I want to start off buy saying that what is about to follow will be a series of things MSG Morrill did while in the posistion of Task Force Konohikis "Lead NCO" that were detrimental to the welfare of just about every soldier there and , for the most part demoralizing. It is not my intention to fulfill a personal vendetta against this man, although it may seem like it too many readers. What I want to show, and help the average person understand, is that one person can make a huge difference in the performance of a unit, whether it be good or bad.Because so many lives are at risk and the welfare of their families it is essential that our military put the best people possible in posistions of authority and rsponsiblity, this was NOT the case for TF Konohiki. I will only make about four entries dealing with what this "Lead NCO" did and failed too do, I really don't want this to be the "Lankey Morrill story'.
The function of the "Lead NCO" is to serve the commander first and foremost, at least that's what the book says, and he or she is also the standard setter for all other enlisted personel, regardless of rank or title. The training and welfare of the whole unit is dependent on this persons compentency, and when people are trying to kill members of that unit every person in that unit is evauluating the "Lead NCO".
One of the first things considered by subordinates is the character of their leaders. A good indicator of MSG Morrills character happened early in our forming of TF Konohiki. We had only been together a matter of days when of of the Iraqi soldiers we would be working with had his house fire-bombed wounding his wife and two daughters. ( I wrote of this early on this site, one child was two years the other eight months) MSG Morrill had his picture taken with the soldiers wife holding the eight month old baby girl after treatment for burns over their bodies. The purpose of this picture was to highlight his new posistion on TF Konohiki and be promptly posted on the Internet. While this picture was taken the second child was just yards away dying of her burns, in fact she died about three days later.AlI we could say about that when we found out was "What an insensitive Jackass". This guy showed us early on the world would revolve around him. The picture is on Yahoo under "TF Konohiki".
Another thing this guy did was cost the men of TF Konohiki between six and ten thousand dollars, I've heard many different numbers. We held a formation were he, MSG Morrill, stated that we would soon be recieving internet service from a private company and essentially ordered every person that wished to use this service to pay up in cash within one week, the last day was 8 April. I learned my amount was $320.00 most members of the unit paid something. I was the first person to pay my "required" fee and even paid $1,200.00 for a laptop in anticipation of Internet service.
It is the duty of the "Lead NCO" to ensure soldiers are not defrauding by orginizations like used car dealers, loan companys and so forth. To make a long story short the service was never provided and every person there lost money. When I pursued reimbursment I was told by the commanding officer in July "Tough, you are not getting a penny back. Your money is gone and so is everyone elses so deal with it!".
Had MSG Morrill been doing his job our unit would not have been defrauded as it was. Any decent clear thinking NCO/leader would have been looking out for the welfare of the troops. Morrill should have been court martialed but was instead decorated with a "Bronze Star" for meritorius conduct. As General Colin Powell feared we may be in the process of becoming a "Shameless society".
Stay tuned for the next few entries because it gets much better. I
I dont understand. Where did Morrill say the money went? Besides the commanding officer, arent there other officers you could all speak to about this too? I'm missing something here I guess. Also I know for a fact that you guys had internet access. Was that restricted to certain people?
Bottom line on Morrill, he was a fake. I gotta give Morrill credit, Morrill got the officers fooled. Officers thought Morrill was gold. Even the CSM for the bde (what a dummy). Until the last two weeks in country. There was one day when a Captain yelled at him saying he was a loser in front of all of us. Finally, the officer corps saw through all Morrill bull$%@t. You have to admit, we had internet access. If you dont mind walking about 2 1/2 miles full battle rattle just to wait in line with everyone else. Screw that! I rather go to the ALOC. Wait, we were discourged to go there too. By the way,no one wanted Morrill in the briade. Thats how I heard he the job. Blame it on leadership. Aint Morrill fault that he was born this way.
