"During the period that Lieutenant Colonel Manuel A. Alves, a
hawk-nosed infantry officer from California, commanded the 3-506th Inf.
Battalion there was little doubt in anyone's mind as to who was in
charge. Sometimes within an Army outfit the Battalion Operations Officer
(S-3) or the Battalion Sergeant Major will try to run the battalion, but
when LTC Alves assumed command in December 1968, he let everyone
know that he followed the principles of Unity of Command and Chain of
Command. LTC Alves relied heavily on his company commanders, usually
senior 1st Lieutenants or junior Captains, but he also made sure that his
company commanders knew who their superior was, and that the orders
would come from only one person within the battalion as long as he held
the position of battalion commander. I seriously and honestly believe that
one of the main reasons why so few men from the 3rd-506th Inf. were
killed or seriously wounded while in Vietnam was the excellent leadership
exhibited by Black Hawk in the management of the battalion." -- Analysis
1971 Dr. James E. Gates
hawk-nosed infantry officer from California, commanded the 3-506th Inf.
Battalion there was little doubt in anyone's mind as to who was in
charge. Sometimes within an Army outfit the Battalion Operations Officer
(S-3) or the Battalion Sergeant Major will try to run the battalion, but
when LTC Alves assumed command in December 1968, he let everyone
know that he followed the principles of Unity of Command and Chain of
Command. LTC Alves relied heavily on his company commanders, usually
senior 1st Lieutenants or junior Captains, but he also made sure that his
company commanders knew who their superior was, and that the orders
would come from only one person within the battalion as long as he held
the position of battalion commander. I seriously and honestly believe that
one of the main reasons why so few men from the 3rd-506th Inf. were
killed or seriously wounded while in Vietnam was the excellent leadership
exhibited by Black Hawk in the management of the battalion." -- Analysis
1971 Dr. James E. Gates
"You missed! But kill me if you
can, you SOB. Four bullets in
the cockpit, one in the
compressor, and down we
went. I wish Black Hawk and his
Currahees would take the day
off. That old man is going to get
me killed." -CW2 Bobby Miller
can, you SOB. Four bullets in
the cockpit, one in the
compressor, and down we
went. I wish Black Hawk and his
Currahees would take the day
off. That old man is going to get
me killed." -CW2 Bobby Miller
A Good Man, An Extraordinary Soldier
A Man We Called Black Hawk
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Black Hawk doing what he did best--caring for his men.
Honestly, I could have been in the middle of a damn heart attack and
he'd expect me to rush out to medivac one of his troopers with a
toothache. God rest his soul.
Honestly, I could have been in the middle of a damn heart attack and
he'd expect me to rush out to medivac one of his troopers with a
toothache. God rest his soul.
Biography
Miller served as a pilot in
Vietnam in 1968-69 and was
awarded the Distinguished
Flying Cross and the Air Medal.
Challenged Richard Shelby for a
seat in the U.S. Senate in 1992.
Produced the television show,
The Late Show (BLAB 2001).
Worked as the golf professional
on Holland America's ms
Westerdam.
Miller served as a pilot in
Vietnam in 1968-69 and was
awarded the Distinguished
Flying Cross and the Air Medal.
Challenged Richard Shelby for a
seat in the U.S. Senate in 1992.
Produced the television show,
The Late Show (BLAB 2001).
Worked as the golf professional
on Holland America's ms
Westerdam.
( Currahee.org ) ( Currahee3-506.org )
Again, LTC Alves doing his
thing--promoting a young
trooper in the field. That's the
good news. The bad news is
now this guy must live up to the
boss's expectations or off come
the stripes.
I can't tell you how many times
I've had to drink out of that
canteen of his because, as a
former Air Force guy, I had
forgotten to fill mine or had left it
in my tent.
thing--promoting a young
trooper in the field. That's the
good news. The bad news is
now this guy must live up to the
boss's expectations or off come
the stripes.
I can't tell you how many times
I've had to drink out of that
canteen of his because, as a
former Air Force guy, I had
forgotten to fill mine or had left it
in my tent.
I met my therapist in her little room, not much larger
than a fat woman's womb. She said what she thunk
about me gettin drunk, and said as of this day I would
think as she and she as me.
I am now in her little room happy as can be, but having
to squat to pee. While my therapist is in the park, all
alone long after dark, sitting under a tree with a gallon
of Port and PTSD.
than a fat woman's womb. She said what she thunk
about me gettin drunk, and said as of this day I would
think as she and she as me.
I am now in her little room happy as can be, but having
to squat to pee. While my therapist is in the park, all
alone long after dark, sitting under a tree with a gallon
of Port and PTSD.
"Men who believe absurdities
will commit atrocities."
-Voltaire
will commit atrocities."
-Voltaire
“I like your Christ, I do not like
your Christians. Your Christians
are so unlike your Christ.”
-Mahatma Gandhi
your Christians. Your Christians
are so unlike your Christ.”
-Mahatma Gandhi