Meritorious Mast
This award was the
result of a very bad incident that I wish never happened. My team leader LCPL
Epps's leadership style was very different from our squad leader Corporal
Cusumano's style. When Epps would not change he was fired, and to humiliate him
Cusumano put me, the lowest man in the team, in charge of him and the team. I
was in yet another impossible position! Cusumano told me to be tough with Epps,
and use physical punishment if he did not obey. They each had looked out for me
in the past, and I was still grateful to both of them. I would have to make a
choice between the two. Luckily for all of us, Epps broke his leg and had to
leave the team for a while, effectively defusing the situation temporarily. I'm
not sure if I would or even could have carried out Cusumano's orders if that had
not happened. I remained as team leader for a few weeks and got this award for
not destroying 3rd team while I was in charge. That team had been together for
more than a year before I joined them, and could function well even without an
experienced leader. In fact, the other two Marines were soon to become team
leaders themselves. They did not blame me, and used the opportunity to teach me,
thankfully.
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