Long before the book by Stephen Ambrose and subsequent mini-series, someone else wrote of a "Band of Brothers". That man was Lt. General Charles Cooper. He wrote it as a severely wounded 2nd LT. in a military hospital in Korea. He had just learned two pieces of information that changed his life and challenged him in a way nothing else could. One was that his wife had just given birth to a son. The other, he would forever be paralyzed from the waist down as a result of his injuries. He embraced the former, he rejected the latter. He penned the Band of Brothers rules as a note to his newborn son, kind of a how to live life mantra. It inspired him as much as he ever hoped it would inspire his son. He would walk again. He would go on to a distinguished 35 year career in the Marines and retire as a Lt. General in 1985. His son also went on to a career in the Marine Corps. His Band of Brothers mantra was a large part of a solemn promise he had made to God, "I told God I would spend the rest of my life giving our young Marines the kind of leadership they needed and deserved."
No doubt, the young Marines he was placed in a position of leadership over benefited from his words and leadership style.
BAND OF BROTHERS
1. All Marines are entitled to dignity and respect as individuals, but must abide by common standards established by proper authority.
2. A Marine should never lie, cheat, or steal from a fellow Marine or fail to come to his aid in a time of need.
3. All Marines should contribute 100% of their abilities to the unit’s mission. Any less effort by an individual passes the buck to someone else.
4. A unit, regardless of size, is a disciplined family structure, with similar relationships based on mutual respect among members.
5. It is essential that issues and problems which tend to lessen a unit’s effectiveness be addressed and resolved.
6. A blending of separate cultures, varying educational levels, and different social backgrounds is possible in an unselfish atmosphere of common goals, aspirations, and mutual understanding.
7. Being the best requires common effort, hard work, and teamwork. Nothing worthwhile comes easy.
8. Every Marine deserves job satisfaction, equal consideration and recognition of his accomplishments.
9. Knowing your fellow Marine well enables you to learn to look at things “through his eyes”, as well as your own.
10. Issues detracting from the efficiency and sense of well-being of an individual should be surfaced and weighed against the impact on the unit as a hole.
11. It must be recognized that a brotherhood concept depends on all members “belonging” - - being fully accepted by others within.
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