There’s something ironic about the Southern Command Admiral that Hegseth is stepping down prematurely. It won’t mean much to most people but the name Holsey is close to Halsey, the US Admiral who led retaliatory raids after Pearl Harbour. My father, whose role was to plan the North Atlantic convoys during WWII, knew ‘Bull’ Halsey and received an American medal from him after the war. Even though I was only in my teens I still have strong impressions of Adm. Halsey, whose grave I once saw in, I think, Arlington National Cemetery. I have a good deal of sympathy for all the military in today’s confusing time.
I’m not discussing the US armed services. I know nothing about them except what is published. You might think they would be better encouraged by some civilised behavior from the executive branch but I couldn’t possibly comment on that. I am proudly half American, my mother having shared a classroom with Charles Lindberg. I want the USA to succeed.
The corollary of chaos is strength and the prognosis of strength is competence. My money is on authenticity for a military commander, as it is for any leader – commercial, social, political or religious. We have a lot of make-believe in our world now. Some of it is good, some educational and humorous. We also have more than our fair share of phony claptrap which can be harmful. There are no shields for that more successful than our own disciplines.
As we all experience a change in what it is to be human, the military has to deal with an even more formidable pivot about what we need for defence – and what war is becoming. Expensive name changes from ‘defense’ to ‘war’ doesn’t begin to cope with it. Once, the teachers were parents or lecturers and armaments were guns. We now have AI and drones. The military and the educators have more in common than might appear at first sight. Both need to be quickly adaptable to technological changes and have longer term views than just ‘today’.
Those who devote their life to the service of others, whether in health, education, security or care deserve polite and decent treatment whatever the situation suggests. I do not know today’s Adm. Holsey but I do know one thing about him and his ilk. They have devoted their lives to the service of others. Whatever the counterbalances of competence or behaviour they must be accorded dignity and respect. Failure to do so doesn’t demean them, it demeans those who don’t behave decently towards them.
It is my hope that one of my American cousins will forward my thanks to Adm. Holsey with the added wish that he may continue to have a fulfilling and enjoyable life. I shall not forget him or his near-namesake, Adm. Halsey, as I trundle down the rest of my life path.
The good are those who do, the great are those who remember.
The greatest are those who recognise other humans as valuable.
Oh that we could all become one of those.
Good morning
John Bittleston
Your views, as always, more than welcome at [email protected].
19 October 2025
