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MILITARY
updateMIlitary
This is long, but right on target. Bob Thorp
Navy Chief lets loose a broadside.
America 's military can win wars. We've done it in the past, and I have absolute confidence that we'll continue to do it in the future. We've won fights in which we possessed overwhelming technological superiority (Desert Storm), as well as conflicts in which we were the technical underdogs (the American Revolution). We've crossed swords with numerically superior foes, and with militaries a fraction of the size of our own. We've battled on our own soil, and on the soil of foreign lands -- on the sea, under the sea, and in the skies. We've even
engaged in a bit of cyber-combat, way out there on the electronic frontier. At one time or another, we've done battle under just about every circumstance imaginable, armed with everything from muskets to cruise missiles. And, somehow, we've managed to do it all with the wrong Army.
That's right, America has the wrong Army. I don't know how it happened, but it did. We have the wrong Army. It's too small; it's not deployed properly; it's inadequately trained, and it doesn't have the right sort of logistical support. It's a shambles. I have no idea how those guys even manage to fight.
Now, before my brothers and sisters of the OD green persuasion get their fur up, I have another revelation for you. We also have the wrong Navy. And if you want to get down to brass tacks, we've got the wrong Air Force, the wrong Marine Corps, and the wrong Coast Guard.
Don't believe me? Pick up a newspaper or turn on your television. In the past week, I've watched or read at least a dozen commentaries on the strength, size, and deployment of our military forces. All of our uniform services get called on the carpet for different reasons, but our critics unanimously agree that we're doing pretty much everything wrong.
I think it's sort of a game. The critics won't tell you what the game is called, so I've taken the liberty of naming it myself. I call it the 'No Right Answer' game. It's easy to play, and it must be a lot of fun because politicos and journalists can't stop playing it.
I'll teach you the rules. Here's Rule #1: No matter how the U.S. military is organized, it's the wrong force. Actually, that's the only rule in this game. We don't really need any other rules, because that one applies in all possible situations. Allow me to demonstrate...
If the Air Force's fighter jets are showing their age, critics will tell us that Air Force leaders are mismanaging their assets, and endangering the safety of their personnel. If the Air Force attempts to procure new fighter jets, they are shopping for toys and that money could be spent better elsewhere. Are you getting the hang of the game yet? It's easy; keeping old planes is the wrong answer, but getting new planes is also the wrong answer. There is no right answer, not ever. Isn't that fun?
It works everywhere. When the Army is small, it's TOO small. Then we start to hear phrases like 'over-extended' or 'spread too thin,' and the integrity of our national defense is called into question. When the Army is large, it's TOO large, and it's an unnecessary drain on our economy. Terms like 'dead weight,' and 'dead wood' get thrown around.
I know what you're thinking. We could build a medium-sized Army, and everyone would be happy. Think again. A medium-sized Army is too small to deal with large scale conflicts, and too large to keep military spending properly muzzled. The naysayers will attack any middle of the road solution anyway, on the grounds that it lacks a coherent strategy. So small is wrong, large is wrong, and medium-sized is also wrong. Now you're starting to understand the game. Is this fun, or what?
No branch of the military is exempt. When the Navy builds aircraft carriers, we are told that we really need small, fast multipurpose ships. When the Navy builds small, fast multi-mission ships (aka the Arleigh Burke class), we're told that blue water ships are poorly suited for littoral combat, and we really need brown water combat ships. The Navy's answer, the Littoral Combat, isn't even off the drawing boards yet, and the critics are already calling it pork barrel politics and questioning the need for such technology. Now I've gone nose-to-nose with hostiles in the littoral waters of the Persian Gulf , and I can't recall that pork or politics ever entered into the conversation. In fact, I'd have to say that the people trying to kill me and my shipmates were positively disinterested in the internal wranglings of our military procurement process. But, had they been aware of our organizational folly, they could have hurled a few well-timed criticisms our way, to go along with the mines we were trying to dodge.
The fun never stops when we play the 'No Right Answer' game. If we centralize our military infrastructure, the experts tell us that we are vulnerable to attack. We're inviting another Pearl Harbor . If we decentralize our infrastructure, we're sloppy and overbuilt, and the BRAC experts break out the calculators and start dismantling what they call our 'excess physical capacity.' If we leave our infrastructure unchanged, we are accused of becoming stagnant in a dynamic world environment.
