A film about the American Flag, because it was thought that i might bring a fresh vision to a familiar sight. Here in this room i began my work, that would take me back in time and place to the late fall day when i arrived in new york city. To leave one life, and come into another, creates a moment of abrupt break. Behind you is the iron curtain you have broken through. The long waits in the refugee camps, the long lines for processing, and endless paperwork. The daily disappointments. The fear is that they wont be let into their new country. And then suddenly, it is all over. You have arrived at john f. Kennedy airport. All of you is open to every sensation, and every sensation is fresh. My first thought was that i had been put down in a brilliant part of , mostly red, white, and blue. It didnt occur to me that these are the colors of my new flag. They were just brilliant, and were everywhere. On vehicles, on buildings, against the sky itself. On the clothes the people wore. On that i
Admiral why do you refer to yourself as the accidental admiral . [laughter] what a great question. You can choose to hear a particular course you will lose ultimately in a different direction. And then to be in charge of all activity and with the commander of us Pacific Command position for senior admiral. My boss, a wonderful boss, secretary gates called to say forget about the pacific we will send you to nato i bk the first and only admiral to be the supreme allied commander and it was an accidenthe. That the navy was an accident as a career . Soet somewhat. That my father had kernel of marines growing up in that environment and going to Quantico High School thinking it would be them marine corps everybody goes out on a cruise going on a cruise are in san diego. Late in the day on the peer and the sun was setting looking out on all that ocean and i just wanted to be a sailor. I told my dad and mom they were hoping it would be a marine that years later my dad said that came out okay.
Accidental admiral . Guest what a great question at a certain level all of our lives, you can choose to steer a particular course but the sea will come, the wind will come and you will go in a different direction. It comes from a period in my career when i was a four star admiral just finishing up at us Southern Command in charge of all military activities south of the United States and i was very hopeful in going to the pacific as commander of us Pacific Command which is a senior position, robert gates, called me up and said forget about the specific we are going to send you to nato so i became the first and thus far the only admiral, supreme allied commander in nato and it was an accident that did that. From the nato perspective i was be accidental admiral who became the supreme allied commander. Host the navy was an accident as well. Guest somewhat. I grew up in a marine corps family. My father fought in korea and vietnam. I grew up in that environment and went to Quantico High Scho
My career when i was a fourstar admirals initiating up the us Southern Command, peterma in charge of all activities south of the United States as the commander of us Pacific Command a very traditionalos position for senior admiral my boss wonderful by secretary gates called me up to say forget about the pacific we will send you to nato. Was the first and as far the only admirable to be a lien supreme allied commander in nato. Is just an accident of timing and fate and secretary gates decision. From a nato perspective i was the accidental admiral who became the supreme allied commander. Host the naming was an accident as well . Someone. So lets go way back i grew up in the marine corps family my father fought in korea and vietnam. I grew up in the environment going to Quantico High School and went on to the Naval Academy thinking it would be a marine Corps Officer after my first year the navy sends everybody out on a cruise so you go out on a ship i went out on a beautiful cruise around
Because it was thought i might bring a fresh vision to a familiar sight. Here in this room i began my work that would take me back in time and place to that late fall day when i arrived in new york city. To live one life and come into another creates a moment of abrupt break. Behind you is the iron curtain you have broken through. The long wait in refugee camps, the long lines for processing, the endless paperwork and daily disappointments. The fears you will not be led into a new country. Then suddenly it is all over. You have arrived at john f. Kennedy airport. All of you is open to every sensation and every sensation is fresh. My first thought was i had been put down in a brilliant part of colors, it did not occur to me these were the colors of my new flag. They were Just Brilliant and were everywhere. Hi on vehicles, buildings againt the sky itself and the clothes that people wore. On that initial day, i did what americans think a very strange thing. I decided to walk to times squa