Four years ago, she writes, married to the father of my three children, i fell in love with a woman. I read platoon leader by james mcdonough because it. Company commanders our experiences as platoon leaders shaped our understanding of the army and of our place within it as leaders. His platoon is charged with manning an outpost next to the village of truong lam. Platoon leader was a book my dad gave to me saying, here.
If you are meeting your psg for the first time and doing the inventories on your new platoon you will also learn a lot about them from how they have stewarded the cdrs property that you will be signing for and how the paperwork is taken care of for it. Key responsibities of team leader in all stages of team buiding and teamwork include. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. The all quiet on the western front characters covered include. Among them is chris taylor charlie sheen, whos about as green as they come.
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. Its 1967, and a plane full of new soldiers has just arrived in vietnam. In one house, taylor discovers a mute and mentally challenged teenage boy and his mother hiding in a hole beneath the floor. I first read james mcdonoughs platoon leader about 17 years ago, as i was watching thencol. Moray was timid, smalley was weak, evans was eager.
It is narrated by mcdonough in first person view and tells of his story in the vietnam war as a lieutenant in command of 2nd platoon, bravo company, 4th battalion, 503rd infantryairborne plot introduction. Clinton provides the music for this lowbudget war film that features. This also means it has been incorporated into the dramatica story expert application itself as an easily referenced. Jul 29, 2015 a platoon usually has an incredible amount of firepower and the platoon leader almost always has a long range radio and a radio operator. The ncos described the role of the platoon leader where new officers are placed in charge of between 20 to 50 soldiers and are accountable for the units equipment and gave the cadets advice. A remarkable memoir of smallunit leadership and the coming of age of a young soldier in combat in vietnam. A young officer, just out of west point is sent to vietnam, where the men dont respect him until he gets wounded and returns to be a wiser soldier and a better commander. This flaw, however, may not bother the books intended audience. The book takes place in and around a fort near a vietnamese village in binh dinh province. Platoon leader 1987 ra battledrenched portrait of a west point lieutenant in vietnam. When he first arrives, he must win the trust of his men, who have been on their tours for a much longer time.
The others in the platoon view the experienced sgt. Platoon leader is a 1988 cannon films film set in the vietnam war and directed by aaron norris. Mar 18, 2015 the ncos described the role of the platoon leader where new officers are placed in charge of between 20 to 50 soldiers and are accountable for the units equipment and gave the cadets advice. James mcdonough graduated from west point and served in vietnam as an infantry platoon leader in the legendary 173d airborne brigade. You have the ability to mold men and make our country stronger 24 hours a day. In addition to what a platoon leader or in the marines a platoon commander has in his regular squads, the company commander may assign special units to him. The combat vignettes of former platoon leaders flow along the arc of a typical 12month tour in iraq. Platoon sergeants mentor future platoon leaders article. A way to develop a toxic leader small wars journal. I read platoon leader by james mcdonough because it was a firsthand account of a rookie. A remarkable memoir of small unit leadership and the coming of age of a young soldier in combat in vietnam. He and the other newbies pass by a group of battlehardened veterans before being shepherded elsewhere. Mcdonough, chronicles the authors experiences as an officer in the vietnam war from 197071.
Basically when my platoon sergeant and i sat down for the initial. Platoon leader quotes showing 11 of 1 the roads that lead young men to war are not political roads, or national and international roads, but individual roads. See a complete list of the characters in frankenstein and indepth analyses of victor frankenstein, the monster, robert walton, elizabeth lavenza, and henry. Find sample tests, essay help, and translations of shakespeare. Frankenstein is a novel by mary shelley that was first published in 1818. This is his summary of his company commander and two fellow platoon leaders.
The film is about a newly commissioned infantry lieutenant who arrives in vietnam to take over his. 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. Us army platoon leader interview questions glassdoor. Army combat in iraq sourced from incountry interviews of this generations platoon leaders from 20032008. Lieutenant jeff knight michael dudikoff is an idealistic young officer who arrives in vietnam to lead a group of fighters from the 103rd airborne division in jungle combat. A remarkable memoir of smallunit leadership and the coming of. Mcdonough, introduces the book as a story of an american platoon leader in combat. Jul 05, 2009 a young officer, just out of west point is sent to vietnam, where the men dont respect him until he gets wounded and returns to be a wiser soldier and a better commander. Army ranger sean parnell was given command of a fortyman elite infantry platoon a unit that came to be known as outlaws. As a platoon leader, second lieutenant toxic was the star performer. Trapped, walton encounters victor frankenstein, who has been traveling by dogdrawn sledge. More life reflections from the bestselling author on themes of societal captivity and the catharsis of personal freedom. The first sights as the young soldiers get off the plane are groups of filled body bags are escorted into the airport. Learn some secret advice to help you develop a cohesive team of trained warriors.