Even the lessons of history are not sacrosanct. When we learn from the mistakes we made in past wars, we are accused of failing to adapt to emerging realities. When we shift our eyes toward the future, the critics quickly tell us that we've forgotten our history and we are therefore doomed to repeat it. If we somehow manage to assimilate both past lessons and emerging threats, we're informed that we lack focus.
Where does it come from: this default assumption that we are doing the wrong thing, no matter what we happen to be doing? How did our military wind up in a zero-sum game? We can prevail on the field of battle, but we can't win a war of words where the overriding assumption is that we are always in the wrong.
I can't think of a single point in History where our forces were of the correct size, the correct composition, correctly deployed, and appropriately trained all at the same time. Pick a war, any war. (For that matter, pick any period of peace.) Then dig up as many official and unofficial historical documents, reports, reconstructions, and commentaries as you can. For every unbiased account you uncover, you'll find three commentaries by revisionist historians who cannot wait to tell you how badly the U.S. military bungled things. To hear the naysayers tell it, we could take lessons in organization and leadership from the Keystone Cops.
We really only have one defense against this sort of mudslinging. Success. When we fight, we win, and that's got to count for something. When asked to comment on Operation Desert Storm, the U.S. Army's Lieutenant General Tom Kelly reportedly said, " Iraq went from the fourth-largest army in the world, to the second-largest army in Iraq in 100 hours." In my opinion, it's hard to argue with that kind of success, but critics weren't phased by it. Because no matter how well we fought, we did it with the wrong Army.
I'd like to close with an invitation to those journalists, analysts, experts, and politicians who sit up at night dreaming up new ways to criticize our armed forces. The next time you see a man or woman in uniform, stop for ten seconds and reflect upon how much you owe that person, and his or her fellow Sailors, Marines, Soldiers, and Airmen.
Then say, "Thank you." I'm betting you won't even have to explain the reason. Our Service members are not blind or stupid. They know what they're risking. They know what they're sacrificing. They've weighed their wants, their needs, and their personal safety against the needs of their nation, and made the decision to serve. They know that they deserve our gratitude, even if they rarely receive it.
Two words -- that's all I ask. "Thank you." If that's too hard, if you can't bring yourself to acknowledge the dedication, sincerity and sacrifice of your defenders, then I have a backup plan for you. Put on
a uniform and show us how to do it right.
(c) 2005 Jeff Edwards.
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News from my son Ben on his third deployment in Iraq to his proud
Dad:
I got promoted on the 2nd out near our COC. They told me we were
having a company formation at 1745 and I need'nt be late. So I was
standing in the front rank luckily and our company First Sergeant
called us to attention and said, "LCpl Griswold, report to your
company commander!" So I marched up to Captain Kahn, "Good evening
sir, LCpl Griswold reporting as ordered." Then my first sergeant
read my promotion warrant, had me do an about face and told everyone
why I was promoted to Corporal and then noted that in this special
occasion out here, Maj. Gen. Huck signed my warrant. So it was
awesome and a surprise. All month my First Sergeant was like, "I
don't know Griswold, there's a lot of stiff competition from the
grunts, you lookin' to pick up Corporal, yada yada yada." All this
bull shit to make me think it wasn't going to happen. So when he
called me to report to the company commander, I had a shit-eating
grin on the inside, and felt like I mattered all of sudden. I've
noticed just in this first week that people listen a lot more when I
have suggestions, they act on them more often, and when people call
to our office, they're more obligated to ask me questions, since I
probably know what's going on around me. Either way, it's awesome,
and I can't wait to throw on those blues with that blood stripe
running down my legs and that EGA on my belt buckle. Not to mention
my Chesty Puller of a stack. Hehehe.
Kevin Griswold
7315 (almost at the double dipping point)
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Passed on from a friend....................
This Letter of Apology was written by Lieutenant General Chuck Pitman, US Marine Corps, Retired:
"For good and ill", the Iraqi prisoner abuse mess will remain an issue. On the one hand, right thinking Americans will abhor the stupidity of the actions while on the other hand, political glee will take control and fashion this minor event into some modern day massacre.
I humbly offer my opinion here:
I am sorry that the last seven times we Americans took up arms and sacrificed the blood of our youth, it was in the defense of Muslims ( Bosnia , Kosovo, Gulf War 1, Kuwait , etc.).
