WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a Prelude to War! ARTICLE 8 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bucket-Head Marine speaketh - Response to 21st Century Soldier ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ed.: War fighting is tough business and requires extraordinary character. I take outspoken warriors like Zinni and Sheehan anytime over the standard political 4-Star weasels. **************************************************************************** ** By Capt A. McRae, USMC I read with interest last week's article, by the 21st century soldier, criticizing Marine General Zinni's comments. I feel it necessary that some of these criticisms be addressed. 55 years have passed since the end of World War Two. It was a conflict that witnessed some of the most heinous acts of barbarity in recorded history. Those that fought in that conflict are justifiably proud of what they accomplished. Was it always neat? No. We won on the principle of attrition. At places like Tarawa and Omaha beach, we took the beach due to mass, not any Guderianesque flanking maneuver. The men who fought in these places saw warfare in its bloodiest and most brutal form. Yet, their conduct, both before and after the war, has served as a model to those of us who have taken up arms after them. They are justifiably proud of what they have accomplished. Confusing their pride, and the esteem that they have garnered from the rest of this society, with vain sentimentality is an insult to those that fought and died in that war. WWII veterans did not come away from that war thinking that it was "the way to fight a war." The wide acceptance of maneuver warfare over attrition warfare is one example how we have learned from the mistakes of that conflict. Perhaps the best evidence of evolving post-war doctrine is the symbiotic relationship that has been formed by the Navy and Marine Corps in Operational Maneuver from the Sea. The WW II generation has never contended that it is necessary for a man to go to war before he is accepted into society. I cannot believe that a veteran of that war would tell any young man that warfare is a necessary component of "valid" character. Saying that women need to feel "validation" through active participation in combat arms, as a reaction to the sacrifices made by those who assaulted Omaha Beach is errant nonsense. The fact of the matter is this: those in the combat arms attain higher rank at a faster rate. Those who wish to be generals and sergeants major generally try to land themselves in a deployable combat arm somewhere along the way. If those jobs are closed to a segment of society, that segment will raise hell until it is changed. Let's not try to turn this simple fact into some neo-Freudian truth. Inter-service warfare has been the downfall of the DoD from way back when. Part of the problem is the unanswered question: What mission belongs to which service? It looks very tidy from a doctrine standpoint, but turns into utter chaos in practice. The DoD will not work optimally until this problem is corrected. Was the General being Homeric? Yes, but the description was appropriate, and his meaning was clear. Marines are taught from recruit training and OCS that serving won't get them money, probably won't make them heroes, and is often a hard and thankless job. They are taught that this life closely approximates priesthood due to the dedication that is necessary to do things properly. The fact that they are in a terrible, bloody business is not lost on any of them who face the likelihood of going to war. This dedication and introspection is vital to a professional Officer and NCO corps, and it is in danger of dying out. That is a problem that my generation of junior officers faces. Do we want a warrior class that is deeply concerned with their role in foreign policy? Do we need them to obsess on being proficient at killing those who would threaten the continued survival of this republic? You're damn right we do. The fact that Gen. Zinni shoots it straight has been a source of pride among many Marines. They find it refreshing that this man is willing to tell it like it is, and has remained aware of the problems that are being faced at the company level. You won't find one general in a hundred who are aware of the current problems being faced by a company commander. You won't find one in a thousand who are willing to stand up and tell a room full of people about those problems. If we had a few more Zinnis, maybe someone with some pull would think about implementing much needed change. ================================================================== ARTICLE 9 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Health Care Update: Bush-Lite, Rudy's Recruiters, Janet goes Oprah, Dental/LTC scams ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ed: Pete debunks more scams to keep us quiet and some other deals for which we all will foot the bill. Target, target, target! ************************************************************************ By Pete Peterson, Health Care and Veterans Affairs Editor Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web Site: http://members.tripod.com/MHCRG George W. Bush has another mission for us. On the campaign stump he announced plans for a five-year, $75 million federal program to link up us old "war-horses" with America's at-risk youth. Hold on here! Isn't this the same "target group" DOD has started recruiting? Aren't new enlistment waivers for felonies enough help? We understand the "at-risk" classification up through 8th grade or so, but after that, we call them criminals. Bush's ''Veterans Mission for Youth Initiative'' comes out of a different office than his mail answering room. He's been completely unresponsive to our letters asking him to take a stand on our health care. Instead, he sends out donation mailers but no answers to our questions. Nobody we know has heard him mumble a single word about health care since the South Carolina primaries, when McCain made him do it. Read our Billboards! Hell No, . We Won't Go! We're not healthy enough anymore. We're on TRICARE, MEDICARE or struggling with the VA. We can't afford this "tour of duty" and pay for our promised health care at the same time. Just put us down as "We gave at the office!" Over at Defense, it's still "looney tunes." Deputy Defense Secretary