I never had the opportunity to speak directly to, or have to listen directly to a general officer...or even a full-bird colonel. But...there were quite a few ambitious Kelly's in the ranks of field grade and company grade officers I ran into while in the Corps. Most did not come across to me as glaringly decent human beings. There's a reason why it was typically officers who were fragged in Vietnam. And there were just short of 900 such incidents in Vietnam between 1969 and 1972. Kelly is a belligerent, overblown ass. Particularly in his opinions on the Confederacy, the causes of the Civil War, and his evaluation of Robert E. Lee.
I've had the opportunity to speak with a couple of generals and numerous full-bird colonels while in the AF. While in Croatia during the Balkans crisis, being the Senior NCO in our unit I had lunch with a general who wanted to know how our medical unit was doing and what he could do to help. I told him the medical depot in Germany was doing a good job supporting us but the problem I had was getting the supplies to us. I explained I know guns, butter, and bullets receive priority but we're at the end of the line for supplies. He said he'd look into it and a couple days later the depot called me (they weren't too happy with me talking to him) and said they were establishing a contract to deliver supplies to medical units throughout the theater by truck, which they did.
In my experience, if a general or full-bird colonel says he wants your opinion give it to them. The only caveat is be respectful when you do it. The officers that are hardest to work for are the captains (O3s) to Lt. Colonels (O5s) are trying to get promoted and only care about what you can do to help them get that next rank.
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