DTIC ADA593501: Army Communicator. Volume 27, Number 2, Summer 2002

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Approved for public release;
RMY
distribution is unlimited.
Headquarters,
Department of the Army
C
OMMUNICATOR
Voice of the Signal Regiment ! PB 11-02-2 Summer 2002 Vol. 27 No. 2
! Special
focus: Lead-
ership, val-
or, mentor-
ship and
vision, Pgs.
2-16
! Army
Transforma-
tion War-
game 2002,
Pg. 36
! Bridging
the digital
delta, Pg. 40
! Meeting
warfighters'
need for
streaming
video and
video on
demand, Pg.
46
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Chief of Signal’s Comments
Synchronizing with the Objective Force
Joint Tactical Radio System and commander’s dependence on line-of-sight
Warfighter Information Network-Tacti- and terrestrial relays, yielding a reduced
cal will better satisfy Objective Force force-protection burden for him – JTRS
warfighters’ needs. This is a direct result gets the communication relays off the hill-
of the combined-arms working group tops.
hosted by Training and Doctrine Com- JTRS and WIN-T are now fully inte-
mand in January. grated, grounded in OF concepts and crafted
Led by Signal Regiment efforts, to deliver one seamless communications
this was the first time TRADOC used a and information system, or “tactical
concept-based approach in the require- infosphere.” This tactical infosphere will
ments-determination process. The con- enable and empower the OF, increasing its
cept-based approach will change the deployability, versatility, agility, lethality,
way the Army works with our industry survivability and sustainability. The tactical
partners to field communications sys- infosphere will also be engineered to main-
tems for the OF. tain interoperability with legacy and interim
forces.
Using the perspective of a 2010
JTRS/WIN-T’s substantial shift pro-
operating environment, the working
vides our industry partners with a more
group first evaluated OF warfighting con- MG John P. Cavanaugh
accurate and deconflicted azimuth to direct
cepts using operational vignettes. This Chief of Signal
their research, development and delivery of
approach determined required capabili-
leap-ahead technologies. The synergy of
ties for these concepts and ways to
JTRS and WIN-T through virtual capabili-
empower and enable the warfighter to (See Fall 2001 Chief of Signal Com-
ties for teaming, training and rehearsals –
realize these concepts. The process was ments for a discussion of JTRS.)
imbued by the power of timely, relevant and
fully focused on the future warfight but The revised WIN-T ORD will
accurate actionable information – will em-
was simultaneously balanced against provide warfighters with a network
power the OF commander with a hereto-
battle labs’ experimentation to provide that’s optimized for offensive opera-
fore-unseen level of combat effectiveness
insight into technically achievable capa- tions; operates across increased stra-
by establishing information as an element
bilities and interface requirements for tegic distances; supports dispersed
of combat power that enhances mobility,
legacy and interim-force systems. operations through global virtual
lethality, survivability and sustainability.
Foundational warfighting concepts teaming; and delivers network com-
Since information becomes an ele-
for the group’s work included: ponents that are scalable/tailorable
ment of combat power in the OF, the Signal
! Full-spectrum operations; and dynamically adaptive to mission, Regiment has many challenges (and op-
! Optimization for offense; task and purpose. As the new ORD is portunities to succeed) ahead. Each leader
! Purpose-centric operations; written, WIN-T will provide the Army and soldier is responsible for lifelong learn-
! Information superiority; with mobile reach; reachback con- ing and should subscribe to professional
! Tactical-information sphere; nectivity with higher throughput; en- journals like Army Communicator to keep
! Extended precision reach; terprise-level network management; updated on topics such as OF, WIN-T or
! Entry and decisive operations; a reliable network consistent with JTRS. The Regiment, as several Signal
! Knowledge-based battle com- commercial-communications service leaders have said previously, is the
mand; providers; seamless interoperability
warfighter’s and OF’s enabler for informa-
! Decentralized operations; for joint and coalition operations; ac- tion dominance; your Army and your nation
! Synergy through virtual teaming; cess to unclassified through top-se- depend heavily on you.
