I called the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Richard Myers, at his home this evening. One of the first things he said, after asking the obvious question ‘What are you doing working on a Sunday?’ was to say something to the effect of ‘of course! You’re the editor of The Record. Glad you got my note.’

See, the former Chairman sent me a thank-you note earlier in the week. This was for something as simple as putting him in the alumni section of our magazine, which is pretty much the right of any member of the organization. His note, I think, was the first I have received - in my more than two years of putting the publication together - that thanked me for something that simple. And it was from a man who has been the number-one ranked military official in the United States for the past four years.

During the course of the interview, I asked a set of ten standard questions, designed to work for any alumnus of the organization I care to feature. However, one particular question - what has been the most difficult decision you have ever made? - took on some extra significance. The full implication of the question’s weight didn’t strike me until it was already out of my mouth. His response, though, was something I couldn’t argue with:

‘Given my position as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs,’ he said, ‘anytime you’re advising the President on going to war, that’s the most difficult decision you can make.’ Considering this is a man who, three days prior to his Sept. 30, 2005, resignation of the position said of the current conflict in Iraq ‘the outcome and consequences of defeat are greater than World War II,’ I’d venture to say those were some weighty decisions.

Either way, he’s a great guy. Coolest Chairman of the Joint Chiefs I’ve ever interviewed.