-Caveat Lector- ------- Forwarded Message Follows ------- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date sent: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 15:04:34 EDT Subject: VOICE OF THE GRUNT, 1999-06-16-B To: undisclosed-recipients:; VOICE OF THE GRUNT, 1999-06-16-B ================================================ ARTICLE 6 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BRITISH SAS LEADER: PART II ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ****FLASH****FLASH****FLASH Subject: SITREP, SAS Commando, SOMEWHERE - BALKANS Time and Date: 1805 HOURS (GMT), 10 June 1999 Kosovo Calling: We were supposed to go back in, but we were held back when the peace deal was signed. Instead, we were launched, and in the air, because the Russians were trying to get there first, they were going to drop us in front of them, near Pristina, and "hold" the Russains by ourselves, until British Paratroopers could get to us. However the Russians say they will stop at the border. Anyway, I am in Blace (Macedonia/Kosovo border) right now with the rest of the boys. The Brits were ready to go yesterday, but the US Marines were ill-prepared. Consequently, everything has been put on hold until they sort themselves out. We will be going into Pristina tonight to secure it. We will be going in with the Paratroopers. We are going regardless of the US Marines being ready. The British troops really feel let down by the US so far, hopefully they will get it together shortly. We might have to "liquidate" renegade units after securing Pristina. Hopefully the Russians won't start anything. We will be keeping our "eyes" on them. The British Paratroops are just dying for a fight, as are the Ghurkas. Our new tasking is to find the landmines once we are all in. We know where the majority of them are. Then we are going to guide the Top Brass to the mass graves -- they are great hiding places! A bit quiet though; even the birds don't go there. No sound, no nothing. Everybody knows we are going in tonight, they are asking us to leave some "fun" for them. Word is we might be home in a month, but the rest of the British soldiers will remain; wonder where I will go next. Hopefully they might let me return to some wine, women, and a normal life. Watch CNN if you're into disinformation! SAS Warrior ================================================== ARTICLE 7 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ IT'S OFFICIAL - TRAINING DEGRADES READINESS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SUMMARY: Remember all those Newsreel films of maneuvers in 1940? The ones where a truck had a sign on it "labeling" it a tank and the grunts were using wooden machine-guns? That'll be the next step. Part of the oath is still "to serve protect and defend the constitution" right? How do we maintain that oath by having "paper readiness"? ************************************************ By Ranger "D" I write you this day with a heavy heart, my tour in the Special Operations Community is coming to an end. I served five years with the 2nd Ranger Battalion, two years with the 3/87 Infantry, and six years with the 5/19 Special Forces as a Voice Interceptor. I have been and NCO since the late 80's and have served our country in combat with the 2nd Rangers in Panama. Given my SRB I believe that I have a certain amount of knowledge to pass on to new soldiers; knowledge that will keep them alive if ever sent into combat. However, the current status of our armed forces has forced me to walk away from my position as an active Army National Guardsman. In the past four years, I have been unable to train my men in any way. Each time that I have organized a live-fire exercise, the training is canceled at the last minute to support such events as battalion inspections and change-of-command ceremonies. When I try to requisition weapons to take on our parachute jumps, I am told that we cannot jump weapons. If the weapons are broken on a jump or lost, it decreases our unit's "readiness" on paper. Never mind that some of my men have never jumped with their weapons. During a garrison drill I scheduled a field exercise and was told that we'll stay in the barracks and complete our monthly inventories in order to improve our "readiness." Never mind that my team has not worked together on a simulated combat operation for over a year. When I want to take my men on a nighttime foot movement, I am told that an injury will lessen our "readiness." Never mind that my team has lost the ability to move and navigate at night. When I request live ammunition for an exercise, I'm told that it's too much trouble to plan and seek approval for such training. Never mind that some of my men have never fired a live round outside the sterile confines of a rifle range. Everything that enhances our unit's "readiness" is, in actuality, the Army deems detrimental to actual readiness. I've been able to tolerate much in my thirteen years of service. If I could enjoy just 1 day in 5 of military service, I'd be willing and eager to continue serving. It's just that all the skills and experience that I picked up while on Active Duty will just deteriorate in this environment. Does the Army want us to view all that time as a waste? I can't even give subordinates reason to stay in the Army! Having these feelings, as a professional NCO, I must resign my active position with the Army National Guard. I will transfer to the Inactive Reserve and eagerly await a change in the current status of our armed forces. As I previously stated, I love being a soldier. In the Army today, I am doing anything but. I hope you will find it in your heart to pass this information along to anyone who might listen. Thank you for your time sir. Rangers Lead the Way! ================================================= ARTICLE 8 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE WILDLY REVOLVING