Obama’s New Appointment
by Chris Barrick • July 2009 • 22 Comments •
Max Cleland (Stetson 1964) has spent his life dedicated to veteran affairs, serving as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in the Carter Administration, a senator from Georgia, and most recently was appointed Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission by President Obama. As American’s celebrate their independence on this Fourth of July holiday, we are celebrating the men and women who have come before us defending our freedom. Having lost three limbs during Vietnam, there are few better representatives of this defense of freedom than Max Cleland.
Cleland was recently at the 65th anniversary of the invasion at Normandy because his organization runs the cemetery at Normandy.
“I was honored to be there with the President. I liked to go back just to look at the gravesites,†says Cleland. “Just to look at that beach; every American ought to do that and come away with the question that was on the lips of the man whose life was saved. Did I earn it? That is the question.â€
Cleland was recently at the 65th anniversary of the invasion at Normandy because his organization runs the cemetery at Normandy.
The Fraternity and Vietnam
Cleland first attended Stetson in the fall of 1960, when the draft was still active. The majority of the chapter was in ROTC and assisting the detachment commander, who was also the fraternity president
“Tony Purino set the standard for us all; for excellence, for leadership, for surviving, for finishing Stetson and going on to serve in the military and in public service.†says Cleland. “I learned very early that’s what you did if you were a Lambda Chi. You learned to lead in your fraternity and you learned to lead in the military and you learned to lead in your world.â€
Cleland left Stetson before graduation for the U.S. Army where he attained the rank of captain. He received the Silver Star and Bronze Star for various combat missions.
On April 8, 1968, Cleland was injured by a grenade, shredding both his legs and an arm. Ultimately, both legs were amputated above the knee along with his right forearm.
Following his return, Cleland reentered Stetson University and Lambda Chi Alpha. “I came back after I was wounded and I was greeted by the young men, then in the ’70s, who treated me as a long lost brother,†says Cleland.
Cleland says Lambda Chi gave him structure at Stetson.
“I trusted that structure and it did not disappoint me,†says Cleland. “The powerful meaning of the brotherhood is still powerful and it grows through the years. The examples of leadership that I learned on campus from men…have not disappointed me.â€
He looks back to his college days and is not only grateful for the social aspect but for the brotherhood, friends, and people that cared about him, leaders, and focus Lambda Chi Alpha provided.
“I trusted that structure then and I honor that structure now,†says Cleland. “It fulfilled its mission.â€
Cleland has continued to give back to his university. He has served on the board of trustees, and led an effort to put together Leadership Stetson. There is also a Max Cleland collection on display at the university which includes his fraternity badge.
Veterans Affairs
“They once asked President John Kennedy how he became a war hero, and he said, ’simple – they sank my boat,’†says Cleland. “So, how did I get involved in veterans affairs and stuff? Simple – the grenade went off.â€
Cleland became a passionate advocate for treatment of veterans in the VA Hospital system. At the age of 34 Cleland became the youngest president of the VA ever (now known as Secretary of Veteran Affairs). It was only seven years earlier when Cleland had been a struggling patient at the VA.
“I got to focus on the returning Vietnam veterans and put together the Vets program which is now modeled for returning Iraq and Afghan veterans in terms of counseling,†says Cleland. “So, you know, maybe we made a small contribution back in those days.â€
Cleland went on to become an advocate for veterans and the disabled in the Georgia State Senate and as a member of the US Senate.
“I guess the good Lord meant for me to spend my time and energy dealing with veteran’s issues and those who served in the war and who were wounded in battle, and, as Lincoln would say, their full measure of devotion in the war.†says Cleland.
American Battle Monuments Commission
There is line in the archives building in Washington DC that reads “Past is Prolongedâ€.
“In many ways, I deal with what is past; World War I, World War II and the service and the sacrifice thereof that are memorialized in those cemeteries, mostly in Western Europe,†says Cleland. “But unfortunately, it has become prolonged that young Americans are asked to put their lives on the line for the rest of us.â€
Cleland’s recent presidential appointment as secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission has him running the 24 cemeteries abroad. These cemeteries are where slain American soldiers are buried and memorialized.
“I will say this; that in terms of those monuments, and those gravesites in Western Europe, they did change the history of the 20th century and the 21st century in the sense that they gave us a more peaceful world for tens of millions of people.
