My friend Marty was my XO on one of my ships. I was what he called a "Super-Lietenant", always getting stuff done, never backing away from a tough job. And he gave me plenty to do, but he was always fair about it and he worked his butt off too. A good example of a leader. We would talk a lot and smoke an occasional cigar together on the 02 Level deck. He was one of the finest naval officers I served with and was truly the nicest guy in the world. He had a wife and 3 daughters, two of whom were born on that tour in Japan when we served together. He gave me five Cubans when I got rung off the ship when my tour ended (we were stationed overseas and could get thm, though pricy).
I went to law school and he eventually retired and went to work at the Pentagon, oddly for another buddy of mine. That other friend told me how Marty always sang my praises and wished I had stayed in. I was humbled that someone I looked up to as a role model thought so highly of me. When I heard of the Navy Yard shootings the first person I thought of was Marty, but then I remembered he worked at the Pentagon.
I was wrong. Marty had transferred to the Navy Yard and was killed in the shooting. I literally dropped my phone when I read the news on it. I kept meaning to look him up and drop him a line. I'm so mad at myself for not doing it. Now I can't. I learned so much about the demeanor of a good leader from him, which I use to this day in my work. My heart aches for his wife and daughters.
Hand salute! Fair winds and following seas, shipmate. We'll be underway together someday on the flip side.
http://www.wjla.com/articles/2013/09/navy-yard-shooting-victims-service-held-for-martin-bodrog-94322.html
I went to law school and he eventually retired and went to work at the Pentagon, oddly for another buddy of mine. That other friend told me how Marty always sang my praises and wished I had stayed in. I was humbled that someone I looked up to as a role model thought so highly of me. When I heard of the Navy Yard shootings the first person I thought of was Marty, but then I remembered he worked at the Pentagon.
I was wrong. Marty had transferred to the Navy Yard and was killed in the shooting. I literally dropped my phone when I read the news on it. I kept meaning to look him up and drop him a line. I'm so mad at myself for not doing it. Now I can't. I learned so much about the demeanor of a good leader from him, which I use to this day in my work. My heart aches for his wife and daughters.
Hand salute! Fair winds and following seas, shipmate. We'll be underway together someday on the flip side.
http://www.wjla.com/articles/2013/09/navy-yard-shooting-victims-service-held-for-martin-bodrog-94322.html