Homefries Banales has left out info already, I'm waiting to see that else he says to say on this.
spc brown
TFK
You'll have to excuse my ignorance here, but I'm trying hard to follow along. What is a ALOC, and what is CSM for the BDE?
La Leia, you mentioned that the other officers were fooled up until the last two weeks there. So are you saying that the officers went along with covering up the inappropriation of funds collected for internet usage? Why? What would they benefit from doing that?
SPC Brown E4 type. I liked ya. You were cool. Are you an idiot? Did the IED really unscrew some of your screws? I know you left kinda early to not understand what the rest of us went through, but read what I am saying. Officers were fooled. Meaning, they were igonorant to what was going on with Morrill. Morrill had them fooled. Ain't their fault that Morrill lies so well.
ALOC is where the planners were at Konohiki. Its next to the pickup zone and landing zone for the blackhawks.
No, the officers absolutely did not cover up or use money collected for whatever. Specialist Brown, you left early. Too bad and I'm sorry. I hope you recover enough to HEAR well. But, you need to understand what the rest of the members went through. Beginning TO THE end.
Opps sorry SPC Brown, I mean the Homefries. SPC Brown, I am truly sorry. Too many beers. Trying to let go of some anger here. Love ya man : )
Homefries, CSM means Command Sergeant Major for the Brigade. ALOC is a place where the planners work out of to plan things.
Sgt Banales,
I have been reading your posting for a couple of months now and enjoy most of them. I spent two tours there myself and recently returned. Please don't take this the wrong way but I feel it necessary, as one military professional to another, to comment on the latest string. Airing the "dirty laundry" of your unit is one thing, but I wonder what steps you and others in your unit took to correct the deficiencies of your peers, juniors, and seniors. That is one main thing that sets us apart as brothers in arms--we take care of our own--good, bad or indifferent. Your job as a leader is not only to identify problems within the unit--you must by moral obligation see that they are corrected--especially in today's military where lives are literally on the line.
My second point is this: If you didn't talk about these problems while you were active and in country, why are you discussing them now? And why this forum? My personal opinion is you are embarassing your unit. If you haven't taken the necessary steps to correct these problems (not attempt, but ensure they are corrected) then your moral compass is a few clicks off.
Again, my opinion, from one professional to another.
Semper Fi!
To John A. Johnson - VERY WELL PUT!
OOHRAH!!!!!!!
SSG Banales, this is your Blog. Tell it how it was. Air it out. Let go. If the leadership didn't want to listen to us then who will? By people responding to your stories, someone out there is listening. Doesn't matter if they agree or not. They are reading your blog without giving you some Bull S#*% counseling statements. Keep um coming. By the way, Morrill was transferred 3 times as a first sgt. Invoulantary transfered out as a battalion comand sgt major. FACT. Goes to show you that no one wanted him around. Glad I dont have to see him again.
La Leia: Just another perspective on what you said. If Morrill was transferred around three times maybe he was WANTED by those new units? I'd like to hear from an OFFICER on that one since he or she would have more accurate knowledge about that.
Homefries: I can tell you that he was not transferred because everyone wanted his exceptionally leadership. It was because he was a poor leader. I have friends who served with him at his last assingment at the Battalion. Everyone of them had nothing good to say other than, he loved to take pictures of himself and never starched his uniform. I believe the blame should be at the leadership who allowed him to serve with the Task Force. It is those who are at position of power who let Morrill wear the rank and tittle he bore. It is really a blessing that Task Force Konohiki had other good Senior NCO who kept the men focused, morale high, and gave them direction. It sure wasn't from Morrill or some of the Officers.
SEMPER FI!! (Always Faithful)
Okay, it was just another perspective about maybe other units wanting him. So thanks or clearing that up.
Personally I would like to read more about the officers above Morrill. I think that's the key to alot of this. A person can only do what he is ALLOWED to do. Was he maybe friends with the officers and therefore they turned their heads?
I hope Banales will write more about them and post pictures too.