TBL, why don't you write Hack and ask him? I did and he wrote me a warm chatty reply. I posted most the first email I got from him, on FF but I can't recall where.
He has never failed to answer my questions, in rapid order at that.
[email protected]
All profits from sales of "Hazardous Duty", "Brave Men" and "Price of Honor" go to SFTT.
You can check SFTTs accounting as it is an IRS designated 501(c) 3 educational foundation. I did. My disability pay doesn't give me the luxury of throwing away my money on fakes.
Letters From The Front
Moderator: Super Moderators
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TheBigLabowski
- Pirate
- Posts: 1614
- Joined: 04-01-2003 03:00 AM
Diep Wrote:
I was just asking you because I thought you might be able to get the info faster from him since you were a member. I am very interested in what the soldiers are thinking and will email him. It's unfortunate that the soldiers that are happy in their job there don't write good letter's for people to view on a site so I could read both sides of their minds. But I guess that they don't need to write to their superiors about good things. As far as Hackworth being a fake I never said that, I just stated I would like to see actual copies of the letter's instead of something someone typed from them. If I offended you I am sorry Mud.
Hi Labowski (great movie!)
I wonder why you would distrust a source like Hack while taking in the good news stories, which many of them have been proven to be fake copycat letters, blindly signed by soldiers. And why would you trust the media who have been proven to make false reports and are under pressure to report with a bias (both have been admitted by themselves).
Apart from that, I'm sure there's good news to tell from Iraq. Question is only: does it take the bad news away or change the content and its meaning?
I loved that movie as well!! I crack up every time I see it!
The answer to your question is that I really don't trust any media. All of the media is biased in some form or fashion. That's why I try to read from all of the media and make a judgement for myself. This includes Mr. Hackworth. How does the man make a living now? I don't know anything about the man but what HE says on his website. I am interested in the letters. I just want to see the real letters instead of what someone else tells me. (No Offence Mud).As far as the media, I even love reading articles from the Al Jazzera website now that they have an english version. (It used to be all arabic). I just feel more confortable reading the actual letters with the actual names of soldiers on them.
Mud Wrote:TBL, why don't you write Hack and ask him? I did and he wrote me a warm chatty reply. I posted most the first email I got from him, on FF but I can't recall where.
I was just asking you because I thought you might be able to get the info faster from him since you were a member. I am very interested in what the soldiers are thinking and will email him. It's unfortunate that the soldiers that are happy in their job there don't write good letter's for people to view on a site so I could read both sides of their minds. But I guess that they don't need to write to their superiors about good things. As far as Hackworth being a fake I never said that, I just stated I would like to see actual copies of the letter's instead of something someone typed from them. If I offended you I am sorry Mud.
---End Of Transmission---
When you email Hack you may wish to mention the fact that when I was the person who asked him for permission to post the letters from SFFT on FF and that I credit his site as the source when I do (unless I forget). That will give him and you some context.
I explained to him what FF was etc. I have yet to tell him that FF automatically edits the curse words. Makes the letters a bit strange sometimes but I think the message gets through.
Cheers,
Sandy
I explained to him what FF was etc. I have yet to tell him that FF automatically edits the curse words. Makes the letters a bit strange sometimes but I think the message gets through.
Cheers,
Sandy
TBL,
It's beyond the scope of this discussion but the question 'who do we trust' is quite fundamental in politics.
Cheers, diep
Cool answer and very wiseThe answer to your question is that I really don't trust any media. All of the media is biased in some form or fashion. That's why I try to read from all of the media and make a judgement for myself
It's beyond the scope of this discussion but the question 'who do we trust' is quite fundamental in politics.
Cheers, diep
(Reposted with permission from Col. David Hackworth)
(Automatically edited by FF)
Dear Hack,
It seems the Army has no institutional memory of lessons learned in Vietnam about truck convoy defense. As a former Transportation Corps officer, we did the following with our trucks and personnel. If you think it's worthwhile, please pass along to your contacts in Iraq. I know they work since we were responsible for our own defense against attack--nobody was going to come save us.
1. Use three layers of sandbags to cover floor of truck cabs and Humvees to protect against road mines. Sandbag bed of troop-carrying trucks.
2. Each grunt carries 600 rounds M-16 ammo. Webgear and flak jackets at all times with canteen worn on side of hip for seated comfort in truck cab. Clean weapons every night--to be inspected by squad leader before lights out.
3. Convoy CO rides in third or fourth vehicle. First convoy vehicle is 5-ton truck to ram roadblocks and blow mines. Second vehicle is 5-ton fitted as "gun truck", not regulation, but truck fitted with plate steel welded to frame of bed with firing slits-manned with four MGs, grenade launchers. Intersperse convoy with trucks armed with one or two MGs and one grenade launcher in truck bed. Run battle drill so all personnel know how to respond to attack: Ram all roadblocks at once if threatened. Put out high volume of fire. Keep ten meters between trucks.
I doubt if the Reserves and National Guard in convoys know these things.
Hope this helps,
Former Transportation Corps officer
(Automatically edited by FF)
Dear Hack,
It seems the Army has no institutional memory of lessons learned in Vietnam about truck convoy defense. As a former Transportation Corps officer, we did the following with our trucks and personnel. If you think it's worthwhile, please pass along to your contacts in Iraq. I know they work since we were responsible for our own defense against attack--nobody was going to come save us.
1. Use three layers of sandbags to cover floor of truck cabs and Humvees to protect against road mines. Sandbag bed of troop-carrying trucks.
2. Each grunt carries 600 rounds M-16 ammo. Webgear and flak jackets at all times with canteen worn on side of hip for seated comfort in truck cab. Clean weapons every night--to be inspected by squad leader before lights out.
3. Convoy CO rides in third or fourth vehicle. First convoy vehicle is 5-ton truck to ram roadblocks and blow mines. Second vehicle is 5-ton fitted as "gun truck", not regulation, but truck fitted with plate steel welded to frame of bed with firing slits-manned with four MGs, grenade launchers. Intersperse convoy with trucks armed with one or two MGs and one grenade launcher in truck bed. Run battle drill so all personnel know how to respond to attack: Ram all roadblocks at once if threatened. Put out high volume of fire. Keep ten meters between trucks.
I doubt if the Reserves and National Guard in convoys know these things.
Hope this helps,
Former Transportation Corps officer
(Reposted with permission from Col. David Hackworth)
(Automatically edited by FF)
A Guard Platoon Sgt Sounds Off
Sir,
With Two tours in Iraq -- 90-91 with 101st ABN and most recently an Infantry Company in the Oregon Natl Guard -- I got to report that we have SERIOUS problems with lifer Guard soldiers in KEY leadership positions, from BN CDR, BN CSM on down to CO officers and 1SGs.
