Rodrigo Jose Samodal

LDS 102

Charles Powell

February 6, 2016

Glory

            The film Glory portrayed the Civil War in a different perspective than most other war films on this war. It focused primarily on the 54^th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first all African American regiment, under the command of abolitionist Colonel Robert Gould Shaw. It focused on this major turning point in the course of the war, when African Americans were given the right to enlist and fight for the Union and for their own freedom. The film emphasized on the fact that the Union Army was becoming integrated and more diverse. It thoroughly portrayed the development of this regiment, from the time of formation up until the assault on Fort Wagner. It made comparisons from how these African American volunteers fought and performed on the battlefield. The film showed how important diversity can be a positive aspect of the military and how important it is.

This particular film was not very attention grabbing for the most part, but I did thoroughly enjoy the story. The characters were well portrayed and the story flowed from scene to scene. The emotions from the 54^th regiment were portrayed excellently as well. I felt all the pride, joy, sorrow, fear, and determination of these men. Colonel Shaw’s personality and character was well developed throughout the plot of the movie. I liked how the plot followed all of his actions and emotions while he was raising and leading this newly formed regiment. He was very eager and felt honored to be in command of the first African American regiment, and even though he treated these men rather harshly and without mercy, he never lost his faith and his pride in his men.

Throughout the entire film, many characters outside the regiment did not share the same feeling towards the 54^th as Colonel Shaw. Many other white Union Army officers and soldiers looked down upon them, as if they were below them and inferior in every way. Other regiments saw them as “children with guns” that cannot fight like the ideal soldier and will never be able to participate in actual combat. They were also treated rather unfairly, being denied adequate supplies and equipment, receiving less pay than other soldiers, and superior commanding officers wanted to use them for other purposes such as construction and manual labor. However Colonel Shaw continuous to support and fight for his men who fight for him.

Shaw and his officers who helped train and prepare the men have seen the regiment learn and grow as one. They bear witness to the sheer dedication and passion of these men to fight for their freedom. The men learn fast and train hard, and eventually catch up to the standards of the Union Army. Many others commemorate the men of the 54^th, stating that they march, fight, and perform just as good, and if not better than some other regiments of white soldiers. These men inspired other African Americans to join the cause and fight for their freedom. This highlighted the differences between black and white soldiers and how they can perform just as well.

Diversity is an important aspect in almost any aspect in life. It is important for the survival of all living species. Even in the military, diversity can be very advantageous. If every soldier was identical, then their weaknesses would be as well and the entire army would be exposed and vulnerable. Every single soldier has different ideals, purposes, talents, motives, and personalities. However they all fight together, as brothers, for one cause. It is they’re differences that bring them together, as they learn and teach one another every moment they are together. Each soldier has a different outlook and opinion on the challenges that they face, and they may not agree, but their differences support each other’s strengths and cover their weaknesses. It’s not just diversity of race, but in almost every other way that makes someone unique. The men of the 54^th regiment were different from one another and from the rest of the Union Army in a plethora of ways, but in the end they all fight for the same cause and for each other. And that is something that I find inspiring.

Citation

Glory. Dir. Edward Zwick. Perf. Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, Morgan Freeman. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2016.

Rodrigo Samodal

LDS 102

Charles Powell

January 31, 2016

Patton

In times of war, there have been a great many leaders, warriors and war heroes. One of these esteemed heroes was General George S. Patton, one of the commanding officers in the Second World War. Patton participated in commanding the African, Sicilian, and European campaigns. These were known as Operation Torch, Operation Husky, and Operation Overlord respectively.

The movie Patton which portrayed a reenactment of General Patton’s World War II career, was a very interesting film. I do believe that Patton’s character was accurately and excellently portrayed, as well as General Bradley, although Patton was more prevalent in the film. Patton’s passion, hardiness, and aggression were well captured. He is a very straightforward man, always doing what is necessary to get the job done. He expects the best, and nothing less from his men. He is the embodiment of patriotism and what it means to be a true American soldier.