! Cooperative engagements; cret information; and information-dis-
! Agility/versatility; semination and speed-of-service ca-
! Tailorability; pabilities that will enable “sensor-to-
! Reachback; shooter” networking.
! Split-based operations; and The revised JTRS ORD will pro- A Q S
CRONYM UICK CAN
! High-operations-tempo support. vide warfighters with a networking
The result of the concepts-based radio that’s focused on capabilities to
approach is a reorientation and substan- implement a mobile, flexible, on-the- JTRS – Joint Tactical Radio System
tial shift in WIN-T and JTRS require- move, networking infrastructure for OF – Objective Force
ments. Of particular note, WIN-T has a passing voice, data and video to com- ORD – operational requirements docu-
completely new “charter”; there are a manders operating in a dispersed, ment
number of changes in the operations- dynamic environment. As the next- TRADOC – Training and Doctrine Com-
mand
requirements document since just a year generation tactical radio, JTRS will
WIN-T – Warfighter Information Net-
ago, when I discussed WIN-T in the provide increased interoperability and
work-Tactical
Chief of Signal Comments for Army powerful, seamless, simple, mobile
Communicator’s Spring 2001 edition. networking. JTRS reduces the
U.S. ARMY SIGNAL CENTER AND FORT GORDON A Worldwide web homepage address http:// PB 11-02-2
RMY www.gordon.army.mil/AC/ Summer 2002
E-mail [email protected] Vol. 27 No. 2
C
OMMAND
C
Commander/Commandant OMMUNICATOR
MG John P. Cavanaugh
Command Sergeant Major
CSM Stanley Davis Voice of the Signal Regiment
E S
DITORIAL TAFF
Table of Contents
Editor-in-Chief/Graphic Designer
Lisa Alley Features
Senior Adviser 2 Leadership and valor: the Medal of Honor
Susan Wood Lisa Alley
Illustrations
3 Medal of Honor profile: PVT Morgan Lane
Lisa Alley, SGT Clifton McDonald, SSG
Michael Nesmith 4 Medal of Honor profile: SGT Will Croft Barnes
Photography
5 Medal of Honor profile: MG Charles Kilbourne Jr.
Michael Bennett, CPT Kevin Bosch, TSgt.
Jack Braden, CW2 William Crow, Rich 7 Inherent vision, inherent valor
Garrett, SPC Robert Jones, CPT Sonise Michael Kolton
Lumbaca, SPC David Podwoski, Anthony
Ricchiazzi, SSG Tim Volkert, Rudi Williams 9 Medal of Honor profile: COL Gordon Johnston
11 Medal of Honor profile: MG Adolphus Greely
12 Women’s memorial exhibit tells story of women spies
Rudi Williams
15 Let’s not forget about leadership
MAJ Clark Backus
36 Army Transformation Wargame 2002: Objective Force communications in
global conflict
Geoffrey Wells and Donald Paul
Army Communicator (ISSN 0362-5745) (USPS
305-470) is an authorized, official quarterly
40 Bridging the “digital delta”: training III Corps Signaleers
professional bulletin of the U.S. Army Signal Center,
Fort Gordon, Ga. 30905-5301. Second-class official COL Dennis Via and MAJ Linda Jantzen
mail postage paid by Department of the Army (DOD
314) at Augusta, Ga. 30901 and additional mailing 46 Streaming video and video on demand: part of the new warfighting
offices. requirements
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Army
Communicator, U.S. Army Signal Center, Fort LTC Jeff Girard
Gordon, Ga. 30905-5301.