Never have I experienced anything like this. we have failed all areas of basic soldier leadership and welfare. Leaders withdraw from troops, can't get ammo and chow on time, can't understand that their job as grunts is to kill people and blow things up.
They can't understand that they are warriors and must display that to raise morale and get our boys motivated.
Arrived in Kuwait in APR 03 and immediately these cowards start politiking for CIB and campaign ribbons. This is a disgrace and an embarrassment and shameful. It is a slap in the face to all those brave kids who died in the fight through Iraq and are still getting killed. Somehow, someway these gutless politicians need to be held accountable... train-up needs to stress reality of a WAR, not pointless tasks for certification to make one deployable.
Florida, Oklahoma and Indiana Guard units all fought and did well because of outstanding leadership, God Bless them. Not in the leadership of my unit. These phony charletans would've killed us all had we seen any real action.
If we mobilize Reserves and Guard units, we need to train them to kill and survive in combat, not pull "force protection" missions in the rear or just maintain a presence. We must weed out the careerist wannabe and get steely-eyed killers in their place. that's how we win a war. Thank you for your patience, sir.
An Infantry Platoon Sgt.
SFTT
(Automatically edited by FF)
A Guard Platoon Sgt Sounds Off
Sir,
With Two tours in Iraq -- 90-91 with 101st ABN and most recently an Infantry Company in the Oregon Natl Guard -- I got to report that we have SERIOUS problems with lifer Guard soldiers in KEY leadership positions, from BN CDR, BN CSM on down to CO officers and 1SGs.
Never have I experienced anything like this. we have failed all areas of basic soldier leadership and welfare. Leaders withdraw from troops, can't get ammo and chow on time, can't understand that their job as grunts is to kill people and blow things up.
They can't understand that they are warriors and must display that to raise morale and get our boys motivated.
Arrived in Kuwait in APR 03 and immediately these cowards start politiking for CIB and campaign ribbons. This is a disgrace and an embarrassment and shameful. It is a slap in the face to all those brave kids who died in the fight through Iraq and are still getting killed. Somehow, someway these gutless politicians need to be held accountable... train-up needs to stress reality of a WAR, not pointless tasks for certification to make one deployable.
Florida, Oklahoma and Indiana Guard units all fought and did well because of outstanding leadership, God Bless them. Not in the leadership of my unit. These phony charletans would've killed us all had we seen any real action.
If we mobilize Reserves and Guard units, we need to train them to kill and survive in combat, not pull "force protection" missions in the rear or just maintain a presence. We must weed out the careerist wannabe and get steely-eyed killers in their place. that's how we win a war. Thank you for your patience, sir.
An Infantry Platoon Sgt.
SFTT
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CindyLouWho
- Pirate
- Posts: 3533
- Joined: 01-02-2003 03:00 AM
Letters the Troops Have Sent Me... by Michael Moore
December 19, 2003
As we approach the holidays, I've been thinking a lot about our kids who are in the armed forces serving in Iraq. I've received hundreds of letters from our troops in Iraq -- and they are telling me something very different from what we are seeing on the evening news.
What they are saying to me, often eloquently and in heart-wrenching words, is that they were lied to -- and this war has nothing to do with the security of the United States of America.
I've written back and spoken on the phone to many of them and I've asked a few of them if it would be OK if I posted their letters on my website and they've said yes. They do so at great personal risk (as they may face disciplinary measures for exercising their right to free speech). I thank them for their bravery.
Lance Corporal George Batton of the United States Marine Corps, who returned from Iraq in September (after serving in MP company Alpha), writes the following:
You'd be surprised at how many of the guys I talked to in my company and others believed that the president's scare about Saddam's WMD was a bunch of bulls h i t and that the real motivation for this war was only about money. There was also a lot of crap that many companies, not just marine companies, had to go through with not getting enough equipment to fulfill their missions when they crossed the border. It was a miracle that our company did what it did the two months it was staying in Iraq during the war. We were promised to go home on June 8th, and found out that it was a lie and we got stuck doing missions for an extra three months. Even some of the most radical conservatives in our company including our company gunnery sergeant got a real bad taste in their mouth about the Marine corps, and maybe even president Bush.
Here's what Specialist Mike Prysner of the U.S. Army wrote to me:
Dear Mike -- I'm writing this without knowing if it'll ever get to you I'm writing it from the trenches of a war (that's still going on,) not knowing why I'm here or when I'm leaving. I've toppled statues and vandalized portraits, while wearing an American flag on my sleeve, and struggling to learn how to understand. I joined the army as soon as I was eligible & turned down a writing scholarship to a state university, eager to serve my country, ready to die for the ideals I fell in love with. Two years later I found myself moments away from a landing onto a pitch black airstrip, ready to charge into a country I didn't believe I belonged in, with your words (from the Oscars) repeating in my head. My time in Iraq has always involved finding things to convince myself that I can be proud of my actions; that I was a part of something just. But no matter what pro-war argument I came up with, I pictured my smirking commander-in-chief, thinking he was fooling a nation".
An Army private, still in Iraq and wishing to remain anonymous, writes:
I would like to tell you how difficult it is to serve under a man who was never elected. Because he is the president and my boss, I have to be very careful as to who and what i say about him. This also concerns me a great deal... to limit the military's voice is to limit exactly what America stands for... and the greater percentage of us feel completely underpowered. He continually sets my friends, my family, and several others in a kind of danger that frightens me beyond belief. I know several other soldiers who feel the same way and discuss the situation with me on a regular basis.
Jerry Oliver of the U.S. Army, who has just returned from Baghdad, writes:
I have just returned home from "Operation Iraqi Freedom". I spent 5 months in Baghdad, and a total of 3 years in the U.S. Army. I was recently discharged with Honorable valor and returned to the States only to be horrified by what I've seen my country turn into. I'm now 22 years old and have discovered America is such a complicated place to live, and moreover, Americans are almost oblivious to what's been happening to their country. America has become "1984." Homeland security is teaching us to spy on one another and forcing us to become anti-social. Americans are willingly sacrificing our freedoms in the name of security, the same Freedoms I was willing to put my life on the line for. The constitution is in jeopardy. As Gen. Tommy Franks said, (broken down of course) One more terrorist attack and the constitution will hold no meaning.
And a Specialist in the U.S. Army wrote to me this week about the capture of Saddam Hussein:
Wow, 130,000 troops on the ground, nearly 500 deaths and over a billion dollars a day, but they caught a guy living in a hole. Am I supposed to be dazzled?
There are lots more of these, straight from the soldiers who have been on the front lines and have seen first hand what this war is really about.
