Rodrigo Jose Samodal

LDS 102

Charles Powell

April 4, 2016

Job Fair Reflection

This spring semester, I decided to attend the job fairs that took place in spring semester of 2016. Out of the 4 job fairs that were offered for different fields, I attended the health service and business job fairs. Although these job/internship fairs are mainly intended for upper classmen looking for employment, I still decided to go. Although I knew there were some opportunities for me, I mainly wanted to see what it is like and learn what I could to prepare myself for when I will be using the information for a more practical use.

I knew that the event was a professional event, so formal/professional attire would be required. Thankfully, I know how to dress appropriately and how to present myself. I put on my suit and tie, printed out multiple copies of my updated resume, packed some pens and notebooks, and headed over to the SAC ballrooms for the job fair.

Once I got to the job fair, I filled out a quick survey, received my guide, and headed in. It was a bit overwhelming at first, as I was surrounded by dozens of professional employers and upperclassmen. I had no idea where to begin. So I started with the career center itself. I found some interesting internships at the career center that I definitely will consider for future years. I also took some time to speak to representatives from a few companies such as “Big Brother Big Sister” and “Target” about future internships. I spent the full amount of time making as many positive connections and working on my networking skills.

Although I did not find many opportunities for myself, being a first year student, the experience was still beneficial. I learned about what to expect for future job fairs and what I will need to prepare for. I have the experience under my belt now and I am looking forward to utilizing the job fair better and finding future internships and employment.

Rodrigo Jose Samodal

LDS 102

Charles Powell

April 18, 2016

American Sniper

Leadership is an important characteristic and quality, especially in the military. In life and death situations, exceptional leadership qualities can make a difference in a battle, and even the war. The film “American Sniper,” which is based on real life events, portrays the exemplary leadership qualities of Chris Kyle, a US Navy SEAL sniper. This film is based of his memoir and his tours and combat in the Iraq war.

Chris Kyle is considered the deadliest marksman in US military history, with 255 kills in his military tours in Iraq. This is evidence of the success of his military career. From the success of his combat record, he eventually earned the rank of Chief Petty Officer, and was involved in a mission to kill “The Butcher,” an al-Qaeda leader. He also is involved with a shootout with an enemy sniper named “Mustafa” who provides a problem for US military forces as they are consistently attacked by him.

On Kyle’s fourth tour in Iraq, he is assigned to find and kill Mustafa. He is in command of a sniper team inside enemy territory, and takes a long distance shot at Mustafa, killing him, but revealing their location. They are then subjected to attack by a large number of enemy insurgents, and a huge firefight ensues. Kyle is able to help lead his team in the fight and survive, however the team soon runs low on ammunition and are almost out of options. But the team is able to escape in the cover of a sandstorm, and Kyle helps the team escape, almost at the cost of his own life and being left behind. That is a great leadership characteristic, when Kyle did his best to fight for his comrades. I highly respect Kyle’s sense of duty and loyalty to his comrades in the line of duty, and to me that is characteristic of a great leader, and Kyle is a prime example of a great leader.

Citation

American Sniper. Dir. Clint Eastwood. Prod. Clint Eastwood, Robert Lorenz, Andrew Lazar,

Bradley Cooper, and Peter Morgan. By Jason Hall. Perf. Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller. Digital Campus. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.

Rodrigo Jose Samodal

LDS 102

Charles Powell

April 10, 2016

Lone Survivor

Teamwork is a key element to success. It is especially vital in the military and the fight for survival. Every group or squad of soldiers is comprised of different individuals with unique talents and characteristics, but they all share one common goal. How well these soldiers function as a unit will determine how successful they all are. But every group is different nonetheless.

In the film “Lone Survivor,” a Navy SEAL Team led by Marcus Luttrell is dispatched to initiate counter-insurgent action against Taliban leader Ahmad Shah in Afghanistan. They’re mission was to find and kill Shah, which required being inserted into the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan. However, they’re communication difficulties provided a major problem for the mission, and after being discovered by a group of herders, they are compromised. Soon after, they are found by a large group of Taliban forces. After managing to fight off a few initial soldiers, the Navy SEAL team finds themselves largely outnumbered and overwhelmed, and each soldier sustains serious injuries. However, they continue to fight, protecting one another while fighting to survive. These men care and fight together to survive. They are brothers together.