Made on the heels of the widely acclaimed platoon, but it doesnt have the same power. New platoon leader ebook for platoon leaders in the army national guard and army reserves. Paul baumer, stanislaus katczinsky, albert kropp, muller, tjaden, kantorek, corporal himmelstoss, franz kemmerich, joseph behm, detering, gerard duval, leer, haie westhus, kindervater, lewandowski, mittelstaedt. It was francois truffaut who said that its not possible to make an antiwar movie, because all war movies, with their energy and sense of adventure, end up making combat look like fun. A military theorist who has helped shape the postcold war armys thinking, he is also the author of the defense of hill 781 and the limits of glory. Lessons from platoon leader by james mcdonough dzone agile. May 03, 2016 having joined the army from his graduating class in lake city, california, in 1999, following his two older brothers, romesha became a commander of the black knight troops red platoon, which was eventually sent to the most remote and dangerous outpost in nuristan, less than 20 miles from the pakistan border. Platoon leader was a great book to give you a concise glimpse into the reality of one young army leader in vietnam. Essentially a knock off of platoon, this bloodsoaked war drama chronicles the experiences of a west point graduate and his colleagues in the ruthless vietnamese jungles. Mcdonough retired is an impecable example for future and current young lieutenants that are preparing to take command of their first platoons.
The book highlights the extreme nature of vietnam insomuch as long periods of boredom torn apart by extreme moments of violence and carnage. A young officer, just out of west point is sent to vietnam, where the men dont respect him until he gets wounded and returns to be a wiser. A platoon usually has an incredible amount of firepower and the platoon leader almost always has a long range radio and a radio operator. The trident jason redman hardcover harpercollins publishers. Discover how to be an effective, excellent and efficient leader while. The film is about a newly commissioned infantry lieutenant who arrives in vietnam to take over his first platoon.
Love is not always a two way street, sometimes you give more than you get, and love is a choice. When stone sat down to deal with vietnam again in the midseventies, he took some of the characters from break and called the new film the platoon. If truffaut had lived to see platoon, the best film of 1986, he might have wanted to modify his opinion. As time goes on, he slowly becomes hardened to the realities of the brutal life in the field. Enjoy every minute of it, even the difficult times, and give of yourself freely to your mission and your men. Army ranger sean parnell was named commander of a fortyman elite infantry platoon, the 10th mountain divisiona unit. The platoon reaches the village, where a food and weapons cache is discovered. Chain of command goes from the platoon leader directly to the squad leaders. How is it to be taken out of our world and into vietnam. Taylor harasses and taunts the retarded boy by shooting his rifle at his feet, but stops himself short. Platoon leader details mcdonoughs time in vietnam commanding an undermanned platoon assigned to protecting a village in the strategic hamlet program.
The very first version of what became platoon was called break, and it was a whole different type of story much more mystical, more confusing, etc. The platoon sergeant must keep in mind that he or she is training the future leadership of our army. Todays lieutenants are learning to lead american soldiers in a time of war, when the stakes are greater and the challenges more complex than ever. Great resource, ensure you develop a good relationship.
Mcdonough train up his infantry brigade for bosnia. Is there anything we can do as leaders to keep the next frankenstein from rising off. Barnes as the leading commander in the platoon instead of the inexperienced lt. The books main flaw is a repetitiveness that becomes mawkish. Outlaw platoon april, 2012 in pursuit of copiousness 7 comments at age twentyfour, u.
Reading the book leading marines shed some light on the marine corps for me. Outlaw platoon sean parnell paperback harpercollins publishers. Points about the soldiers personal burdens and the bond of brotherhood in combat are made so often that they become less rather than more effective. Sparknotes are the most helpful study guides around to literature, math, science, and more. Enjoy every minute of it, even the difficult times, and give of yourself freely to your mission and. I tend turn to books written by people who have fought in the army for lessons on tactics and leadership. Lyons is a combat veteran who helps jeff after most of the platoon is wiped out. Unlike most of the analysis found herewhich simply lists the unique individual story appreciationsthis indepth study details the actual encoding for each structural item. Mar 04, 2003 a remarkable memoir of smallunit leadership and the coming of age of a young soldier in combat in vietnam.
I interviewed at us army killeen, tx in september 2017. Sep 23, 20 platoon leader is a 1988 cannon films film set in the vietnam war and directed by aaron norris. Scott fitzgerald 870 words 4 pages eehhhhhhhhhhh the 104th trainees squad shouted simultaneously, most were in disbelief while a few others were still skeptical about the keyblade wielders story when they gathered inside the bunkhouse to listen to his explanation, involving him and the earlier incident. As a platoon sergeant starts his or her relationship with a new lieutenant, it is imperative that he provides the best leadership for the platoon. Theres a reason why squad leader is the most important job in the army those are the. Mcdonough, 1985, presidio edition, in english book club ed.
A list of all the characters in all quiet on the western front. The platoon leader receives orders from his her commander and passes them down to there platoon. The platoon sergeants duty is to get the troops beans and bullets as its commonly referred to as. In a series of letters, robert walton, the captain of a ship bound for the north pole, recounts to his sister back in england the progress of his dangerous mission. Here is a movie that regards combat from ground level, from the infantrymans point of view, and it. Now retired from active duty, mcdonough lives with his family in tallahassee. The following analysis reveals a comprehensive look at the storyform for platoon. Being an infantry platoon leader is the greatest job in the world. Discover how to be an effective, excellent and efficient leader while balancing your family time, civilian job and military career. Mar 01, 2012 the books main flaw is a repetitiveness that becomes mawkish.