“So, in many ways, you are dealing with the past and the service and sacrifice of the past. But, in so many ways, that begs the question, did I earn it?†says Cleland. “One would hope that the service and sacrifice of this generation moves the cause of peace a little bit further forward.â€
Back at the 65th anniversary of D-Day, Cleland is asking himself what’s it all about?
“As President Obama says, that generation, those men changed the course of history for the 20th century and now, those of us who are living, we get a chance to put together a new America and a new Europe, and argue for peace rather than war. I think that is a powerful, positive thing.â€
“For now I will focus on the job at hand and make sure that the slain Americans around the world are given their due,†says Cleland. “And that is what my mission is, given to me by President Obama.
To read more about Max Cleland look for his biography, Heart of a Patriot, being released October 6, 2009
dan mcgarity Says:
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:14 pmMax is a great speaker, nice guy and politician. However he embarassed himself with his childish remarks about President Bush.
John Doe Says:
July 2nd, 2009 at 8:23 pmI am not persuaded that this guy is “what July 4 is all about.” Is he a “hero” because he dropped a box of grenades and wounded himself? He was a
Carter lackey of the first order. The voters of his home state sent him home in semi-disgrace. Now he is rescued by a fellow “progressive” who found a job for him at the public trough.
Mike Raymond Says:
July 2nd, 2009 at 8:35 pmJohn Doe,
Are you a member of Lambda Chi? If so, I find that hard to believe. I don’t think he got a Bronze Star and a Silver Star for “a dropped box of grenades.” This is a mean spirited post that is unbecoming of a member of our Fraternity.
Mike Raymond Says:
July 2nd, 2009 at 8:37 pmBrother Dan,
What are you talking about? I see nothing in this article that makes reference to former President Bush.
Tom Earp Says:
July 3rd, 2009 at 12:09 pmAll one has to do is look at Brother Max C and what he paid for to be a member and citizen of this country we live in. I see nothing wrong if he wishes to not follow the path of a leader. Is not that what we learned as Brothers? Make a choice, not follow blindly? If that was the case, we would be very poor Brothers as we are trained to be leaders. BTW, the medals he won are for valor, not stupidity.
Tom Earp
LX Z 1
Pittsburg State Un. Ks.
Loren Says:
July 3rd, 2009 at 12:21 pmYou’re absolutely right, Mike. John Doe’s mean spirited remarks are the kind of thing that literally turn “brother against brother.” Do we really need that? This article made me proud to be a Lambda Chi. John Doe’s remarks made me ashamed. Congrats, JD. Know that you’re a divider, not a uniter. The true spirit of brotherhood!
Bobby McDowell Says:
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:02 pmI have had the privilege of meeting Brother Cleland and I can tell you there isn’t a finer example of a Lambda Chi anywhere. I am honored to call this man my Brother.
David Eller Says:
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:19 pmI was Max’s “big brother” at Stetson University in 1960. We were proud to get him to join us for many reasons. He was a 6 1/2 foot tall athelete, and played on Stetson’s well respected basketball team, for one. But he also was a very serious Christian, which at the time, fit in well with our Chapter, since Stetson was a Baptist affiliated University. However,he was a political liberal Democrat even then; and though overwhelmingly out numbered by conservative Republicans in our chapter, never relented in his viewpoint. I’m pleased that the Obama Administration has chosen him for this position for which he is perfectly suited. Congratulations Max! David Eller, ZT234
Bill Bedell Says:
July 4th, 2009 at 9:57 amMax was one of a kind!! As an older underclassman living in the “house” I came in contact with Max often. Although I was of the other party I had great respect for him. Hoorah Max. Bill Bedell ZT272
Tom Lightning Says:
July 4th, 2009 at 7:15 pmJohn is not very tactful, but what he says is true. Max Cleland was injured by his own grenade, not by enemy action. As for the Carter comments…that’s true too, Carter continues to embarrass us all.
