Lee Ellis Reflects Upon his Friend Lance Sijan

"Courage is character, character is the foundation. Lance had that.  If you don't have courage, your character will fall apart.  Lance had the courage of conviction, to live and to live up to what he professed to live out what he stood for."  That is how Lee Ellis described Lance.  Lee was a fellow pilot, POW, but most importantly, Lance's friend. They first met in S.E.R.E. (survival, evade, resistance, escape) school.  Lee was immediately impressed with Lance and the dedication he showed during the class. He noticed right away that Lance was a "tough guy, a big guy, and mentally unbreakable. He had a better understanding of who he was, and a little more comfortable with himself than me.  He was a man's man."  From that moment on, Lee and Lance became great friends. They were practically inseparable~playing golf, going out and meeting girls, both being self described "party bachelors".

When the call to duty came, both Lee and Lance went to Vietnam.  While flying a mission, Lee got shot down and captured by the VK, but what he didn't know was that his friend Lance was shot down the very same day.  As Lee tried his best to adjust to the Hanoi Hilton prison camp, he slowly started hearing about Lance and his story.  As the story spread, Lee felt that "even that [Lance's story] was an influence.  His example lifted us to be strong & courageous.  After nearly 6 grueling years spent in prison camps, Lee was released and returned home.

The experience had left Lee changed.  He noticed he had "a level of confidence" when he came home.  "I had matured a lot, more confident about who I was and how I operated.  It gave me courage for the things I could do.  The things I believed about leadership, I learned from the senior ranking officers in our camp.  I could feel their influence~I knew they were getting it harder than the rest of us. They had to go first [for interrogation[ and set the example, as they were getting physically beaten. Always leading and helping us get through."  But Lee never forgot Lance, and the service and dedication he showed. Lee honored Lance by naming his son after him. What does it take to be a great leader like Lance?  Lee believes "Good leadership is influenced by authenticity, being real, being a person of character, and someone you can trust.  Someone who has a vision, and someone who wants to achieve that vision. They own it, and see the value of it.  Nobody displayed that better than Lance."

For more information on Lee Ellis, please visit
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