Engineer Memoirs _____________________________________________________________________
So, you know, I was following up on that. He came in from the Director of Civil Works
position, of course, under the previous Chief. So, I think he saw that aspect, and that was
something that didn't suit how he wanted to operate.
A:
Well, he's very comprehensive, and so he can handle a whole lot of things all at once. The
Chief of Engineers, like a lot of people--like when I was at Fort Belvoir; like when I
commanded in Germany--as the boss has demands on time from well-meaning people who
like to have him come out and visit their organizations and show the flag because it makes
them all feel good, and it's kind of important.
Sometimes the Chief, or his player, needs to be at the battle--moving toward the sound of
guns. Sometimes it's more important, and you do more for the organization being at an Army
Select Committee meeting than out visiting "Project X" or "District Y" and feeling good that
we have the very best people in the federal government working on these jobs.
Q:
It would seem, from what you said earlier, that you both have a sense of when you need to be
at those kinds of things, and, you know, that that's the priority. It may not be the sexy things
in terms of the people out there that want the flag shown and all that.
A:
Right.
Q:
In terms of attending Select Committee meetings and other meetings in the Pentagon, then,
have you found yourself just doing that frequently? It seems that General Hatch does it a lot
himself.
A:
I've attended Select Committee meetings and I have attended general staff council
meetings--all those meetings for him. Pete Offringa, the ACE, does also, as the guy over
there in the Pentagon. General Hatch, if he's here, will go to them. So, whatever works best,
that's what we try to do. Sometimes when he's here, but he has to go somewhere, I'll do it.
Often we'll size up the subject matter and see who the players have been, and that will make
our determination, as well.
Way back, when I wrote him a letter congratulating him on being chosen Chief, I gave him a
couple of pages of friendly guidance and counsel that suggested that he needed to pay
attention to the Army's POM schedule, the Select Committee schedule, and that he needed to
play and win in Washington. Sometimes he ought to look at his schedule so that he doesn't
get trapped away when he needs to be there, and be ready to break things.
I remember General Noah telling me once how he was supposed to fly out to somewhere,
while he was Comptroller of the Army, and more than once called and canceled a half an
hour before the flight was supposed to leave because of something critical that was
happening.
I think Hank Hatch has done that. In fact, after he came in, he said, "Well, I got your letter
out the other day, just before you came in, and I think you should be happy that most of the
things you mentioned I've accommodated." I said, "Yes, that's been obvious to me."
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