Marine colonel on Okinawa not so average 25 years later

Photo By Cpl. Thomas Provost | Col. Chris A. Lamson, Chief of Staff, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, believes a good leader is involved in the operations of a unit whether leading a section or battalion.  

04.17.2009

Story by Lance Cpl. Thomas Provost 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

Twenty-five years ago, Chris A. Lamson was just an average Texan in his early 20s with an average job at a Texaco oil refinery supporting his family.

However, remaining average was not in his future. After being laid off in 1982, with a wife and baby to support, he needed a job. That is when his wife Nancy, who came from a strong military family, proposed the idea of joining the military.

Although Lamson, who is now a colonel and chief of staff for 3rd Marine Logistics Group, was hesitant about joining, in retrospect he is glad he did.

"Getting laid off was one of the best things that ever happened to me," Lamson said. "It brought me to the Marine Corps."

He was 23 years old when he first inquired about the Corps through a local recruiter.

Lamson was turned away because of his then inadequate athletic physique. He couldn't run very well, do any pull-ups and barely any sit-ups. Despite this, Lamson wasn't discouraged and, with the help of his wife who supported and motivated him to get in shape, he began training until he met the physical demands required to apply for an officer's commission.

"I ran a physical fitness test three times a day to get my score high enough to qualify and studied harder to get my grade point average up," Lamson said. "Being told you are not good enough, for anything, is a real wake-up call."

Lamson went on to graduate Lamar University and received his commission as a second lieutenant.

As a young officer, he began to understand that good planning and leadership was key to being above average.

Lamson soon adopted a social leadership style he adopted from a not-so-average person.

"Abraham Lincoln was often seen interacting with his subordinate commanders at battle field camps during the Civil War," Lamson said. "It shows commanders care about their subordinates." According to Lamson it embodies the long-standing tradition that Marines "take care of their own."

He often visited the motor pools and got under trucks and humvees with the mechanics and talked with them as they worked. Not to help them with their job, but to learn more about his Marines and their contributions to the unit.

"He always finds the time to come out and interact with the little people," said Cpl. Santori D. Scott, commanding general's driver, 3rd MLG. "He is never too busy to come out and talk."

Lamson believes that interacting with subordinates will help develop a personal rapport between them and inspire their following; a very important part of leadership.

"Whether you are leading a section or you are a lieutenant colonel commanding a battalion, you have got to get up from behind the desk and walk around," Lamson said. He learned that a good leader was involved in the operations of a unit.

He has held to that philosophy, through many changes in the Corps.

When Lamson first hit the Fleet Marine Force, the Marine Corps did not have e-mail or computers. Typewriters, yellow message papers, known then as yellow canaries and the rotary telephone were the primary forms of communication, he said.

But Lamson does not believe the Marine Corps has changed that much in the last 25 years, and, despite advances, the heart of the Corps will always be honor, courage, commitment and taking care of Marines.

"The Marine Corps will always stand for the same thing," he said.

Lamson admits that the support of his family enabled him to reach this point in his life where he now considers himself completely successful.

In addition, he noted the key to his success has been and remains long-term goal planning. "Setting goals early-on and developing a plan is very important to succeed in life," he said.

"It gets harder to attain what you want in life the longer you wait," Lamson said.

"Plans may change, but it is having those goals to work toward that are important," he added.

Ultimately his goal is to nestle-in to a not-so-average dream house that includes an outdoor kitchen with a barbecue large enough to roast a pig.

So it seems the native Texan who traveled the world leading Marines from Virginia to Iraq, from the Carolinas to Japan, will return to society as a not-so-average guy.

• Date Taken: 04.17.2009
• Date Posted: 04.19.2009 20:26
• Story ID: 32581