The Navy SEAL team in lone “Survivor” is very similar to the Army Rangers in “Saving Private Ryan.” Both groups were given a single mission to complete, and each soldier had specific tasks and each had unique characteristics and personalities. In whole, both groups of soldiers did what they had to do to fight for their mission and for their lives, but the individual relationships between members of each group differed. The Navy SEAL team had a much more deep-seated relationship with one another than the Army Ranger team. The Navy SEAL team members have been fighting together for years, just as the Army Ranger team has as well, but the Navy SEALs were much closer in their personal lives and bonds. The Army Rangers fought together, but knew little about one another aside from the stories they have shared over their years together. The Army Rangers team had tensions within the squad, which eventually surmounted to conflict. The Navy SEALs also met conflict with one another, but were able to put all of it aside and pull together.

Teamwork is essential for success in any group. All members of the group must contribute to the group effort to achieve the goal. And the relationship between the members of the group affect how well the group works together. The Navy SEAL team in the film “Lone Survivor” had stronger interpersonal connections than the Army Ranger team in the film “Saving Private Ryan” and did not find as much conflict within the group. They had a stronger bond as brothers and fought with and for one another.

Citation

Lone Survivor. Dir. Peter Berg. Prod. Peter Berg, Sarah Aubrey, Randall Emmet            Herrick, Barry Spikings, Akiva Goldsman, Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, and Vitaly Grigoriants. By Peter Berg. Perf. Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster, Eric Bana. Lone Survivor. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2016.

Rodrigo Jose Samodal

LDS 102

Charles Powell

April 4, 2016

Black Hawk Down

In the heat of combat in the military, it is the number one rule that no soldier gets left behind. This is common knowledge every soldier knows in his heart in the US military. Soldiers fight mainly for their fellow brothers fighting alongside them. Military commanders often do their best to formulate a well calculated plan that will get their soldiers in and out safely. However, sometimes the effort needed to treat and care for the wounded in the heat of battle can often result in more casualties. This paradox often puts many soldiers in difficult situations, as portrayed in the film “Black Hawk Down.”

As tensions rose in the African country of Somalia, the central government is overthrown by the militant leader Mohamed Farrah Aidid, the country plunges into civil war. The United Nations authorized military operations to fight the militia. The US Army Rangers, Delta Force counter-terrorist operators, and the 160^th SOAR aviators are deployed to capture Aidid. They are deployed on a mission to capture Aidid’s top advisors Omar Salad Elmi and Abdi Hassan Awale Qeybdiid.

However, after the mission begins, PFC Todd Blackburn falls from his helicopter and is critically injured. Now part of the convoy is dispatched to return him to base. However, amidst the fighting and the hundreds of Somalian militia standing in their way, more casualties follow, and one Black Hawk, Super Six One, is shot down by an PG and crashed within militia territory. The pilots are killed and the rest of the crew is critically injured. The rest of the deployed Army Rangers are prevented from reaching the crash site due to militia road blocks and heavy firefighting. The mission soon becomes a relief effort to evacuate the wounded soldiers, with casualties rising with every effort to get these men to safety.

With more and more soldiers becoming wounded, and the mission becoming a rescue mission for these soldiers, the Army Rangers find themselves in a desperate situation. They need to fight to stay alive while also treating and caring for their wounded as they await rescue. Major General William F. Garrison desperately wanted to withdraw the men back to the safe zone and made it the main objective to bring his men home. The mission ended up becoming a failure, as the Army Rangers never captured their intended targets, and instead suffered casualties. 19 American soldiers were killed and over 1,000 Somalian militia and civilians were killed.

In the US military, no man gets left behind. Soldiers fight for their fellow comrades, and fight to protect each other and their country. They treat and take care of their wounded and bring them back to safety. However sometimes this effort is costly, and often can result in even more casualties and deaths. This situation does bring some tension within military commanders and soldiers on the field. Everyone wants to come home safely, but there will always be a risk in the effort to do so. In the US army, however, the risk is worth it, as every soldier lives for his comrades and no man will be left behind.