OFFICIAL DISTRIBUTION: Army Communica- 51 A combined network: asynchronous-transfer mode, tactical high-speed
tor is available to all Signal and Signal-related units, data network and legacy mobile-subscriber equipment
including staff agencies and service schools. Written
CW2 Curtis Newkirk and MAJ Linda Jantzen
requests for the magazine should be submitted to
Editor, Army Communicator, U.S. Army Signal
Center, Fort Gordon, Ga. 30905-5301. 60 Hard work precedes user-friendly data communications for 49th Armored
This publication presents professional Division
information, but the views expressed herein are SPC Robert Jones
those of the authors, not the Department of Defense
or its elements. The content does not necessarily
62 Unmanned aerial vehicles proving their worth over Afghanistan
reflect the official U.S. Army position and does not
change or supersede any information in other official Jim Garamone
U.S. Army publications. Use of news items
constitutes neither affirmation of their accuracy nor
product endorsement. Cover: Leadership, valor, mentorship, vision -- soldiers’ qualities and
Army Communicator reserves the right to edit
Army values exemplified by the Signal Regiment’s Medal of Honor
material.
CORRESPONDENCE: Address all correspon- recipients. Cover by SGT Clifton McDonald
dence to Army Communicator, U.S. Army Signal
Center and Fort Gordon, Signal Towers (Bldg.
29808A), Room 707, Fort Gordon, Ga. 30905-5301.
Telephone DSN 780-7204 or commercial (706) 791- Departments
7204. Fax number [phone].
Unless otherwise stated, material does not
17 Circuit check
represent official policy, thinking, or endorsement by
an agency of the U.S. Army. This publication
contains no advertising.
U.S. Government Printing Office: 1984-746-045/
1429-S.
Army Communicator is not a copyrighted
publication. Individual author’s copyrights can be
protected by special arrangement. Acceptance by
Army Communicator conveys the right for
subsequent reproduction and use of published
material. Credit should be given to Army Communi-
cator. 0203604
Leadership and
valor: the Medal
of Honor
Signal Corps has 5 recipients of nation’s highest honor
by Lisa Alley soldiers as they tried to enter the aid
station from different directions. As
This Army Communicator
the attacks continued, he ordered
edition covers traits Signaleers
comrades to evacuate the tent and
should possess beyond their techni-
carry away the wounded. “He went
cal expertise. Several stories cover
out to face the enemy alone and was
leadership, mentorship and the
last heard shouting, ‘I’ll hold them
responsibility of training subordi-
off until you get them to safety. See
nates, as well as the leadership traits
you later,’” Bush said.
of valor and coup d’oeil vision (in
Salomon replaced a dead
French, literally “stroke of the eye”),
machinegun crew and began firing
defined as “a glance embracing a
on the attackers. When American
wide view” or “an in-depth survey
troops retook the ground, they found
done with a glance.”
his body still at the machinegun –
First are profiles of the five
surrounded by 98 dead Japanese
Signal Corps members who received
soldiers.
the Medal of Honor, the nation’s
highest military honor. The first Swanson was an Army pilot
Signal MoH was awarded to PVT supporting South Vietnamese troops
Morgan Lane. While Lane’s profile in Cambodia. He was serving his
may not illustrate the leadership Figure 1. The Army’s version of the second tour in Vietnam. Flying an
qualities present in MoH recipients Medal of Honor features MG George OH-6 helicopter, Swanson was
as well as the other profiles do (of Gillespie’s medal design, adopted called in to provide close air sup-
the more than 3,400 Army MoHs in 1904, and the neck-ribbon style port.
awarded, more than 1,500 were adopted in 1944. “Flying at tree-top level, he
given for acts conducted during the found and engaged the enemy,
Civil War, but most of those weren’t received his MoH for heroism on the exposing himself to intense fire from
deserving of the MoH according to Pacific island of Saipan July 7, 1944. the ground,” Bush said. “He ran out
the higher standards we have CPT Jon Swanson received the of heavy ordnance, yet continued to
today), all recipients are paragons of award for his bravery Feb. 26, 1971, drop smoke grenades to mark other
selfless sacrifice and other Army in the skies over Cambodia. targets for nearby gunships.
