Fort Bliss Monitor

STORY AND PHOTOS BY 1ST LT. VICTOR HOFFER, 31ST ADA BDE. • PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SUSAN LAVEN

The grass of the battlefield grows high, waving with the gentle winds, as a small group of Army officers walks around the sprawling plains and small rolling hills. Borrowing from both the wisdom and the mistakes of the past, these leaders from 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade units, including the brigade staff, 3rd Battalion, 2nd ADA, 1st Bn., 1st ADA, the 31st Combat Support Hospital and the 745th Forward Surgical Team, sought to escape the routine of modern Army operations for a study of the Battle of Gettysburg.

“It’s a great opportunity for the officers of the brigade to get away from Fort Bliss, to study past battles,” said Maj. Cliff Johnston, who coordinated the event. “Some of the lessons learned here we’re still learning today, [such as] the importance of having strong subordinate leaders.”

In the hours prior to the tide-turning conflict, Gen. Robert E. Lee, commander of the Confederate Army, sent for Jeb Stuart, his most trusted scout commander. Stuart was unable to arrive in time, and thus Lee began the confrontation at a strategic disadvantage to the Union forces, which had their reconnaissance units in place and reporting.

But Lee did have reconnaissance units that could have been sent to scout the Union strength. The reason they were not dispatched was not for lack of availability, but a lack of faith in their commander. The result of the battle, though not hinging on this one failing, is well known.

Such was one of many studies of the battle, studies which encouraged the officers and senior NCOs of the brigade to reflect on both errors and successes on the battlefield of old. Others included the fate of various generals and colonels involved in the battle. Some were killed, others were captured. Each has a different story, and each can teach leaders of today’s Army.

“I wanted to take folks to Letterkenny [Army Depot], and since Letterkenny is so close to Gettysburg, it just made sense to make this into another 31st two-for,” said 31st ADA Commander, Col. Heidi Brown, referring to past staff rides that incorporated leadership excursions or seminars. “First I want them to gain an appreciation of what occurred here; it’s different to go through it.”

The impact of this great Army battle from the Civil War was not lost on those attending. “This trip was instrumental in allowing 31st key leaders to learn from history’s profound military minds, such as Lee, Reynolds and Longstreet,” said Maj. Ged Dailey, executive officer for the 31st Brigade’s 3-2 Bn.

The second and final day ended with a march along the course of Pickett’s Charge, an ill-advised and even more ill-fated Confederate attack on the Northern forces near the end of the third and final day of the battle, the failure of which effectively forced the Southern army to withdraw the following day. A key leadership point which was made pointedly clear to the group was the vehement belief and argument Lt. Gen. James Longstreet made to Gen. Lee just prior to the charge.

“General, I have been a soldier all my life. I have been with couples, squads, companies, regiments, brigades, divisions and armies,” Longstreet said, “and I should know as well as most what men can do. It is my opinion that no fifteen-thousand men ever arrayed for battle could take that ridge.”

His words would become prophesy.

And so were the two days at Gettysburg, a leadership experience highlighting dozens of military leaders and sub-battles over the three days of conflict, believed by many to be the battle that turned the tide of the war in the Yankees’ favor. The many experiences of leaders and commanders past live on in the memory and tactics of today’s Army leadership.

“There are some lessons of leadership and even tactics that can be learned here,” Brown said, looking back on the event, “but definitely leadership.”



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	May 27, 2004

STORY AND PHOTOS BY 1ST LT. VICTOR HOFFER, 31ST ADA BDE. • PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SUSAN LAVEN The grass of the battlefield grows high, waving with the gentle winds, as a small group of Army officers walks around the sprawling plains and small rolling hills. Borrowing from both the wisdom and the mistakes of the past, these leaders from 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade units, including the brigade staff, 3rd Battalion, 2nd ADA, 1st Bn., 1st ADA, the 31st Combat Support Hospital and the 745th Forward Surgical Team, sought to escape the routine of modern Army operations for a study of the Battle of Gettysburg. “It’s a great opportunity for the officers of the brigade to get away from Fort Bliss, to study past battles,” said Maj. Cliff Johnston, who coordinated the event. “Some of the lessons learned here we’re still learning today, [such as] the importance of having strong subordinate leaders.” In the hours prior to the tide-turning conflict, Gen. Robert E. Lee, commander of the Confederate Army, sent for Jeb Stuart, his most trusted scout commander. Stuart was unable to arrive in time, and thus Lee began the confrontation at a strategic disadvantage to the Union forces, which had their reconnaissance units in place and reporting. But Lee did have reconnaissance units that could have been sent to scout the Union strength. The reason they were not dispatched was not for lack of availability, but a lack of faith in their commander. The result of the battle, though not hinging on this one failing, is well known. Such was one of many studies of the battle, studies which encouraged the officers and senior NCOs of the brigade to reflect on both errors and successes on the battlefield of old. Others included the fate of various generals and colonels involved in the battle. Some were killed, others were captured. Each has a different story, and each can teach leaders of today’s Army. “I wanted to take folks to Letterkenny [Army Depot], and since Letterkenny is so close to Gettysburg, it just made sense to make this into another 31st two-for,” said 31st ADA Commander, Col. Heidi Brown, referring to past staff rides that incorporated leadership excursions or seminars. “First I want them to gain an appreciation of what occurred here; it’s different to go through it.” The impact of this great Army battle from the Civil War was not lost on those attending. “This trip was instrumental in allowing 31st key leaders to learn from history’s profound military minds, such as Lee, Reynolds and Longstreet,” said Maj. Ged Dailey, executive officer for the 31st Brigade’s 3-2 Bn. The second and final day ended with a march along the course of Pickett’s Charge, an ill-advised and even more ill-fated Confederate attack on the Northern forces near the end of the third and final day of the battle, the failure of which effectively forced the Southern army to withdraw the following day. A key leadership point which was made pointedly clear to the group was the vehement belief and argument Lt. Gen. James Longstreet made to Gen. Lee just prior to the charge. “General, I have been a soldier all my life. I have been with couples, squads, companies, regiments, brigades, divisions and armies,” Longstreet said, “and I should know as well as most what men can do. It is my opinion that no fifteen-thousand men ever arrayed for battle could take that ridge.” His words would become prophesy. And so were the two days at Gettysburg, a leadership experience highlighting dozens of military leaders and sub-battles over the three days of conflict, believed by many to be the battle that turned the tide of the war in the Yankees’ favor. The many experiences of leaders and commanders past live on in the memory and tactics of today’s Army leadership. “There are some lessons of leadership and even tactics that can be learned here,” Brown said, looking back on the event, “but definitely leadership.”