I have also heard from their friends and relatives, and from other veterans. A mother writing on behalf of her son (whose name we have withheld) wrote:
My son said that this is the worst it's been since the "end" of the war. He said the troops have been given new rules of engagement, and that they are to "take out" any persons who aggress on the Americans, even if it results in "collateral" damage. Unfortunately, he did have to kill someone in self defense and was told by his commanding officer ‘Good kill.
"My son replied "You just don't get it, do you?"
"Here we are...Vietnam all over again.".
From a 56 year old Navy veteran, relating a conversation he had with a young man who was leaving for Iraq the next morning:
What disturbed me most was when I asked him what weapons he carried as a truck driver. He told me the new M-16, model blah blah blah, stuff never made sense to me even when I was in. I asked him what kind of side arm they gave him and his fellow drivers. He explained, "Sir, Reservists are not issued side arms or flack vests as there was not enough money to outfit all the Reservists, only Active Personnel". I was appalled to say the least.
"Bush is a jerk agreed, but I can't believe he is this big an Assh o l e not providing protection and arms for our troops to fight HIS WAR!.
From a 40-year old veteran of the Marine Corps:
Why is it that we are forever waving the flag of sovereignty, EXCEPT when it concerns our financial interests in other sovereign states? What gives us the right to tell anyone else how they should govern themselves, and live their lives? Why can't we just lead the world by example? I mean no wonder the world hates us, who do they get to see? Young assh o les in uniforms with guns, and rich, old, white tourists! Christ, could we put up a worse first impression?.
(cont)...
December 19, 2003
As we approach the holidays, I've been thinking a lot about our kids who are in the armed forces serving in Iraq. I've received hundreds of letters from our troops in Iraq -- and they are telling me something very different from what we are seeing on the evening news.
What they are saying to me, often eloquently and in heart-wrenching words, is that they were lied to -- and this war has nothing to do with the security of the United States of America.
I've written back and spoken on the phone to many of them and I've asked a few of them if it would be OK if I posted their letters on my website and they've said yes. They do so at great personal risk (as they may face disciplinary measures for exercising their right to free speech). I thank them for their bravery.
Lance Corporal George Batton of the United States Marine Corps, who returned from Iraq in September (after serving in MP company Alpha), writes the following:
You'd be surprised at how many of the guys I talked to in my company and others believed that the president's scare about Saddam's WMD was a bunch of bulls h i t and that the real motivation for this war was only about money. There was also a lot of crap that many companies, not just marine companies, had to go through with not getting enough equipment to fulfill their missions when they crossed the border. It was a miracle that our company did what it did the two months it was staying in Iraq during the war. We were promised to go home on June 8th, and found out that it was a lie and we got stuck doing missions for an extra three months. Even some of the most radical conservatives in our company including our company gunnery sergeant got a real bad taste in their mouth about the Marine corps, and maybe even president Bush.
Here's what Specialist Mike Prysner of the U.S. Army wrote to me:
Dear Mike -- I'm writing this without knowing if it'll ever get to you I'm writing it from the trenches of a war (that's still going on,) not knowing why I'm here or when I'm leaving. I've toppled statues and vandalized portraits, while wearing an American flag on my sleeve, and struggling to learn how to understand. I joined the army as soon as I was eligible & turned down a writing scholarship to a state university, eager to serve my country, ready to die for the ideals I fell in love with. Two years later I found myself moments away from a landing onto a pitch black airstrip, ready to charge into a country I didn't believe I belonged in, with your words (from the Oscars) repeating in my head. My time in Iraq has always involved finding things to convince myself that I can be proud of my actions; that I was a part of something just. But no matter what pro-war argument I came up with, I pictured my smirking commander-in-chief, thinking he was fooling a nation".
An Army private, still in Iraq and wishing to remain anonymous, writes:
I would like to tell you how difficult it is to serve under a man who was never elected. Because he is the president and my boss, I have to be very careful as to who and what i say about him. This also concerns me a great deal... to limit the military's voice is to limit exactly what America stands for... and the greater percentage of us feel completely underpowered. He continually sets my friends, my family, and several others in a kind of danger that frightens me beyond belief. I know several other soldiers who feel the same way and discuss the situation with me on a regular basis.
Jerry Oliver of the U.S. Army, who has just returned from Baghdad, writes:
I have just returned home from "Operation Iraqi Freedom". I spent 5 months in Baghdad, and a total of 3 years in the U.S. Army. I was recently discharged with Honorable valor and returned to the States only to be horrified by what I've seen my country turn into. I'm now 22 years old and have discovered America is such a complicated place to live, and moreover, Americans are almost oblivious to what's been happening to their country. America has become "1984." Homeland security is teaching us to spy on one another and forcing us to become anti-social. Americans are willingly sacrificing our freedoms in the name of security, the same Freedoms I was willing to put my life on the line for. The constitution is in jeopardy. As Gen. Tommy Franks said, (broken down of course) One more terrorist attack and the constitution will hold no meaning.
And a Specialist in the U.S. Army wrote to me this week about the capture of Saddam Hussein:
Wow, 130,000 troops on the ground, nearly 500 deaths and over a billion dollars a day, but they caught a guy living in a hole. Am I supposed to be dazzled?
There are lots more of these, straight from the soldiers who have been on the front lines and have seen first hand what this war is really about.
I have also heard from their friends and relatives, and from other veterans. A mother writing on behalf of her son (whose name we have withheld) wrote:
My son said that this is the worst it's been since the "end" of the war. He said the troops have been given new rules of engagement, and that they are to "take out" any persons who aggress on the Americans, even if it results in "collateral" damage. Unfortunately, he did have to kill someone in self defense and was told by his commanding officer ‘Good kill.
"My son replied "You just don't get it, do you?"
"Here we are...Vietnam all over again.".
From a 56 year old Navy veteran, relating a conversation he had with a young man who was leaving for Iraq the next morning:
What disturbed me most was when I asked him what weapons he carried as a truck driver. He told me the new M-16, model blah blah blah, stuff never made sense to me even when I was in. I asked him what kind of side arm they gave him and his fellow drivers. He explained, "Sir, Reservists are not issued side arms or flack vests as there was not enough money to outfit all the Reservists, only Active Personnel". I was appalled to say the least.
"Bush is a jerk agreed, but I can't believe he is this big an Assh o l e not providing protection and arms for our troops to fight HIS WAR!.
From a 40-year old veteran of the Marine Corps:
Why is it that we are forever waving the flag of sovereignty, EXCEPT when it concerns our financial interests in other sovereign states? What gives us the right to tell anyone else how they should govern themselves, and live their lives? Why can't we just lead the world by example? I mean no wonder the world hates us, who do they get to see? Young assh o les in uniforms with guns, and rich, old, white tourists! Christ, could we put up a worse first impression?.
(cont)...
