The Battles of Peace: One Company Commander's Battle Against Drugs And Racial Conflict In The War To Rebuild The Post-vie

One company commander’s battle against drugs and racial conflict in the war to rebuild the post-Vietnam armyIn 1974, being a soldier was neither an easy nor a popular profession, as Captain Michael Lee Lanning found out when he assumed command ... Read more

One company commander’s battle against drugs and racial conflict in the war to rebuild the post-Vietnam army

In 1974, being a soldier was neither an easy nor a popular profession, as Captain Michael Lee Lanning found out when he assumed command of Company A, 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division in Schweinfurt, Germany.

The start-up problems of the all-volunteer forces were still painfully evident in the United States Army. Morale was low, drug abuse high, racial conflict frequent, discipline poor, and criminal activity common. Even the barracks were a pathetic shamble.

These were just some of the problems Captain Lanning faced as he struggled to make Alpha Company “combat ready.” What followed is a shining testament to how leadership by example can make a difference. In eighteen months, Alpha Company went from being an unruly, unprofessional, drug-infested unit to the best in the battalion, racking up top marks, honors, and commendations. They became a company to which Lanning could honestly say: “You are the best soldiers in the best company in the best army in the world.” Less