Vietnam War hero General Westmoreland told his troops about to deploy on what became known as “Hamburger Hill” that they would be on the hill for about ten hours. Once they took the hill, they were to await further orders. Ten days and a ton of bombs and napalm later, the troops finally removed the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) from Hamburger Hill. I think about what the troops thought as they fought their way up the hill and I imagine that they were really on their toes. I’m sure their senses were heightened and they were really adrenalized.
Seems like a rush – those young men must’ve been alert and ready for anything as the hours of sniper rain turned to days. After removing the NVA, the troops hung out on Hamburger Hill for a week or so and they were ordered to leave the hill for good. The NVA moved back in once the troops were gone. While it may seem like a waste of human life and effort, I can’t help but think that it was good that troops experienced Hamburger Hill. Not knowing what was coming or when had to make those men far more focused than they otherwise would have been.
Really, I should have raised my son with that same strategy. I should have periodically moved him from one school to another school without telling when he would move or why he was moving. I should’ve picked him up at varying times so that he didn’t know when I’d show up. I mean, I wouldn’t leave him at school after dark, but I would vary the time and place where I’d get him. Had I done that, I would have instilled in him a sharp focus that would have made him very attentive to his surroundings. Rather, I was predictable and communicated my expectations of him. What a mistake! It would have been better for him had I been unpredictable and uncommunicative!
Organizations should adopt the strategy of Hamburger Hill and the Vietnam War. Those soldiers really didn’t know much – even if they were going to live or die. That lack of knowing the plan or its timing must have been exciting and liberating: no formal battle plan bound their actions. They were free to climb the hill as they could with heightened focus and adrenaline’s rush fueling their muscles. Organizations would do well to forego the relationship between strategy and tactics and let their employees wander aimlessly through their workdays not knowing what was coming or when. Sure, they might take longer to do something, but i’m certain they’d be curious about what was coming. That curiosity is great for focus!
**Photo from the US National Archives