-
CindyLouWho
- Pirate
- Posts: 3533
- Joined: 01-02-2003 03:00 AM
(contd)
(To read more from my Iraq mailbag -- and to read these above letters in full -- go to my website: http://www.michaelmoore.com/books-films ... /index.php)
Remember back in March, once the war had started, how risky it was to make any anti-war comments to people you knew at work or school or, um, at awards ceremonies? One thing was for sure -- if you said anything against the war, you had BETTER follow it up immediately with this line: "BUT I SUPPORT THE TROOPS!" Failing to do that meant that you were not only unpatriotic and un-American, your dissent meant that YOU were putting our kids in danger, that YOU might be the reason they lose their lives. Dissent was only marginally tolerated IF you pledged your "support" for our soldiers.
Of course, you needed to do no such thing. Why? Because people like you have ALWAYS supported "the troops." Who are these troops? They are our poor, our working class. Most of them enlisted because it was about the only place to get a job or receive the guarantee of a college education. You, my good friends, have ALWAYS, through your good works, your contributions, your activism, your votes, SUPPORTED these very kids who come from the other side of the tracks. You NEVER need to be defensive when it comes to your "support" for the "troops" -- you are the only ones who have ALWAYS been there for them.
It is Mr. Bush and his filthy rich cronies -- whose sons and daughters will NEVER see a day in a uniform -- they are the ones who do NOT support our troops. Our soldiers joined the military and, in doing so, offered to give THEIR LIVES for US if need be. What a tremendous gift that is -- to be willing to die so that you and I don't have to! To be willing to shed their blood so that we may be free. To serve in our place, so that WE don't have to serve. What a tremendous act of selflessness and generosity! Here they are, these 18, 19, and 20-year olds, most of whom have had to suffer under an unjust economic system that is set up NOT to benefit THEM -- these kids who have lived their first 18 years in the worst parts of town, going to the most miserable schools, living in danger and learning often to go without, watching their parents struggle to get by and then be humiliated by a system that is always looking to make life harder for them by cutting their benefits, their education, their libraries, their fire and police, their future.
And then, after this miserable treatment, these young men and women, instead of coming after US to demand a more just society, they go and join the army to DEFEND us and our way of life! It boggles the mind, doesn't it? They not only deserve our thanks, they deserve a big piece of the pie that we dine on, those of us who never have to worry about taking a bullet while we fret over which Palm Pilot to buy the nephew for Christmas.
In fact, all that these kids in the army ask for in return from us is our promise that we never send them into harm's way unless it is for the DEFENSE of our nation, to protect us from being killed by "the enemy."
And that promise, my friends, has been broken. It has been broken in the worst way imaginable. We have sent them into war NOT to defend us, not to protect us, not to spare the slaughter of innocents or allies. We have sent them to war so Bush and Company can control the second largest supply of oil in the world. We have sent them into war so that the Vice President's company can bilk the government for billions of dollars. We have sent them into war based on a lie of weapons of mass destruction and the lie that Saddam helped plan 9-11 with Osama bin Laden.
By doing all of this, Mr. Bush has proven that it is HE who does not support our troops. It is HE who has put their lives in danger, and it is HE who is responsible for the nearly 500 American kids who have now died for NO honest, decent reason whatsoever.
The letters I've received from the friends and relatives of our kids over there make it clear that they are sick of this war and they are scared to death that they may never see their loved ones again. It breaks my heart to read these letters. I wish there was something I could do. I wish there was something we all could do.
Maybe there is. As Christmas approaches (and Hanukkah begins tonight), I would like to suggest a few things each of us could do to make the holidays a bit brighter -- if not safer -- for our troops and their families back home.
1. Many families of soldiers are hurting financially, especially those families of reservists and National Guard who are gone from the full-time jobs ("just one weekend a month and we'll pay for your college education!"). You can help them by contacting the Armed Forces Emergency Relief Funds at http://www.afrtrust.org/ (ignore the rah-rah military stuff and remember that this is money that will help out these families who are living in near-poverty). Each branch has their own relief fund, and the money goes to help the soldiers and families with paying for food and rent, medical and dental expenses, personal needs when pay is delayed, and funeral expenses. You can find more ways to support the troops, from buying groceries for their families to donating your airline miles so they can get home for a visit, by going here.
2. Thousands of Iraqi civilians have been killed by our bombs and indiscriminate shooting. We must help protect them and their survivors. You can do so by supporting the Quakers' drive to provide infant care kits to Iraqi hospitals—find out more here: http://www.afsc.org/iraq/relief/default.shtm. You can also help the people of Iraq by supporting the Iraqi Red Crescent Society—here’s how to contact them: http://www.ifrc.org/address/iq.asp, or you can make an online donation through the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies by going here: http://www.ifrc.org/HELPNOW/donate/donate_iraq.asp.
3. With 130,000 American men and women currently in Iraq, every community in this country has either sent someone to fight in this war or is home to family members of someone fighting in this war. Organize care packages through your local community groups, activist groups, and churches and send them to these young men and women. The military no longer accepts packages addressed to “Any Soldier,” so you’ll have to get their names first. Figure out who you can help from your area, and send them books, CDs, games, footballs, gloves, blankets—anything that may make their extended (and extended and extended…) stay in Iraq a little brighter and more comfortable. You can also sponsor care packages to American troops through the USO: http://www.usocares.org/.
4. Want to send a soldier a free book or movie? I’ll start by making mine available for free to any soldier serving in Iraq. Just send me their name and address in Iraq (or, if they have already left Iraq, where they are now) and the first thousand emails I get at [email protected] will receive a free copy of "Dude..." or a free “Bowling…” DVD.
5. Finally, we all have to redouble our efforts to end this war and bring the troops home. That's the best gift we could give them -- get them out of harm's way ASAP and insist that the U.S. go back to the UN and have them take over the rebuilding of Iraq (with the US and Britain funding it, because, well, we have to pay for our mess). Get involved with your local peace group—you can find one near where you live by visiting United for Peace, at: http://www.unitedforpeace.org and the Vietnam Veterans Against War: http://www.vvaw.org/contact/. A large demonstration is being planned for March 20, check here for more details: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=2136. To get a “Bring Them Home Now” bumper sticker or a poster for your yard, go here: http://bringthemhomenow.org/yellowribbo ... ndex.html. Also, back only anti-war candidates for Congress and President (Kucinich, Dean, Clark, Sharpton).
I know it feels hopeless. That's how they want us to feel. Don't give up. We owe it to these kids, the troops WE SUPPORT, to get them the hell outta there and back home so they can help organize the drive to remove the war profiteers from office next November.
To all who serve in our armed forces, to their parents and spouses and loved ones, we offer to you the regrets of millions and the promise that we will right this wrong and do whatever we can to thank you for offering to risk your lives for us. That your life was put at risk for Bush's greed is a disgrace and a travesty, the likes of which I have not seen in my lifetime.