Rudy de Leon assured recruiters that DOD is trying to fix TRICARE Remote so it works for them. "If there is no military treatment facility near where recruiters work, we'll buy you a benefit in the local market -- Blue Cross, Kaiser or another insurance," he promised the recruiters. Huh? Where have you been the past year, Rudy? Retirees and active duty alike have been screaming at the top of their lungs to fix TRICARE. Retirees have been pleading for a "civilian" FEHBP option and improvements to TRICARE. We all need access! Where is DOD headed? What is DOD's azimuth? Do they know? Janet Langhart Cohen, former TV talk show host, and wife of SECDEF William Cohen said she's exploring co-hosting a joint TV talk show on China's state-run television. Looks like she wants to give Oprah a run for her money, using US taxpayer dollars. More wasted dollars that could go into health care. First Hillary, then Hazel O'Leary, now this. "The Chinese were quite enthusiastic about it," husband Bill told reporters on the flight home. The flight was, of course, paid for by their corporation . DOD. What has this to do with our troops' "quality of life?" Maybe it's really a recruiting mission. What's the tie-in with ANY legitimate DOD mission statement? Here comes the Kung Fu recruiting spots, folks. For those who haven't caught on, Congress is now packaging their "broken promises" differently. Take Dental for example. You want Dental as a retiree? You pay monthly and hope you'll find a dentist that still uses Amalgam fillings . that's all it'll cover. That and annual exams. No Crowns. The point is this: The entire dental plan is paid for by us! There is NO federal money in it. The government merely acts as a "broker," puts the plan together with the "full faith" of the US Government, and sells it to us. This is so we can have the "savings" of government's purchasing power, but none of the taxpayer's money. This no-cost scheme (to government) was the prototype for the latest government hoax . Long Term Care (LTC). Last month, the Republican leadership put a LTC plan together for the most miserable among us . those caring for completely disabled retirees and their dependents. Once signed into law, they'll start selling this package to us. Those who need "coverage," and probably can't afford it, will pay for it. They'd better not be disabled now, because it won't cover "pre-existing conditions." This isn't progress. It's cruelty and disrespect for those who managed to survive 20 or more years giving us our freedom. It's put on us by those who will retire at full pay after five years and will have lifelong medical care . which we will also pay for. This year is NOT shaping up to be the year of health care as the Cohens and other politicians promised. It is going down as the year they all kept their "Broken Promises" alive, and made them worse. Congress / DOD: FIX TRICARE NOW! =====================================================================ARTICLE 10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GI HUMOR - Security Crackdown at Los Alamos ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ed.: Finally, action in Los Alamos! We knew we could trust Bill R. to come up with a sensible solution, after all 'he didn't start the fire'. **************************************************************************** MEMO TO ALL EMPLOYEES (Foreign and Domestic..) To: All staff, Los Alamos National Laboratory From: Bill Richardson, Secretary of Energy Dear staff members: Due to an unfortunate overreaction by the American people to our minor difficulties in the security area, we're being forced to tighten up just a wee bit. Effective Monday: The brown paper bag in which we store the computer disk drives that contain the nation's nuclear secrets will no longer be left on the picnic table at the staff commissary during lunch hour. It will be stored in "the vault." I know this is an inconvenience to many of you, but it's a sad sign of the times. The three-letter security code for accessing "the vault" will no longer be "B-O-B." To confuse would-be spies, that security code will be reversed. Please don't tell anybody. Visiting scientists and graduate students from Libya, North Korea and mainland China will no longer be allowed to wander the hallways without proper identification. Beginning Monday, they will be required to wear a stick on lapel tag that clearly states, "Hello, My Name Is . . . ." The stickers will be available at the front desk. The computer network used for scientific calculations will no longer be hyperlinked via the Internet to such Web sites as sweedchicks.com or hackers-r-us.com, etc. Links to all Disney sites will be maintained, however. Researchers bearing a security clearance of Level 5 and higher will no longer be permitted to exchange updates on their work by posting advanced-physics formulas on the men's room walls. On "Bowling Night," please check your briefcases and laptop computers at the front counter of the Bowl-a-Drome instead of leaving them in the cloakroom. Mr. Badonov, the front-counter supervisor, has promised to "keep uneye on zem" for us. Staff members will no longer be allowed to take home small amounts of plutonium, iridium or uranium for use in those "little weekend projects around the house." That includes you parents who are helping the kids with their science fair projects. Thermonuclear devices may no longer be checked out for "recreational use." We've not yet decided if exceptions will be made for Halloween, the Fourth of July or New Year's Eve. We'll keep you posted. Employees may no longer "borrow" the AA batteries from the burglar alarm system to power their Game Boys and compact-disc players during working hours. And, finally, when reporting for work each day, all employees must enter through the front door. Raoul, the janitor, will no longer admit employees who tap three times on the side door to avoid clocking in late. I know this crackdown might seem punitive and oppressive to many of you, but it is our sworn duty to protect the valuable national secrets that have been entrusted to our care. Remember: Security isn't a part-time job--it's an imperative, all 37 1/2 hours of the week! Sincerely, Bill =============================================================== ARTICLE 11 - MEDAL OF HONOR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ed.: WWII, August 1944/France. A young Sergeant shows immeasurable courage, drawn from a desperate situation and earns his battlefield commission. If you know of any MOH recipient who is hospitalized or has passed recently, please write James H. Also, if you would like more info on MOH recipients and their stories, please email James H at [EMAIL PROTECTED] ********************************************************************* GREGG, STEPHEN R. Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 143d Infantry, 36th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Montelimar, France, 27 August 1944. Entered service at: Bayonne, N.J. Birth: New York, N.Y. G.O. No.: 31, 17 April 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 27 August 1944, in the vicinity of Montelimar, France. As his platoon advanced upon the enemy positions; the leading scout was fired upon and 2d Lt. Gregg (then a Tech. Sgt.) immediately put his machineguns into action to cover the advance of the riflemen. The Germans, who were at close range, threw hand grenades at the riflemen, killing some and wounding 7. Each time a medical aid man attempted to reach the wounded, the Germans fired at him. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, 2d Lt. Gregg took 1 of the light .30-caliber machineguns, and firing from the hip, started boldly up the hill with the medical aid man following him. Although the enemy was throwing hand grenades at him, 2d Lt. Gregg remained and fired into the enemy positions while the medical aid man removed the 7 wounded men to safety. When 2d Lt. Gregg had expended all his ammunition, he was covered by 4 Germans who ordered him to surrender. Since the attention of most of the Germans had been diverted by watching this action, friendly riflemen were able to maneuver into firing positions. One, seeing 2d Lt. Gregg's situation, opened fire on his captors. The 4 Germans hit the ground and thereupon 2d Lt. Gregg recovered a machine pistol from one of the Germans and managed to escape to his other machinegun positions. He manned a gun, firing at his captors, killed 1 of them and wounded the other. This action so discouraged the Germans that the platoon was able to continue its advance up the hill to achieve its objective. The following morning, just prior to daybreak, the Germans launched a strong attack, supported by tanks, in an attempt to drive Company L from the hill. As these tanks moved along the valley and their foot troops advanced up the hill, 2d Lt. Gregg immediately ordered his mortars into action. During the day by careful observation, he was able to direct effective fire on the enemy, inflicting heavy casualties. By late afternoon he had directed 600 rounds when his communication to the mortars was knocked out. Without hesitation he started checking his wires, although the area was under heavy enemy small arms and artillery fire. When he was within 100 yards of his mortar position, 1 of his men informed him that the section had been captured and the Germans were using the mortars to fire on the company. 2d Lt. Gregg with this man and another nearby rifleman started for the gun position where he could see 5 Germans firing his mortars. He ordered the 2 men to cover him, crawled up, threw a hand grenade into the position, and then charged it. The hand grenade killed 1, injured 2, 2d Lt. Gregg took the other 2 prisoners, and put his mortars back into action. ==================================================================== ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ EDITOR'S NOTE: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For Article Submissions: as a rule of thumb, please try to keep article for possible publication to 750 words or less. Please make every editing effort not to exceed these guidelines and SUBMIT IN WORD FORMAT, if possible! R.W. Zimmermann [EMAIL PROTECTED] ============================================= GLOSSARY OF MILITARY ACRONYMS: We've had numerous requests from troops in different branches of the military to establish this link so that we will all know how "all you others" talk that talk. Please see below: http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/doddict/acronym_index.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ***** BOOK SALES ***** ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hack's books About Face*, Hazardous Duty*, The Price of Honor* and The Vietnam Primer can be found at www.hackworth.com. They make a great addition to any library. We are offering them at special SFTT price. ==================================================== ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Defending America Newsletter: Administrative Volunteers: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ R.W. Zimmermann, Chief Editor, President of SFTT, Mine Detector and "Gunner" David H. Hackworth, Spirit Guide, and undisputed Y2K Expert Bill Rogers, Senior Assistant Editor and SFTT Vice President Kate Aspy, Contributing Editor and Oracle Barry "Woody" Groton, Chief TECH DROID and Medicine Man Ed "Edgar" Schneider, Copy Editor, Man of Letters and gentleman: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Kyle Elliott, Book List Editor and Most Over-worked James H., MOH Editor and NCOIC =================================================== Defending America VOLUNTEER EDITORS/SPECIALISTS NOTE: The following list only includes the two primary assistant editors for each service or special area. Please refer to our WEBSITE -- www.sftt.org, for the complete listing. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ALL Letters and Articles for considered publication should be submitted to one of our brave, resolute and caring volunteers. **************************************** **************************************** U.S. Army: Tig Dupre, Civil-Military relations, weapons expert and Senior Editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] CPT Scott Key, Armor, Generalist, Assistant to Chief Editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] Robert L. Duecaster, Legal [EMAIL PROTECTED] ********************************************** ********************************************** U.S. Navy: Mark Crissman, Naval Aviation, Generalist and Senior Editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] Pat Nisley, Navy Generalist and XO [EMAIL PROTECTED] John J. 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