WASHINGTON, D.C. (Army News Service, May 14, 2008) - Twenty-eight
commissioned and warrant officers from the active Army, Army Reserve
and the National Guard received the 2008 General Douglas MacArthur
Leadership Award during a ceremony at the Pentagon today.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. presented the awards and praised the Soldiers for their accomplishments.
"The common thread that binds Soldiers together, that causes men and
women to do extraordinary things, is the kind of leadership we
celebrate here today," Casey said.
The Soldiers being honored commanded multiple companies in combat, and
trained Iraqis in war, law, governance and economics, he said.
"Their units were the best," he said. "Because of leaders like this, our Army is the best at what it does."
The award was created in 1987 by the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Foundation
to recognize company-grade officers who demonstrate MacArthur's ideals
of "duty, honor, country." The award sustains and promotes effective
junior leadership in the Army.
The mother of Capt. Edward E. Kennedy, one of several deployed Soldiers
receiving the award, accepted the honor for her son. Mrs. Mary Kennedy
was excited to be at the ceremony.
"As a mom, I'm very proud," Kennedy said. "Ed's a great leader. He
attributed the fact that he got the award to all the good NCOs under
him."
Kennedy said her son was humbled by the award.
"I'm very proud of him-I wish he was here," she said.
The atmosphere at the ceremony was excited and enthusiastic. Commanders
of various recipients were present to congratulate their nominees.
Family members and friends filled nearly every available seat.
Capt. Scott D. Wence, of Army Forces Command, was stunned to be at the ceremony.
"I didn't know I was nominated," Wence said with a smile.
"I'm very honored. There are a lot of eligible captains out there, a
lot of my peers that do very well also. It's an honor to be selected,"
he said.
Each year, Army major commands nominate a prescribed number of eligible
Soldiers for the award and forward the selectee's information to the
Pentagon for review. Soldiers are chosen for the award based on
criteria including leadership, influence, proficiency, values,
team-building and personal skills.
"These Soldiers have without a doubt demonstrated Gen. MacArthur's ideals of duty, honor and country," Casey said.
To see the full list of awardees, visit www.armyg1.army.mil/macarthur.
Mrs.
Mary Kennedy, Gen. George W. Casey, Jr., and Mr. David Thiel of the
Gen. Douglas MacArthur Foundation pose for a group picture at the
awards ceremony. Kennedy accepted the award on behalf of her son, Capt.
Edward E. Kennedy of Army Forces Command, who is currently deployed.
Photo by Jacqueline M. Hames
Source and credits : http://www.army.mil/-news/2008/05/14/9156-company-grade-leaders-receive-macarthur-awards/
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