values. Salomon was a dentist serving “Swanson made it back to
The battlefield is no respecter as a surgeon with 27th Infantry safety, his ammunition nearly gone
of job or rank – all soldiers must be Division. The division had invaded and his scout helicopter heavily
ready to risk their lives at any time. Saipan, in the Marianas Islands. He damaged,” Bush continued. “Had he
The two MoHs President George W. was at his battalion’s aid station stayed on the ground, no one would
Bush awarded posthumously May 1 when the unit came under a massive have faulted him. But ... he had seen
illustrate this – one MoH went to a attack by thousands of Japanese that more targets needed marking to
World War II Army dentist who soldiers. “The American units eliminate the danger to troops on the
died while single-handedly fighting sustained massive casualties, and the ground. He volunteered to do the job
off enemy troops, and the other to an advancing enemy soon descended himself, flying directly into enemy
Army pilot who died marking on Salomon’s aid station,” the fire until his helicopter exploded in
enemy targets to save friendly president during the May 1 cer- flight.”
soldiers during the Vietnam War. emony at the White House. The Signaleers’ MoH stories
Dr. (CPT) Benjamin Salomon Salomon killed several enemy portray the same type of valor. We
2 Summer 2002
hope you appreciate reading the Ms. Alley has edited Army awards) judge and briefed English
stories of Lane, SGT Will Croft Communicator since June 1995. defense and aerospace-industry repre-
Barnes, MG Adolphus Greely, COL Previous jobs include editor of The sentatives in London on how the Signal
Gordon Johnston and MG Charles Sheppard Senator, the installation Regiment uses the worldwide web.
Kilbourne Jr. newspaper at Sheppard AFB, Texas; Formerly the U.S. Army Signal Center
The Salomon and Swanson MoH editor of the award-winning post and Fort Gordon web manager, she was
information was excerpted from a news newspaper Panorama, Fort Ord, Calif.; also a seminar leader on public affairs
release by Jim Garamone of American command information officer, Fort Ord; and the web in the 2001 Worldwide
Forces Press Service. For more informa- and 7th Infantry Division (Light) and Public Affairs Symposium.
tion on the MoH, visit the Army’s Fort Ord division move and base-closure
website (www.army.mil) and click on information specialist. A former soldier,
the link for the Center of Military she has also served as a military and
A Q S
History. Or, see the interesting history civilian reporter, accumulating about 25 CRONYM UICK CAN
of the medal’s first 55 years at years’ experience in journalism and
www.medalofhonor.com/ Army public affairs. She has served as a MoH – Medal of Honor
1st55Years.htm. Keith L. Ware (the Army journalism
Medal of Honor profile:
PVT Morgan Lane
Signal Corps. manding officer and the flag that
Lane, Niles and an engineer “was on his person.” Continuing,
captain were in advance of Union Lane said he was given 30 days’
For Civil War service (1865)
Army troops near Jetersville, Va., leave and was promised a “gold
Second-Class PVT Morgan April 6, 1865, when they encoun- medal” for his deed. Lane sought
Lane’s military service began with tered Confederate sailors escaping Upson’s help in claiming his gold
his enlistment Aug. 22, 1862, in their boat Nansemond. The historical medal.
Company I, 5th Regiment of Michi- record is slim on what happened; all Upson forwarded Lane’s letter
gan Cavalry, at Allegan, Michigan. we know is from Niles’ description to the War Department, which tried
In the cavalry he rose to the rank of of the event as quoted in the April to locate Nansemond’s flag to
sergeant. In March 1864, Lane 20, 1865, report of CPT Charles substantiate Lane’s claim that he had
transferred to the Signal Corps and Davis, Chief Signal Officer, Army of captured it. The flag didn’t turn up.
was appointed a second-class the Potomac. Lane, Niles and the However, by March 1866, Lane’s
private April 1, 1864. His entire engineer captain captured seven letter had reached Chief Signal
service was in the Civil War’s Army Confederates: two naval officers, one Officer COL Benjamin Fisher. Fisher
of the Potomac, from which he was engineer, one signal officer and three endorsed Lane’s medal by quoting
from Davis’ April 1865 report – but
honorably discharged June 24, 1865. enlisted men, per Niles’ account.
with a correction that Lane had
“The flag of the gunboat Nansemond
After November 1864, he secured the flag from an enlisted
was secured from one of these
served in 5th Corps, to whose man, not from Nansemond’s com-
enlisted men by Second-Class
headquarters he was attached in mander as Lane recalled. Fisher’s
Private Morgan D. Lane, U.S. Signal
early April 1865 as the orderly of LT endorsement was all the evidence
Corps,” Niles reported.
