General H.

It was a good Christmas. No pictures this time, though.

It sure is different being away during Christmas. The Army does a good job over Thanksgiving because that’s a generic American holiday, but Christmas is more personal. Lots of people over here have a tough time being away from their families over this holiday. I spent this Christmas with my new Army family and managed to get thru it, including a visit from the General herself!

I was on the phone on Christmas Eve talking to my family and in she walked. That’s surprising because she’s never been in this office before and you’re suppose to jump up and yell something (I always forget what) and here I was on the phone taking personal time on Christmas Eve when I should be out kicking in doors of insurgents or at least talking to people on the phone who were, supposedly, kicking in said doors.

Anyways, she just said “keep talking” and walked around dropping off little Christmas cards with a small gift on our desks. I thought that was nice. She dropped mine off, we mouthed Merry Christmas to each other and off she went. Some might say she left by “laying her finger aside her nose, giving a nod and up the chimney she rose”. Well, not really, but you could make a case that she’s got the power. 

She’s the first female graduate of West Point to reach the rank of General. That's pretty good, those were tough years for women at the Academy. She’s one of the brightest leaders I’ve ever met and don’t be trying to snow her. If you’re briefing her and she asks you a question and you don’t know the answer…say so because she probably knows and just wants to confirm it.

I’ve been in meetings where she’s ripped into briefer’s who were either a) unprepared or b) lying. If you’re unprepared once, you’ll never be unprepared a second time and if you’re lying you’ll never be briefing her again, so you really only get one chance. She’s very deceiving because she’s petite, but I’ve watched senior male officers who normally run meetings suddenly abdicate the floor when she speaks because her command is overwhelming. She has the charisma to take over the room she walks into.

It’s a pleasure working for someone with that much dedication to this job. I’ve been involved with the planning aspect and since that’s her favorite part of the “fight”, she’ll often spend hours going over briefs on what the drawdown will be for Iraq and how we’re going to support it. When Rumsfield or the President start announcing we’ll have “so and so” forces in Iraq or this is the plan…we’ve already been working that plan and been briefing her. So when the President announces it, she’s working on the next level.

If there ever was a role model for women in the Military, she’d be it and I don’t think she’s done with her career yet…

More personalities later, I want to make sure I capture the key people.

nuggets..

I use to have a swirled-peas mouse pad and feel unprotected without it...anyone going after Christmas shopping?

Thank you for all the holiday greetings from many people, your support was overwhelming.

Best wishes from Iraq..