Gen. Stanley McChrystal

And sort of the last thing I remember is getting caught again. Literally the night I was... You know, the day I was off my first one and I get a second one. And I'm about to get thrown out for that because I go into this commandant's board where a colonel is the president of the board. And he was, you know, obviously an older Vietnam veteran, real mature guy.

And I thought they were going to throw me out because based upon how much the punishment would be, it would either put me over demerits and throw me out then or not. But when I walked in, he goes, I don't get it. He says, you just got off this other one and now we're about to hit you with another big slug.

And I thought they were going to throw me out because based upon how much the punishment would be, it would either put me over demerits and throw me out then or not. But when I walked in, he goes, I don't get it. He says, you just got off this other one and now we're about to hit you with another big slug.

And I thought they were going to throw me out because based upon how much the punishment would be, it would either put me over demerits and throw me out then or not. But when I walked in, he goes, I don't get it. He says, you just got off this other one and now we're about to hit you with another big slug.

And as soon as he said that, I knew I wasn't going to get thrown out because he just said, you know, we're dismissing you. I knew I was going to get under the wire. So it was another big slug. It was another 44 hours on the area, another two months of special confinement. And so it was pretty painful, but I didn't get thrown out, which was a positive.

And as soon as he said that, I knew I wasn't going to get thrown out because he just said, you know, we're dismissing you. I knew I was going to get under the wire. So it was another big slug. It was another 44 hours on the area, another two months of special confinement. And so it was pretty painful, but I didn't get thrown out, which was a positive.

And as soon as he said that, I knew I wasn't going to get thrown out because he just said, you know, we're dismissing you. I knew I was going to get under the wire. So it was another big slug. It was another 44 hours on the area, another two months of special confinement. And so it was pretty painful, but I didn't get thrown out, which was a positive.

Well, it's interesting. In the moment, I didn't learn a lot. But over time, when I process it later, you know, I'd always wanted to be a soldier. I wasn't as interested in West Point as I was to be a soldier. So I had to go through West Point to be my father because my father was my hero. He was a combat veteran. Korea and Vietnam was still on active duty at the time.

Well, it's interesting. In the moment, I didn't learn a lot. But over time, when I process it later, you know, I'd always wanted to be a soldier. I wasn't as interested in West Point as I was to be a soldier. So I had to go through West Point to be my father because my father was my hero. He was a combat veteran. Korea and Vietnam was still on active duty at the time.

Well, it's interesting. In the moment, I didn't learn a lot. But over time, when I process it later, you know, I'd always wanted to be a soldier. I wasn't as interested in West Point as I was to be a soldier. So I had to go through West Point to be my father because my father was my hero. He was a combat veteran. Korea and Vietnam was still on active duty at the time.

And so I was trying to be him. And I put it all at risk. I literally put, you know, it's a great story now when I go up and I've spoken at Westport a few times. Here I am, retired four-star general. I can joke about how many punishments I had and how close I was to get thrown out. But if I'd gotten thrown out, it wouldn't be a funny story. It would be something I probably didn't mention.

And so I was trying to be him. And I put it all at risk. I literally put, you know, it's a great story now when I go up and I've spoken at Westport a few times. Here I am, retired four-star general. I can joke about how many punishments I had and how close I was to get thrown out. But if I'd gotten thrown out, it wouldn't be a funny story. It would be something I probably didn't mention.

And so I was trying to be him. And I put it all at risk. I literally put, you know, it's a great story now when I go up and I've spoken at Westport a few times. Here I am, retired four-star general. I can joke about how many punishments I had and how close I was to get thrown out. But if I'd gotten thrown out, it wouldn't be a funny story. It would be something I probably didn't mention.

It would have been an opportunity lost. So, you know, maybe late in life, I learned if there are things that really matter, value them.

It would have been an opportunity lost. So, you know, maybe late in life, I learned if there are things that really matter, value them.

It would have been an opportunity lost. So, you know, maybe late in life, I learned if there are things that really matter, value them.

Yeah, my experience at West Point was much like a colonoscopy. It's nice of you to remind me.

Yeah, my experience at West Point was much like a colonoscopy. It's nice of you to remind me.

Yeah, my experience at West Point was much like a colonoscopy. It's nice of you to remind me.

No, really my first two years at West Point, then a couple of things happened. One is I probably started mature a bit. Second is I met the girl I've now been married to for 48 years. And so she sort of helped She gave me a reason to sort of straighten up. And then I had a new tactical officer come in. And when he came in, he had this first meeting with me at the beginning of junior year.