P.H. Niles, a Signal Corps officer. the War Department needed; Lane’s
During the Union pursuit of GEN In early 1866 Lane sent to Medal of Honor was issued March
Robert E. Lee’s army, the event Congressman Charles Upson of 16, 1866.
occurred that earned Lane the Medal Michigan a slightly different account The Signal Regiment inducted
of Honor – taking place about one of the event. Lane claimed to have Lane as a Distinguished Member of
year after he transferred to the captured the Nansemond’s com- the Regiment in 1997.
Army Communicator 3
Medal of Honor profile:
SGT Will Croft Barnes
soldiers, along with a number of killed him.
civilians, were left at Fort Apache. Their relief attempts thwarted,
Shortly after Carr’s departure, their telegraph still down and their
For Western service (1881)
nearby Indians began to ride toward uncertainty over what really hap-
In its westward expansion, his trail. MAJ Melville Cochran, Fort pened to Carr sent a wave of appre-
America depended on the 8,000 Apache’s acting commander, hension throughout Fort Apache.
miles of wire the Signal Corps warned Carr about the Indians and Anxiety was heightened by the fact
constructed between 1873 and 1883 began preparing the post for an it was impossible to see more than a
to connect 77 frontier telegraph and attack. mile westward. The Indians or Carr,
weather offices. The Signal Corps Rumors played havoc at Fort if still alive, might approach from
was responsible for three telegraph Apache. Word came the evening of that direction.
systems that carried both military Aug. 29 that Indians had killed Barnes volunteered to go alone
and commercial traffic, and which Carr’s entire command. Cochran to a mesa which stood some 2,000
played a key role in the Indian Wars sent couriers to warn Camp Thomas feet high about a mile to the north of
and final expansion of the continen- and a nearby
tal United States to its Pacific border. ranch, then
Among these systems was the dispatched
29-station line that connected another courier to
isolated posts such as Fort Bliss, the Black River to
Santa Fe and Fort Apache in the bring in two
Arizona Territory. It was at Fort soldiers working
Apache, one of the most pivotal on the ferry on
posts in the military Department of the road to Camp
Arizona, that First-Class PVT Will Thomas. Indians
Croft Barnes honored himself and killed the ferry-
the Signal Corps. Barnes’ Medal of men and the
Honor was not recommended for soldier sent to
any specific event but for his actions alert them. On
during August and September 1881. the morning of
Aug. 31, Cochran
In the summer of 1881, Apache
heard from the
medicine man Nock-aye-Klinny was
post trader that
stirring up the Indians, including the
five of Carr’s
Army’s Indian scouts, in the Fort
officers and most
Apache area. Fort Apache’s com-
of his men were
mander, COL Eugene Carr, was
dead. Cochran
ordered to arrest the medicine man
sent a second
Aug. 15, the same day the telegraph
message to Camp
line between Fort Apache and Camp
Thomas for
Thomas some 90 miles away went
reinforcements.
down (it remained down until early
Camp Thomas
September). Fort Apache was cut off
never received
from outside wire communication.
that dispatch.
The fort was further isolated when
Thomas Owens, a
heavy rains and floodwaters hit the
civilian mail
area, preventing arrival of reinforce-
carrier who had
ments.
volunteered for
Carr set out Aug. 29 with 117
the mission,
men to capture Nock-aye-Klinny,
traveled only a
who was at an Indian village on
few miles from
Cibeque Creek some 45 miles Fort Apache Figure 2. Will Croft Barnes as a Signal Corps private,
northwest of the post. Less than 70 before Indians 1879.