I am sorry that no such call for an apology upon the extremists came after 9/11.
I am sorry that all of the murderers on 9/11 were Islamic Arabs.
I am sorry that most Arabs and Muslims have to live in squalor under savage dictatorships.
I am sorry that their leaders squander their wealth.
I am sorry that their governments breed hate for the US in their religious schools, mosques, and government-controlled media.
I am sorry that Yassar Arafat was kicked out of every Arab country and high-jacked the Palestinian "cause."
I am sorry that no other Arab country will take in or offer more than a token amount of financial help to those same Palestinians.
I am sorry that the USA has to step in and be the biggest financial supporter of poverty stricken Arabs while the insanely wealthy Arabs blame the USA for all their problems.
I am sorry that our own left wing, our media, and our own brainwashed masses do not understand any of this (from the misleading vocal elements of our society, like radical professors, CNN and the NY TIMES).
I am sorry the United Nations scammed the poor people of Iraq out of the "food for oil" money so they could get rich while the common folk suffered.
I am sorry that some Arab governments pay the families of homicide bombers upon their death.
I am sorry that those same bombers are brainwashed thinking they will receive 72 virgins in "paradise."
I am sorry that the homicide bombers think pregnant women, babies, children, the elderly and other noncombatant civilians are legitimate targets.
I am sorry that our troops die to free more Arabs from the gang rape rooms and the filling of mass graves of dissidents of their own making.
I am sorry that Muslim extremists have killed more Arabs than any other group.
I am sorry that foreign trained terrorists are trying to seize control of Iraq and return it to a terrorist state.
I am sorry we don't drop a few dozen Daisy cutters on Fallujah.
I am sorry every time terrorists hide they find a convenient "Holy Site."
I am sorry they didn't apologize for driving two jets into the World Trade Center that collapsed and severely damaged Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church - one of our Holy Sites.
I am sorry they didn't apologize for flight 93 and 175, the USS Cole, the embassy bombings, the murders and beheadings of Nick Berg and Daniel Pearl, etc....etc!
I am sorry Michael Moore is an American; he could feed a medium sized village in Africa .
America will get past this latest absurdity. We will punish those responsible because that is what we do. We hang out our dirty laundry for the entire world to see. We move on. That's one of the reasons we are hated so much. We don't hide this stuff like all those Arab countries that are now demanding an apology.
Deep down inside, when most Americans saw this reported in the news, we were like - so what? We lost hundreds and made fun of a few prisoners.
Sure, it was wrong, sure, it dramatically hurts our cause, but until captured we were trying to kill these same prisoners. Now we're supposed to wring our hands because a few were humiliated?
Our compassion is tempered with the vivid memories of our own people killed, mutilated and burnt amongst a joyous crowd of celebrating Fallujahans.
If you want an apology from this American, you're going to have a long wait!
You have a better chance of finding those seventy-two virgins.
Chuck Pitman
Lieutenant General US Marine Corps (Retired)
Semper Fi
--
David R. Evans
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Brings tears to my eyes, and shivers down my spine. My heart swells with pride, for he is a true hero. Adapt and overcome, this attack was a surprise and the enemy never anticipated it. It is what saved his life. Only an immediate, aggressive offensive maneuver such as this could have saved their lives any defensive maneuver would have resulted in a tragedy. The courageous calm in the midst of Armageddon, the decisive action plan developed in an instant and the steel balls to carry it out are awe inspiring. He is the best of the best, where do I sign up. It is an honor to read of such heroic deeds. It is a shame there is not a website where fellow Americans can contact individuals such as Captain Brian Chontosh and let them know how much we appreciate them. I for one would turn into a Ron Oz and send him a litany of accolades. God Bless America and God Bless Brian Chontosh. May you have a long and successful Military career. I feel safer knowing that there are men and women like you defending our country. Men and women like you to whom duty is an honor and privilege. Men and women like you who preserve the honor of our military forces. Carry on soldier, we are always at your side. America will never forget your heroic efforts. God Bless Don for sharing this with us. It has been a FUBAR week, this is just what I needed. Larry Eade
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dondisc2@aol.com wrote:
I really dislike long OpenLine notes, but I will make a rare exception in this case. If you have not read about this hero, take a couple of minutes to peruse the following verified facts.
