thedrifter
05-11-07, 08:55 AM
Sgt. Maj. Bradley A. Kasal imparts knowledge
Story by: Cpl. Ray Lewis
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(May 10, 2007) -- Navy Cross recipient Sgt. Maj. Bradley A. Kasal gave a presentation on leadership to approximately 100 Marines aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton May 4.
Kasal made stops at MCB Camp Lejeune and MCB Quantico prior to coming here, but noted that Pendleton will always have part of his heart.
“Camp Pendleton will always have a special place with me,” Kasal said.
It’s simply because Kasal has spent much of his military career with the 1st Marine Division.
“For someone like him to give so much credit to his Marines that he served with shows that he is extremely humble,” said Sgt. Nathaniel B. Burford, a 22-year-old communications technician with 1st Intelligence Battalion, Marine Headquarters Group, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, who is from Fruita, Colo. “He understands that he did his job the way he’d expect any other Marine to do their job.”
During the period of instruction, Kasal reinforced setting goals and not being discouraged by criticism, Burford said.
“The biggest thing I got out of the (class) was how he set goals to work through recovery and to keep testing yourself no matter what everyone else is saying,” said Burford, who used Kasal’s “House of Hell” photo as motivation before every patrol when he was deployed.
One Marine at the class was lucky enough to have Kasal as a leader when he was deployed. The class was the first time he saw Kasal in a while.
“It’s good, because I haven’t seen him in a year,” said Staff Sgt. Sam J. Mortimer, a 31-year-old drill instructor with 1st Recruit Training Battalion at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, who is from Anchorage, Alaska. “He’s Sgt. Maj. Kasal, the epitome of leadership.”
For others it was a dream come true.
“It’s a great experience for myself to come out here. It puts a face to a hero,” said Sgt. Thomas L. Parsons, a 24-year-old communications technician with Ordnance Company, 1st Maintenance Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, who is from Hope, Ark. “It gives us a voice to hear and puts it in real-life perspective.”
Parsons said there’s a big difference between Kasal and some of the “heroes” kids look up to today.
“He’s no comic book superhero,” Parsons said. “It’s a modern-day, walking, real person. There are no special effects in his story.”
After the class, Kasal signed copies of his book, “My Men are My Heroes,” written by Nathaniel R. “Nat” Helms.
Kasal is more of a doer than he is a talker, but he did take a moment to define the word he lives by.
“Leadership is setting the example, striving to make your men the best they can be,” said the 39-year-old from Afton, Iowa. “Take care of them … that’s pretty much leadership.”
Ellie
Story by: Cpl. Ray Lewis
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(May 10, 2007) -- Navy Cross recipient Sgt. Maj. Bradley A. Kasal gave a presentation on leadership to approximately 100 Marines aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton May 4.
Kasal made stops at MCB Camp Lejeune and MCB Quantico prior to coming here, but noted that Pendleton will always have part of his heart.
“Camp Pendleton will always have a special place with me,” Kasal said.
It’s simply because Kasal has spent much of his military career with the 1st Marine Division.
“For someone like him to give so much credit to his Marines that he served with shows that he is extremely humble,” said Sgt. Nathaniel B. Burford, a 22-year-old communications technician with 1st Intelligence Battalion, Marine Headquarters Group, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, who is from Fruita, Colo. “He understands that he did his job the way he’d expect any other Marine to do their job.”
During the period of instruction, Kasal reinforced setting goals and not being discouraged by criticism, Burford said.
“The biggest thing I got out of the (class) was how he set goals to work through recovery and to keep testing yourself no matter what everyone else is saying,” said Burford, who used Kasal’s “House of Hell” photo as motivation before every patrol when he was deployed.
One Marine at the class was lucky enough to have Kasal as a leader when he was deployed. The class was the first time he saw Kasal in a while.
“It’s good, because I haven’t seen him in a year,” said Staff Sgt. Sam J. Mortimer, a 31-year-old drill instructor with 1st Recruit Training Battalion at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, who is from Anchorage, Alaska. “He’s Sgt. Maj. Kasal, the epitome of leadership.”
For others it was a dream come true.
“It’s a great experience for myself to come out here. It puts a face to a hero,” said Sgt. Thomas L. Parsons, a 24-year-old communications technician with Ordnance Company, 1st Maintenance Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, who is from Hope, Ark. “It gives us a voice to hear and puts it in real-life perspective.”
Parsons said there’s a big difference between Kasal and some of the “heroes” kids look up to today.
“He’s no comic book superhero,” Parsons said. “It’s a modern-day, walking, real person. There are no special effects in his story.”
After the class, Kasal signed copies of his book, “My Men are My Heroes,” written by Nathaniel R. “Nat” Helms.
Kasal is more of a doer than he is a talker, but he did take a moment to define the word he lives by.
“Leadership is setting the example, striving to make your men the best they can be,” said the 39-year-old from Afton, Iowa. “Take care of them … that’s pretty much leadership.”
Ellie