Pages

Friday, December 6, 2013

LTC Leonard B. Scott and 'Charlie Mike'

LTC Leonard B. Scott
By JIM PURCELL

When LTC Leonard B. Scott strode out to the microphone, he looked less like a veteran Army officer than he did a Hollywood star.

LTC Scott looked the same way Airborne commanders might be envisioned on the silver screen, and he had a distinctive style: mirrored shades, insanely polished jump boots, a uniform that was more starched than possibly any other on the whole fort and his inevitable cigar.

LTC Scott's Combat Infantryman's Bade, Jumpmaster wings, Pathfinder badge, Ranger tab above his "Follow Me" patch on his left shoulder and his swagger made it clear he was the boss here. Maybe he was a benevolent dictator, but he was absolutely the man.

I was standing on the bleachers like the rest of my Airborne School class at Ft. Benning, Georgia in 1986. We were waiting for LTC Scott to allow us to sit and then listen to his 'welcome speech' for us at the beginning of Ground Week at the school.
Airborne School was a part of the Infantry Training School when I attended. The school included several other schools within it, such as enlisted and officer skill qualification courses in the Infantry career field, Ranger School and the Ranger Indoctrination Program, among others.

Airborne School was broken into three distinct weeks: Ground, Tower and Jump weeks. Service members from not only the Army, but also the Navy, Air Force and Marines attended the course. And everyone, enlisted and officer alike, was treated nearly the same.

LTC Scott stood behind the microphone and scanned his new Airborne candidates through his mirrored shades. Then, he whipped the glasses off and started with, "Welcome soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines to Airborne School. My name is LTC Leonard B. Scott and I will be your commanding officer for the remainder of your stay here with us."

The commander stated that, regardless of the service one was in, the fact of airborne soldiers being part of any branch's elite was undeniable. He explained that, as a 22-year-old second lieutenant in a Ranger company during the Vietnam War he saw the brotherhood that was the backbone of Airborne forces on full display.

"I came to the conclusion very quickly that it would be impossible to serve on a Ranger team without there being a strong sense of brotherhood. But, in fact, it is hard to serve in any unit without brotherhood being a big part of it. So, if there isn't that sense of brotherhood from the top, then start it from the bottom. Whatever you do, though, you make that Job No. 1. Because you watching your buddy's back, and him watching yours is the whole damn reason any of us are here!" he said.

LTC Scott spoke like a tough-minded teacher and made a lot of sense. After covering the need for dedication in life, he discussed exactly what that meant to him. The commander said soldiers tend to fall out of running formations when they do not know how far they are going to go. Yet, with a firm understanding of exactly how far they are going, a soldier who might otherwise drop out may well stay in a running formation.

"But that isn't life, ladies and gentlemen! That isn't life!" he said.

LTC Scott said it is sometimes impossible to know how far you must run, either physically or in life. "And, that is why in the Airborne we greet each other with 'How far!?' and respond with, 'All the Way!' " he said. "We will run as far as this life makes us, and when we are done running, and if something needs its ass kicked...we're the ones to do it."

Powerful words. He was compelling.

Then he got quiet and came from around the microphone and said loudly, "Do any of you know the secret to life!? Any of you!?" Well...no...we didn't. We hadn't even put together the meaning of lunch yet.

Like a reverend giving his homily LTC Scott raised his hands and said, "Because today -- right now -- I am going to tell you the whole meaning to everything in your life, everything in this world and everything in the whole damned universe!"

'That would be good to know,' I thought.

So, with his finger he indicated the Airborne trainees should come forward and join him. Everyone. He was the boss...so, whatever.

Everyone was dead quiet, standing around LTC Scott like a 20-foot thick human wall on all sides, with generous space in-between for him to stand. "The secret to life is...you gotta love it! The secret to being a good paratrooper is to love it! The secret to being a good damned man or woman is that you have to love God, yourself and those around you!" he shouted.

He explained, "You are each going to be caught in shit someday that you cannot get out of. You will have to stand or fight, somehow or the other. And, when that day comes...all you have to do is act brave. You can be as terrified as you like inside...but you act brave in the face of what would frighten you and I guarantee you that you will one day stop acting brave and that will be a part of who you are."

