-Caveat Lector- WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a prelude to war! Voice of the Grunt, 1999-12-29-B =================================================== ARTICLE 5 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FREEDOM ISN"T FREE - A CALL TO ARMS TO HELP OUR OWN ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ZIMM Note: "Tig" Dupre, a regular reader and contributor send us this update on the USMC training accident which took the lives of six Marines and one Sailor. The incident reminds us that freedom is not free and that unfortunately, all too often, the civilian communities never hear of these tragedies, and sometimes don't care. They forget that our job is dangerous, even during peacetime training. Nonetheless, we of the Brotherhood of War have an obligation to do our best to care for our own. "Tig", thanks for the reminder. ********************************************************** On December 10, 1999, a USMC Force Reconnaissance platoon was assigned to perform a VBSS on the USNS Pecos as part of a training exercise in preparation for deployment with the 15th MEU (SOC) in January 2000. The assault team was comprised, in part, of two CH-47 helicopters assigned to the Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166. They were going to land if there was room, or fast rope if not. A SEAL platoon was to assault simultaneously from surface/up. US Navy Special Boat Unit rigid hull inflatables (RIB) and their crews were on other side of ship, carrying the SEALs who were to perform the assault. The pilot of one of the helicopters struck, or became tangled in the netting surrounding the stern of the ship. The aircraft immediately became unstable and rolled into the ocean and sank. Eleven survivors were immediately pulled from the water, however six Marines and one sailor died in the crash. All Force Recon personnel were from the 5th Platoon and part of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit based at Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego. SCHOLARSHIP TRUST FUND The FRA has established a SCHOLARSHIP TRUST FOR THE SURVIVING CHILDREN of those tragically lost. The children are Frederick GALLOWAY, Age 7, Stetson GALLOWAY, Age 5 and William GALLOWAY, Age 4, all sons of SSgt. David E. GALLOWAY; Nicholas SABASTEANSKI, Age 18 Months, son of SSgt. Vincent A. SABASTEANSKI; Derek BACA, son of Cpl. Mark A. Baca. HM1 Asis and SSgt Starling had no known children at this time. Those desiring to make a donation to this Special Scholarship Trust may make their check or money order payable to "FRA SCHOLARSHIP TRUST FUND" and add a memo indicating if you want it donated to an individual "By Name" child or to be "Evenly Split" amongst all 5 children. No specific designation of donation will be evenly divided amongst all 5 children. Mail your donation(s) to: 15th MEU Memorial Fund c/o: Force Recon Association 3784-B Mission Ave., PMB # 1775 Oceanside, CA 92054 - 1460 Or, you can contact: Gary "Buddha" Marte Major, USMC, Retired Executive Director, Force Recon Association Office (760) 439 - 8633 =================================================== ARTICLE 6 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PREPARING FOR THE MILLENNIUM AND UNCERTAIN FUTURE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ZIMM note: Another "Old Soldier" article that appeared in the El Paso Times on 4 December 1999. Our contributor's E-mail didn't mention the title but I thought it appropriately points to some of the pertinent issues in preparation for the upcoming Millennium. It clearly shows us that national defense concerns all of us. It' can't be just something we pay for and let someone else provide. National defense is tightly linked to the unity and ultimately the survival of American culture. ********************************************************** By James R. Revels Around this time of year, prognosticators are in overload mode, trying to make sense of an uncertain future. The long range planning efforts of those responsible for national security warrant attention. As the nation stands on the brink of uncertainty, fueled by the approaching millennium, national security planners should be wasting no time deciding the future role of our armed forces in the coming unknown environment. There are countless questions needing answers, but national leadership, in pursuit of answers, is direly lacking. What kind of armed force will be needed tomorrow? Will there be enough qualified young men to operate and maintain sophisticated weapons of war? How can the military be best utilized to defeat international state sponsored terrorism? What should be the role of women in tomorrow's armed forces? Tough questions, for sure, but our future national security demands attention to these and other important questions now. Tomorrow will be too late to make the truly difficult decisions needed to properly organize our future armed forces. Policies and programs, needed to support future military decisions, must be crafted now. At the outset, planners need to devise an effective, fair compulsory military service system that will ensure a ready pool of qualified young men to fill the ranks. A sense of service, fueled by the collective good of the nation, must be restored quickly. The millions of young men who answered the call to arms to avenge the attack on Pearl Harbor 58 years ago, set a standard for loyalty, sense of service, dedication and courage seldom matched since. While the need will always exist for such individuals, finding them in large numbers tomorrow will be difficult, at best. A nation of immigrants, ruled by the divisiveness of economics, ethnic hatred, religious intolerance, and racial prejudices, will be hard pressed to find unity of effort and public consensus tomorrow. What divides us can never unite us. Any future compulsory military service system will be unable to include women, for political reasons. No nation in history has relied on women in large numbers to defend its sovereignty. Future planners must decide now what role women will play in tomorrow's armed forces. Some previous decisions that account for the overrepresentation of women in combat service support units, must be revisited. All future support units must possess the ability to fight effectively as Infantry, on a battlefield that may not be clearly defined. Combat units must be smaller and self-sufficient. Combat leaders will need more autonomy and better inter service communications, to be successful. Politics must not be allowed to overrule sound military judgment. All military training must be more realistic and designed to produce successful leaders, procedures and standards. Finally, efforts must be made now to bridge the widening gap of public disconnect with our armed forces. Public support and respect for tomorrow's armed forces can only be achieved by a consensus of understanding among our people that military efforts are always guided by the nation's best interests. The corrosive influence of partisan politics must not be allowed to infect the senior military leadership. The respected and widely supported separation of church and state doctrine currently in place, should be extended to cover politics and military decision making. Military power is the enforcement arm of political power. Such power should only be used with the full support of the American people. The future just ain't what it used to be. All who shoulder the prodigious responsibilities for planning for our military future should be guided by the knowledge that a planning failure is not an acceptable option. The Old Soldier!! ================================================== MEDAL OF HONOR ARTICLE 7 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GINO J. MERLI ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This week's Medal of Honor Winner is from the European Theater. The recommendation for this publication came from one of our readers, a soldier himself and a relative of this true hero. I thought it worthwhile to include his letter to us because it not only makes us reflect on the incredible act of heroism but also on the man's subsequent contributions to society, humanity, and future generations. Gino, we all salute you!!! ********************************************************** I would like to suggest putting the citation of Medal of Honor recipient Gino J. Merli in an upcoming newsletter. I know him and his wonderful wife Mary personally since they are both my great aunt and uncle. Hence, I have known Gino my entire life. At the age of five, my father made me aware that he was some kind of war hero. I really didn't understand or comprehend the feat that Gino had accomplished until I was in my teens. Gino's heroism and act of bravery never really sunk in until I joined the Army myself in 1984 and understood fully what the Medal of Honor represented, and what Gino had done. Since then I have done all in my power to live up to the high standards of service and patriotism that my great uncle has set for our family and this country. He has not only set an example for me but for thousands of people whose lives he's touched in his 75 years of serving his country, which he still does to this day. He served as a veterans' benefits counselor for the VA for over 40 years, helping thousands of veterans get the services they deserved. He has spoken to hundreds of High School and College students and has remained a pillar of the community in the small town of Peckville, PA ever since he returned from W.W.II. His heroic act near Sars la Bruyere, Belgium in Sep of 1944 was probably one of the most ingenious and incredible feats of bravery to have occurred during the war. It's hard to believe that a 20 year old PFC, would have been able to remain so cool headed and focused on "the mission" to have accomplished what he did. Lately however, Gino has been fighting another battle, one that has slowed him down, but as of yet, has not been able to stop him. Parkinson's Disease, compounded by Coronary Artery Disease are taking their toll, but like a true warrior Gino soldiers on as brave as ever. I thank you in advance for considering this request. Frank R. Antenori SFC, USA Special Forces Medic/18D ********************************************************** MERLI, GINO J. Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Sars la Bruyere, Belgium, 4-5 September 1944. Entered service at: Peckville, Pa. Birth: Scranton, Pa. G.O. No.: 64, 4 August 1945. Citation: He was serving as a machine gunner in the vicinity of Sars la Bruyere, Belgium, on the night of 4-5 September 1944, when his company was attacked by a superior German force Its position was overrun and he was surrounded when our troops were driven back by overwhelming numbers and firepower. Disregarding the fury of the enemy fire concentrated on him he maintained his position, covering the withdrawal of our riflemen and breaking the force of the enemy pressure. His assistant machine gunner was killed and the position captured; the other 8 members of the section were forced to surrender. Pfc. Merli slumped down beside the dead assistant gunner and feigned death. No sooner had the enemy group withdrawn then he was up and firing in all directions. Once more his position was taken and the captors found 2 apparently lifeless bodies. Throughout the night Pfc. Merli stayed at his weapon. By daybreak the enemy had suffered heavy losses, and as our troops launched an assault, asked for a truce. Our negotiating party, who accepted the German surrender, found Pfc. Merli still at his gun. On the battlefield lay 52 enemy dead, 19 of whom were directly in front of the gun. Pfc. Merli's gallantry and courage, and the losses and confusion that he caused the enemy, contributed materially to our victory . HARRY S. TRUMAN THE WHITE HOUSE June 15, 1945 ==================================================== ARTICLE 8 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GI HUMOR??? NEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON IN BUTTER ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ZIMM Note: Had a lot good joke recommendations for this week, but this "true" story about our "real" military establishment topped all of the funnies. Got it from a couple of SF contacts that we won't reveal. It came with the following comment: "can you guys believe that? A 6 foot 5 inch chairman of the JCS made out of chocolate!!!!! I wonder if he's sending any chocolate to those poor guys stuck in Bosnia, Kosovo, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, etc.?" Maybe we are becoming Romans, self-absorbed with our own greatness. What's next? Mock sea battles in a water-filled Pentagon to entertain the JCS and our political leaders? ********************************************************** By Diligent SF Observers We've heard of generals done up as heroic marble statues--Washington is teeming with them. But Army four-star Henry H. Shelton, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has broken the mold by displaying a life-size sculpture of himself in milk chocolate. We're not making this up. Guests at the chairman's weekend Christmas party at his official residence, Quarters 6 at Fort Myer, were confronted by the 6-foot-5 chocolate Shelton on a Styrofoam pedestal in the living room. The awesome sculpture, a remarkable likeness, is the handiwork of Army Master Sgt. Mark Jones-the General's personal cook and a miracle worker in ice and chocolate-who persuaded his boss to let him try. Posed at parade rest and containing around 175 pounds of chocolate mixed with tallow and slathered on a Styrofoam frame, the statue is also the work of Senior Chief Petty Officer Mario Gorospe and Sgt. 1st Class Richard Lacuesta. "It was my idea," said the 36-year-old Jones, a combat-ready Ranger who served in the Desert Storm and Haiti operations, and jumps out of airplanes when not whipping up seven-course French meals for Shelton's VIP guests. "When I first approached him about it, he got what I call his 'dog look,' and said, 'What are you talking about?' But he knows that I'm a pretty aggressive soldier, and that when I say I going to do something, I'm going to follow through. He didn't want to say no." ===================================================== **COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for nonprofit research and educational purposes only.[Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ] DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
