Over the lunch hour last Thursday, I had the interesting experience of sitting through 10 minutes of a “press conference” at which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lambasted the media in a diatribe that showed a lack of maturity, civility and professionalism. I suspect his predecessors would have been both appalled and embarrassed to witness it. It was also the type of conduct that should have brought a motherly “Pete, you should be ashamed of yourself.”

But as one of the media he insulted — described by Boss Trump as “the enemy of the people” — noted, there’s only one man this SecDef has to please; and I suspect Trump was pleased by the sycophantic praise and protection rendered by a subordinate who well appreciates the one quality a Trump appointee must possess: absolute loyalty.

I don’t see that anybody in the media did not appreciate all that went into a very successful military mission by American men and women in uniform — from four stars down to private. One of those four stars was Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and referred to by Hegseth as his “battle buddy.” Hmmm … sort of, maybe? While the chairman recognizes well the demanding duties of this job — he is the president’s senior military advisor and not a combatant commander — I’m not sure his battle buddy appreciates that while as SecDef he has a crucial role in providing the president military advice he has no military command authority and cannot initiate any sort of military conflict.

As if he isn’t scary enough in his role as an advisor to the president and in general an overall loose cannon: churlish and petulant in dealing with those pesky reporters asking him difficult questions to which there are often no please-the-boss answers. No problem for Pete when that happens: a bit of argumentum ad hominem and then shoot the messenger.

He could take some lessons — but shouldn’t — from Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on how to handle tough questions: smirk a bit, smile, give some empty-headed answer and move on to the next question. If really stumped, point out that every action the president takes is for the good of the American people. Maybe add some questioning of the patriotism of the reporter asking the question.

Let’s make one thing clear: The bombing of Iran — carried out flawlessly by American men and women in uniform from several commands, all under the overall operational umbrella of United States Central Command led by Army Gen. Michael Kurilla — was an overall BRAVO ZULU mission accomplished. I don’t believe there’s any reporter of whatever bias or lawmaker on either side of the aisle who would take issue with that. But are questions about the degree of damage done to the enemy legitimate?

Over my many years of military service I attended many conferences, seminars and short courses on many subjects. Many good lessons learned over the years. How many of them do I remember today? Not many. But one I do.

I don’t remember the time, the place or lessons to be learned. But I do remember the topic of news reporters asking difficult questions surfaced. Why do they do that? The speaker,had a simple answer: “Because that’s their job.”

Over the years, I’ve watched and listened to several SecDefs field questions from reporters: I would say that Pete Hegseth exhibited two shortcomings they never did: immaturity and incivility. Would a Chuck Hagel, Robert Gates, James Mattis, Lloyd Austin or Leon Panetta attack reporters for doing their job: asking questions.

Hegseth prides himself on “restoring the warrior ethos.” I listened to one of his pep talks to the troops at Fort Bragg at which he brought that into his remarks.

 I don’t recall any of the SecDefs I noted above weighing in on that.

I would contend that America’s men and women have always had that warrior ethos; it was never lost and didn’t need to be restored. The men and women who took part in the bombing of Iran — directly going in harm’s way and those who had supporting roles — all had that American warrior ethos. They didn’t miraculously achieve it in the few days of the Trump presidency, with Hegseth as his super-loyal lieutenant making it happen. It’s always been there.

The men who stormed ashore at Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944, had that warrior ethos; so too did the 10-man B-17 crews who fought their way through anti-aircraft flak and Luftwaffe fighters in the skies over Germany in 1943 and 1944, both to and from their targets; and let us not forget the Navy pilots, such as then Lt. Cmdr. John McCain, who was shot down over North Vietnam, captured and spent time in the Hanoi Hilton. 

This is the man Trump disparaged on more than one occasion, belittling him on one of those occasions for being captured; Trump doesn’t like American warriors who are captured. Of course Trump’s bone spurs prevented him from ever serving in harm’s way and facing the possibility of being captured.

To his credit, Secretary Hegseth did serve honorably as an infantry officer and combat veteran with tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, attaining the rank of major in the Minnesota National Guard. In that respect he’s head and shoulders above the never-served macho men at Fox News with whom he was once affiliated. 

Mr. Secretary, you’re better than that. Consider that the next time you hold a press conference. The men and women of the news media asking you questions are doing their job. Do yours: Respond to their queries to the best of your ability with maturity and civility during what should be a time of mutual self respect from both parties. That’s your job.

To all, have a nice day — especially on July 4th,   when we can all celebrate what’s best about the nation we are all part of: the United States of America.