4 Summer 2002
the fort. The mesa would serve as a detail Sept. 1 a half-mile away from Army’s commanding general and
“tower” from which Barnes could the fort when Indians began firing at the acting secretary of war, ap-
signal. In spite of the proximity of them. About the same time Indians proved the Medal of Honor Nov. 8,
four or five Apaches “with no attacked the post. Barnes and Smith 1882, for Barnes and the others (an
friendly intent,” Barnes held his returned fire. Barnes also went out investigation into the Battle of
position. Then off to the west he saw Sept. 8-9 with an armed escort to Cibeque delayed action on Carr’s
a cloud of dust; it turned out to be repair the telegraph line. recommendations). In Spring 1883,
Carr’s advance guard. A half-mile To Carr Cochran applauded Barnes – by then a sergeant – re-
behind the guard Barnes saw some Barnes’ conduct “during all the ceived the medal in a retreat cer-
50 cavalrymen. He signaled the good trouble,” adding “he was prompt emony at Fort Apache.
news to the fort. and unhesitating in the discharge of Barnes remained at Fort
As matters turned out, Carr all duties assigned him, more than Apache until he received a medical
had arrested Nock-aye-Klinny at once being exposed to great danger.” discharge Sept. 15, 1883. In his post-
Cibeque. In a rescue attempt, the Carr endorsed 12 officers and Army years Barnes was a rancher,
Indians who had followed Carr’s enlisted men for the Medal of Honor, legislator, forester, preservationist
trail attacked the party, and the singling out Barnes for his actions and a noted and copious writer. He
Indian scouts mutinied. Nock-aye- during the Indian attack on Fort died in Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 17, 1936,
Klinny was killed, as well as four Apache Sept. 1 and for his “good and his ashes were interred at
soldiers. conduct and attention to duty” Arlington National Cemetery in
The following week tensions during the “trying period” Aug. 29- 1937. The Signal Regiment inducted
continued. Barnes and SGT John Sept. 10. him as a Distinguished Member of
Smith were guarding a cemetery GEN William Sherman, the the Regiment in 1998.
Medal of Honor profile:
MG Charles Kilbourne Jr.
As America went to war, he with MG Arthur MacArthur’s
joined the Volunteer Signal Corps, expedition to the Philippine Islands,
an expansion where he participated in the cam-
of the paign against Spanish forces climax-
For service in the Philippine regular ing in the seizure of Manila. Follow-
Insurrection (1899) Signal Corps ing the end of hostilities with Spain,
assigned to the Philippine Insurrection erupted
Charles Evans Kilbourne Jr. is provide Feb. 4, 1899. The following day,
the only Signal officer to win the
tactical Kilbourne earned a place in history
Medal of Honor while performing a
communica- and the MoH. According to the MoH
combat communications mission.
citation, “Within ... 250 yards of the
tions to the
The Signal Officer Basic Course at
enemy and in the face of rapid fire,
Fort Gordon, Ga., named its leader- rapidly
[he] climbed a telegraph pole at the
ship award for him, and the Signal expanding
east end of [Paco Bridge] and, in full
Regiment inducted him as a Distin- Regular
Figure 3. Charles view of the enemy, coolly and
guished Member of the Regiment in Army. To be
Kilbourne as super- carefully repaired a broken tele-
1997.
accepted as intendent of Virginia graph wire, thereby re-establishing
A Signal Corps officer’s son,
an officer in Military Institute, telegraphic communication to the
Kilbourne was born in 1872 at Fort
Whipple, Va. – later renamed Fort the VSC, the circa 1938. (Photo courtesy front.”
applicant of Virginia Military Institute After Kilbourne returned to the
Myer – and spent most of his boy-
archives.)
