3 Insights
“I doubt whether modern man experiences more distress than his ancestors. It’s not that people suffer more stress today. It’s just that they think they do.” – Hans Selye
“Normal is an illusion. What is normal to the spider is chaos to the fly.” – overheard in a British Café….reportedly
“Besides, it is a disgrace to grow old through sheer carelessness before seeing what manner of man you may become by developing your bodily strength and beauty to their highest limit. But you cannot see that, if you are careless; for it will not come of its own accord.” – Xenophon, Memorabilia 3:12
What I Learned this Week
17,000 men from the 101st fought in Bastogne. They suffered heavy casualties from just a few weeks of fighting in the frozen Belgium forest. The Airborne Division’s casualties from 19 December 1944 to 6 January 1945 were reportedly 341 killed, 1,691 wounded, and 516 missing.
Approximately 16 million Americans served in uniform during World War II. This included approximately 11.2 million in the Army, 4.2 million in the Navy, and 660,000 in the Marine Corps. The US population in 1940’s (when the US entered the war) was estimated to be around 132 million. This means that about 12% of the total US population served in the military during World War II. Almost 40% of those who served were volunteers, while the remaining 60% were draftees.
Sadly in our modern day, there are roughly 1.31 million active-duty members, along with a reserve force of about 762,000. Less than 1% of the total US population now serves in the military.
Nothing east about Easy Company
During the Civil War it was called Soldier’s Heart. During World War I, it was called Shell Shock. During World War II, it was called Battle Fatigue.
In our modern world, you may have heard of PTS (post traumatic stress). You may have heard of anxiety.
Whether you realize it or not, your mind is connected to your heart. Even your thoughts are connected to your heart. How else can you explain an increase in your blood pressure when your mind is racing? How else can you explain an elevated heart rate when your adrenaline is pumping and various thoughts creep into your mind?
“Life is largely a process of adaptation to circumstances in which we exist.” – Hans Selye
Pressure demands performance. When the stakes are high at work, at home, anywhere in your life, your circumstances demand that you perform. Anxiety and stress can be motivating. Being nervous, afraid, cautious, can mean that you care. It means you know that a lot is “on the line.”
The ancient Greeks had a word for Good, or Eu. The idea of Eustress is simply that stress can create adaptations and improvements in our lives if applied appropriately. There is an amount of stress that can be good for you. It can push you beyond your perceived limits.
On the other hand, distress can be a signal for help. Too much stress can cripple anyone mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually. Warriors throughout history have dealt with all of these on the battlefield.
Even in our modern age, we all encounter distress.
There was nothing easy about Easy Company and their experience at the Battle of the Bulge.
From December 1944 to January 1945, the American soldiers were outnumbered approximately 5 to 1. Sleeping in the dirt, they lacked cold-weather gear, ammunition, food, medical supplies, and even some might argue senior leadership. Because of the weather, the U.S. forces who were surrounded could not be resupplied by air. Tactical air support was not available due to cloudy conditions.
The barrage of German artillery was constant. Of the 140 men in E Company, they lost 82 casualties, including 14 killed in just a few weeks of heavy artillery and fighting. Despite the distress, the Company of young men, many who had not seen home in several years, found a way to perform.
First Lieutenant Ronald Speirs emerged as an incredible battlefield leader much like Captain Winters from earlier in the War. During the assault on the town of Foy, Speirs had to step in and lead. He ran through the town across the German lines to communicate with 1st platoon which had no radio. He linked up with the soldiers and relayed the assault orders. Having completed this task, he then ran back through the German-occupied town. First Sergeant Lipton later stated that “the Germans were so shocked at seeing an American soldier running through their lines – they forgot to shoot!”
Speirs was reassigned as commanding officer of E Company and remained in that position for the rest of the war.
Reflections
In your daily life, am I making the Easy choice or the right choice? Am I finding ways to combat distress, while seeking out eustress?
The Real Con 125