DOOR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SUMMARY: The author writes of the one of the biggest links in the Military Industrial Congressional Complex: the General officers who retire to industry and keep all the percs and power structure whirring around them; and at our expense. *************************************************** By Sheriff Justice I've been thinking about this. I've been around it for a long time. When I wasn't commanding artillery units, I was in the weapons test business. If you don't want to make General, that's the thing to do. Ha Anyway when you're close to it, sometimes you don't see it, if that makes sense. But take a small step back and man it hits you in the face. Short story. The last time I saw MG Lewis (Ret) was during a ride to the Pentagon. I was the XO to General Cianciola and awaiting orders for ADEA, my second 06 command. As I said before, he was trying to get me not to take the job. HE was going to "kill" ADEA. Anyway, he said if you don't take that job I'll have you assigned as the head of combat developments for field artillery. Of course I knew his buddy and later business partner MG (Ret) Halada was the CG of Sill and all Lewis would do was call his stooge. But what he was really telling me was that if I did that I get back in the "family" and get promoted to BG, as "they" controlled the board. I'm not saying I'm anywhere near the patriot you are, but as we stopped at the South entrance, I got out and told Lewis "no thanks," I wouldn't work for that sorry bastard regardless of what happens to me. Well, "they" got me and that's the end of the story but "they" (in a much larger sense) have gotten so many more. You see in the weapons development business, promotions are tied to "fielding of systems." When you "gore" a favorite cow, man all hell breaks loose and it becomes very personal. Hell, I was as stupid as to believe all we wanted was what best for the Army. Wrong answer; what we want is what is best for the Generals and who their buddies are in industry so they can get a job when they get out. We should do a survey of Lockheed, Hughes, Raytheon and all the rest. Right off the top, almost nine years removed from the "process," I can name twenty Generals "working" the "building." The ones I know are connected to the other Generals and they're all working the "system" together. Wish we could get their salaries, but I know for a fact none of them goes for less than 200k. How they operate is by using the people they "helped" promote, when they were on active duty, and then the person who was used, in turn, thinks that he'll have a job with that General when he retires. It's a cycle. It's a system. It's a club. If I can help with your project, please let me know. By the way Dennis has motivated me to do a paper on the counter drug business. I've been involved with that for the past nine years. Left the Army as a Colonel, the next "day" became the oldest rookie deputy sheriff in Florida. None the less, I don't know if you ever met General McCaffrey, but he sure could have done a lot more than what he's done. You know, there's something much deeper about all this "General" stuff too. I don't profess to understand it all, but it seems that when they retire they still want the power. But to get the power, in the "new" environment, they have to change. The amount they "change" is equal to the amount they sell out. Perhaps I'm all wet about this, but bet I'm not far off. What's sad is that they should be giving something back to a system that gave them so much. Instead their milking it and selling out to folks who never heard a shot fired in anger their whole lives. ==================================================== ARTICLE 9 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *******Medal Of Honor******* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *GERTSCH, JOHN G. Rank and organization: SSgt., USA, Co. E, 1/327, 101st Airborne Div. Place and date: A Shau Valley, RVN, 15 - 19 July 1969. Entered service: Buffalo, N.Y. Born: 29 September 1944, Jersey City, N.J. Citation: S/Sgt. Gertsch distinguished himself while serving as a platoon sergeant and platoon leader during combat operations in the A Shau Valley. During the initial phase of an operation to seize a strongly defended enemy position, S/Sgt. Gertsch's platoon leader was seriously wounded and lay exposed to intense enemy fire. Forsaking his own safety, without hesitation S/Sgt. Gertsch rushed to aid his fallen leader and dragged him to a sheltered position. He then assumed command of the heavily engaged platoon and led his men in a fierce counterattack that forced the enemy to withdraw. Later, a small element of S/Sgt. Gertsch's unit was reconnoitering when attacked again by the enemy. S/Sgt. Gertsch moved forward to his besieged element and immediately charged, firing as he advanced. His determined assault forced the enemy troops to withdraw in confusion and made possible the recovery of 2 wounded men who had been exposed to heavy enemy fire. Sometime later his platoon came under attack by an enemy force employing automatic weapons, grenade, and rocket fire. S/Sgt. Gertsch was severely wounded during the onslaught but continued to command his platoon despite his painful wound. While moving under fire and encouraging his men he sighted an aidman treating a wounded officer from an adjacent unit. Realizing that both men were in imminent danger of being killed, he rushed forward and positioned himself between them and the enemy nearby. While the wounded officer was being moved to safety S/Sgt. Gertsch was mortally wounded by enemy fire. Without S/Sgt. Gertch's courage, ability to inspire others, and profound concern for the welfare of his men, the loss of life among his fellow soldiers would have been significantly greater. His conspicuous gallantry, extraordinary heroism, and intrepidity at the cost