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PHOTO: "The Honorable General Colin Powell served at Fort Devens, 1960's" by Fort Devens Museum is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 |
Well, it has just been a crummy week for the team. One
member just found out a close relative has days to live, another is looking for
an answer, but the preliminary is something no one wants. Meanwhile, other team
members are hearing sad and stressful news about loved ones. As I said, it
appears to not be a great time for the psyche of our team.
For me, I lost one person whom I believed to be immortal. Although
that person was not perfect (no one is), he damn sure exemplified perfection
when he could. I’m speaking, of course, about General Colin Powell, who
passed away earlier this week.
There are so many stories about him, I shall not repeat
them. Just take a look at his awards. Here are some things I remember: The
image someone carried out of fire fight the year I was born. Disagreeing about
strategy and prevailing as he moved up the ranks. Developing a combat doctrine
that said: Don’t fight if you cannot win; sacrifice no one for the sake of
sacrifice. Stopping and asking a sergeant (who was doing a bit of hero worship):
“Where are you headed” and then providing directions.
Gen. Powell exemplified what I aspire to be. He was a human,
a leader, a real American. He was what Americans are supposed to be: real
people — not perfect, but real, in that they do what they believe.
You may disagree with that basic premise, and that is your
right — a right he fought hard for you to keep, by the way. I didn’t cry
in front of my team when I heard he had passed, because they don’t know who he
really was and is to me. I needed the time to pull this together, which led me
to realize just how important Gen. Powell was to me — and now my team will know
as well.
Gen. Powell was (and will be remembered as) an American
hero. He is, was, and will always be “The General.”
Gen. Powell, you are, and will always be, a true American
that held to the ideals of America, even when others tried to pull you down. Thank
you for your service, but especially thank you for motivating this punk from
Menomonie, Wis., to always strive for perfection. Yes, we can’t reach it,
but we can always try. Lesson learned.
RIP, General!
— Andrew Anthony Lorenz, SFC (Ret)
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