Getting the chaplain his pants
"Through perseverance many people win success out of what seemed destined to be certain failure." Benjamin Disraeli
The moral of this story is perseverance and tenacity. Sometimes you have to push and persevere against all odds. In 2006 I was a Major serving in the Army's 82nd Airborne Division. My family and I were headed to the Smoky Mountains for a long weekend break. It was late Friday evening and I was on the highway headed west when my cell phone rang. My heart skipped a beat. I was serving in the 82nd after all, and calls from work long after close of business were customary. And they were never good news.
We had lost a solider to an accident or suicide (I can't recall) and my battalion chaplain, along with a few other paratroopers were scheduled to fly early the next morning to be with the family for the funeral. It had been an especially demanding week on all of us, not to mention the family of course. On the other end of the line was my battalion chaplain Craig. The conversation went something like this.
"Sir, remember when you did your initial counseling with me you offered your help if ever I needed it?" "Yes of course, I replied." "Well this is one of those times. I forgot to pick up my Army dress green pants from the cleaners and my flight is at 0630 tomorrow." Craig, in particular, had a difficult week and the last thing he needed from me was admonishment. He needed his pants. I immediately started problem solving. We went back and forth discussing options, none if which were feasible at this late hour. "Ok, let me go to work on this and I'll call you back."
Fort Bragg was like any other base. It had recall rosters with phone numbers for emergencies on just about every person who worked there. "Watch me. I'm gonna get the chaplain his pants," I said to my wife. She smirked in disbelief. It was around 10 p.m. I started at the top with the duty officer at the 18th Airborne Corps headquarters. For the next 45 minutes or so I called soldier after soldier in search of the person who ran the dry cleaners at the post exchange. I just knew someone had her number. I was on a mission and neither time nor the bureaucracy was on my side. I had to be curt and somewhat abrasive refusing 'no' for an answer.
Duty officers are not allowed to release phone numbers or addresses but they can make calls on your behalf which made the challenge even greater. I'm sure I called well over ten people that evening. I just knew there was a way to find the lady who ran the dry cleaners. My wife was frustrated and a bit angered with my tone as I battled in the name of my chaplain's pants. The battle ended in victory. I received a call that the lady who ran the dry cleaners was on her way to open the shop. I called Craig and told him to head to the dry cleaners right away to meet her.
To the day, when I'm up against great odds, I whip out this phrase, "I'm gonna get the chaplain his pants." The spirit of this statement has served me well in my career as a leader and as a man responsible for the wellbeing of others, battling stupidity and bureaucracy. Of course, I do work hard to be tactful and polite. Remember that part! Whose pants might you need to get?
Make it Personal!
Rob
Rob Campbell