of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit on him and the Armed Forces of his country. *Awarded posthumously ===================================================== ARTICLE 10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MPRI - MILITARY PRINCES RETIREMENT & INVESTMENTS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SUMMARY: The author gives us a brief look at MPRI. I really appreciated his observation that the American Sportsman / Hunter is outfitted and armed better, for less cost, than the American Soldier. ******************************************************* By A Retired Army Officer I know you're very busy but I couldn't help but note your reference to MPRI. Once again you're on target. This outfit is a spin off of Cyprus International, a company that assists defense contractors with bypassing the channels to do business with the DOD. For years it was run by MG Vern Lewis (Ret). He's a whole story in itself. By association, Cyprus virtually directed development of field artillery systems. Lewis' buddies were Commandants of the Field Artillery School and later his employees or business associates. He started MPRI and hired high visibility people such as General Vouno, the former IG of the Army (the real fat guy, that help enforce the over weight program that ruined so many careers when it was noted on EERs/OERS that the individual was one or two pounds over weight), the former Commanding General of Fort Sill, etc. Retired Colonels did the "staff" work while these fine folks connected with their old buddies in TRADOC and the State Department. I felt the wrath of these folks when I was Deputy Commander of ADEA, at Fort Lewis, Washington. Our mission was to find more cost effective ways to get off the shelf equipment for the Services. It was great fun to see how we could get better equipment, in a shorter period of time, for less money. You know the American hunter is better equipped, for less money, than the American soldier. Anyway, these guys hated us. Ultimately, we were shut down. It was a shame. Strangely enough, after I retired, Cyprus tried to recruit me to go to Bosnia and train folks. That's when I decided I'd never work for a Defense Contractor. These Generals would sell out for anything. Lewis one time bragged to me (this was in 1987) that he made 880,000 dollars that year. This was before he setup MPRI. God knows what he's made now. I believe in capitalism but using the "system" and their "rank" for personal profit is wrong, no matter how its explained nor how the laws are written. It's interesting to note that Lewis' prime "stooge," MG Halada (Ret), former CG, Fort Sill and MPRI member, was taken off the three star list for trying to "fix" the BG board. Its no wonder a lot of folks, former soldiers, has lost respect for the leadership of the Country. With few exceptions, I see no one out there that sets the pace with style and class. =================================================== ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ VOICE OF THE GRUNT Volunteers: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ David H. Hackworth, Taker of Names and Spiritual Leader Robert L. McMahon, Editor and Chief bottle-washer Barry "Woody" Groton, Assistant Editor and Medicine Man Ed "Edgar" Schneider, Copy Editor, Man of Letters and gentleman Larry Tahler, WebMaster Guru and Crack-shot Judy Bowyer Martin, Administration and Brains of the Outfit Kyle Elliott, Book List Editor and Most Over-worked James Higday, MOH Editor and NCOIC =================================================== EDITOR'S NOTE: As a rule of thumb, please try to keep article for possible publication to 700 words or less. We do make exceptions and will not turn away an 800 to 900 word piece, but please make every editing effort not to exceed these guidelines. If you believe you have a story that is longer than 700 words we will consider running it in parts. Keep the piece focused on the story you want to express, not impress upon the reader. Thanks to everyone for keeping the communication lines open and the ideas flowing. Semper Fi, Bob McMahon [EMAIL PROTECTED] Editor ============================================= ARCHIVED DEFENDING AMERICA COLUMNS: You can now find copies of Hack's previous columns at: http://www.hackworth.com. These are found in the Defending America Section, under Archived Copies. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONGRESSIONAL E-MAIL ADDRESSES Congressional e-mail addresses can be found by going to (www.hackworth.com) and accessing Congressional e-mails at the bottom of the first page. ********************ORDERING BOOKS************************* We still have Trade copies of About Face. These are exactly the same as the hardback, except they have a soft cover. Cost for an autographed copy: $26.00 (including handling and postage). If you are interested in ordering Hack's books (About Face*, Hazardous Duty**, or The Vietnam Primer), check out the instructions at our web page: http://www.hackworth.com. It takes about 3 weeks to process the book orders. Your patience is appreciated. Please mark on outside if envelope "Book Order" and make check out to: Twin Eagles Ink PO Box 5210 Greenwich, CT 06831 *About Face available in trade copy. **Hazardous Duty available in hardback. ==================================================== A<>E<>R ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. -Marcel Proust + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + A merely fallen enemy may rise again, but the reconciled one is truly vanquished. -Johann Christoph Schiller, German Writer (1759-1805) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that prevents us from living freely and nobly. -Bertrand Russell + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + "Everyone has the right...to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers." 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