Ever hear of Brian Chontosh, Marine Lt? I doubt it, but this is his story which DID NOT make the front page of any newspaper. I understand that it got a couple of lines in the Lieutenants home town newspaper.
It was March 2003 on the march into Baghdad . Lt. Brian Chontosh was a platoon leader rolling up Highway 1 in a humvee.
When all hell broke loose.Ambush city. The young Marines were being cut to ribbons. Mortars, machine guns, rocket propelled grenades. And the kid out of Churchville , NY , was in charge. It was do or die and it was up to him. So he moved to the side of his column, looking for a way to lead his men to safety. As he tried to poke a hole through the Iraqi line his humvee came under direct enemy machine gun fire. It was fish in a barrel and the Marines were the fish.
And Brian Chontosh gave the order to attack. He told his driver to floor the humvee directly at the machine gun emplacement that was firing at them. And he had the guy on top with the .50 cal unload on them. Within moments there were Iraqis slumped across the machine gun and Chontosh was still advancing, ordering his driver now to take the humvee directly into the Iraqi trench that was attacking his Marines. Over into the battlement the humvee went and out the door Brian Chontosh bailed, carrying an M16 and a Beretta and 228 years of Marine Corps pride. And he ran down the trench. With its mortars and riflemen, machineguns and grenadiers. And he killed them all.
He fought with the M16 until it was out of ammo. Then he fought with the Beretta until it was out of ammo. Then he picked up a dead man's AK47 and fought with that until it was out of ammo. Then he picked up another dead man's AK47 and fought with that until it was out of ammo. At one point he even fired a discarded Iraqi RPG into an enemy cluster, sending attackers flying with its grenade explosion. When he was done Brian Chontosh had cleared 200 yards of entrenched Iraqis from his platoon's flank. He had killed more than 20 and wounded at least as many more. But that's probably not how he would tell it.
By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, unlimited courage in the face of heavy enemy fire, and utmost devotion to duty, 1st Lt. Chontosh reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.†Now Marine Capt. Brian R. Chontosh, received the Navy Cross "for extraordinary heroism while serving as Combined Anti-Armor Platoon Commander,Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom March 25, 2003."
don discher
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Sergeant Beere
But early on Feb. 22, he saved his own life and quite possibly the lives of a dozen other marines from Bravo Company who were taking a well-deserved catnap after an all-night operation in the city of Hit .
The split-second decisions by marines like Sergeant Beere are often made in the fog of war. During the same operation, his platoon accidentally killed two unarmed Iraqis who failed to obey orders to stop. Each situation reveals just how much pressure and how little time troops have to determine whether approaching cars mean them harm.
At about 5 a.m., the streets of the city were all but deserted when a sedan turned onto the road leading to the marines' temporary headquarters in a schoolhouse. The driver began to speed up toward the Abrams tank guarding the road, so the machine gunner opened fire with two long bursts that sent the car careening into a sewage canal in the middle of the road.
The driver, who was hit three times but still alive, rolled out of the car, and marines ran over to investigate. He was a Syrian who claimed in perfect, almost unaccented, English that he'd been forced to drive the car. (He later died on the way to the hospital.)
Beere then went over with another marine to check out the car.
As the marine in front of him leaned in the passenger-side front door to take out an AK-47 propped against the steering wheel, a man lunged out of the muck in the canal on the driver's side and went for a rocket-propelled grenade launcher in the back of the car. Beere quickly pulled his buddy back and to the side, swiped his pistol from his holster, and shot the man five times. The man fell back into the canal.
Beere took a few steps away to catch his breath and, turning back, saw the man coming out of the canal again, this time hitting a "clacker" in his hand - a detonating unit for mines and improvised bombs. Beere shot the man four more times, and he fell dead.
"I thought that was it for me, I really did," Beere said a few minutes later. He says he expected the whole car to go up in a ball of flames."The best I can figure is that he had a mine down there with him and was trying to blow up all the explosives in the car. I think the wet ruined the detonator," he says.
In this case Beere was right: the trunk was loaded with explosives. But troops don't always make the correct decisions. The marines of Bravo Company, who are finishing a six-month tour in Iraq , have fired on and killed unarmed Iraqis in cars on more than one occasion. In each case, they say, confused drivers either ignored or didn't notice warning shots and shouts to slow down as their cars sped toward Marine positions.
