>>> The following true account by Gen Colin Powell is very interesting and >>>inspiring too. What an amazing attitude Capt Miller had ! >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>----------------------------------------------------------------- >>>DON’T PUNISH EVERY MISTAKE >>> >>> >>> In one of my assignments as a young infantry officer, I was sent to the >>>48th Infantry near Frankfurt, Germany. In those days our prize weapon was >>>a huge 280-mm atomic cannon. Guarded by infantry platoons, these guns were >>>hauled around the forests on trucks to keep the Soviets from guessing their >>>location >>> >>>One day Captain Tom Miller assigned my platoon to guard a 280. I alerted my >>>men, loaded my .45 caliber pistol and jumped into my jeep. I had not gone >>>far when I realized that my .45 was gone. >>> >>>I was petrified. In the army, losing weapon is serious business. I had no >>>choice but to radio Captain Miller and tell him. “ You what ?” he said in >>>disbelief. He paused a few seconds, then added, “All right, continue the >>>mission.” >>> >>>When I returned, uneasily contemplating my fate, Miller called me over. “ >>>I’ve got something for you,” he said, handing me the pistol. “Some kids in >>>the village found it where it fell out of your holster.” >>> >>>“Kids found it ?” I felt a cold chill. >>>“Yeah,” he said. “Luckily they only got off one round before we heard the >>>shot and took the gun away.” The disastrous possibilities left me limp. “ >>>For God’s sake , son, don’t let that happen again.” >>> >>>He drove off. I checked the magazine and found it was full. The gun had not >>>been fired. Later I learned that I had dropped it in my tent before I ever >>>got started . Miller had fabricated the scene about the kids to give me a >>>good scare. >>> >>>Today the army might hold an investigation, call in lawyers and likely >>>enter a bad mark on my record. Miller gave the chance to learn from my >>>mistake. His example of intelligent leadership was not lost on me. Nobody >>>ever got to the top without slipping up. When someone stumbles , I don’t >>>believe in stomping on him. My philosophy is “Pick ‘em up, dust ‘em off and >>>get ‘em moving again.” >>> >>> >>>-COLIN POWELL >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > >
