-Caveat Lector- WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a Prelude to War! ARTICLE 11 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ More Voices from the Frontlines ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ed.: Honest opinions of people who want to vent... *********************************************************** It Isn't The X-ers Fault ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The military's attrition problem has very little to do with lazy and stupid generation X-ers, who lack values and morality. It has everything to do with leadership arrogance. Hear, Hear! Make them stop! ----------------------------------------------------------- The Rome Commentary: Character is Important ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ By a Canadian Friend I guess I read the same history books as you because I see the Rome Analogy all too well. At least for me, I think that Western Civilization as we know it is roughly at the same point that Rome was in 180AD when Rome was still able to fend off the "Barbarians" at the gate. It wasn't funny when this recount debacle happened. But you guys didn't have much of a choice either. I personally think that neither man is a worthy character for the office of President. The thing I have never understood about American politics (I am a Canadian, eh) is why isn't character important? I think it should be because character is what defines our actions and thoughts. It seems to me that people saying it doesn't matter are usually those who don't have it to begin with. The only real question that should be asked of any national leader is this: "Are you willing to put the interests of the NATION before those of your own, your friends, the special interest groups that supported you, and your political party?" The problem is that most of those in power couldn't answer this one truthfully. ----------------------------------------------------------- Stand-up and Make the Difference ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A senior Army NCO I'm not one to normally air out dirty laundry in public. However, I've recently read some articles on the Soldiers for the Truth web site that truly concern me. I am a Senior NCO with 14 years of service, currently serving in TRADOC. The response to "CPT M's" letter of 22 NOV 00 by "a senior Army NCO" caused me to stop and think. I have often complained to Department of the Army, PERSCOM (otherwise known as Branch) that I have not been overseas enough! Seems that every time I come down on assignment orders, no one wants to leave Germany, or they just got to Korea. Luck of the draw, I guess. So I end up moving my family all over CONUS every two years. But the real thing that gets me is that our Senior NCOs, across all services, are finding it easier to just give up. Why not do those things that caused you to pin-on in the first place? For most of us, it wasn't the money. It wasn't the stress of added responsibilities. It was the opportunity to lead young soldiers. To mentor, coach, and teach, just like someone did for us. A lot of Senior NCOs find it easier to do the easy wrong over the hard right. STAND UP! Tactfully tell the commanders, first sergeants, and sergeants major how and why you are unable to accomplish a mission. Tell them what resources you need and have them provide. The first time you are unable to accomplish a mission because of lack of resources and support from higher-ups, you'll get their attention. With the large amounts of "surplus money" we created over the last eight years, why can't someone give the money to the line units that need it so desperately? Most of us have begun to live by the motto, "We have done so much, for so long, with so little, that now we can do anything, forever, with nothing." It's time to stop the madness. =========================================================== ARTICLE 12 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Troop Health Issues: 35,000 Veterans To Get Nerve Agent Notice ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ed.: Another reasons vets must work together. One more change in the Gulf war nerve gas story. Many of us could have been exposed, but the "Spin Meisters" kept it from us. I'm not a conspiracy theorist but I'm beginning to fear that some officials are hiding critical info so the defense department can save money for other extravaganzas. Veterans are citizens and must remain alert! *********************************************************** By PAMELA HESS WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- The Pentagon is notifying approximately 35,000 Gulf War veterans that they may have been exposed to low levels of a nerve agent in March 1991 when an Army unit destroyed a cache of Iraqi rockets packed with sarin and cyclosarin, according to Bernard Rostker, the special assistant for Gulf War illnesses, medical readiness and military deployments. It also is sending letters to around 32,000 veterans to tell them new computer simulations of the resulting plume of sarin shows they were probably not in its path, contradicting what the Pentagon said in 1997. Advances in computer simulation, better intelligence on the chemical weapons involved, better understanding of how they are affected by wind, and a more thorough accounting of where U.S. troops were in Kuwait and Iraq on March 11, 12 and 13 1991, have convinced the Pentagon that the information it provided to veterans three years ago was inaccurate. "These are still simulations, these are not ground truths," said Rostker. "This is the best we can do based upon our understanding" of the weather, where soldiers were located and the nature of the chemicals. Rostker also conceded they were rushed to put out answers in 1997 by the president's commission on the Gulf War illness. The commission threatened to notify nearly everyone who fought in the war of possible exposure if the Pentagon was not completed with its work by a certain date, according to Rostker. The sarin -- the same nerve agent that killed Japanese subway riders in an attack by a religious cult -- was released when soldiers of the 18th Airborne Corps conducted two large-scale operations to destroy the munitions and facilities around Khamisiyah in southern Iraq in March 1991. Rostker says there is still no known correlation between those in the path of the sarin plume and those reporting Gulf War illness. Moreover, only 26 of 8,000 veterans in the path of the plume who responded to an earlier health survey were determined to have shown even mild symptoms of sarin exposure. Rostker says the levels of sarin immediately around U.S. soldiers never reached sufficient concentrations to trip alarms or to affect soldiers in a noticeable way. The toxicity and size of the plume was measured in the simulation at approximately 1.5 meters off the ground. "The great enigma of Khamisiyah is if we had a release-of-chemical event, why is it we had no alarms going off?" Rostker said. "We didn't have troops in the area where they would have been exposed (to the point) they would have felt something or tripped alarms." On March 4, soldiers destroyed 37 large ammunition bunkers, one of which -- Bunker 73 -- contained 2,160 rockets packed with chemical agents. The Pentagon says no soldiers were exposed to chemicals in that operation. But on March 10 soldiers destroyed 40 additional bunkers and 45 warehouses and blew up approximately 1,250 rockets, which U.N. inspectors later determined contained sarin and cyclosarin. Cyclosarin is two to three times more deadly than sarin, according to Rostker... "There is no benefit to the vets in terms of their treatment whether or not they were under the plume," said Rostker. "We are providing the information for future (health treatment) for vets. It has no practical value in terms of getting compensation," he said. About 1,100 veterans will get a letter informing them that while they were told they were not exposed to the gas, the new models show they might have been. That letter reads, in part, "In 1997, I notified you that if you were with your unit between March 10-13, 1991, you were not exposed even to a very low level of chemical agent as a result of the demolition of munitions at Khamisiyah, Iraq ... The models now predict that if you were with your unit at the time of the demolition at Khamisiyah, you may, indeed, have been exposed to very low levels of chemical agent for a brief period of time (less than three days) after the demolition." But for 33,000 veterans, Tuesday's letter will be the first time they are hearing from Rostker about the nerve gas. Defense Department records failed to indicate they were in the area during the plume. It was only by correlating the diaries of soldiers that fought in the Gulf war that the Pentagon was able to identify all the units serving around Khamisiyah.... About 110,000 veterans of the Gulf War self-report symptoms of the illness known as the Gulf War Syndrome, the cause of which has still not been identified. Most are diagnosed with other health problems. But about 10,000 to 20,000 have unexplained illnesses that the Defense Department considers to be Gulf War Syndrome sufferers. =========================================================== ARTICLE 13 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GI HUMOR - Modern Zen for the US Military ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ed.: Recently adopted by the Joint Chiefs of Staff... ********************************************* 1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me, either; just #$%^ off and leave me alone. 2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and a flat tire. 3. Don't be irreplaceable; if you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted. 4. No one is listening until you make a mistake. 5. Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else. 6. Never test the depth of the water with both feet. 7. It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others. 8. It is far more impressive when others discover your good qualities without your help. 9. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments. 10. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes. 11. If you lend someone $20, and never see that person again, it was probably worth it. 12. Don't squat with your spurs on. 13. If you drink, don't park; accidents cause people. 14. Some days you are the bug, some days you are the windshield. 15. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket. 16. Duct tape is like the force; it has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together. =============================================================== ARTICLE 14 - MEDAL OF HONOR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ed.: The Battle of the Bulge lasted from December 16, 1944 to January 28, 1945. More than a million men participated in this battle on both sides. At the conclusion of the battle the casualties were severe: 81,000 U.S. with 19,000 killed, 1400 British with 200 killed, and 100,000 Germans killed, wounded or captured. Here is the story of one of our heroes who helped turn the Fuehrer's last gamble into strategic defeat. 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] *********************************************************** SODERMAN, WILLIAM A. Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company K, 9th Infantry, 2d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Rocherath, Belgium, 17 December 1944. Entered service at: West Haven, Conn. Birth: West Haven, Conn. G.O. No.: 97, 1 November 1945. Citation: Armed with a bazooka, he defended a key road junction near Rocherath, Belgium, on 17 December 1944, during the German Ardennes counteroffensive. After a heavy artillery barrage had wounded and forced the withdrawal of his assistant, he heard enemy tanks approaching the position where he calmly waited in the gathering darkness of early evening until the 5 Mark V tanks which made up the hostile force were within pointblank range. He then stood up, completely disregarding the firepower that could be brought to bear upon him, and launched a rocket into the lead tank, setting it afire and forcing its crew to abandon it as the other tanks pressed on before Pfc. Soderman could reload. The daring bazookaman remained at his post all night under severe artillery, mortar, and machinegun fire, awaiting the next onslaught, which was made shortly after dawn by 5 more tanks Running along a ditch to meet them, he reached an advantageous point and there leaped to the road in full view of the tank gunners, deliberately aimed his weapon and disabled the lead tank. The other vehicles, thwarted by a deep ditch in their attempt to go around the crippled machine, withdrew. While returning to his post Pfc. Soderman, braving heavy fire to attack an enemy infantry platoon from close range, killed at least 3 Germans and wounded several others with a round from his bazooka. By this time, enemy pressure had made Company K's position untenable. Orders were issued for withdrawal to an assembly area, where Pfc. Soderman was located when he once more heard enemy tanks approaching. Knowing that elements of the company had not completed their disengaging maneuver and were consequently extremely vulnerable to an armored attack, he hurried from his comparatively safe position to meet the tanks. Once more he disabled the lead tank with a single rocket, his last; but before he could reach cover, machinegun bullets from the tank ripped into his right shoulder. Unarmed and seriously wounded he dragged himself along a ditch to the American lines and was evacuated. Through his unfaltering courage against overwhelming odds, Pfc. Soderman contributed in great measure to the defense of Rocherath, exhibiting to a superlative degree the intrepidity and heroism with which American soldiers met and smashed the savage power of the last great German offensive. =========================================================== ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ EDITOR'S NOTE: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For Article Submissions: 1. Try to keep articles to 700 words or less. SUBMIT IN WORD FORMAT, if possible! 2. Submit your piece to one of our subject matter experts who can assist you in pre-editing prior to final publication decision, unless you feel strongly that your issue is so hot that Zimm needs to see it personally and immediately. SFTT is not trying to duplicate a rigid chain of command with titles and perks. 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ***** HACK 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. Hack is offering them at a special SFTT price. ==================================================== ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Defending America Newsletter Administrative Volunteers: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ R.W. Zimmermann, Chief Editor/President of SFTT and Tank Commander David H. Hackworth, Spirit Guide, and undisputed Y2K Expert Bill Rogers, Assistant Editor and SFTT Vice President Barry "Woody" Groton, Chief TECH DROID and Medicine Man John Cloven, Master Web Manager Ed "Edgar" Schneider, Copy Editor, Man of Letters and gentleman: [EMAIL PROTECTED] James H., MOH Editor and NCOIC Jim Leach, News Research Snoop, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Pat Hays, Zimm's Right-Hand Grammar Guru =================================================== 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. Vanore, Surface Warfare, Reserve and Intelligence issues [EMAIL PROTECTED] ********************************************** U.S. Air Force: Paul Connors, Senior Editor -- AF Historian, grunt, procurement expert, grammarian, spell-checker and other odds and ends non-expert. 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