But with the suicide car bomb a favored insurgent weapon at checkpoints - in December, 9 Iraqis were killed and 13 were wounded by a suicide bomber at a checkpoint south of Baghdad, while in October, 16 people were killed and 40 were wounded by a car bomber at a Baghdad checkpoint - the troops aren't inclined to take chances. And their rules of engagement let them open fire if they feel threatened.
Such confusion, and the civilian casualties they create, are part of the tactic of using suicide bombers since it serves to drive a greater wedge between US troops and ordinary Iraqis.
"You feel awful when it happens," says one Bravo marine, who remembers treating an Iraqi who probably lost his arm after being shot by this marine's unit. "But I don't doubt the decision to shoot."
Marines interviewed for this story said they were willing to risk civilian casualties if it meant potentially saving the lives of their comrades.
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From: Renee Ream
Sent: Friday, May 13, 2005 7:20 PM
Subject: WWII hero
Somewhere in our travels, probably at the Nimitz Museum outside of San Antonio, TX, John and I found this plaque. You can feel the sorrow in every word. Renee
"Dedicated to the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor: The valiant men and women, both living and dead, who gallantly fought against overwhelming odds to defend the Philippine Islands from invading Japanese forces at the outbreak of World War II. 'With broken heart and head bowed in sadness but not in shame, I report, that today I must arrange terms for the surrender of Manila Bay. Please say to the nation that my troops and I have accomplished all that is humanly possible and that we have upheld the best tradition of the United States and its forces. With profound regret and with continued pride in my gallant troops, I go to meet the Japanese Commander.' " --General Jonathan Wainwright, USA . Plaque presented May 23, 1999
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If anyone ever wants to find me on Sundays around noon (Nobody? Well,
screwya then), I'm at Fong's Chinese Restaurant in Castro Valley . Today agroup of about eight ladies came in to celebrate Mother's Day, among them three generations of the same family....grandmother, mother, and middle-aged daughter. They were all pretty well behaved, I like quiet with my Mongolian Beef, when all of a sudden one of them broke out a video camera fully equipped with supplemental lights. Wonderful....and oh yeah, they started to get a little louder. And they got REAL loud when the fourth generation walked in as a surprise for one lucky "middle-aged daughter": A uniformed member of the U.S. Army who'd secretly flown in from overseas. Now, I'll bet even an ultra-stud like my friend Larry Eade would've teared up at the scene in that restaurant, especially when the rest of the patrons...in the heart
of leftist trash Barbara Lee/Pete Stark country...burst into applause.
Kleenex please.
God bless America , our troops past and present, and Mother's everywhere.
Bob Fenton, OPD (ret.)
From: kgatbmf@aol.com
To: openline@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [openline] Re: History
Date: Fri, 6 May 2005 22:02:16 EDT
LT, Vic, Jim et. al.
You all be missing something on this story, it wasn't the French Army who made this stand, it was the French Foreign Legion. By French law, no citizen of France may serve in the Legion. A buddy of mine is doing a movie on this story and the script writers went to great lengths to demonstrate how the French military basically hauled ass and ran when confronted with any opposition and refused to leave their ships and come to these guys aide.
KG
Kevin Gors
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From: igoldpan@aol.com
Subject: Re: [openline] History/Mex Military MIGHT
Date: Fri, 06 May 2005 12:02:36 -0400
Vic, Connie, Jeem, et al :
The Mexican victory at Puebla showed how the Mexican military machine was rising to prominance in the mid to late 1800's.......
Ok, that IS pretty funny !!!
Their victory over the FRENCH rates right up there with the Italians taking on Ethiopia just before WWII and LOSING. Pass the MODELO !!!!!
(Uh-OH. Now comes Italian wrath.....) :-)
From: Larry Eade <opd4ever@yahoo.com>
To: Rudy Martin <rudyp@pacbell.net>
CC: openline@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [openline] Re: Fw: Ann Margret
Date: Fri, 6 May 2005 01:49:22 -0700 (PDT)
Thanks for sharing this story Rudy! I got to admit it caused a tear or two. I met her at the Coliseum. How did they package something so beautiful in such a tiny package. But it is obvious there was more to the package than her size. She is big time in the eyes of the men and women who have served this country. She is a Hollywierd oxymoron! Thank God!
