Reflecting on a military career that began in 1962 as a West Point cadet, newly retired Maj. Gen. Raymond Rees '66 described his command philosophy in simple terms.
"Leadership," said Rees, "is not about the leader. It's about the led. It's about taking care of your soldiers."
During an interview that included quotes from George Orwell, William Shakespeare, and Karl von Clausewitz, Rees recollected the lessons he learned from decades in the military, at war and at peace.
It was as a cavalry troop commander with the Army's 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam during 1968-69 that Rees' "command philosophy" was forged. He and 140 troopers under his Vietnam Reconnaissance Command had the dangerous task of sweeping the jungle north of Hue when enemy activity was suspected. Confirmation of enemy presence usually came in a hail of gunfire and mortar rounds.