Citation

Black Hawk Down. Dir. Ridley Scott. Prod. Jerry Bruckheimer and Ridley Scott. Screenplay by Ken Nolan. By Mark Bowden. Perf. Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore, Eric Bana, William Fichtner, Ewen Bremner, Sam Shepard. Black Hawk Down. Digital Campus, n.d. Web. 3 Apr. 2016.

Rodrigo Jose Samodal

LDS 102

Charles Powell

March 27, 2016

A Few Good Men

Out military was created to fight to defend the ideals of our country. However when military soldiers and officers separate from the values of our nation, it is up to the civilian population to uphold justice. This shows the need for a balance of power. This idea is portrayed in the film “A Few Good Men.”

Shortly after the night when Marine Private William Santiago is killed, Lance Corporal Harold Dawson and Private Louden Downey are arrested and charged with murder and court-marshalled. However, naval investigator and lawyer Lieutenant Commander JoAnne Galloway attempts to take the case, but it is ultimately given to navy lawyer Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee. They both believe the two marines carried out a “Code Red” order, which is regarded as a violent extrajudicial punishment to discipline a marine who steps out of line.

Kaffee and Galloway follow through with the case, and claim that they were ordered to carry out the Code Red order by Lieutenant Jonathan James Kendrick, who denies having given such an order, and instead ordered that Santiago not be touched and have him transferred of Guantanamo Bay. After finding contradiction in his orders, Kaffee ultimately causes Kendrick to admit to his actions of ordering “Code Red” and his attempts to hide it. Kendrick is ultimately charged with perjury, and Dawson and Downey are found innocent from charges of murder, but are found guilty of “Conduct unbecoming of a United States Marine” and are dishonorably discharged.

This film shows proof of how, despite popular opinion, civilians ultimately have control of the military. Especially in cases such as the one portrayed in the film, when crimes have been committed within our own military, civilians must take responsibility to bring justice when it is needed. Although this does bring tension between the military and civilian populations, it is necessary to have a balance of power. If there is no balance of power, then the military will be able to commit to whatever actions they deem as just and necessary. This will cause the formation of a militant government, which ultimately opposes the American ideology. I believe that it is just and right that civilians have control over the military. The balance of power is necessary to prevent any one group or organization from separating and straying from the values of their country. This balance of power is needed to maintain successful times of peace in a nation.

Citation

A Few Good Men. Dir. Rob Reiner. Prod. Rob Reiner, David Brown, and Andrew Scheinman.

Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin. Perf. Tom Cuise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon, Kevin Pollak, James Marshal, JT Walsh, Kiefer Sutherland. Digital Campus, 1992. A Few Good Men. Digital Campus. Web. 26 Mar. 2016. <http://digitalcampus.swank.com/stonybrook/SDC/Watch.aspx?v=2dd2af4344b24fc1ac9347e0aa51b2b6>.

Rodrigo Jose Samodal

LDS 102

Charles Powell

March 19, 2016

Platoon

In times of war, there is always a terrible price to pay. Losing lives, losing sanity, and losing humanity. The Vietnam War is a prime example of what it war time can do to soldiers. The film “Platoon” captures what life was like for soldiers deployed into the Vietnam War. It portrays the different kinds of personalities in leadership in the military.

The plot of the film follows Chris Taylor, a college dropout who enthusiastically volunteered to fight in Vietnam. He is assigned to Bravo Company of the 25^th infantry division. He is placed under command of Staff Sergeant Barnes and also befriends Sergeant Elias. Both soldiers loyal to the cause of the war, but differ greatly in personality. His Platoon commander, Lieutenant Wolfe, also shows a different personality and perspective as well.

Staff Sergeant Barnes is a hardened and experienced veteran of the Vietnam War. He is hard-headed, aggressive, bold, and sometimes cruel. His methods of handling situations are often harsh, and he is often seen fighting with his fellow comrades at times. Sergeant Elias is much more reserved in his actions and is never too rash. He seems to have more sanity and self-control than Barnes. Lieutenant Wolfe, on the other hand, seems to be quite reluctant and hesitant with decisions and actions. He also does not show very prominent leadership qualities and is not very bold.