Please be safe, come home soon, and know that our thoughts and prayers are with you during this season when many of us celebrate the birth of the prince of "peace."
Yours,
Michael Moore
[email protected]
http://www.michaelmoore.com
(To read more from my Iraq mailbag -- and to read these above letters in full -- go to my website: http://www.michaelmoore.com/books-films ... /index.php)
Remember back in March, once the war had started, how risky it was to make any anti-war comments to people you knew at work or school or, um, at awards ceremonies? One thing was for sure -- if you said anything against the war, you had BETTER follow it up immediately with this line: "BUT I SUPPORT THE TROOPS!" Failing to do that meant that you were not only unpatriotic and un-American, your dissent meant that YOU were putting our kids in danger, that YOU might be the reason they lose their lives. Dissent was only marginally tolerated IF you pledged your "support" for our soldiers.
Of course, you needed to do no such thing. Why? Because people like you have ALWAYS supported "the troops." Who are these troops? They are our poor, our working class. Most of them enlisted because it was about the only place to get a job or receive the guarantee of a college education. You, my good friends, have ALWAYS, through your good works, your contributions, your activism, your votes, SUPPORTED these very kids who come from the other side of the tracks. You NEVER need to be defensive when it comes to your "support" for the "troops" -- you are the only ones who have ALWAYS been there for them.
It is Mr. Bush and his filthy rich cronies -- whose sons and daughters will NEVER see a day in a uniform -- they are the ones who do NOT support our troops. Our soldiers joined the military and, in doing so, offered to give THEIR LIVES for US if need be. What a tremendous gift that is -- to be willing to die so that you and I don't have to! To be willing to shed their blood so that we may be free. To serve in our place, so that WE don't have to serve. What a tremendous act of selflessness and generosity! Here they are, these 18, 19, and 20-year olds, most of whom have had to suffer under an unjust economic system that is set up NOT to benefit THEM -- these kids who have lived their first 18 years in the worst parts of town, going to the most miserable schools, living in danger and learning often to go without, watching their parents struggle to get by and then be humiliated by a system that is always looking to make life harder for them by cutting their benefits, their education, their libraries, their fire and police, their future.
And then, after this miserable treatment, these young men and women, instead of coming after US to demand a more just society, they go and join the army to DEFEND us and our way of life! It boggles the mind, doesn't it? They not only deserve our thanks, they deserve a big piece of the pie that we dine on, those of us who never have to worry about taking a bullet while we fret over which Palm Pilot to buy the nephew for Christmas.
In fact, all that these kids in the army ask for in return from us is our promise that we never send them into harm's way unless it is for the DEFENSE of our nation, to protect us from being killed by "the enemy."
And that promise, my friends, has been broken. It has been broken in the worst way imaginable. We have sent them into war NOT to defend us, not to protect us, not to spare the slaughter of innocents or allies. We have sent them to war so Bush and Company can control the second largest supply of oil in the world. We have sent them into war so that the Vice President's company can bilk the government for billions of dollars. We have sent them into war based on a lie of weapons of mass destruction and the lie that Saddam helped plan 9-11 with Osama bin Laden.
By doing all of this, Mr. Bush has proven that it is HE who does not support our troops. It is HE who has put their lives in danger, and it is HE who is responsible for the nearly 500 American kids who have now died for NO honest, decent reason whatsoever.
The letters I've received from the friends and relatives of our kids over there make it clear that they are sick of this war and they are scared to death that they may never see their loved ones again. It breaks my heart to read these letters. I wish there was something I could do. I wish there was something we all could do.
Maybe there is. As Christmas approaches (and Hanukkah begins tonight), I would like to suggest a few things each of us could do to make the holidays a bit brighter -- if not safer -- for our troops and their families back home.
1. Many families of soldiers are hurting financially, especially those families of reservists and National Guard who are gone from the full-time jobs ("just one weekend a month and we'll pay for your college education!"). You can help them by contacting the Armed Forces Emergency Relief Funds at http://www.afrtrust.org/ (ignore the rah-rah military stuff and remember that this is money that will help out these families who are living in near-poverty). Each branch has their own relief fund, and the money goes to help the soldiers and families with paying for food and rent, medical and dental expenses, personal needs when pay is delayed, and funeral expenses. You can find more ways to support the troops, from buying groceries for their families to donating your airline miles so they can get home for a visit, by going here.
2. Thousands of Iraqi civilians have been killed by our bombs and indiscriminate shooting. We must help protect them and their survivors. You can do so by supporting the Quakers' drive to provide infant care kits to Iraqi hospitals—find out more here: http://www.afsc.org/iraq/relief/default.shtm. You can also help the people of Iraq by supporting the Iraqi Red Crescent Society—here’s how to contact them: http://www.ifrc.org/address/iq.asp, or you can make an online donation through the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies by going here: http://www.ifrc.org/HELPNOW/donate/donate_iraq.asp.
3. With 130,000 American men and women currently in Iraq, every community in this country has either sent someone to fight in this war or is home to family members of someone fighting in this war. Organize care packages through your local community groups, activist groups, and churches and send them to these young men and women. The military no longer accepts packages addressed to “Any Soldier,” so you’ll have to get their names first. Figure out who you can help from your area, and send them books, CDs, games, footballs, gloves, blankets—anything that may make their extended (and extended and extended…) stay in Iraq a little brighter and more comfortable. You can also sponsor care packages to American troops through the USO: http://www.usocares.org/.
4. Want to send a soldier a free book or movie? I’ll start by making mine available for free to any soldier serving in Iraq. Just send me their name and address in Iraq (or, if they have already left Iraq, where they are now) and the first thousand emails I get at [email protected] will receive a free copy of "Dude..." or a free “Bowling…” DVD.
5. Finally, we all have to redouble our efforts to end this war and bring the troops home. That's the best gift we could give them -- get them out of harm's way ASAP and insist that the U.S. go back to the UN and have them take over the rebuilding of Iraq (with the US and Britain funding it, because, well, we have to pay for our mess). Get involved with your local peace group—you can find one near where you live by visiting United for Peace, at: http://www.unitedforpeace.org and the Vietnam Veterans Against War: http://www.vvaw.org/contact/. A large demonstration is being planned for March 20, check here for more details: http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=2136. To get a “Bring Them Home Now” bumper sticker or a poster for your yard, go here: http://bringthemhomenow.org/yellowribbo ... ndex.html. Also, back only anti-war candidates for Congress and President (Kucinich, Dean, Clark, Sharpton).
I know it feels hopeless. That's how they want us to feel. Don't give up. We owe it to these kids, the troops WE SUPPORT, to get them the hell outta there and back home so they can help organize the drive to remove the war profiteers from office next November.