From: Jim Coleman <mztgringo@yahoo.com>
To: "C. Blevins" <cblevins@rraz.net>, Victor Sandoval victorsandoval1@comcast.net>, Open Line <openline@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: [openline] History
Date: Thu, 5 May 2005 22:44:20 -0700 (PDT)
They have a draft here (MX) for all able bodied males in a country of about 100 Million and haven't won a battle since the Alamo i heard. Too much corruption to worry about defense, planning & terrorism. Siestas, cerveza and "eye candy" take president. jim c
From: "C. Blevins" cblevins@rraz.net
To: "Victor Sandoval" <victorsandoval1@comcast.net, "Open Line" openline@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [openline] History
Date: Thu, 5 May 2005 22:36:00 -0600
Vic:
Once upon a time the French had the most powerful military in the world. They have degenerated a bit, probably because the Germans keep kicking the shit out of them. If it wasn't for the good old USA , I doubt there would be a France .
But, back in the days when the French were on Mexico 's ass, they were strong. When the Mexicans caused them to retreat at Puebla (May 5th, 1862), it was a great victory. Hence, Cinco De Mayo is celebrated annually. Just history, it never changes.
C. Blevins
Here in Beaumont , TX it's "Stink O de Mayo" trust me; fertilizers, cow poo , refineries and general ag smells. Happy 05-05-05 to u all, Jim c
"C. Blevins" <cblevins@rraz.net> wrote:Part of Cinco de Mayo history. Ron will be proud of me. This is a little long, but worth reading.
Connie Blevins
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++++++++++
THE BATTLE OF CAMERONE
This battle took place on April 30, 1863 during the campaign of Mexico . It is celebrated each year, on the anniversary of this date, by all the Regiments of the French Foreign Legion.
History: The French Army was besieging Puebla .
The mission of the Legion was to ensure the movement and safety of convoys over an 80 mile route. On April 29,1863 Colonel Jeanningros was informed that an important convoy was on its way to Puebla with a load of 3 million francs, and material and munitions for the siege. Captain Danjou, his quartermaster, decided to send a company to escort the convoy. The 3rd Company of the Foreign Legion Regiment was assigned to this mission, but had no officers available. So Captain Danjou took the command, 2nd Lieutenants Maudet, company guide, and Vilain, the paymaster, joined him voluntarily.
On April 30, at 1 a.m., the 3rd Company was on its way, with its 3 officers and 62 men. At 7 a.m, after a 15 mile march, the Company stopped at Palo Verde in order to get some rest. At this very moment, the enemy showed up and the battle began. Captain Danjou formed the company into a square formation and, even though retreating, they victoriously drove back several cavalry charges, inflicting the first heavy losses on the enemy .
By the Inn of Camerone, a large building with a courtyard protected by a wall 3 meters high, Danjou decided to stay, in order to delay the enemy for as long as possible and prevent any attacks on the convoy.
While the legionnaires were rapidly setting up the defense of the inn, a Mexican officer demanded that Captain Danjou surrender, pointing out the fact that the Mexican Army was greatly superior in number.
Danjou's answer was: "We have munitions. We will not surrender." Then, he swore to fight to the death and made his men swear the same. That was at 10 a.m. Until 6 p.m., about 60 men, who had nothing to eat or drink since the day before, in spite of the extreme heat, resisted against 2,000 Mexicans: 800 cavalry and 1,200 infantry.
At noon, Captain Danjou was shot in the chest and died. At 2 p.m., 2nd Lieut. Vilain was shot in the head. About this time, the Mexican colonel succeeded in setting the inn on fire.
In spite of the heat and the smoke, the Legionnaires resisted, but many of them were killed or injured. By 5 p.m., only 12 men could still fight with 2nd Lieut. Maudet. At this time, the Mexican colonel gathered his soldiers and told them what disgrace it would be if they were unable to defeat such a small number of men. The Mexicans were about to give the general assault through holes opened in the walls of the courtyard, but Colonel Milan, who had previously asked 2nd Lieut. Maudet to surrender, once again gave him the opportunity to do so. Maudet scornfully refused.
The final charge was given. Soon, only 5 men were left around Maudet; Corporal Maine, Legionnaires Catteau, Wensel, Constantin and Leonard. Each had only one bullet left. In a corner of the courtyard, their back against the wall, still facing the enemy, they fixed bayonets. When the signal was given, they opened fire and fought with their bayonets. 2nd lieut. Maudet and 2 Legionnaires fell, mortally wounded. Maine and his 2 remaining companions were about to be slaughtered when a Mexican officer saved them. He shouted: "Surrender"!
