Wow that is so cool that you and your son bonded that way!
I have re-watched the entire Transformers run from 1984-1987 while sick with the 'Rona. And as a former Army officer I have an insight into leading people in times of conflict.
It amazes me how great of a leader Prime is. Not in a military sense per se, but as a role model.
I think Prime and Jean-Luc Picard are the two greatest role-models to spring from 1980s entertainment. The thing that is most impressive about the writing and voice acting for Peter Cullen is his humanity.
Little things I noticed that every man should use: Things like Optimus taking a knee to bring himself to the same eye level as humans. He never once acted like he was a superior being even though he was objectively far more powerful than any person. He would always put his arms around other Autobots, or otherwise touch a shoulder and openly express affection for them. He would explain things to his troops rather than yell or order them around. He tried to take an interest in the hobbies of his troops even if he didn't really like their tastes like Jazz and Blaster's fondness for rock and rap. He always held himself to a higher standard but never pushed his values on others. He learned to appreciate Earth's cultures and taught himself how to play both football and basketball.
Truly strong men are both heroic and compassionate.
They are the intersection of confidence, strength, tolerance and empathy.
I saw an interview with Peter Cullen in how he approaches the character, and talks about his brother, his older brother who was a Marine infantry captain and company commander during Vietnam who served multiple tours and earned several Bronze Stars with a V/Device and several Purple Hearts. Peter asked his advice for voicing a military leader like Prime. And what his brother said surprised him.
In Popular Military interview in 2014, Cullen explains:
“I was living with my brother, a former Marine,” he began, “He was K Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines and he fought in Vietnam…He was decorated, wounded and came home…And there was a change. There was a significant change in his demeanor, his sense of living.
We were sharing an apartment at the same time and he said ‘Peter, where ‘ya goin?’
I said ‘I’m going to an audition, Larry,’ and he said ‘What are you going to audition for?’
I said ‘I’m gonna be a truck.’ He started to laugh, I started to laugh and I said ‘But Larry, he’s a hero. He’s a hero truck!’
He looked at me and he said ‘Okay, a hero. Well if you’re gonna be a hero, Peter, be a realhero. Don’t be one of those pretend Hollywood heroes- always yelling and acting tough, be a real hero.’
His voice got very low, there was a seriousness in him and the way he talked, there was a gentle smoothness to it- and he said ‘If you’re gonna be a hero, Peter, remember: be strong enough to be gentle. Be compassionate, you know? Be understanding. Don’t go yelling and screaming.”
For the younger Cullen, the moment was so powerful that it could still choke him up, even in his later years.
“It’s the way he said it,” he recalled. “When I got to the audition… about twenty minutes after that conversation, I read the lines. That influence that he sad on me, his voice -the way he had said what he had said just rolled out of me…and it felt so comfortable, it felt so good. By the time it was all over and I was driving away, I had this warm that I had just done the best audition I’ve ever done in my life.”
“So,” he concluded, “My brother Larry was directly responsible and for that, I’m forever grateful.”
While his younger brother skyrocketed to fame, Larry Cullen went on to do many things as well. From a stockbroker to commercial pilot, actor to computer programmer, Cullen seemed to do well at anything he put his mind to.
Sadly, Larry would die suddenly in his Virginia home in March of 2011 and was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery in July of the same year.
According to this obituary, “Larry’s greatest gift was friendship; compassionate, tolerant and respectful towards others. Larry’s many friends and his Marine Corps brothers cared deeply for him. This marvelous sensitive man with a great sense of humor will never be forgotten.”
While Captain H.L. Cullen may have passed on, his voice and approach to heroic leadership -channeled through his younger brother- has been immortalized, both in recorded history and in the hearts of millions of children- past, present and future.