Soon after my arrival in Vietnam in September, 1969, I was assigned to Company A of the First Battalion of the 18th Regiment of the First Infantry Division and went to Di An, its base camp. located between Saigon and Cambodia. Since I was a newbie, I went to see my company commander, Harvey Kelley, who was just back with Company A from operations near Cambodia.
The company was “standing down” for several days, and Capt. Kelley and his lieutenants were casually drinking a few beers in a barrack room. Upon entering, I introduced myself. Looking me in the eye, Capt. Kelley welcomed me and told me that if I kept my s– together, did what I was told, and kept a steady head, I’d go back home alive.
Maybe he told all newbies that, but his demeanor and advice told me that my company commander was careful, steady, and thoughtful. I was in good hands.
At least once he didn’t follow his advice and got killed some three months later. I was wounded twice but made it back home alive. I have thought about that first meeting, and Capt. Kelley’s advice has stood me in good stead ever since he looked me in the eye.
Upon my return, I forged a career in museums, and when I became director, I repeated his advice, albeit in different words, for 25 years to my newly hired staff. I learned lessons in leadership in Vietnam.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
George W. McDaniel, PhD, is the President of McDaniel Consulting, LLC, a strategy firm that helps organizations use history to build bridges within itself and to its broader constituents. For 25 years, he served as the Executive Director of Drayton Hall, a historic site in Charleston, SC. A native of Atlanta, he earned a BA from Sewanee, a MAT (history) from Brown University, and PhD (history) from Duke. Interspersed through those years were travels to many places — Europe, Africa, Vietnam — where he saw peace and war and learned by experience about cultural differences and commonalities. For 40 years, he built a career working in education and history museums, beginning with the Smithsonian Institution, and earning awards at the local, state, and national levels.
“Building Bridges through History”
The company’s tagline is grounded in McDaniel’s personal beliefs and his professional experience. Services address site management, preservation, education, board development, fundraising, community outreach, and more.
Rather than using history to divide us, McDaniel helps organizations use history, especially local history, to enhance cross-cultural understanding and to support local museums, preservation, and education.
Turning Beliefs into Actions
Dr. McDaniel led volunteer efforts with Emanuel AME Church and historical organizations in Charleston to use historic preservation to enhance racial reconciliation and healing.
A frequent writer, speaker, and facilitator, reach him at gmcdaniel4444@gmail.com or through his website www.mcdanielconsulting.net.
Images courtesy of the author unless otherwise noted.
McDaniel Consulting LLC is a strategy firm that helps organizations use history to build bridges within itself and its broader constituents. 