hood years at Army installations. He had to be United States, he applied and was
graduated from Virginia Military adept in an electrical vocation or accepted in the Regular Army as an
Institute in 1894 with a degree in telegraphy. Kilbourne was one of the infantry officer in 14th Infantry
civil engineering, then worked as a few commissioned VSC officers Regiment. In late 1899, he partici-
surveyor in New Mexico and the appointed for his leadership poten- pated in the Boxer Rebellion in
Pacific Northwest. He was an tial rather than for his technical China, where he led his platoon in
observer with the U.S. Weather expertise. the assault that captured the Impe-
Bureau until the war with Spain in Kilbourne was assigned to First rial City Gates. After helping sup-
1898. Company, VSC, and shipped out press the rebellion, his regiment
Army Communicator 5
returned to duty in the Philippines, 1917, MG
where he performed duties with the Leonard Wood
provost marshal’s office. It was selected him to
during this tour that Kilbourne made be his chief of
an important career decision; in 1902 staff of 89th
he requested and was granted a Infantry Division.
branch transfer to the Artillery In preparing to
Corps. move the divi-
Transferred to Fort Monroe, sion to France,
Va., to attend the artillery school, he Kilbourne made
was his class’s honor graduate and a predeployment,
was assigned as the post district fact-finding trip
adjutant, a highly competitive and to the front in
reputable position in his day. He France, where a
served in this position for two years. mortar shell
Promoted to captain in 1905, he seriously
assumed successive commands of wounded him.
coast-artillery companies. He returned to
While commanding 35th Camp Funston,
Company, Coast Artillery Corps, Kan., where 89th
Kilbourne returned to the Philip- Infantry Division
pines to defend Manila Bay. was training for
Kilbourne began constructing an the European
elaborate defensive-fortifications theater. Not
system on Corregidor Island. These deterred by his
fortifications were to significantly wounds,
affect the course of world events. In Kilbourne led the
fact, the British credited Kilbourne’s division’s
construction with saving Australia advance party to
by delaying Japanese advances at France and
the beginning of World War II. (His prepared the way
efforts were finally completed in
for 89th Infantry Figure 4. President John F. Kennedy greets Kilbourne
1932 when, as a brigadier general, he
Division’s entry in early 1963 at a lawn party hosted by the White House
commanded all of Manila’s harbor
into combat. for Medal of Honor recipients. Kilbourne was the oldest
defenses.)
Once the MoH recipient present, according to Kilbourne family
In 1909 Kilbourne left
division was in historian Jim Kilburn. A few months after this
Corregidor to assume his duties as
combat, the chief photograph was taken, Kilbourne died and Kennedy
inspector, and later as superinten-
of staff set an was assassinated in Dallas.
dent, of the Philippine Constabulary
example in
Bureau and School. His outstanding
leadership by “moving among the Upon his return to the United
performance was not limited to the
forward units, reorganizing them States and the reduction of the
training environment. When Moro
and urging forward.” Kilbourne military’s size, Kilbourne reverted to
guerrillas threatened the local area,
earned the Distinguished Service his permanent rank of major in the
he undertook several tactical opera-
Cross during the St. Mihiel offensive. Regular Army. Assigned as an
tions against them.
In October 1918, he was instructor and student to the Army
In 1911 he was assigned to the promoted to brigadier general and War College in Washington, D.C., he
War Department General Staff, commanded both 36th Artillery graduated with honors and later
where he developed plans for the Brigade and 3rd Infantry Brigade of became a course director at the
defense of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. 2d Division. MG John Lejune, 2d college. By 1928 he was promoted to
He served in several staff positions Division’s commander, said of brigadier general in the Regular
for the next six years. While serving Kilbourne that he executed his Army and served another tour in the
as chief of staff, Southeastern duties in an “excellent, able, consci- Philippines. He was assigned to Fort
Department, in Charleston, S.C., entious and painstaking” manner. In Sam Houston, Texas, in 1936 as a
Kilbourne recognized the need for a fact, Kilbourne’s performance in major general, where he commanded
Regular Army post in that section of these last two assignments earned 2d Division until his retirement Dec.
the country. His foresight led to the him the Distinguished Service 31, 1936.
establishment of Fort Jackson, S.C. Medal. He was the only soldier at He then served as superinten-
When the United States that time to hold the nation’s three dent of the Virginia Military Institute
declared war on Germany in April highest awards. for nine years until he retired from
6 Summer 2002
that post for health reasons. only to witness it again on television, profile is based on the “Charles E.