To all who serve in our armed forces, to their parents and spouses and loved ones, we offer to you the regrets of millions and the promise that we will right this wrong and do whatever we can to thank you for offering to risk your lives for us. That your life was put at risk for Bush's greed is a disgrace and a travesty, the likes of which I have not seen in my lifetime.
Please be safe, come home soon, and know that our thoughts and prayers are with you during this season when many of us celebrate the birth of the prince of "peace."
Yours,
Michael Moore
[email protected]
http://www.michaelmoore.com
(Reposted with permission from Col. David Hackworth)
(Automatically edited by FF)
Feedback From Iraq
Currently, I'm in Northern Iraq with 1/327th "Tiger Force". I am a Sniper team leader, and I wanted to relate that many of the things I read in your books, has directly related to the survival of me and my men over the past ten months we've been over here. Each member of the platoon is proud to be a part of one of the most storied units in the U.S. Army. I just wanted to give my thanks for the "Lessons Learned", which myself and the leadership here pass on to the young guys. The saying," The more sweat during training, the less blood on the battlefield", has proven true again, with no Tigers WIA/KIA, even though we've been at the front of every mission this Battalion has undertaken over the past ten months.
TIGERFORCE!
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Feedback From Iraq
Currently, I'm in Northern Iraq with 1/327th "Tiger Force". I am a Sniper team leader, and I wanted to relate that many of the things I read in your books, has directly related to the survival of me and my men over the past ten months we've been over here. Each member of the platoon is proud to be a part of one of the most storied units in the U.S. Army. I just wanted to give my thanks for the "Lessons Learned", which myself and the leadership here pass on to the young guys. The saying," The more sweat during training, the less blood on the battlefield", has proven true again, with no Tigers WIA/KIA, even though we've been at the front of every mission this Battalion has undertaken over the past ten months.
TIGERFORCE!
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(Reposted with permission from Col. David Hackworth)
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We had two people in the same jobfield in my squadron. One was a man, who was an E6 with less than ten years (this is no easy task). The other was a woman who was an E6 with about eighteen years.
Making E7(chief) in the Navy is no simple task. Both of these people were up for it at the same time. The man was absolutely outstanding at what he did. His appearance was always spotless, he knew his job inside out, and would always help out anyone who needed it. His evals and test scores reflected this. The woman was practically useless, always looked terrible, would help out no one, and had a job that didn't require hardly any skill and kept her away from everyone(she was a problem to get along with). When the test results came out, SHE was the one who made it, with lower test and evals than the man. She was also over body fat and failed her physical readiness tests, which at that time would keep you from getting promoted. She got promoted anyway, and on the next cycle, the guy I discussed above did make E7. There are only a certain number of people who can make any given rank in any jobfield, so it's not like you can promote more than you need.
I was in the Airframe shop, and in this shop we had a supervisor who had almost no knowledge of anything whatsoever, except who's butt he should be kissing. He couldn't make E6, so our command capped him to E6 (made him one anyway because he couldn't do it on his own). Our shop members were horrified of this because we knew that there were many people who were better and more deserving than him. He later did make E7 after I got out, but never would have had he not been capped to E6, and still did not make E7 on his leadership or technical knowledge. He made it because he was putting his nose in the right place, and always telling the leadership waht they wanted to hear.
We had a woman in my shop, who found out that she didn't like being a mechanic very much, which was her chosen jobfield. She got a job doing paperwork, and very rarely touched the plane. In today's military, you need all the manpower you can get because you don't have what you need in the first place. So losing an able bodied mechanic because she doesn't like getting dirty is a big deal, as it puts more weight on the rest of us. From what I saw, her case was the rule and not the exception, as every shop had a woman, and they all did paperwork, and didn't do anything mechanical, or if they did, it was very,very rare.
Now let's talk about pregnancy. The minute a woman is found to be pregnant, they are immediately placed in a job that has no contact with chemicals of any kind.
So working on jets is out, as you can't even fuel one. After so long a woman is only allowed to work half days. Yes, you read that right. They still get full pay.
And if a cruise or deployment is coming up, they're automatically ineligible.
I had a Chief get a hit and run DUI, and was only forced to retire without punishment. We had a case of another guy(E5), who was also a pretty boy butt kisser. He had gotten his SECOND DUI right as I got to the squadron, and got no punishment. He got out of it because he was another guy who was always saying the right thing to the right person, and didn't have much technical knowledge. He later got his third DUI(DUI is one of the worst things you can do in the military today), and they finally did kick him out.
I saw a lot of things when I was in, and I'm glad I did it. I made better friends that I've ever had in my life, and still have these friends. However, examples such as the ones I've given above are extremely disheartening to the people who are very good workers and do the right thing, even if it's not what the leadership wants to hear. Out of all the people I worked with, most of the ones who were the good workers got out. It didn't really matter how many years they had, I saw one guy with fifteen years say he'd had enough and refuse to reenlist. The sad part is, what you're left with is not anywhere near the quality of the ones that quit due to the fact that they didn't like what they were seeing. I saw people who were really good at what they did get promoted, also. But sadly, they were the exception and not the rule.
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We had two people in the same jobfield in my squadron. One was a man, who was an E6 with less than ten years (this is no easy task). The other was a woman who was an E6 with about eighteen years.
Making E7(chief) in the Navy is no simple task. Both of these people were up for it at the same time. The man was absolutely outstanding at what he did. His appearance was always spotless, he knew his job inside out, and would always help out anyone who needed it. His evals and test scores reflected this. The woman was practically useless, always looked terrible, would help out no one, and had a job that didn't require hardly any skill and kept her away from everyone(she was a problem to get along with). When the test results came out, SHE was the one who made it, with lower test and evals than the man. She was also over body fat and failed her physical readiness tests, which at that time would keep you from getting promoted. She got promoted anyway, and on the next cycle, the guy I discussed above did make E7. There are only a certain number of people who can make any given rank in any jobfield, so it's not like you can promote more than you need.
I was in the Airframe shop, and in this shop we had a supervisor who had almost no knowledge of anything whatsoever, except who's butt he should be kissing. He couldn't make E6, so our command capped him to E6 (made him one anyway because he couldn't do it on his own). Our shop members were horrified of this because we knew that there were many people who were better and more deserving than him. He later did make E7 after I got out, but never would have had he not been capped to E6, and still did not make E7 on his leadership or technical knowledge. He made it because he was putting his nose in the right place, and always telling the leadership waht they wanted to hear.
We had a woman in my shop, who found out that she didn't like being a mechanic very much, which was her chosen jobfield. She got a job doing paperwork, and very rarely touched the plane. In today's military, you need all the manpower you can get because you don't have what you need in the first place. So losing an able bodied mechanic because she doesn't like getting dirty is a big deal, as it puts more weight on the rest of us. From what I saw, her case was the rule and not the exception, as every shop had a woman, and they all did paperwork, and didn't do anything mechanical, or if they did, it was very,very rare.
