By: Kevin Trainor/Managing Editor“Low Drag – High Speed,” that was the motto of a group of young U.S. Army Intelligence Center students at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, in the second half of 1988. No one exemplified that better than then Captain Michael Flynn. The 29 year old military officer was exactly the central casting type of the 1980’s military resurgence under President Reagan. Not an ounce of excess, straight arrow, and focused up. “Strack” was a term that the budding military analysts, and briefers, would label such officers. Part in jest, part in admiration.
“Captain Strack,” fit Flynn. Later he would hear of the term, and laughingly approve. Flynn was posted as “Commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Training.” He had a group of favorites among the military students, often calling them by their full names rather by rank. The barracks of HHC was more of a dormitory. Nobody had a bad word to share regarding the young company commander. Later, under Major General Stanley McChrystal, Flynn would be a part of “Team America,” a cadre of officers developing offenses against Taliban, and other enemy forces, in the Afghanistan theatre of operations. A perfect evolution for “Captain Strack.” He loved to run. He found the desert environment perfect for that. Even on a Saturday. The military intelligence students had a Monday-Friday schedule with weekends free. Often, slightly affected by the night before, Flynn would see them come out of the post’s Burger King and implore some to run with him. They did, and it was painful. At least on the weekends it was not uncommon to try to avoid the enthusiastic Captain. Once, his brother-in-law visited Sierra Vista, the town in which Fort Huachuca was located. They had gone out, and Flynn had two beers. He declared himself unfit to drive. The next morning he was up and ready for a five-mile run to retrieve his vehicle. One unfortunate student was spotted, and ordered to run with him.
He liked to chat while running. It challenges your breathing, but improves your endurance, apparently. He told of being raised in Middletown, Rhode Island, to a rock solid Irish Catholic Democrat family. His favorites seemed to reflect his ethnic heritage. His father was a banker in Middletown, and his mom was involved in real estate. This was an election year, 1988, and he offered that he was a registered Democrat. The Democrat nominee, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis fumbled into an unfortunate photo-op in a tank. Slammed by the media, Dukakis would really not recover. Flynn railed against the national media, and it was clear the Democrat nominee would get Flynn’s vote. His office at HHC had separate JFK, and RFK, pictures.
Now, “Captain Strack” has plead guilty. It hurts him dearly. After resigning from the United States Army in 2014, a year early, and under fire for lax management, and abusive ways, he set up an intel consulting firm for private companies. It lasted two years before disengaging due to political activity. He has some money, a nice pension, but attorney fees are a drain. He took a bullet for his family, and future finances. In the bright shining sun, dry desert air, with a backdrop of the impressive Huachuca Mountain Range in far southern Arizona, one would be hard pressed to see this competent, and engaging young officer go down like this.
The retired lieutenant general still looks like the “strack” figure of thirty years ago. Fit figure, sharp haircut, and bearing is intact, he has to be thinking military service, and political dabbling do not mix. It is a different world, different codes of conduct. Up on the stand conducting physical training for the company in the pre-dawn desert morning, the guy exuded confidence. Enthusiastic, and innovative, he would have been a success in the business world. He now faces interrogation about what he knew, when, and who else was involved. Young Captain Flynn in 1988 just wanted to serve his country, and had a few ideas. Now, he is in a legal fight in which everyone loses.
This columnist served under Captain Flynn at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Often a running partner of this article’s subject. He claims to have come up with the “Captain Strack” moniker, although others claim it was a collaborative effort.
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