Martin L. Smith, Past GHA Says:
July 4th, 2009 at 9:42 pmEVP Tom Helmbock and I visited Brother Cleland when he was a member of the U.S. Senate. At that time, Lambda Chi Alpha represented 2% of U.S. Congress (7 members in the House and 2 members in the Senate). Brother Cleland and his staff went to extraordinary efforts to make sure that Brother Helmbock and I were well received and Brother Cleland made sure everyone we encountered knew that we were fraternity brothers. He was vocal, engaged and proud to be a Lamda Chi. He represented our brotherhood to the core. I am humbled to be among brothers who share the core values of Lambda Chi Alpha with brother Cleland.
Most sincerely in ZAX,
Martin L. Smith, Past GHA
Mike Raymond Says:
July 4th, 2009 at 11:50 pmBrother Tom,
Thank you for your comment. I appreciate your more conservative response to this article.
What about the Bronze Star and Silver Star? What did he do to deserve that recognition? Do you really think that he didn’t deserve these awards?
Do you think that the US Army awarded these medals to a man who did not deserve them?
What were the circumstances surrounding the “grenade incident?”
What are your sources that back this statement of yours?
And, even if true, what does that have to do with this man’s character or love of his country?
I didn’t read anything here that claimed that the VC did this to him.
I also didn’t read anything in this article about why he got the Bronze Star or Silver Star.
Maybe a Purple Heart for his terrible injury…. I suspect he did something else to earn the Bronze Star and the Silver Star.
Perhaps you know more about this man than me. Please enlighten me.
Your comment about, “As for the Carter comments…that’s true too” is your opinion only.
I am not sure what John Doe or you are talking about in reference to Carter. Why should I, or any other Lambda Chi, be embarrassed by Carter?
More over, what does that contention have anything to do with this article?
I am amazed and sadded about this continued attack on our Brother.
Yours in ZAX,
Mike Raymond
Tom Lightning Says:
July 5th, 2009 at 3:37 pmI said nothing about the SS and BS…however, having spent two tours in VN, I can tell you every officer routinely got a BS…it was known as the ‘you were there medal.’
The grenade fell off his load bearing equipment and exploded.
The sources are all over…google them.
I did not say anything about his character/love of country.
Of course the Carter comments are my opinion, what else would they be?
Every Lambda Chi and every American should be embarrassed by Jimmy Carter, who is nearly as big an embarrassment as Obama…both apologizing for the USA’s actions. Tell that to the families of the 145,000 GIs buried on foreign shores, having died rescuing that particular country from a tyrant.
I have nothing against Max Cleland and this not an attack…just the facts.
This will be my last post on this subject.
Mike Raymond Says:
July 5th, 2009 at 4:49 pmBrother Tom,
Thank you for your response.
This will be my last post on this subject too.
Yours in ZAX,
Mike Raymond
Loren Says:
July 6th, 2009 at 1:27 amI’m sorry, Tom, but you don’t speak for all Lambda Chis. I, for one, am NOT embarrassed by Jimmy Carter or Barack Obama. If that makes me a “bad” Lambda Chi, then so be it. Why you and “John Doe” felt the need to inject your political opinions into an article about an honored brother is beyond me. As I said before, it serves no purpose except to turn brother against brother. I’m sure there are Lambda Chis of all political persuasions. It’s not your place to tell any of us what we should think in order to be good Americans or Lambda Chis. And by the way, you comments about Carter and Obama are not FACTS as you stated. They are your OPINIONS.
Bob Ivy Says:
July 6th, 2009 at 4:16 pmSorry Loren, but I agree with John Doe and Tom…and they are facts. All it takes is a brief look at the news and the average person cringes at what Obama has done to our country. Carter’s lousy record speaks for itself as well. Brother Cleland keeps lousy company.
Mark Whiting (AK 846) Says:
July 6th, 2009 at 4:29 pmMy political views are such that some brothers on this page would agree with me and some would disagree. In the spirit of brotherhood and unity, I am choosing not to share my political views in this forum. In that same spirit, I would not prevent others fom doing so, but I would ask only that each brother think what the effect of his posting might be. (Yours in ZAX.)