"We will only if you promise to allow us to carry and care for our injured men and if you leave us our guns".
"Nothing can be refused to men like you" answered the officer.
Captain Danjou's men had kept their promise; for 11 hours, they had resisted 2,000 enemy troops. They had killed 300 of them and had injured as many. Their sacrifice had saved the convoy and they had fulfilled their mission.
Emperor Napoleon the 3rd decided that the name of Camerone would be written on the flag of the Foreign Regiment and the names of Danjou, Vilain and Maudet would be engraved in golden letters on the walls of the Invalides, in Paris .
A monument was built in 1892, at the very place of the fight. The following inscription can be read there :
HERE, THEY WERE LESS THAN SIXTY
AGAINST A WHOLE ARMY
ITS MASS CRUSHED THEM
BUT LIFE RATHER THAN COURAGE
ABANDONED THESE FRENCH SOLDIERS
THE 30TH OF APRIL 1863.
TO THEIR MEMORY THE NATION BUILT THIS MONUMENT.
Since then, when Mexican troops pass by the monument, they present arms.
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From: "Rudy Martin" <rudyp@pacbell.net>
To: <openline@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [openline] Fw: Ann Margret
Date: Thu, 5 May 2005 15:51:49 -0700
----- Original Message -----
From: Howard Garrigan
To: Ed Arri ; bill & kathy Roberts ; Jim Cence ; Hank Otaviano ; Rudy Martin ; Mike Garrigan ; Jay Graves ; Bob Shaner ; Jerry DeMaria ; jo cookie springer ; Bill Broxderman ; Bob Leete ; Diane Eastman
>Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 3:22 PM
>Subject: Fw: Ann Margret
This is a good counter balance story to the Jane Fonda/Vietnam/
Ann Margret
Viet Nam 1966
Richard, (my husband), never really talked a lot about his time in Viet Nam other than he had been shot by a sniper. However, he had a rather grainy, 8 x 10 black and white photo he had taken at a USO show of Ann Margret with Bob Hope in the background that was one of his treasures.
A few years ago, Ann Margret was doing a book signing at a local bookstore. Richard wanted to see if he could get her to sign the treasured photo so he arrived at the bookstore at 12 o'clock for the 7:30 signing.
When I got there after work, the line went all the way around the bookstore, circled the parking lot and disappeared behind a parking garage. Before her appearance, bookstore employees announced that she would sign only her book and no memorabilia would be permitted.
Richard was disappointed, but wanted to show her the photo and let her know how much those shows meant to lonely GI's so far from home. Ann Margret came out looking as beautiful as ever and, as second in line, it was soon Richard's turn.
He presented the book for her signature and then took out the photo. When he did, there were many shouts from the employees that she would not sign it. Richard said, "I understand. I just wanted her to see it."
She took one look at the photo, tears welled up in her eyes and she said, "This is one of my gentlemen from Viet Nam and I most certainly will sign his photo. I know what these men did for their country and I always have time for 'my gentlemen.'"
With that, she pulled Richard across the table and planted a big kiss on him. She then made quite a to-do about the bravery of the young men she met over the years, how much she admired them, and how much she appreciated them There weren't too many dry eyes among those close enough to hear. She then posed for pictures and acted as if he were the only one there.
Later at dinner, Richard was very quiet. When I asked if he'd like to talk about it, my big strong husband broke down in tears. "That's the first time anyone ever thanked me for my time in the Army," he said.
That night was a turning point for him. He walked a little straighter and, for the first time in years, was proud to have been a Vet. I'll never forget Ann Margret for her graciousness and how much that small act of kindness meant to my husband.
I now make it a point to say "Thank you" to every person I come across who served in our Armed Forces. Freedom does not come cheap and I am grateful for all those who have served their country.
If you'd like to pass on this story, feel free to do so. Perhaps it will help others to become aware of how important it is to acknowledge the contribution our service people make.
From: "C. Blevins" <cblevins@rraz.net>
To: "Open Line" <openline@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [openline] Media
Date: Thu, 5 May 2005 10:38:12 -0600
>I see I'm going to have to bring the Jane Fonda stickers to the reunion.