Now let's talk about pregnancy. The minute a woman is found to be pregnant, they are immediately placed in a job that has no contact with chemicals of any kind.
So working on jets is out, as you can't even fuel one. After so long a woman is only allowed to work half days. Yes, you read that right. They still get full pay.
And if a cruise or deployment is coming up, they're automatically ineligible.
I had a Chief get a hit and run DUI, and was only forced to retire without punishment. We had a case of another guy(E5), who was also a pretty boy butt kisser. He had gotten his SECOND DUI right as I got to the squadron, and got no punishment. He got out of it because he was another guy who was always saying the right thing to the right person, and didn't have much technical knowledge. He later got his third DUI(DUI is one of the worst things you can do in the military today), and they finally did kick him out.
I saw a lot of things when I was in, and I'm glad I did it. I made better friends that I've ever had in my life, and still have these friends. However, examples such as the ones I've given above are extremely disheartening to the people who are very good workers and do the right thing, even if it's not what the leadership wants to hear. Out of all the people I worked with, most of the ones who were the good workers got out. It didn't really matter how many years they had, I saw one guy with fifteen years say he'd had enough and refuse to reenlist. The sad part is, what you're left with is not anywhere near the quality of the ones that quit due to the fact that they didn't like what they were seeing. I saw people who were really good at what they did get promoted, also. But sadly, they were the exception and not the rule.
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(Reposted with permission from Col. David Hackworth)
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Does The Top Leadership In The Green Berets Stink Too?
We had to attend a briefing by some general named Lambert, I mean we ceased training at all levels to attend this oh so important briefing.
The theater here at Bragg was packed with green berets, most of us had already been to Afghanistan. And we had been there without general Lambert. Any how the room is full there is lots of talking, of course he is late. When he does get there he stomps in like a three year old, sticks out his lip and says, if I hear one more person laugh IM leaving.
Well when you throw down the gauntlet you better be ready. There were about twenty guys that went ha ha. True to his word this prince stuck out his lip farther than before and stomped out.
There was a lot of laughing when he left. He didn't have anything important to say anyway. I was one of the laughers, felt good.
Thought I'd share that with you.
GREEN BERET MASTER SGT
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Does The Top Leadership In The Green Berets Stink Too?
We had to attend a briefing by some general named Lambert, I mean we ceased training at all levels to attend this oh so important briefing.
The theater here at Bragg was packed with green berets, most of us had already been to Afghanistan. And we had been there without general Lambert. Any how the room is full there is lots of talking, of course he is late. When he does get there he stomps in like a three year old, sticks out his lip and says, if I hear one more person laugh IM leaving.
Well when you throw down the gauntlet you better be ready. There were about twenty guys that went ha ha. True to his word this prince stuck out his lip farther than before and stomped out.
There was a lot of laughing when he left. He didn't have anything important to say anyway. I was one of the laughers, felt good.
Thought I'd share that with you.
GREEN BERET MASTER SGT
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(Reposted with permission from Col. David Hackworth)
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Wanted: basic leadership
This letter goes out to every soldier who can relate to our situation and is in our shoes. We, a National Guard military police unit, are in desperate need of true leaders, ranging from company commander to platoon sergeants. The lack of leadership, knowledge and professionalism here is outrageous. The troops are worried about the circumstances or the choices these few individuals make. Every decision made to this very day has had some kind of negative action against the troops; nothing positive ever comes out.
On one occasion our commander wanted us to accompany her into Saddam City to apprehend an individual who had escaped from the Rusafa Correctional Facility in Baghdad. We hadnt the slightest information about what this individual looked like; we had no photo to compare. But she still wanted to go and apprehend this individual. At the last minute, our battalion commander aborted the mission, an order which she did not contest.
All we really want is for our leaders to back us up, give us support, and once in a while ask us how we are doing, how are things back home. Basic leadership is all we request.
Winter has arrived and we are still lacking Army-issue winter gear. Active duty deserves the privileges they get because they are full-time soldiers. They deserve every credit that can be bestowed upon them; they signed up as full-time soldiers, and are doing a hell of a job! Thank you.
Is it possible to find true leaders in the National Guard or just someone that will listen to their troops? The Army of two: us and them.
A GRUNT
Baghdad Iraq
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Wanted: basic leadership
This letter goes out to every soldier who can relate to our situation and is in our shoes. We, a National Guard military police unit, are in desperate need of true leaders, ranging from company commander to platoon sergeants. The lack of leadership, knowledge and professionalism here is outrageous. The troops are worried about the circumstances or the choices these few individuals make. Every decision made to this very day has had some kind of negative action against the troops; nothing positive ever comes out.
On one occasion our commander wanted us to accompany her into Saddam City to apprehend an individual who had escaped from the Rusafa Correctional Facility in Baghdad. We hadnt the slightest information about what this individual looked like; we had no photo to compare. But she still wanted to go and apprehend this individual. At the last minute, our battalion commander aborted the mission, an order which she did not contest.
All we really want is for our leaders to back us up, give us support, and once in a while ask us how we are doing, how are things back home. Basic leadership is all we request.
Winter has arrived and we are still lacking Army-issue winter gear. Active duty deserves the privileges they get because they are full-time soldiers. They deserve every credit that can be bestowed upon them; they signed up as full-time soldiers, and are doing a hell of a job! Thank you.
Is it possible to find true leaders in the National Guard or just someone that will listen to their troops? The Army of two: us and them.
A GRUNT
Baghdad Iraq
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(Reposted with permission from Col. David Hackworth)
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Protective Vests
Dear Col. Hackworth,
The 1st brigade of the 82d Airborne Div is deploying to Iraq in the next week. In earlier reports the brigade is going because a Washington St. NG infantry brigade scheduled for deployment is not combat ready for 2-3 months. In the last 2-3 days the 1st brigade of the 82d was issued protective vests with "medium size" ceramic plates.
When the 1st brigade was deployed to Afghanistan a year or so ago the vests were issued with the "large" ceramic plates for the vests. The medium plates leave space unprotected in the vests. The current combat situation in Iraq is plagued by IED's and short violent firefights and RPG's. The 1st brigade will be relieving the 2nd Bde of the 82D. In a perfect world the 1st Bde will switch vest protection with the departing 2nd Bde troops who hopefully have the correct vest protection.
SFTT
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Protective Vests
Dear Col. Hackworth,
The 1st brigade of the 82d Airborne Div is deploying to Iraq in the next week. In earlier reports the brigade is going because a Washington St. NG infantry brigade scheduled for deployment is not combat ready for 2-3 months. In the last 2-3 days the 1st brigade of the 82d was issued protective vests with "medium size" ceramic plates.
