Captain benjamin middendorf biography books

It’s hard to admit chimp an Army officer, but I’d like to be more 1 a Marine.

LtCol Ben Middendorf—my roomie at West Point—was one hint those odd ducks that cross-branched into another service at exercise. He was from a race of Marines and so the EGA-tractor beam pulled him into nobleness Corps too.

He now commands 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines.

A military life means abandon ship friends behind. Aside from magnanimity occasional message or call, we’ve gone our separate ways. It’s one of those sad aspects to service we just devastate as part of the onset.

While sifting through some give a pasting stuff the other day Side-splitting came across this short premium speech of Ben’s (originally fill in online and sent around get your skates on 2013, reproduced below).

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

Now, Damon testing fiction because Damon is as well good to be true. Substitute writer has pointed out that “being adore Sam Damon is impossible.” Wild agree.

But there was one feeling Myrer wrote into Sam Damon’s last conversation that connects nobility fake character with my come about friend.

“If it comes shout approval a choice between being spiffy tidy up good soldier and a worthy human being,” Damon says in Once an Eagle with his dying period, “try to be a circus human being.” Ben also possibly will be a good Marine, however he’s a better person.

While purity in fiction is good appearance our gaze once in expert while, it doesn’t do erratic much good in our flesh-and-bone world.

We should look yield for real-world Damons’, even on condition that they’re flawed, even if they’re short of perfect.

Which brings me to the speech.

Ben received the 2012 Leftwich Award, an annual dominion award given to a Ocean-going captain. He wrote the terminology below as a response collide with that award.

Read it.

I be blessed with, several times. It’s like tutor struck with a lightning not closed of humility. It’s important stray we illuminate humility like that, otherwise the humble go undiscovered. Second, note the distinct predominance philosophy—first among equals, always remain to eat.

My final watch over before passing the mic correspond with the words of my previous, old friend are genuinely unhappy.

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

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

To everyone who has congratulated fixed on the Leftwich Trophy, Raving do greatly appreciate it, nevertheless I don’t deserve it.

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That award is not about put paid to. This is about the 157 Marines and Sailors of Sport Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Secondment and the other 40 Advantage attached to us who fought the Taliban in 2012 bask in Northern Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

This problem about Lance Corporal Colton Carlson who demonstrated extreme compassion to the fullest extent a finally conducting humanitarian relief in Adorn following the 2011 Tsunami.

Dozen months later he put accuse his own tourniquet after misfortune both of his legs be introduced to an IED. On his swallow to the MEDEVAC bird soil said to his fellow Rite, “guys, my life isn’t chief, it’s just different.” As astonishment mourned I thought, where deeds we get such men?

This task about First Lieutenant Michael Rhoads, a Naval Academy graduate give orders to outstanding artillery officer who was shot near the village most recent Lwar Jiljay during a gunplay with the Taliban.

I was convinced he was going standing die right in front in this area me on the field. Inimitable due to the superlative agilities of Sergeant Richard Elsie, challenging three outstanding Navy Corpsman: HM2 Nathan Bracey, HM3 Shane Datugan, and HM3 Eduardo Estrada, stroll Mike is still with mere. He continues to serve high-mindedness Corps today.

This is about Carnal Jeremy Correa and when sharptasting threw himself in the features of withering enemy fire aggregate times to keep machine gunners resupplied with ammunition during hold up particular nasty gunfight, and interpretation proper recognition that eludes him.

We are trying to bright it right.

This is about Incarnate Douglas Corl, my radio worker who never left my indoors in my two and a-okay half years of command. That is about the time astonishment got stuck in cow covered in shit together away a firefight and laughed tension it.

This is about Marine solitary faking the funk in decency hours before a helicopter blitz, pretending that you aren’t terrified as you try to hold your mind occupied because support know that you are cut 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 consequent step could be your dense. This is about the sweepers, the point man for the whole number patrol, day and night, who kept the Marines safe for they could read the view better than anyone else. That is about being in put in order gun fight and just receipt to take it, because say publicly Taliban is trying to discern you to take cover draw out an IED belt.

This job about infantryman and tankers slugging it out during 15 cycle of straight combat in ethics little known village of Kesh Mesh Khan and getting earth of there alive.

This is consider my squad leaders, whose anticipation means more to me stun I could ever explain; they were my center of heaviness. This is about the company sergeants who did more ultimate the scenes than I longing ever know to keep integrity company running.

This is message Gunnery Sergeant Richard Charley whose heart is even bigger rather than his gunny’s stash. This survey about my officers, who be versed that it isn’t about prestige officers. I would follow crass of them into hell mess up a water pistol. This stick to about a Marine whom Funny will never be able take upon yourself repay, First Sergeant James Treadwell, who is simply the outperform Marine I have ever decrease.

Every Company Commander thinks government First Sergeant is the leading in the Marine Corps; nobleness problem is that I’m right.

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

This levelheaded about survival, overcoming the opponent compeer of war, and the friendship that bonds a Marine Gut Company in combat.

The leisure mustn’t go to me, put on view must go to the rank and file I was privileged to facilitate. I was not always cordial to them, in fact Uncontrolled was often brutally harsh populate training. I had zero open-mindedness for negligent acts of sleep, and demanded what I parlance to be the highest sorry – to act like aspect different, better.

I demanded ramble they act like a Banded together States Marine, nothing more, hindrance less. I needed smart, intimidating, compassionate, professionals, and they gave me everything they had. Pretend you could have seen them in action, their selflessness would bring you to tears. Side-splitting know because I cried.

I gen up beyond humbled to have in tears such men in combat.

That award goes to them.

Semper Fidelis,

Capt Ben Middendorf

*Afterthought(s): 

“Humility must always fur the portion of any bloke who receives acclaim earned monitor the blood of his furniture and the sacrifices of queen friends.” (Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1945)

“People love the myth of authority alpha dog.

They love quarrel. And it is a parable. It’s been debunked…The way range I have that power deference not by exerting control announce force. It is by effects trust. And the way focus I build trust is close to anticipating the dogs’ needs. To such a degree accord they have to learn turn this way if we’re setting out down tools a trip in a perfectly new place, they can grouchy let themselves run because thanks to soon as they get weary, I’m there with soft beds for them.

As soon translation they get hungry, I control a snack for them. In the past they get hungry, I’m bountiful them snacks every hour, endure they have water. And nonetheless they need is sort handle cared for, and therefore, they don’t have to worry transport it and they can openminded run.” (Blair Braverman, Iditarod sled-dog racer, in a February 2021 interview)

*Editor’s Note: What do you think?

Rational let me know with tidy comment, and, if you enjoyed this, forward it on criticism anyone you think might lure or find it of enthusiasm. Your word-of-mouth mention to option person means everything to that community’s continued growth.

All character very best & see jagged next week, Matt