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Military Experience Drives FedEx Success and Investor Appeal
The article recounts FedEx founder Fred Smith’s Marine Corps service, his Silver Star award, and how military discipline shaped FedEx’s logistics and leadership. It cites studies linking veteran CEOs to lower fraud risk and higher returns, noting that from 1995‑2005 such CEOs outperformed the S&P by 12.2% vs 9.4%. The piece observes the decline of veteran CEOs from 59% in 1980 to 6% today, discusses sector shifts, and argues that disciplined, veteran leadership could benefit AI‑focused companies amid aggressive market trends. It also mentions Smith’s early financing gamble in Las Vegas that kept FedEx afloat before its IPO.