Christian Living

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Sarge: An Agent Of Reconciliation
© 2011

by

Stephen A. Peterson


By everyone’s account, William ‘Sarge’ Stover brought honesty, fairness, and humor into any place he was present. If you were talking with Sarge, you felt like he treated you as though you were the most important person. He made you feel good about yourself even if you were being chewed out or receiving an “atta boy” or atta girl” from him. In short, Sarge was a people person.

On a 100 degree plus afternoon in central Iraq, Sarge, along with other members of his section were busy conducting chemical checks to determine if the area was contaminated by a harmful a Nuclear-Chemical- Biological (NBC) agent. Without warning, Colonel Carl Richmond and his driver entered the area.

“Oh, no. “sighed Captain Terry German. “What the devil does the Colonel want now? Sarge, I’m gonna disappear for a minute. Take charge, Sarge!”

“With all due respect, Captain, why are you avoiding the Colonel?”

Captain German explained that during the invasion of Kuwait, he was temporarily assigned to the Colonel’s Brigade staff. While on that assignment, Colonel Richmond tried to remove him as Commander of his Company to make him a permanent member of his staff. The Brigade position would not have advanced the Captain’s promotability. The Colonel’s move was done so without any discussion with the Captain plus he gave him a negative efficiency report following his duty. This, in Captain German’s mind added insult to injury. Captain German concluded that the Colonel hated him after removing him from his command and staff duty.

Until the Colonel’s arrived at their location, Sarge conducted a brief counseling session with his Commander. “Captain could it be that you might be looking at the past situation without giving the Colonel a chance? Have you talked to him about any of this? Could it be that you’re wrong about him? Have you considered that he just might be doing you a favor? I’ve said what I’ve said with all due with respect to you. He might be coming here to talk about the move he made and why he did what he did. I’ve been in the Army long enough to know that even Colonels make mistakes and apologize to their subordinates for them. If I were you Captain, I’d go talk to the Colonel! Be the man! You’re gonna have to talk to him at some point anyway—with all due respect!”

Captain German stood in Sarge’s presence stunned. He knew Sarge’s word were right on the money but they were difficult to accept. As the Colonel’s vehicle neared the two men, Captain German seemed frozen in place and was unable to move. The Colonel’s vehicle stopped about three feet from him. The Colonel stepped away from the vehicle walking straight towards the Captain German and Sarge. Both men came to attention then saluted the Colonel.

“Good morning, sir! How are you?”

“Great day to be in the Army, gentlemen. Thank you for asking. Hope both of you are doing well. Captain, would you please walk with me? Excuse me, Sergeant.”

To Captain German’s surprise, the Colonel revealed his difficulty coming to speak to him. He stated how he had to work up the courage to visit with him after he had failed to discuss moving him to a staff position without sitting down to talk with him about the move then following the mistake up with a negative efficiency report. Captain German was shocked when his Brigade Commander made his statement to him. Rather than gloat over the Colonel’s revelations, Captain German felt shame as he desired never to reconcile or forgive the Colonel as he knew he should.

As the afternoon sun began to in the Iraqi horizon, Colonel Richmond extended his hand to meet the Captain’s. They shook each other’s hand in a friendly gesture. “Thanks Captain for listening to me. If I would have admitted what I have told you to many of my peers, they would have assumed I am weak and a poor Commander.”

“To be truthful with you, sir, I am surprised. Sir, I also planned to avoid you. However, your approach plus one noncom has given me the highest level of respect for you. You didn’t have to thank me, sir. The pleasure of this meeting has been mine, Colonel Richmond. I learned a great deal about you but I learned more about myself.”

“Oh, by the way Captain, I also want to deliver this to you as well.”

Opening his briefcase, Colonel Richmond handed Captain German a revised Officer Efficiency Rating. The updated rating gave Captain German high recommendations with a conclusion to promote above his peers. Shaking the Captain’s hand once again, the Colonel left area.

Captain German soon afterwards met with William ‘Sarge’ Stover. “Thanks. Sarge. I met with the Colonel. We were able to reconcile our difference. I’d say because of you and your delaying action opened my eyes to the importance of reconciliation as well as the importance of forgiving. I also realized that you, Sarge, are a people person.”

“Glad to be helpful, Captain!”

What Sarge knew and understood was that people make mistakes because humanity is not perfect. Holding grudges only advances conflict and ill-will. Being unwilling to allow those who offend or hurt us time and the ability to mend fences with you is generally done out of pride or fear. Sarge also knew that by coaxing people to work through their unwillingness to forgive they will eventually discover how forgiveness frees them resulting in the spread of truth, light, peace and harmony among people. All attributes necessary if humanity is to live together.

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