After the interview with the battalion commander, Nathan’s introduction to “King Andrew” was a breeze. From the moment he stepped into his company commander’s office, Nathan could sense that this officer did not possess the same commanding presence that Norman Blackwell had in abundance. It was more than the tone of voice in their stilted conversation. Blackwell had paused several times when he had talked to Nathan. But those pauses had been for effect. The numerous interludes in conversation with Captain Andrew King, however, seemed more from a lack of forethought than intent.

Unlike the battalion commander, King took great pains to explain what his expectations of Nathan were. “You have great deal to learn,” King pointed out several times, “about handling soldiers. This isn’t VMI, or West Point, or Texas A&M. All too often the troopers you’ll be leading think they have a better idea, or what is or isn’t important. I am the company commander,” King stated crisply. “I obey the colonel’s every order and, in turn, when I give an order I expect you to hop-to, salute sharply, and execute that order without question, without hesitation. Is that clear, Lieutenant?”

Nathan resisted the urge to smile. He had heard this all before, first from his father, then from his cadre at VMI. He was beginning to wonder if this statement, like so many others, was not carefully inscribed on a sacred stone tablet entitled “The Maxims of Army Leadership” that was hidden away where the passing of time and sunlight never intruded. Of course Nathan knew that an order was an order. Of course he understood that when a company commander said jump, the only question that would be tolerated from a platoon leader was “how high?” So he let this part of the protracted in-briefing by his company commander make its way in one ear and, just as quickly, slip out the other.

The rest of this first meeting between Andrew King and his new platoon leader covered a lot of ground. During a monotone monologue, King tried to address everything. The status and strength of the unit, the daily routine of A Company, the training cycle they were currently in, and a brief discussion on what to expect by way of exercises in the near future were all touched upon. “Our plate,” King pointed out after doing so, “is quite full. So I expect you to hit the ground with both feet and at a full run.”