When the platoon finds a small Vietnamese village, Barnes was seen harassing the villagers, and ultimately, out of anger and cold blood, murders the village chief’s wife and holds his daughter at gunpoint. It was at this point the Sergeant Elias arrives, furious with Barnes. Elias condemns Barnes’ actions and a fight breaks out between the two. The fight eventually is broken up by the very timid Platoon commander, Lieutenant Wolfe, who finally steps in and then orders the village to be burned to the ground.

Barnes’ actions could possibly have him court marshalled and prosecuted. Knowing that Elias would testify against him for an illegal killing of an innocent civilian, Barnes shoots Elias after running into him in the foliage, then reporting that he was killed in action. However after seeing Elias alive and running from the NVA, Taylor suspects that it was Barnes that tried to kill Elias. He later attempts to convince the others of the truth, which causes Barnes to mock them and a fight breaks out between Taylor and Barnes, in which Barnes cuts Taylor. Later on, after another NVA raid, Taylor encounters Barnes, obviously driven to the point of insanity, who tries to kill Taylor, until an airstrike knocks them both unconscious. Taylor sees Barnes wounded, and instead of helping him, he kills him.

Sergeant Barnes and Sergeant Elias both were effective leaders in the field of duty. They wanted to get their job done and get home safe and protect their platoon. But their methods and personalities are very different. Elias is reserved and has a more composed personality while Barnes is aggressive. They each handle situations differently. Lieutenant Wolfe is also a different leader. He, in my personality, is not fit as a platoon leader as he is too reluctant and hesitant to make decisions when needed. All of these officers were in the same situation and had the same job to do, but each were unique and different. The military needs this diversity in personalities in leadership qualities.

Citation

Platoon. Dir. Oliver Stone. Prod. Arnold Kopelson. By Oliver Stone. Perf. Tom Berenger, Wilem Dafoe, Charlie Sheen. 1986. Web. 20 Mar. 2016. <http://digitalcampus.swank.com/stonybrook/sdc/fwatch.aspx?v=25bada9d4f2a40dfb3a191325b0f6e1a>.

Rodrigo Jose Samodal

LDS 102

Charles Powell

March 6, 2016

Fury

Peace needs great leaders, but war time breeds great leaders. The soldiers in the military need leadership to guide them if victory is to be achieved. Leaders in both headquarters and the front line to show the way. However it is those soldiers and individuals in the field and fighting along-side their fellow comrades that have the most.

The film “Fury” portrays what Hollywood believes military leadership on the battlefield looks like. The movie follows the American 2^nd Armored division and their journey through Nazi Germany. US Army Staff Sergeant Don “Wardaddy Collier commands the tank crew of a Sherman “Easy Eight” Tank nicknamed “Fury. He and his crew, consisting of gunner Boyd “Bible” Swan, loader Grady “Coon-Ass” Travis, and Trini “Gordo” Garcia, have been piloting “Fury” since the North African campaign, and now find themselves in Nazi Germany, where one of their assistant driver has been killed in action. Now a fresh recruit, Norman Ellison, is assigned as a replacement.

Norman was a clerk typist and has never seen the horrors of war before. The plot shows his development and his baptism by fire. Sergeant Collier takes Norman under his command and guides him through his first experiences in combat. Norman is very reluctant to follow orders and carry out his duty as a soldier, and Collier will not have it, as it will interfere with his own duties and put the entire crew in danger. Collier explains that as long as Norman follows his orders, he will survive and make it home alive. Collier has promised his entire crew the same thing and they all follow him loyally, as most of them have been together and fought together for months.

The “Fury” crew see Collier as a valiant leader and are extremely loyal to his orders. They will follow him to the very end, and that becomes evident in the finale of the film where the crew make a final stand in their immobilized tank against hundreds of German soldiers at the crossroad they were ordered to defend. Most of the crew want to retreat on foot, but Collier chooses to stay and defend the tank that has become his home, and the entire crew decide to stay and fight by his side. In the end, after a long battle, most of the crew is killed, and only Norman survives.

