What i loved most about the book is that it was a personal story of a platoon leader during a year of combat in vietnam. Now retired from active duty, mcdonough lives with his family in tallahassee, florida. Platoon leader details mcdonoughs time in vietnam commanding an undermanned platoon assigned to protecting a village in the strategic hamlet program. Field operations, mission support, class iii v maintenance transportation, medical support, and i. I read the book platoon leader by james mcdoughal im not sure if thats how you spell his last name, and its one of the best vietnam experience books i have ever read. Platoon leader 1988 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. I read platoon leader by james mcdonough because it was a firsthand account of a rookie. Every leader should maintain a leaders book in some form but especially smallunit leaders. To me, its what has made some books very interesting. A great memoir by a vietnam war lieutenant i first read james mcdonoughs platoon leader about 17 years ago, as i was watching thencol. Mcdonough retired is an impecable example for future and current young lieutenants that are preparing to take command of their first platoons.
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. His interpersonal tact left much to be desired and even his resilience was nearly broken down. The third and final large lesson i picked up from platoon leader was the notion of loyalty and camaraderie with those who follow me. My other squads had established observation posts ops using their dismounts, all of whom needed to be located and led back to the platoon for mobilization.
It doesnt exist in doctrine but is a part of many unit standard operating procedures sop and best practices. The book takes place in and around a fort near a vietnamese village in. Page 1 of 2 1 2 team squad section platoon training suggested u. James r mcdonough a remarkable memoir of smallunit leadership and the coming of age of a young soldier in combat in vietnam. Lessons from platoon leader by james mcdonough dzone agile. In 2006, parnell was a neophyte army airborne ranger with the storied 10th mountain division, assigned as a new platoon leader in afghanistan, desperate to prove himself. Current army training, however, does not focus on teaching leaders how to effectively partner together.
Lt mcdonough was, as a rule, very successful in dealing with intellectually challenging problems. Army nco leaders book item covering the deployment sequence of events counseling data sheet suggested u. Mar 01, 2012 in 2006, parnell was a neophyte army airborne ranger with the storied 10th mountain division, assigned as a new platoon leader in afghanistan, desperate to prove himself. I first read james mcdonoughs platoon leader about 17 years ago, as i was watching thencol. Platoon leader is an unbelievable glimpse into the life of a typical platoon leader sent into the bush of vietnam. A platoon leaders reflection on readiness 1lt jason r.
I tend turn to books written by people who have fought in the army for lessons on tactics and leadership. Mar 20, 2012 i first read james mcdonoughs platoon leader about 17 years ago, as i was watching thencol. Jan 17, 2016 i read the book platoon leader by james mcdoughal im not sure if thats how you spell his last name, and its one of the best vietnam experience books i have ever read. First, the outgoing platoon leader should recall all property loaned out and update his hand receipt to reflect any changes that occurred that is, any unserviceable equipment. An overview of the army officers generational divides. Leader s book 17 sample 5 paragraph operation order 1. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Army combat in iraq sourced from incountry interviews of this generations platoon leaders from 20032008. They have been used throughout history dating back to before the 1800. Well i found a book that ranks with macdonalds company commander, the best military memoir ever. Over the course of the book, mcdonough forms very strong relationships with his men.
A platoon leaders guide to inventory and accountability. In one of the most compelling combat narratives ever written, staff sergeant david bellavia, an army infantry platoon leader in iraq, gives a teethrattling, firsthand account of 11 straight days of heavy housetohouse fighting during the climactic second battle of fallujah. Lally photo by sgt seth plagenza soldiers from the 173rd airborne brigade discuss possible routes during exercise allied spirit vi at 7th army training commands hohenfels training area, germany, on 20 march 2017. The book takes place in and around a fort near a vietnamese village in binh dinh province. The book highlights the extreme nature of vietnam insomuch as long periods of boredom torn apart by extreme moments of violence and carnage. Platoon leader is a wonderful book that could serve as somewhat of a text book in command and control of men in combat. The film is about a newly commissioned infantry lieutenant who arrives in vietnam to take over his. You have the ability to mold men and make our country stronger 24 hours a day. Training notes a platoon leaders reflection on readiness. Mcdonough train up his infantry brigade for bosnia. Army nco leaders book item covering the deployment sequence of events. I first read james mcdonoughs platoon leader about 17 years ago, as i. Love is not always a two way street, sometimes you give more than you get, and love is a choice. Mcdonough, introduces the book as a story of an american platoon leader in combat.
Enjoy every minute of it, even the difficult times, and give of yourself freely to your mission and your men. Reading the book leading marines shed some light on the marine corps for me. Together, both platoon leaders create an inventory schedule, keeping in mind the subhandreceipt holders, soldiers, and the companys training schedule. 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. After reading this book it is obvious why the army chose it as required reading for officer candidate school. 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. It was operation packed, heartwrenching and even funny at times. The leaders book is a tried and true smallunit leadership aid. In order for a platoon to succeed, an effective partnership must exist between the pl and psg. Mcdonoughs experiences as a combat officer in the vietnam war from 19701971. The platoon leader pl platoon sergeant psg leadership team is a unique and influential pair of roles that exist in the army.
Being an infantry platoon leader is the greatest job in the world. Platoon leader was a great book to give you a concise glimpse into the reality of one young army leader in vietnam. Army nco leaders book item covering team squad section and platoon training. Lt mcdonough leadership assessment the book platoon leader provides a wide range of leadership situations and challenges. The combat vignettes of former platoon leaders flow along the arc of a typical 12month tour in iraq. Using a lean style and a sense of pacing drawn from the tautest of novels, mcdonough has produced a gripping. 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. From the green notebook developing leaders one page at a time. I agree to adhere to the milsuite user agreement and the below terms and conditions.
Situation a enemy forces 1 situation enemy, weather and terrain. From the green notebook developing leaders one page at a. 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. 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.
His platoon is charged with manning an outpost next to the village of truong lam. A tactical decision game tdg is a situational exercise that is driven by a narrative that provides basic mission, intent, and resources available, allowing leaders to work through their decisionmaking processes tlps, mdmp, etc. Platoon leader a memoir of command in combat by james r. Platoons senior trainer, assis t and evaluate squad training. The situation to our south escalated quickly, and my commander ordered an adjacent platoon to begin movement in. A guide for effective platoon leader platoon sergeant co. Worldwide, platoon leaders and sergeants are personally leading the u. A remarkable memoir of smallunit leadership and the coming of age of a young soldier in combat in vietnam. 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. Platoon leader is a 1988 cannon films film set in the vietnam war and directed by aaron norris. Army nco leaders book item covering team squad section and platoon training deployment sequence of events suggested u. Army nco leaders book item covering the counseling data sheet.
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