Vietnam Leadership Role

The Role of Leadership in World War II, Korea or Vietnam. The Army is a structured organization or a team and in this sense, it is similar in many ways to lots of corporations that are easily seen these days. For example, a simple, modern car needs various important components or accessories in order to operate. Likewise, corporations and Army require a good number detail components so that they can work and achieve their goals efficiently and appropriately. A well-ordered team is one of the necessities for successful Army and corporations. In this case, there must be an object or a person to support and manage the structured team decisively, and that is one of the responsibilities of a leader. Then, how should leadership be determined in
In Kindsvatter’s book, there were lots of veterans who participated in those wars, telling their experiences and what they suffered in the wars. For example. Lieutenant Howard Matthias recalled his memory in Korea in Kindsvatter’s book: “…green, young officers wise enough to listen to his platoon sergeant, who had broken in enough lieutenants to know how to advise without offending or embarrassing…” (Kindsvatter 231). Soldiers want their leader to be professional and well-skilled, but at the same time, they also want someone who accepts one’s fault and take veteran soldiers’ advice without excessive pride (Kindsvatter 231). Such skills were shown not only in Korea, but also in the Vietnam War: Lieutenant Joe Somolik was trying to learn from all crew positions by actually experienced them all, and furthermore, he did not mind listening to his team, and Kindsvatter described Lieutenant Somolik’s case as “immediately impressed the tankers, not with his expertise but with his desire to learn” (Kindsvatter
According to Kindsvatter, “The leader…occupied a difficult middle ground between protecting his men and carrying out his orders” (Kindsvatter 235). One of duties of the leader is keep his team safe and make sure they are doing well in any conditions, and also the leader is a part of the rank-ordered community so he/she needs to follow the order. Therefore, the leader may face a dilemma when an unreasonable order has assigned. Kindsvatter mentioned “Too often, in the late stages of the Korean and Vietnam Wars, leaders found themselves in such unenviable, no-win situations”