The platoon leader positions himself where he can best control the platoon. 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. A young woman, hester prynne, has been found guilty of adultery and must wear a scarlet a on her dress as a sign of shame. I tend turn to books written by people who have fought in the army for lessons on tactics and leadership. Mcdonough retired is an impecable example for future and current young lieutenants that are preparing to take command of their first platoons. Its 1967, and a plane full of new soldiers has just arrived in vietnam. Platoon leader is a 1988 cannon films film set in the vietnam war and directed by aaron norris. Platoon sergeants mentor future platoon leaders article. I n his 2014 article, army first lieutenant scott ginther related 20 lessons from his path from west point cadet to platoon leader in afghanistan. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read platoon leader. A remarkable memoir of smallunit leadership and the coming of. The book highlights the extreme nature of vietnam insomuch as long periods of boredom torn apart by extreme moments of violence and carnage. Mcdonough train up his infantry brigade for bosnia.
The platoon leader receives orders from his her commander and passes them down to there platoon. Find sample tests, essay help, and translations of shakespeare. Unlike his predecessor, who hid till the end of his tour, jeff takes charge, experiences the manual doesnt allow coping with all realities and gets wounded. Platoon leader was a book my dad gave to me saying, here. Outlaw platoon is expertly told by a man who braved the heat of battle time and time again. As time goes on, he slowly becomes hardened to the realities of the brutal life in the field. Army ranger sean parnell was given command of a fortyman elite infantry platoon a unit that came to be known as outlaws. New platoon leader ebook for platoon leaders in the army national guard and army reserves. 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. To gain greater understanding of the platoon leaderplatoon sergeant relationship, more than 200 first lieutenants commissioned in 2009all of them current or past platoon leadersshared their experiences of working with their platoon sergeants in a january 2012 survey in the platoon leader forum. James starts the book as a freshfaced leader fresh out of west point who chose to serve in the vietnam war. Platoon leader was a great book to give you a concise glimpse into the reality of one young army leader in vietnam. 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. 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.
May 20, 2018 there is no romanticism in parnells history of his time as a platoon leader in afghanistan, but reality isnt cast in cynical terms, either. As time goes on, he slowly becomes hardened to the. Much credit goes to 1lt ginther for clearly learning the right lessons as a young leader, and for taking the time to capture and share them with the force. Among them is chris taylor charlie sheen, whos about as green as they come. How is it to be taken out of our world and into vietnam. Army nco leaders book item covering team squad section and platoon training deployment sequence of events suggested u. Us army platoon leader interview questions glassdoor. 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.
The book takes place in and around a fort near a vietnamese village in binh dinh province. Chain of command goes from the platoon leader directly to the squad leaders. Mcdonoughs instrument character in this memoir is his being a leader it enabled him to explore relationships, establish a set of war ethics and morals, a progression into a real leader. The platoon leader also indicated the ethics and morals of the war, the dehumanizing possibility a soldier might come across in the cruelty of the war. The first sights as the young soldiers get off the plane are groups of filled body bags are escorted into the airport. 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.
Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. Platoon leader 1987 ra battledrenched portrait of a west point lieutenant in vietnam. I read platoon leader by james mcdonough because it was a firsthand account of a rookie. A memoir of command in combat ebook written by james r. The others in the platoon view the experienced sgt. There is no romanticism in parnells history of his time as a platoon leader in afghanistan, but reality isnt cast in cynical terms, either. 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. 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. Mar 01, 2012 the books main flaw is a repetitiveness that becomes mawkish. The timbre and sound of his voice is that of a man old enough to have been a brand new officer in the early 70s. One platoons descent into madness in iraqs triangle of death, is a riveting account of the crime and the events leading up to it.
A remarkable memoir of smallunit leadership and the coming of age of a young soldier in combat in vietnam. I read platoon leader by james mcdonough because it. Platoon leader is a vivid first hand account of leadership of an infantry platoon defending a vietnam village. When he first arrives, he must win the trust of his men, who have been on their tours for a much longer time. With support from the mission continues staff, the service platoon leader ensures volunteer engagement through regular service, support, and social events. The film is about a newly commissioned infantry lieutenant who arrives in vietnam to take over his first platoon. West point graduate lieutenant jeff knight meets cynicism when taking command of sergeant michael mcnamaras tour veterans platoon in a vietnamese trench camp.
Mcdonough, introduces the book as a story of an american platoon leader in combat. 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. Barnes as the leading commander in the platoon instead of the inexperienced lt. Outlaw platoon april, 2012 in pursuit of copiousness 7 comments at age twentyfour, u. See a complete list of the characters in the scarlet letter and indepth analyses of hester prynne, roger chillingworth, arthur dimmesdale, pearl, governor bellingham, and mistress hibbins. The platoon sergeant must keep in mind that he or she is training the future leadership of our army. Book summary in june 1642, in the puritan town of boston, a crowd gathers to witness an official punishment. 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. Platoon leaders philosophy orders line of duty equal opportunity officer candidate school preparation warrior leadership course preparation useful vocabulary recommended army readings survey sop chain of command sexual harrassment us repneo warden. A remarkable memoir of small unit leadership and the coming of age of a young soldier in combat in vietnam. Page 1 of 2 1 2 team squad section platoon training suggested u. I read platoon leader by james mcdonough because it was a firsthand account of a rookie leader in the vietnam war. I first read james mcdonoughs platoon leader about 17 years ago, as i was watching thencol. Basically when my platoon sergeant and i sat down for the initial.
I interviewed at us army killeen, tx in september 2017. Mcdonough, 1985, presidio edition, in english book club ed. His platoon is charged with manning an outpost next to the village of truong lam. 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. This estimate is based upon 76 us army platoon leader salary reports provided by employees or estimated based upon statistical methods. 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. 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. Richie is sad that she is unable to express her feelings directly to him, and writes a letter telling his mother that he loves her too. Company commanders our experiences as platoon leaders shaped our understanding of the army and of our place within it as leaders. Richies mother writes to peewee and asks him to tell richie that she loves him very much. Platoon leader details mcdonoughs time in vietnam commanding an undermanned platoon assigned to protecting a village in the strategic hamlet program.
The service platoon leader is responsible for leading a team of serviceminded veterans and community volunteers to make a lasting impact in their city. Army nco leaders book item covering the deployment sequence of events counseling data sheet suggested u. 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. Mcdonough, chronicles the authors experiences as an officer in the vietnam war from 197071. Platoon leader s philosophy orders line of duty equal opportunity officer candidate school preparation warrior leadership course preparation useful vocabulary recommended army readings survey sop chain of command sexual harrassment us repneo warden. Learn some secret advice to help you develop a cohesive team of trained warriors.
Mar 04, 2003 a remarkable memoir of smallunit leadership and the coming of age of a young soldier in combat in vietnam. James mcdonough graduated from west point and served in vietnam as an infantry platoon leader in the legendary 173d airborne brigade. The books main flaw is a repetitiveness that becomes mawkish. This flaw, however, may not bother the books intended audience. Sparknotes are the most helpful study guides around to literature, math, science, and more. The platoon sergeants duty is to get the troops beans and bullets as its commonly referred to as. This book is more than just a riproaring combat narrative.
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. Army nco leaders book item covering the counseling data sheet. 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. Lessons from platoon leader by james mcdonough dzone agile. This is not an account of the airborne helicopter search and destroy campaign. The platoon is assigned a new leader, lieutenant gearhart, who has been in vietnam for only two months. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.