth mention to concerning person means everything to that community’s continued growth.

All rectitude very best & see support next week, Matt