Kilbourne died Nov. 12, 1963, and is the private mourning escalated into Kilbourne: a study in leadership” by
buried at Arlington National Cem- a national tragedy. It was a very CPT Paul Hughes, published in Army
etery. strange time.” Communicator’s Summer 1985
“He died a week before JFK is said by members of the edition.)
[President John F.] Kennedy and was Kilbourne family to have remarked
buried in Arlington with of course at Kilbourne’s funeral that “it’s so
much the same ceremony – the peaceful, I could stay here [at
riderless horse, the caisson … it was Arlington] forever.” This comment
magnificent and unspeakably sad,” turned out to be prophetic, as the ACRONYM QUICKSCAN
said Kilbourne’s granddaughter, president was assassinated in Dallas
Lisa Tracy, in an email to Army Nov. 22, 1963, and was also buried MoH – Medal of Honor
Communicator’s editor in October in Arlington. VSC – Volunteer Signal Corps
2001. “I returned from his funeral (Editor’s note: most of this
Inherent vision,
inherent valor
by Michael Kolton d’oeil. Clausewitz’s definition of a analyzes Kilbourne, the more one
Special to Army Communicator great leader is personified in MG sees the traits of moral courage and
Charles Evans Kilbourne Jr., one of coup d’oeil – traits that reach more
“War is a realm of danger;
the Signal Regiment’s five Medal of deeply into the soul of a great leader
therefore courage is the soldier’s first
Honor recipients. than physical courage does.
requirement,” wrote Prussian
military thinker MG Carl von What makes a great leader: The scope of moral courage
Clausewitz. “Courage is of two physical courage Many soldiers remark that
kinds: courage in the face of personal During the Philippine Insurrec- when in combat situations, men fight
danger, and courage to accept tion (Feb. 5, 1899), then-1LT not for their country or commander
responsibility, either before the Kilbourne acted in heroism beyond but for “the buddy next to them.” If
tribunal of some outside power or the call of duty. His 1905 MoH someone read the 3,400-plus MoH
before the court of one’s own citation records the day of bravery; citations, that person could see the
conscience.” Kilbourne, “within a range of 250 ultimate importance of camaraderie
American society and culture yards of the enemy and in the face of among soldiers. Astonishing ac-
values courage as Clausewitz a rapid fire, climbed a telegraph pole counts of valor describe fatally
defined it. Poets, newsmen, citizens at the east end of the bridge and, in wounded men destroying enemy
and soldiers place valor on a level of full view of the enemy, coolly and fortifications, vehicles and personnel
admiration parallel with concepts carefully repaired a broken tele- to save their fellow soldiers. The
like honor and duty. In addition to graph wire, thereby re-establishing accounts portray soldiers who took
our adoration of moral courage, telegraphic communication to the the brunt of bullets, mines and
portrayals of physical courage front.” grenades for their comrades.
permeate our literature and our This deed of physical courage These depictions describe
minds. The analects of American certainly ranks with those of other physical courage and selflessness to
combat also vividly depict the honorable American soldiers who a degree worthy of the utmost
bravery Clausewitz illustrates. risked their lives in combat beyond respect. However, in addition to
If there’s one lesson-learned of the call of duty. Yet Kilbourne’s these awe-inspiring soldiers, there
the stories from literature and leadership characteristics didn’t are a select number of incidents that
combat, it’s that great leaders – consist of physical courage alone – show a valor contrary to the notion
whether military or civilian – there’s something unique about this of fighting for the buddy next to you
possess the qualities Clausewitz Signal officer who later continued – a valor with a more distant inspira-
describes: physical courage, moral his military career in another Army tion. Such valor – moral courage – is
courage and another trait called coup branch. The more in-depth one also seen in Kilbourne.
Army Communicator 7