by Tim Moore

 

                
Prussian emperor and military genius Frederick the Great advised his commanders to "always be audacious." So did Patton. Yet somewhere in time, the meaning of audacity shifted from fearless intrepidity to a suggestion of misplaced hubris or pompous overconfidence. Yet I know of no exceptional leader in or outside media, who is not audacious when circumstance requires it. Business or politics, the price for avoiding L'audace is a slow, painful captivity in under-achievement.
 
On the eve of December 14, 1944, the Third Army sought to relieve the siege at Bastogne (known today as the Battle of the Bulge). Brave Americans were holding on by a thread and mind-numbing courage in the face of Hitler's last desperate thrust against the Allies. Weather was on the German side: low clouds, freezing temperatures, and at times, zero visibility. This meant Patton's advancing Third Army was not only battling the elements, but had no air-cover since pilots could not see the topography. In an unusual measure of audacity, Patton sent for the Third Army chaplain.
 
"Chaplain, I want you to publish a prayer for good weather. I'm tired of these soldiers having to fight mud and snow as well as the Germans. See if we can't get some help from the Almighty."
 
Chaplain O'Neill lightly suggested to Patton that "it might take a pretty thick rug for that kind of prayer; an uncustomary thing to ask God's help for clear weather to kill their fellow man."
 
"I don't care if it takes a flying carpet, I want the praying done," said the general. "Chaplain, are you teaching me theology, or are you the chaplain of the Third Army?"
 
The chaplain affirmed with a simple "yes sir," then sought an engineering company to print the prayer he wrote for circulation among the troops, asking for clearing skies over Bastogne to allow much needed air support for the liberation of the besieged American troops. The chaplain's prayer was a masterpiece, asking among other things, "grant us fair weather for the battle...that we may crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies."
 
50 years hence, as leaders we may benefit from this curious application of audacity to memorialize and celebrate the spirit of our staff; which includes sincere notation of our company's triumphs big and small. Exceptional leaders preside over the celebration of their human assets and their day-to-day contributions, just as Patton's weather prayer and attached Christmas greeting accomplished with the men of the Third Army.
 
As for the weather prayer, against all forecasting the clouds and snow stopped the day after the prayer was issued. American P-51's and P 47's hugged the tree tops to support the relief of Bastogne. As Patton pinned a Bronze Star on his chaplain, he remarked that the chaplain was the most popular man at headquarters. "You sure stand in good with the Almighty."