When the 1st brigade was deployed to Afghanistan a year or so ago the vests were issued with the "large" ceramic plates for the vests. The medium plates leave space unprotected in the vests. The current combat situation in Iraq is plagued by IED's and short violent firefights and RPG's. The 1st brigade will be relieving the 2nd Bde of the 82D. In a perfect world the 1st Bde will switch vest protection with the departing 2nd Bde troops who hopefully have the correct vest protection.
SFTT
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(Reposted with permission from Col. David Hackworth)
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Mr. Hackworth,
Have to say thanks first of all for the work that you do for us (the military personal).
I'm writing to give you a update from a grunt. I'm currently working in Fallajah, Iraq attached to the 505 of the 82nd PIR. Well needless to say I have been highly let down. We have been used and abused.
To start it off we have been on gate guard more the we have been on patrols. when we have received missions with some intel which has only happened once in five months. We captured a member of most wanted list. We were on the scene of a chinook crash. My PLT and company where involved in all parts of this operation.
I do not feel like going into detail but we saved a lot of lives, and the ones we could not, we recovered them the best we could. After rescue attempts were completed we did security on the site for four days. My soldiers were never told good job, or talked to by anyone besides their local chain of command.
When we finished are duty at that location we wanted to hear how some of the soldier were and are only info came from the stars and stripes. We did not ask for medals (and good thing b/c though I was told by some non combat arms officer who was in PT's at the crash site "don't crawl under the metal wreckage at the site" and "why is this hydraulic pumps running near this gas").
I was doing those things to rescue people and the check on them. To talk to them! Though we never received anything I thought at least they (local senior leaders) would at least take care of their soldiers. Come to find out what may happen is SFC and above will get ACM and Bronze Stars.
Everyone else will get a ACM. I will receive one ACM for all and b/c of my actions on the site I will get another ACM. Tell me Mr. Hackworth does that make sense?.
They are also playing games with our heads, they have locked us in here for a year. They tell us we all get two weeks leave. Which is great for my soldiers. I really do not care either way. Then dates change every two weeks which is not that bad. Now right after Christmas they are told only married personal get to go home. Like I said I really don't care for me, but why don't they just figure the stuff out before they go telling Joe stuff like that.
If you could help me out with some answers or tell me to just suck it up I would greatly appreciate it. I'm hope to go to selection after this before my ETS because I'm finished with this Army.
Sincerely
A Team Leader
SFTT
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Mr. Hackworth,
Have to say thanks first of all for the work that you do for us (the military personal).
I'm writing to give you a update from a grunt. I'm currently working in Fallajah, Iraq attached to the 505 of the 82nd PIR. Well needless to say I have been highly let down. We have been used and abused.
To start it off we have been on gate guard more the we have been on patrols. when we have received missions with some intel which has only happened once in five months. We captured a member of most wanted list. We were on the scene of a chinook crash. My PLT and company where involved in all parts of this operation.
I do not feel like going into detail but we saved a lot of lives, and the ones we could not, we recovered them the best we could. After rescue attempts were completed we did security on the site for four days. My soldiers were never told good job, or talked to by anyone besides their local chain of command.
When we finished are duty at that location we wanted to hear how some of the soldier were and are only info came from the stars and stripes. We did not ask for medals (and good thing b/c though I was told by some non combat arms officer who was in PT's at the crash site "don't crawl under the metal wreckage at the site" and "why is this hydraulic pumps running near this gas").
I was doing those things to rescue people and the check on them. To talk to them! Though we never received anything I thought at least they (local senior leaders) would at least take care of their soldiers. Come to find out what may happen is SFC and above will get ACM and Bronze Stars.
Everyone else will get a ACM. I will receive one ACM for all and b/c of my actions on the site I will get another ACM. Tell me Mr. Hackworth does that make sense?.
They are also playing games with our heads, they have locked us in here for a year. They tell us we all get two weeks leave. Which is great for my soldiers. I really do not care either way. Then dates change every two weeks which is not that bad. Now right after Christmas they are told only married personal get to go home. Like I said I really don't care for me, but why don't they just figure the stuff out before they go telling Joe stuff like that.
If you could help me out with some answers or tell me to just suck it up I would greatly appreciate it. I'm hope to go to selection after this before my ETS because I'm finished with this Army.
Sincerely
A Team Leader
SFTT
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(Reposted with permission from Col. David Hackworth)
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To: Hack
Subject: 81st Armor Brigade
I know you are a busy man, however the conditions in this brigade are appalling. This unit is undergoing mobilization training for a deployment to Iraq - training that has been extended by two months due to poor performance.
This unit has been "cooking" its readiness numbers for quite some time and still continues to do so. When it deployed for its AT to Hunter-Liggett in June 2003, it reported a 100% strength and 100% deployable. Yet since its activation on 15 Nov 2003 it is now about 80% and a number of people still being carried as deployable are not (for example - would you consider a soldier with a neck injury profile that is not allowed to wear a vest, LBE, a helmet, nor carry/fire a weapon deployable to a combat zone).
A brigade that cannot get a simple change of the time of first formation message through to its troops through its SDO/SDNCOs and CQs - just happened, over 80% of the troops failed to get this message, to include troops IN THE BARRACKS.
A unit that has important staff positions unfilled - at least one battalion has NO S-2 section, most the S-2 sections are grossly understrength and the people they do have are jokes (speaking with 20 years in MI).
This brigade is slated to go into one of the hottest zones of Iraq - this is a bunch of KIA/WIAs waiting to happen.
A LEADER
SFTT
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To: Hack
Subject: 81st Armor Brigade
I know you are a busy man, however the conditions in this brigade are appalling. This unit is undergoing mobilization training for a deployment to Iraq - training that has been extended by two months due to poor performance.
This unit has been "cooking" its readiness numbers for quite some time and still continues to do so. When it deployed for its AT to Hunter-Liggett in June 2003, it reported a 100% strength and 100% deployable. Yet since its activation on 15 Nov 2003 it is now about 80% and a number of people still being carried as deployable are not (for example - would you consider a soldier with a neck injury profile that is not allowed to wear a vest, LBE, a helmet, nor carry/fire a weapon deployable to a combat zone).
A brigade that cannot get a simple change of the time of first formation message through to its troops through its SDO/SDNCOs and CQs - just happened, over 80% of the troops failed to get this message, to include troops IN THE BARRACKS.
A unit that has important staff positions unfilled - at least one battalion has NO S-2 section, most the S-2 sections are grossly understrength and the people they do have are jokes (speaking with 20 years in MI).
This brigade is slated to go into one of the hottest zones of Iraq - this is a bunch of KIA/WIAs waiting to happen.
A LEADER
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