Then he said, "And stay up, if the Army send you to some god-forsaken part of the world, and there are quite a few places like that, don't say, 'I hate this!' Tell everyone you love it there. Tell yourself that this is the greatest place you have ever been and you would rather be here than anywhere on the face of the earth."

There was a dramatic pause and then he added, "LIE TO YOURSELF ALWAYS about when the going gets tough! Lie like a damn rug to yourself. That shit chow you are eating isn't shit chow -- it's the best T-bone you ever ate. Visualize it. Because in the Airborne and in life, there is no room for being defeatist. The enemy is everywhere, and very frequently you will be cut off, alone and facing great odds. And, in life and especially the Airborne...your job is to beat down the bad guys. We are the good guys, if you haven't put that together yet. We come out of the sky when some murderous tyrant takes his shot and oppresses good people and we destroy that person and their armies! We save people in times and places where we might be lucky to save just ourselves! Every single Airborne soldier from Private to General is charged with one thing: No matter how hard the going gets -- 'Charlie Mike': Continue Mission!"

He concluded, "Now, I am going to stop this little speech by asking one thing and one thing only: HOW FAR!?"

Like thunder, the Airborne trainees barked in unison, "ALL THE WAY, SIR!"

He smiled. Put on his shades and walked away, instructing the training sergeants (called "Black Hats") to "get these people back in training."

If there was water anywhere on the ground I was sure he would have walked calmly atop it back to his waiting vehicle.

I learned later that LTC Scott wrote a book called "CHARLIE MIKE!" about his experiences as a young lieutenant in a Ranger team in Vietnam. Even later I learned that it sold a lot of copies. To this day I have not yet read it. But, I remembered what LTC Scott said and, in lieu of biblical Proverbs, I still use what he has to say.

If anyone ever needed a sea parted, I think that just might have been in his wheelhouse too.

UPDATE: According to Google, Leonard B. Scott retired from the U.S. Army in 1994 as a full colonel. He authored not only "Charlie Mike," but also "The Last Run," "The Hill," "The Expendables," "The Men of Iron" and "Forged in Honor." Col. Scott served 27 years in the United States Army. Among the colonel's decorations are the Silver Star and Purple Heart. He and his wife reportedly retired to their home in Oklahoma. Best of luck and God bless, sir.

43 comments:

  1. I too had the privilege of serving as an Airborne student in LTC Scott's Airborne Training Battalion in 1985, and you could not have been more succinct and eloquent in describing the man and his ability to motivate and inspire. Well done

    Scott Flannery LTC (Ret)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I was there in June-July 1986 and heard the same speech. Awesome guy!

    Terry Hunter, Lt Col, USAF (Ret)
    Airborne Class 34-86, Ready for War Sergeant...Airborne!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Class 11-85 GySgt (Ret) "Blood on the risers"

      Delete
  3. LTC Scott was and is one of my heroes. He is someone who really made me understand the fraternity and the heritage that all troopers have. There are not enough good things that could be said about him. He was and is a true warrior and patriot.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Was there as a 2LT in June 1985. That speech is a classic and I still have an autographed copy of Charlie Mike.
    -Lance Cross, LTC, USA, (Ret)

    ReplyDelete
  5. This man let you know the only brother you had, Was the one in the hole with you.

    ReplyDelete
  6. One question...

    Do you remember Sgt Favor? (A Blackhat)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Was that the female blackhat? I think the one I am thinking about might well have been the first female Blackhat.

      Delete
    2. She was aviation. she started off as a green hat. tough too.

      Delete
    3. I was in 36-86, too. I have a copy of LTC Scotts book, which he autographed

      Delete
  7. Spring of 1971: CAPTAIN Scott was my CO when I went through Jump School. It was said that he was the youngest Captain in the Army. And, later, I did read his books.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I went thru Airborne School in August 1985. During ground branch, Ltc Scott would come down to see all of us, 800+, in formation. And every morning for that ENTIRE week, he singled me out, would run right up to me in formation, front row. He'd ask: "Are those SHOES going to make it thru this school?" I was wearing tan/orange Reeboks. How stupid! Orange! "YES SIR!!" I would answer. And he'd turn around and jog off over the hill. God, what a great guy. In 2017, I still remember him with great respect. Our class ended up graduating less than 400.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We probably went thru JS together. 45th Co. Roster 555 chalk 6. Class 41-85

      Delete
    2. Staff Sergeant Luster. lol. He was a great example of an NCO. Made us run right after lunch. I have no idea why I find that funny.