Although his methods can be quite unconventional, Patton demands only the best from his army. During battles, some may think he is reckless, charging straight into battle with guns blazing. Many of his comrades did not share in his eager for battle, and many men were not pleased with Patton. However, this did not stop Patton. “I do not want these men to like me, I only want them to fight for me,” said Patton. General Patton is also very harsh in his disciplinary methods. He has ways of getting what he wants done, speaks his mind openly and clearly, but often does not know when to keep his mouth shut. During Operation Husky when the Allies invaded Sicily, Patton deliberately denied and disobeyed the orders he was given, and rushed his army to the key city of Messina, attempting to beat British General Montgomery to the target and to speed up the campaign on his own terms. Another specific incident involved his outburst on a shell-shocked soldier when he physical and verbally abused him of being a coward. The consequences of his actions lost him respect from almost everyone, and his actions overall has caused him to lose his position of command, as well as participation in D-Day and Operation Overlord. Although Patton is a reckless and aggressive leader, he was also very successful.

General Bradley, Patton’s right hand man, was often against many of Patton’s decisions and often reprimanded him for his lack of self-control over his words and his actions. Bradley is a more cautious man, not as hard-headed as Patton, and is much quieter when making remarks. His leadership style was very different to that of Patton, and often their differences caused disputes. However they both were still capable of doing their job. Eventually, after the incident’s with Patton’s aggressive actions in Italy and he is relieved of command, Bradley gets promoted to a higher position than Patton.

Both Patton and Bradley were very successful military leaders, but had different methods and styles. Patton is very aggressive, straightforward, and often reckless, and Bradley is more cautious and careful.  Patton openly speaks his mind on whatever he thinks while Bradley knows when to choose and use his words. Both were effective at getting their jobs done, but if I were to choose one leader to emulate, I would personally choose General Bradley. Although I admire and respect General Patton’s patriotism, courage, and bravery, I do not approve of his methods and recklessness, especially when his victory comes at the cost of the men who fight for him. I would not want to make unnecessary risks and rush into action without careful consideration. I also would treat my subordinates much better than Patton did. I would want to earn the respect of my fellow men instead of commanding it. And I would not be harsh with anyone and be careful not to offend anyone, especially in important political matters. I feel like I would be more of a leader like General Bradley. He is careful and considerate of the decisions he makes. And he is also careful with what he says, often having to remind Patton of his words. I believe I would want to emulate the leadership of General Bradley, learn from his words and actions, and apply them to my own life to help me grow as a student, as a person, and as a leader.

Citation

Patton. Dir. Franklin J. Schaffner. Perf. George C. Scott, Karl Malden, Stephen Young.

Twentieth Centruy Fox Film Corporation, 1970. Putlocker. Web. 01 Feb. 2016. <http://putlocker.is/watch-patton-online-free-putlocker.html>.

What I want to learn in LDS 102 this semester

• Successful leadership strategies throughout history
• How leadership functions within our military and society
• How can I apply these skills to improve myself
• Our military history

Hello everyone

My name is Rodrigo Jose Samodal, or RJ for short. I am a Psychology major BA. Overall I am a very upbeat, positive and optimistic person. I enjoy being with and making others happy. I am also a musical person who enjoys singing, dancing, and playing a variety of instruments. I play the piano, guitar, violin, ukulele, and banjo. I like to dance hip hop and break dance as well. I am also a member of the Spirit of Stony Brook Marching band.

I enjoy helping and serving others. If there is anything I can do to help solve a problem, I will do everything I can to be of assistance. I am an eagle scout and have participated in various youth groups in the past. I am capable and enjoy working with a variety of individuals.

I am originally from San Diego California, but have been living in a small town called Horseheads in upstate New York. I cam to Stony Brook to experience a bigger surrounding with more options and opportunities. I hope that I will be able to experience Stony Brook to its fullest during my academic career here.

Rodrigo Jose Samodal

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