Although the structure of this film was based mostly of historical facts, the majority of the plot and characters were fictional. Sergeant Collier was meant to be the embodiment of military leadership on the battlefield, or at least what Hollywood pictures military leadership to be like. The film industry made Collier’s character as perfect of a leader as possible, with no faltering in his leadership style and characteristics. He knew how to handle every situation he came across with precision and expertise. And his men followed him and respected him throughout the entire journey.

Hollywood’s portrayal of military leaders has evidently changed over the years. From earlier films such as “Patton” to more modern films such as “Saving Private Ryan” and “Fury”, the portrayal and characteristics of military leadership has evolved. The earlier films focused on the character development of the particular main protagonist that the film. These older films highlighted the particular character during critical points in the plot. Sometimes the character reacted in a positive way, in other times, not so much. But there was evident character development for the duration of the plot. In the more modern films, the leadership traits of the particular highlighted character are shown in a broader perspective and extravagant. To elaborate, the character’s actions are exaggerated and dramatized to show how well they stand out from the rest of the cast of characters as a leader. The film shows how the leader’s actions and decisions affect the group that follows them and it also emphasizes the group’s reactions.

Throughout the history of film, the Hollywood film industry has evolved in a variety of aspects. Film portrayals of characters in modern films contrast to the portrayal in older films. The more traditional films focus solely on a single character and their traits and how they develop throughout the film. More modern films dramatize and exaggerate the actions of characters for appeal and show how others react to them. I much prefer the portrayal of leadership in the military in more modern films because I believe it to be more wholesome and fuller. I can relate to the characters in some aspects and apply what I learn from these films in my own life. I can only imagine how this fill change for future films.

Citation

Digital Campus. Dir. David Ayer. Prod. Bill Block, John Lesher, Alex Ott, Ethan Smith, Brad

Pitt, and David Ayer. Perf. Brad Pitt, Logan Lerman, Shia LaBeouf, Michael Pena, Jon Bernthal, Jason Isaacs, Scott Eastwood. Digital Campus. Digital Campus, n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 2016.

<http://digitalcampus.swank.com/stonybrook/sdc/fwatch.aspx?v=0bdfd3c197824ccc97ec28c9d777a709>.

Rodrigo Jose Samodal

LDS 102

Charles Powell

February 29, 2016

Saving Private Ryan

This film is particularly one of my favorite war films of all time. Very powerful and eye opening and it captures your attention and develops the viewer into the plot. It begins with a powerful opening scene with a veteran visiting a grave and dropping to his knees at a gravestone. Then it continues with a flashback to D-Day and the invasion of Normandy and all of its horrors and bloody battles.

The movie follows Captain John H. Miller, a company commander of the 2^nd Ranger Battalion. He survives the initial landing on Normandy and after recovering from the battle, is given the special mission to find and rescue Private James Francis Ryan and bring him home, since all of his brothers were killed in action. Captain Miller reluctantly takes upon this mission, and forms a squad to take with him. His men follow him and accompany him on his mission.

During the mission, his men follow orders and act like proper soldiers, but have doubts about this mission and the benefits of it. Some of them believe it to be a waste of time, resources, and man power. They do not believe it is worth it to risk an entire squad to find and rescue one man they do not know and do not have any connection with whatsoever. However they are under Captain Miller’s orders and he has orders to find Private Ryan and bring him home. Since they are soldiers, they follow orders and respect the chain of command of the system. All along the mission and the journey, they encounter conflict with enemy forces, and in the process, 2 of the men of the squad are killed in action. This causes tension to continue to grow amongst the men, as they start to question the mission and if it is worth it to risk their lives to save one man, and to follow the orders they were given.

These characters had to make very tough decision throughout the plot of the movie. Every decision they made had the possibility of getting someone killed. However, some of these decisions are not their own, because they are soldiers, and trained to receive and follow orders. However, one must consider if following an order is worth sacrificing their lives for. And the movie expertly portrays this concept. Captain Miller has been in service for an extensive period of time, and has lost many men throughout the time span of the war. He always has followed orders, even though he had doubts about them. Even with the mission he was given to find and rescue Private Ryan, he quietly and subliminally showed that he did not completely agree with the orders he was given. And his own men started to even doubt Miller’s orders and authority. However, ultimately they all follow their orders and complete their mission.

