Transcript
the last one I flew with was Colonel Hughes, the 4RAR. Different style of leadership. He was a born manager of men. Now, he wasn't the very, very strict disciplinarian but every bloke in his battalion knew if you're told to do something, he does it. He was still the boss but he was a very good manager of men and he really impressed me because when we got into the battle of Nui Le, I flew a lot that day, and I'll get on to that later if you want me to, but when he realised it was a significant battle he got me to fly him back to the command post.
Now where should a CO be when there's a big battle? In the command post, managing the battle, supporting his troops. He doesn't need to be out flying around his damn helicopter. He's got to get back there and make sure things are right. Not his deputy. He should be there and he did it and he's, in my estimation, he became top dog when he did that. And it was an extremely busy day.
