During this reading, LT McDonough tries to establish communication with the PL of another platoon while trying to link up for a night operation. However, neither the PL or his RTO were awake to respond to LT McDonough’s RTO. This made the possibility of approaching their position dangerous, and increases the likelihood of friendly-fire. After he and his men barely escape being fired upon by their fellow Americans, LT McDonough is outraged at his counterpart, and expresses his anger at the other LT. I think that he is completely warranted in his response. This situation could have played out in a completely different manner, with LT McDonough taking casualties from friendly fire. In battle, on of your most important tools a leader has is his/her radio and communication. The other platoon leader should have made sure that someone was awake on the radio at all times. If not, he is not just putting his own men at risk, but LT McDonough and his men as well. In times of war, mediocrity and complacency will kill you more often than not, and that is where I believe his anger comes from. That is always pushing his men to adhere to standards and maintain their discipline.

Lastly, I thought that when LT McDonough said “leadership must be positive,” I believe he meant that officers and NCOs (the leadership) must remain encouraging and positive at all times. If the leadership fails to do so, then their soldiers they are leading may become disinterested in their duties and they may adopt a negative attitude. Even in the face of grave circumstances, the leadership needs to find ways to spin the situation in a way that seems positive so their soldiers also maintain a positive attitude.