Reflections of Leonidas

Sunday 13 September 2009

My very bright cousin from Austin posed an intriguing question after seeing the Leonidas sign posted over the door to the North chow hall, one that occurred to me when I first saw it.

“My recollection is that the day didn’t end so well for the Spartans…”

Well, yes…and no. Leonidas led an allied force of Greeks, maybe 7,000, against a huge Persian army led by Xerxes, perhaps numbering up to a million men from the various Persian tribes and lands that they had conquered. One is reminded of the UN forces aligned against the various elements of the Taliban, Al Qaeda, and paid insurgents- generally funded by Iranians, sons of the ancient Persians.

Leonidas actually sent away the bulk of the Greek forces, choosing 300 of his Spartan hoplites to remain for the fight. For the site of the battle, he chose a narrow pass in which to face his overwhelming enemy. Bagram happens to be located in a valley, surrounded on all sides by nearly impassable mountains, except on the narrow south side- the road to Kabul. Interestingly, Leonidas only chose Spartan warriors who had young sons. Why was it important to him to choose men with sons? First, he ensured that they had a reason to fight to the death. What father wouldn’t sacrifice all for the safety of his child? Second, he ensured that his brave warriors had passed on their “warrior spirit” to the next generation of Spartans. At church last night, the priest asked, “How many of you have children at home? More than 90% raised their hand.

Interestingly, General McChrystal (commander of all forces in Afghanistan) has recently decided to DECREASE the number of support troops in Afghanistan. He wants more warfighters, but a much smaller support group. I can’t announce the percentage of the cut, but it is significant. Medical forces, by the way, are not being reduced. Is General McChrystal picking his 300?

As the two sides squared off in the narrow pass, the first 10,000 of the Persian troops that the Spartans faced were the “immortals,” or most elite and lethal of the Persians. Xerxes threatened that he would “launch so many arrows against the Spartans as to block out the sun.” One of Leonidas’ warriors replied bravely, “All the better! Then we shall fight in the dark!” You see, Spartan boys were taught and trained from a young age to fight at night. In that manner, they maintained the element of surprise and denied the enemy knowledge of their true number. U.S. ground forces also now train constantly, and prefer, to fight at night, utilizing some of the same advantages. The contemporary motto of our more elite forces is “we own the night.”

Leonidas and his 300 Spartans held off the tens (or hundreds) of thousands of Persians for three days, ultimately being defeated only after being betrayed by an ally, who showed Persian forces a way to flank the Spartans.

What had Leonidas’ sacrifice accomplished? He saved the bulk of the Greek army to fight another day. Within the next three years, the Greeks had effectively driven the Persians out of Europe and the Mediterranean. The sacrifice of the few had united the many, ultimately leading to victory.

Was this the intended message of the artist who put that sticker above the chow hall entrance? I don’t know. I don’t think the final battle will be fought at Bagram, though it certainly was for the burnt Russians hanging in the dustoff hangar for so many years.

Anyway, Granger, this is what the art says to me.