Psalm 9-11: I will fear no evil

Jules Crittenden is a Boston Herald columnist whom I have only recently caught up with. He is, however, someone we need to get to know, and there is no better place to begin than with his thoughtful column today: “Psalm 9-11: I will fear no evil.” Among other things, Crittenden invokes the memory of Rick Rescorla in this column. I have written here about Rescorla in several posts including “A day to be proud” and “Rescorla’s ripples.”

UPDATE: Kurt Schlicter writes:

Today, you linked again to the “Rescorla’s Ripples” note I sent you last year from Kosovo regarding how Rescorla trained one of my mentors and how he trained me and a bunch of other Army leaders.

I am off active duty now and last month took command of the 1st Squadron, 18th Cavalry Regiment of the California Army National Guard. BG (R) Ron Flynn, who took over Rescorla’s Vietnam platoon, was there at the ceremony.

I was called to active duty for a couple days last week when we mobilized to provide security at Southern Californian airports. Many of the other battalion commanders involved went to what our commanding general once called “The Flynn School” of leadership – and hence “The Rescorla School.” We got our people where there were needed on time and ready to act. Our captains and lieutenants showed that they are learning the same things from us we learned from our predecessors.

The ripples keep rippling. I can’t think of a better tribute to two great Soldiers.

Kurt A. Schlichter
Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry
Commanding, 1st Squadron, 18th Cavalry

Jules Crittenden responds:

Thanks for highlighting Rescorla. I never got to know him, but I know two men who served with him at the Ia Drang. John Eade and Larry Gwin are my friends and have taught me a lot. “Ripples” reflects the same spirit. When we come into contact, direct or indirect, with men like this, we gain something.

Jules forwards Greyhawk’s Mudville Gazette post incorporating Jules’s extended profile of Eade And Gwin: “I am going to die well.”

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