      Delete
  9. Robinson...By the time we get through with you..you'll be a Black hat.
    LOL!! Oh man. I will never forget that man ever. He's what made the Army fun!

    ReplyDelete
  10. My senior rater in Berlin in 1990. He was special. Not many Soldiers like him.. Even had time for a "leg" like me. Rafferty NCOIC Allied Checkpoint Charlie 89 90

    ReplyDelete
  11. Class 36-86, Fury From The Sky...AIRBORNE! Same speech to us... and then he jumped with us. And all cycle he would be heard somewhere saying,”Ya gotta love it , ya crazies!”

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That was my class, too He was quite the character.

      Delete
  12. I have read several of his books to include "Charlie Mike" and "The Last Run". I don't read a lot of books (maybe 2 a month) but I will admit that out of all the books I have read, Charlie Mike has been the only book that I have cried. I had to put the book time on several occasions because on was on the verge of tears. I cried on several occasions while reading the book. Even though I know it was a book of fiction, I just grabbed me in ways no other book had. It was a book that I thoroughly enjoyed and I would read it in my room every chance I could until I was on the verge of tears. I would highly recommend anyone to read that book in particular.

    ReplyDelete
  13. OMG I can't believe I found this. I was there with my cousin Tony and his younger brother Pete who was in the 75th Rangers. Me-Ben Newman and Tony Riccobonna both from santa cruz Ca, jumped with Col Scott and his Dog yes his little dog jumped with us. I was lucky to have him and know this man, also sign my copy of his book- he wrote in my copy 'Mub ain't so bad' ect. I kept landing in this stream running through the DZ when jumping and was able to keep my limbs from getting beat up :-) and hang out with Col Scott. Awsome man. would love to know if he's still alive.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Col Scott is alive and well living in Edmond, Oklahoma

      Delete
  14. I have enjoyed reading LTC Scott's books for going on 3 decades, but he seems to have not only retired (1994), but he has ceased writing - his last book was 1997. He did publish a small paperback about separating Ethnic populations in cases of conflicts (Bosnia etc.) in 2012, but otherwise nada. Anyone have any idea how to contact the Colonel? If nothing else I would love to drop he and his wife a note of appreciation for the countless hours of enjoyment I have gotten from his books.
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Col Scott is alive and well in Edmond Oklahoma. He is my brother. He is 71 now.

      Delete
  15. LTC Scott (then CPT) was my airborne company commander in November 1971. A great, great officer and soldier. He set up our day room on Thanksgiving Day, bringing in his TV from home so we could watch what was later called the "Game of the Century" -- the OU vs Nebraska football game. I was from Oklahoma, and CPT Scott was from Minco, OK and a rabid OU Sooner fan. I'll never forget that day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greatest college football game ever! And just more proof of the great man LTC Scott was during his career.

      Delete
  16. CPT Scott was CO of the 44th Student Company when I was a new PFC in the Basic Airborne Course {"jump school"} in March 1971. I was called to his office during Jump Week and he told me I had been selected as a candidate for Pathfinder School.

