Carolina QuotesLegend has it that during a conversation with Admiral "Bull" Halsey, Nimitz confessed his apprehension. The weight of the decision about Midway was overwhelming him. Halsey, blunt as ever, reminded the admiral of Nimitz's own personal conviction. "You once old me," Halsey began, "that when in command, command." It was the clarion call that Nimitz needed. He understood that commanders are expected to make the tough decision. To act with purpose. To be confident and lead from the front. To accept the challenge and steel yourself for the rough waters ahead. A commander must command. Command the situation. Command the troops. Command your fears. Take command.
William H. McRaven Carolinian
Source
p. 28
- work
- The Wisdom of the Bullfrog (2023)
- year
- 2023
- locator
- p. 28
Cite this record
“Legend has it that during a conversation with Admiral "Bull"…” William H. McRaven. Carolina Quotes, record CQ-7653123BC4. https://carolinaquotes.com/quote/7653123bc4
More from William H. McRaven
If you want to change the world measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers.
During Navy Seal training the students are all broken down into boat crews. Each crew is seven students — three on each side of a small rubber boat and one coxswain to help guide the dingy. Every day your boat crew forms up on the beach and is instructed to get through the surf zone and paddle several miles down the coast. In the winter, the surf off San Diego can get to be 8 to 10 feet high and it is exceedingly difficult to paddle through the plunging surf unless everyone digs in. Every paddle must be synchronized to the stroke count of the coxswain. Everyone must exert equal effort or the boat will turn against the wave and be unceremoniously dumped back on the beach. For the boat to make it to its destination, everyone must paddle. You can’t change the world alone — you will need some help — and to truly get from your starting point to your destination takes friends, colleagues, the goodwill of strangers and a strong coxswain to guide you. If you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle.
If you think for a moment that your McCarthy-era tactics will suppress the voices of criticism, you are sadly mistaken.