C. Blevins
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From: "Rudy Martin" <rudyp@pacbell.net>
To: "Larry Eade" <opd4ever@yahoo.com>,<openline@yahoogroups.com>,"Jim Coleman" <mztgringo@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [openline] Good news-Reporters in a combat zone-response to C.Blevins
Date: Thu, 5 May 2005 08:50:31 -0700
Jim, Larry, and Connie,
While sitting in an outpost in the North Central Highlands of a wonderful tourist attraction of Southeast Asia back in October of 1965 I came across an old copy of The Stars and Stripes,(the local newspaper of the GI). There was an article about students from Cornell University trying to raise money and blood for the Comrades of Jane Fonda. Here I was a 20 year old kid soaking wet from all the rain. I got more than a little pissed. I wrote a letter, free of course, to the dean of students at Cornell protesting his students actions and the fact that they got all the publicity. I asked that he help his students by raising money for air fare so that his students could help out by facing us GI's face to face. He actually answered my letter and apologized for his students actions and stated that he personally supported our troops. For him to support our troops at that time was very unusual in those days.
Rudy Martin
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Coleman" <mztgringo@yahoo.com>
To: "Larry Eade" <opd4ever@yahoo.com>; <openline@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 7:01 AM
Subject: Re: [openline] Good news-Reporters in a combat zone-response to
C.Blevins
Connie/Larry,
I disagree w/both of you. I believe they belong IN or AT the front lines , but with NO added/EXTRA protection and with self paid housing, security and Provisions/transportations(NOT in an armored & protected US Gov't pieces of property). Just buy a tkt , fly over, rent a car and hit Ralphs or go to an army suppy store for some MRE's and go take all the pix and footage they want. If u get kidnapped, beheaded or whatever, it's a job related hazzard and go find the nearest Kaiser or hospital for medical treatment. Simple,jim c
Larry Eade opd4ever@yahoo.com wrote:
Connie I disagree, they are good for sighting your rifles. In a combat> zone they should be considered the enemy. The actions of the press in the last three wars can only be described as treason. They aided the resolve of the enemy and weakened the resolve of the American public and some of our troops. Jane Fonda should have been tried, sentenced, served her time, released, and immediately deported to Vietnam to forever more wear the uniform of the country she aided in killing American troops (I am still carrying on this fight for brother Dave McGill and will till the day I die) He died as a result of serving his country and that skank is wallowing in the benefits of freedom and wealth. We won world war two, the press was different. They would have never survived if they conducted themselves as today's joUrnalists. If I were a command officer leading an operation my advice to the media personnel assigned would be "You are an acceptable causality rate and will be treated accordingly".
Connie, you are right they do not belong in a combat zone. It is a damn shame they are catching on. I just read a report that journalists are being killed at a much higher rate than any other time in history. Not to bright are they, take a freakin hint, we are tired of your biased, traitorous conduct, that compromises the lives of our troops. Sympathy-are they looking for sympathy, give me a break! Well there is none here, and if they are looking for it then they should go to the only place they will find it, Webster's Dictionary. I will bet that it is probably located somewhere between Shit and Syphilis. 'Nough Said
"C. Blevins" <cblevins@rraz.net> wrote:
The media is a pain. They have no business in a combat zone.
+++++++++++++
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military has ruled that no charges will be filed against a Marine in the fatal shooting of a wounded and unarmed Iraqi in a Falluja mosque last November in an incident shown in a television pool report, NBC News reported on Wednesday.
After a five-month investigation, the Marine Corps determined that the Marine corporal fired in self-defense and no charges would be filed, the report said.
The decision was based partly on the fact that Marines had been warned insurgents were feigning death and booby-trapping bodies and that the corporal apparently feared for his life when he fired the shots, NBC reported, citing sources.
The Marine, seen in blurry images on the videotape that was shared with other news organizations, reportedly shot three wounded insurgents and has been cleared in all of the shootings, the network said.
A second Marine is under investigation for shooting a fourth unarmed insurgent in the mosque, it said.
A Marine Corps spokesman was not immediately available for comment.
The U.S. military opened the investigation into possible war crimes after the incident was captured on recorded by an NBC television crew embedded with the Marines.
The Iraqi was one of five wounded left in the mosque after the Marines fought their way into the formerly rebel-held city of Falluja .
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