This film did a good job portraying the tension between following orders and self-preservation. The soldiers in Captain Miller’s squad did not completely agree with the orders and the mission they were given. If I were in their situation, I too would be questioning if the mission would be worth risking lives for. I feel like I would still do my best to carry out the mission I was given. But once my comrades and I start getting hurt or killed, I believe that to be the threshold on the value of the mission. At that point, I am not entirely sure about what I would do, but I honestly would make a decision that would be best for my men and their well-being. I had to think hard about this decision. But I personally value the health and safety of my comrades and myself.

Rodrigo Samodal

LDS 102

Charles Powell

February 20, 2016

A Bridge Too Far

Amidst the Second World War, there have been successes and failures from both the Allied and the Axis powers. Although the Allies have had great success during the European theatre, they had failures as well. One of the most notable failures was Operation Market Garden; the main event portrayed in the film. Operation Market Garden was intended to help the Allied powers break through the German defense line and shorten the war. It was considered one of the largest invasion operations since D-Day, and the largest airborne invasion ever attempted. Lieutenant-General Frederick Browning stated “We are going to lay a carpet, as it were, of airborne troops.” The Allies hoped to end the war by the end of 1944 with this operation.

There were to be 4 different divisions to be involved in the invasion. The US 82^nd and 101^st Airborne divisions led by commanders Taylor and Gavin, the British 1^st Airborne led by Major-General Urquhart, and a Polish paratrooper brigade led by General Sosabowski. They needed to secure several bridges and defend their positions to break the German defense line. This group effort would require the cooperation and success of each group.

Upon the commencement of the operation and once the paratroopers were deployed and grounded, the Allies would run into several problems that would delay schedule and cause complications in the operation. One of the bridges, the Son Bridge, was destroyed before the US 101^st Airborne could capture it. General Urquhart’s division also experiences trouble, as they lose most of their jeep transportation vehicles and their radio communication is rendered useless. And once the British capture Arnhem, the key city to the operation, they are trapped and cut off from the others, with their supply drop zones overrun by German forces. The Allied forces are not in the best situation, but had to do their best.

Despite the extreme troubles, the commanding officers needed to lead their forces nonetheless. Commanders Taylor, Gavin, Urquhart, and Sosbowski all had their unique leadership styles. Gavin and Sosabowski are rather cautious of the operation. They are concerned about having to parachute in broad daylight. The British and General Urquhart were much more optimistic of the operation, and believe that the plan will be able to work. Amidst the variety of problems the Allied forces had, all these leaders had to perform their best in their situation. Gavin and Taylor had problems capturing their assigned bridges and connecting with the other forces, especially when Son Bridge was destroyed. So Taylor had to build a Bailey bridge to replace it and get his forces moving as fast and as soon as possible. Now Gavin and the 82^nd were able to make their way towards Nijmengen, but were halted. Gavin decided to make a river crossing in wooden and canvas assault boats. Their assault time kept getting delayed but Gavin had to make the best of the situation and continue regardless. Urquhart had serious issues of his own; He captured Arnhem but was trapped and cut off with dwindling supplies and suffering heavy casualties. He had to make very tough decisions to survive long days of fighting with limited supplies. And once reinforcements from Sosabowski finally arrive, most are gunned down and few survive to reinforce the British. All of these leaders were stuck in terrible situations, but had to make use of what limited resources they had. However, ultimately the operation had to be withdrawn.

All of these commanders during Operation Market Garden encountered many difficulties and problems during the mission. From equipment failures to communication difficulties to heavy resistance, the Allied invasion force had to push through several problems to complete the mission. The commanders, Gavin, Taylor, Urquhart, and Sosabowski, had limited resources and were on their own to complete their assigned mission. They all had to remain optimistic and make the best of what they had to fight, progress, and survive. They exhibited excellent leadership qualities such as bravery in the face of adversary. They all had to stay focused on their task at hand and improvise when they needed to. And although they consider the operation as a failure themselves, British General Montgomery states that it was “90% successful.”

