Combat deployments are often replete with examples of physical courage. The Spear has been a platform to share many stories of that courage. But military service also often involves instances when a different type of fortitude is required: moral courage. But what does that mean?
Retired US Marine Colonel Rick Jackson spent nearly three and a half decades in uniform. During a career that spans so many years, challenges requiring moral courage are bound to add up. He joins this episode to share the story of one of those challenges. Set against the backdrop of a difficult time for the Marines responsible for securing Iraq’s restive Anbar province, he describes how he navigated a difficult situation and reflects on the lessons he had learned to that point in his career—lessons that enabled him to act with moral courage.
Listen to the full story below, and if you aren’t already subscribed to The Spear, be sure to do so on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn, or your favorite podcast app.
Image credit: Lance Corporal Ryan L. Tomlinson, US Marine Corps
40 yrs ago almost to the month on a cold and cloudy February afternoon I checked aboard Co I MarSptBn Adak, Alaska as a young PFC straight out of A School (Navy / Marine term for primary MOS training after bootcamp). I arrived on that small island a thousand miles from the mainland where the wind always blew, the weather was always nasty, and the sun peaked just above the horizon for maybe four hours a day during the winter… it was something I had never experienced nor expected to experience as a kid from Arkansas' Ozarks. My first assignment at Co I was with Sergeant Rick Jackson's section.
Listening to now Col Jackson ret. took me back those 4 decades, back to Co I, standing watch, and remembering what a young Sergeant of Marines taught to a boot PFC. I remember Rick's great sense of humor, his ability to mentor junior Marines and positively influence their behavior, how he set an impressive physical example, and how he instilled Marine traditions and behavior in all that served with him. Rick was instrumental in my meritorious promotion to Cpl a year later. His influence and example of leadership followed me through my time in the Corps leading me to some unique opportunities.
Listening to his story it is evident Rick is still the same Marine he was on Adak – hard charging, motivated and most of all his unbounding integrity to who he was and to the Corps. I was there the day his orders came in for OCS – it was a motivating day. I was glad to hear he was commissioned as a Marine infantry officer – that means he would have stopped his continual grousing about not being able to be a grunt. I'm proud to have served with him all those years ago. Thank you for making this episode happen. Semper Fi Marine!