SGT Hamel

Silverback · Post by **Silverback** » December 6th, 2006, 9:51 am

SGT Hamel,
I met SGT Hamel (a member of the Mortar Platoon in my Troop) one day outside my orderly room. SGT Hamel was walking around in his ACUs with his Name tag and US Army reversed. I made an on the spot correction and as so often senior leaders doâ€¦I based the rest of my relationship with SGT Hamel with that incident in mind.

SGT Hamel next came into my view during the early stages of an NTC rotation; SGT Hamel was quiet, efficient and dependable. SGT Hamel wasnâ€™t a dynamic leader; SGT Hamel was a squarely focused 70% soldier in my mind. One of those 70% soldiers I complained often and loudly about.

During NTC SGT Hamel got ill and was looking a little â€œyellowâ€

Tirehouse · Post by **Tirehouse** » December 6th, 2006, 10:57 am

R.I.P Warrior.......

Invictus · Post by **Invictus** » December 6th, 2006, 11:00 am

Damn, RIP warrior.

There's a listen here for us all. Thanks for sharing it SB.

Jim · Post by **Jim** » December 6th, 2006, 11:05 am

Rest in peace, trooper.

rgrjoe175 · Post by **rgrjoe175** » December 6th, 2006, 12:13 pm

Blue Skies Sergeant Hamel.

JP

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » December 6th, 2006, 12:17 pm

We all make mistakes, SB. You are not the first one to assess someone incorrectly because of something you take for granted.

What is more important is that you have learned a great deal from this and in doing so have shared this with us.

He obviously was a helluva lot tougher than most of the men out there and he will undoubtebly inspire many unit members to work harder without complaining about little things.

RIP SGT Hamel!

Spartan · Post by **Spartan** » December 6th, 2006, 12:29 pm

Matador275 wrote:... and he will undoubtebly inspire many unit members to work harder without complaining about little things.

RIP SGT Hamel!

Amen.

Steadfast · Post by **Steadfast** » December 6th, 2006, 12:55 pm

In SGT Hamel case, his 70% was in fact 110%. Thank you for sharing this with us Ranger Silverback.

RIP Warrior ~S~

Ranger Ron · Post by **Ranger Ron** » December 6th, 2006, 2:02 pm

Sorry, that's tough SB. R.I.P. Warrior!

289sotherhalf · Post by **289sotherhalf** » December 6th, 2006, 2:04 pm

RRDTm3 · Post by **RRDTm3** » December 6th, 2006, 2:55 pm

Wow, very good story with a bitter ending.

For about 6 months while waiting to go over Regiment from 3/75 I worked for a 1SG Carter. Dude was really really over weight and ppl talked shit behind his back. After 1 day i realized he was by far the fairest and most knowledgable Ranger I have ever known even to this day.

When I did best Ranger my coach was this short little smart mouthed Indian named Chacon, I went in thinking "who is this little smart fuck" and quickly learned this guy was the biggest stud I have met since. He taught me more about techniques than anyone else............EVER

I don't judge a book by its' cover which is why I liked this one portly smart mouth of a cocksucker RI I used to work with at 4th.

42L5V · Post by **42L5V** » December 6th, 2006, 4:13 pm

Thanks for sharing, Ranger Silverback. Leadership lessons like this are the most valuable ones.

RIP Warrior - you've earned your place to rest.

Ranger Bill · Post by **Ranger Bill** » December 6th, 2006, 4:31 pm

That is a tough one and that story is a lesson learned for every leader. May he rest in peace...