Works Cited

Bridge Too Far. Dir. Richard Attenborough. Prod. Joseph E. Levine and Richard P. Levine.                        Screenplay by William Goldman. Perf. Dirk Bogarde, James Caan, Michael Caine, Sean                Connery, Edward Fox, Anthony Hopkins, Gene Hackman, Hardy Krüger, Laurence   Olivier, Robert Redford, Maximilian Schell. Mgm, 1977. Web.

Rodrigo Samodal

LDS 102

Charles Powell

February 13, 2016

Gettysburg

The Civil War-one of America’s most prominent and important struggles in its period of development. With the country divided in half between the southern and northern states, civil war plagues the still young and developing nation of the United States of America. As both sides fight for their beliefs and their lifestyles, great leaders begin to emerge from both sides. One of the most esteemed and famous military leaders from the northern union army was Colonel Chamberlain from the 40^th division from Maine.

All throughout the long years of the Civil War, many barbarous and bloody battles were fought. But no battle became more famous than the battle of Gettysburg; one of the most important battles in the course of the war and one that is considered the major turning point of the war. It was during the battle of Gettysburg that Colonel Chamberlain became a renowned military leader for his bravery and strength in defending the strategic point of Little Round Top, for if it fell, the Confederacy would have broken through an important line of defense of the Union Army.

Colonel Chamberlain’s character and leadership style was well portrayed in the movie, and I admire him. He is calm, collected, cautious, brave, and quick-witted. He is also a kind and philosophical leader. When he first received command of a new regiment, he also receives another batch of contracted soldiers. He is told he is to keep these men in line by using any means necessary to do so, even if it means having to shoot them at the first sign of defiance or resistance to orders. But Chamberlain does not use any of these methods of force. Instead he preaches to the, about what the Union is fighting for in this war and what he is fighting for. He states that he is fighting for what he believes is right and what will make a better future for the Unites States. And finally, he does not force or threaten any of them to make them stay and fight, but instead he personally asks them to help him in the fight for the Union cause and he states that he will be ever so grateful to them if they choose to do so. Any man who chooses to leave would be allowed to do so without fear of capital punishment. I personally prefer this leadership style and admire Colonel Chamberlain for these characteristics.

One of the prominent leaders on the Southern side was General Robert E. Lee, the core commanding officer of the Confederate army. He was personally there to comman the battle of Gettysburg and witness the events that followed. General Lee put everything on the line for this attack, pouring out all of the artillery ammunition he could onto the Union and sending out nearly 15,000 men charging straight into almost certain death. One of his comrades, Lt. Longstreet, knew that this attack was doomed to fail and that it would be a massacre out there. He pointed out that the Union soldiers had the advantage of higher ground and the Confederate soldiers would be charging through almost a mile of complete open ground. Despite the advice Lee is given, he is hasty for battle, ignores anyone else, and proceeds with the attack, thus beginning the battle of Gettysburg. Before he realizes his mistake, it is too late and the Confederate army suffers a massacre on the battlefield.

Compared to Colonel Chamberlain, I would consider General Lee’s leadership style to be quite hasty, He was overconfident with his strategy for victory and was willing to make great sacrifices to achieve victory. He ignores any advice he is given and commences attack nonetheless because he wanted a swift victory to speed up the war and end it sooner. Amidst his own ego, he paid no attention to any of his officers and sent almost 3 divisions of almost 15,000 men to their deaths. Colonel Chamberlain was much more cautious, knowing how important his defense point was. He was courageous and quick witted while he led his troops to victory, although they were running low on man power and ammunition. Also, Colonel Chamberlain was understanding and passionate about the cause he fought for and compassionate about his comrades and even for enemy soldiers. When he captured a contingent of enemy soldiers after a battle, he fed them, cared for them, and treated them humanely. This shows that he is more than just a great soldier, but a good person.

Citation

Gettysburg. Dir. Ronald F. Maxwell. By Ronald F. Maxwell. Perf. Tom Berenger, Martin Sheen,

Stephen Lang, and Jeff Daniels. New Line Cinema, 1993. Web.