IN THE LEAD Col
Joe D. Dowdy and Maj. Gen. James Mattis, U.S. Marine Corps Only a few weeks into the war in Iraq, Marine Col. Joe D. Dowdy had both accomplished a gru- eling military mission and been removed from his command by Maj Gen James Mattis The complicated and conflicting tales of why Col. Dowody was dismissed are beyond the scope of this text, but one issue that came under examination was the differing styles of Col. Dowdy and Gen. Mattis, as well as the difficult, age-old wartime tension of "men versus mission.
Gen. Mattis has been referred to as a warrior monk consumed with the study of bat tle tactics and a Jeader whose own battle plans in lraq were considered brilliant. Gen. Mattis saw speed as integral to success in the early days of the lraqi war, pushing for regiments to move quickly to accomplish a mission despite significant risks. For Col. Dowdy, some risks seemed too high, and he made decisions that delayed his mission but better protected his marines. Col. was beloved by followers because he was deeply concerned about their welfare, paid attentionao them as individuals, and treated them as equals going so far as to decline certain privileges that were available only to officers.
Despite their different styles, both leaders were highly respected asked about Gen. Mattis, Gunnery Sgt. Robert Kane, who has served under both leadersr says he would certainly "follow him again. However, when he learned that Col. Dowdy had been dismissed, Sgt. Kane says he wanted to go with him. If [he] had said 'Get your gear, you're coming with me, I would've gone, even if it meant the end of my career. 35