    ReplyDelete
  17. https://newsok.com/article/2019817/lt-col-leonard-b-scott

    Just discovered this while researching another matter. Not sure the age is correct but the other details seem to match. He really dropped off the radar when he retired.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He actually taught school in Edmond OK for years and ran it like jump school!! He is now fully retired at 71. Im his sister

      Delete
    2. Ma'am, I telling you something that you no doubt already know probably better anyone else alive. Your Brother is as far as I am concerned is one of the Greatest Men, Officers, and to some of us younger troops (at that time) the Best example of an adult role model that some of us ever had. I Honestly Respect and Admire Him! As a young American Indian from the Indian School in Anadarko,OK. your Brother was one of the first Officers to give me guidance in living in a different world than what I was used to living in. I Retired in 1990 from the Army and still think of your Brother often. Please let him know that his Troops still Remember, Respect and care! Thank you, "Doc"

      Delete
  18. LTC Scott Was in charge of the 4th airborne training battalion back in the early eighties I sustained a serious injury to my knee right knee and it left me without jump wings But thanks to Eugene Ingle of the 82nd Airborne I got another chance To regain my military bearing Lieutenant colonel Scott gave me An honorable discharge under medical And gave me one of the best Recommendations For my resume when I got back to civilian life I use that today to put down on a resume when I look for a job And had no problem getting one Thank you lieutenant colonel Scott For restoring my Dignity And giving me a second chance To what life in the airborne is really all about Charlie Mike sir

    ReplyDelete
  19. I too went through Airborne School in 1986, June if I remember correctly. The 200' towers were down, but I made my 5 jumps. Col Scott seemed to be simultaneously at all 3 active companies throughout the day. I remember him doing well over 100 one-handed push-ups. Sometimes he ran with us. I believe that the mascot boxer dog that also ran with us was his. I read 'Charlie Mike' and enjoyed it immensely. -James Potts-

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You must have been in Charley Company, that dog was hanging out there the most.

      Delete
  20. CPT Scott was a TAC when I went to Ranger School in 1977. He exuded confidence and esprit de corpe. His bearing and appearance impeccable even in the swamps of FL.....

    ReplyDelete
  21. As a 1st LT, I took over 2nd PLT Co C (Ranger), 75th Inf(Airborne) Vietnam from Scott. I wrote the book: OF THEIR OWN ACCORD. You may view pictures of the people, places and events of the Ranger company that inspired my writing on Facebook.

    ReplyDelete
  22. All the way, sir. Class 38-86 Apocalypse Company. Airborne.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I miss ol' Sgt Garza, A company, anyone else? Haha! He was a character. "Whaaa whaaa whaaaa, make your body hurt.... he would "exercise" us with that cadence every time we dropped on those cables of his.

    ReplyDelete
  24. He was my company commander in jump school in may of 85. He sent me to the gig pit... He's an awesome guy. I read many of his military reads. Good stuff.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Col Scott is alive and going strong in Edmond OK. He taught school a few years and ran his class like jump school! He is 71 now and fully retired! These posts make me proud to have him as one of my brothets!! Real life brother

      Delete
  25. Great man! Great experience for me in July 1985. LTC Scott was a great inspiration as he singled out wanna be paratroopers. Saw him a few times doing research for his 2nd book. Read all his books!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I got the same speech from him in Oct 86. I was in C Co. with 1sg Harmon. Both great mentors to know what right looked like throughout my military career, AATW!

    ReplyDelete
  27. October of 85'in 45th Co., I had the honor of listening to LTC Scott,and he signed my copy of Charlie Mike. He was a great motivational speaker. Very much larger than life. Thanks for stirring the memories.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Give your brother, COL. Scott my greetings. I'm a big fan of his books. Also served in the U.S. Army Combat Engineers, enlisting in '04. Had some good officers but none of 'em with his style.

    ReplyDelete
  29. In the movie " GI JANE " there is a guy who plays a navy seal Capt. That always reminds me of LT. COL SCOTT🤔.
    THAT LARGER THAN LIFE SUPER SQUARED AWAY INDIVIDUAL.
    I too heard that speech 2 days after graduating infantryman School. Basic/AIT in oct of 1985.
    It's been what, 36 years later and his presence still resonates in my brain like it was yesterday.
    After my 5th and final jump on to fryer field and I got my " blood wings" ( I bet they secretly still do it ) he may have " tapped " them🤔🤔🤔.
    Definitely most polished sdier I EVER MET!!!!
    ~AIRBORNE

    ReplyDelete

No profanity, vulgar language, personal attacks, libel or defamation, nudity of any kind or sexual imagery is permitted on this site. The site's management reserves the right to screen all messages for appropriateness through this venue.