Loren Says:
July 6th, 2009 at 7:42 pmSorry Bob, YOU are wrong. They are NOT facts, they are opinions! You certainly have the right to agree with their opinions. But you go too far when you hail them as facts. I keep up with the news too, and I (and millions of others) draw a very different conclusion. It’s not a FACT that we are wrong – just because we don’t agree with you. And please don’t assume that YOUR view is the view of the “average person” (or the only acceptable point of view.) Last I saw Obama’s public approval ratings were pretty high. And by the way… Kudos to my good Republican brothers who commented that “although they disagreed with Brother Cleland’s political views, they admired and respected him as a man and a Lambda Chi.” THAT is brotherhood! We don’t all have to think alike. But to denigrate a brother (”he was a Carter lackey of the first order” and is currently serving “at the public trough”); to marginalize his service to his country (suggesting that was wounded through his own clusimness and only got a bronze star because everybody got one) is disgraceful. This is a man who lost three limbs in service to his country. And whether it was enemy fire, or a tragic accident really doesn’t matter. And then to make a blanket statement that “EVERY Lambda Chi and EVERY American should be embarrassed by Jimmy Carter (and Obama)” suggests that everyone is somehow required to think like you! I hate to tell you this, Tom (and Bob), but that isn’t the way it works in America. Frankly, I am far more embarrassed by another recent president but this is not the proper forum to be discussing that. I only mention it to make my point that I don’t think like you. In fact, in case you haven’t noticed, there are are millions and millions of Americans who don’t think like you! So please don’t tell me how to think (and then try to pretend that your “opinions” are the “facts” and that I am a bad Lambda Chi and a bad American because I don’t agree with them.) Let’s face it… Lambda Chis are a diverse group. We don’t think alike on every issue. Frankly, we’d be a pretty sick organization if we did. But, in the spirit of brotherhood, I think we should be respectful to one another – even if we don’t agree on all the issues. It is simply my opinion that several of the comments following this story were extremely disrespectful to Brother Cleland, and I find that unacceptable.
Charles (GR 1722) Says:
July 8th, 2009 at 12:52 pmAdmittedly, after reading all the previous posts, my political leanings are probably very much in line with the couple of nitwits on here that have decided it is a good idea to vomit their political ideology onto this web page. Again, thanks for making us look good and advancing the dialogue in a productive way. There are 10 million commentaries around the web expressing both sides of any issue that strikes your fancy Post these types of ill-intended remarks there, where thankfully I can miss them in my day to day reading. This is a fellow brother that, regardless of circumstances, has given portions of three limbs and countless hours of his time in service to this great country of ours. Far be it from me or anyone else on here to disparage him in anyway. This isn’t the right forum. If you want to drop trow on a fellow brother go do it somewhere else.
SFC Devin Rogers US Army Says:
July 8th, 2009 at 5:27 pmI am honored to have a brother who served on the front lines and still proves his commitment to our great country. I am a combat vet, Bosnia and Iraq. I hope all my brothers in Lambda Chi understand what it means to serve, and even more what it means to serve with valor. My Grandfather is buried at Normandy and I am happy a Lambda Chi is on watch.
Terry Wilburn Says:
July 9th, 2009 at 12:15 pmAdmiration,respect, and thanks to Bro Cleland!Like Bro Cleland I left OSU for the USMC before graduating. What I learned as a Lambda Chi helped me through 4 years in the Marines earning the rank of SgtE-5. Have now been married 43 years, completed my College degree, have 3 sons and am blessed in so many ways. The light of Lambda Chi, the love of Brothers who have forgiven, encouraged, whispered a word of good counsel in my ear, helped me to become a better man. Regarding the recent posts; Brother Cleland,leaders of our Country should always be respected for their service even though we may not always be in complete agreement. Praise in public, reprimand in private. I have expressed my position privately to leadership and have not always been complementary but offered help and assistance when possible. To those frustrating remarks, understanding and love is required. To all Lambda Chis, I am always proud to say, “MY BROTHER”. Terry AH841
Tom Earp Says:
July 10th, 2009 at 2:48 pmI wish I could say that I am amazed at the number of posts on this thread, but, as another Brother stated, we as Brothers of LXA are a very diverse group of people. Whether it be race or relegion, we have something to offer and recruit PNM’s to join us as Brothers. I admire anyone who not only spends thier time as a Brother but when they go onward and upward in life. There are many of our Brothers who have sacraficed themselves for our Country and whether anyone agrees with thier politics should not count but what they gave for us.
They are not gods, but just people like us who do what they do.
I never try to talk down about my Brothers who would not be here or working with each Zeta or IHQ! They are also my hero’s.
Tom Earp
LX Z 1