8 posts tagged “vietnam”
Mr. President,
My name is Bob Getz and I’m the Secretary of Chapter VI – Elite Forces, 173d Airborne Brigade Association in the Chicago-land Area. Most of us within Chapter VI are Veterans of the Brigade when it was deployed to Vietnam. We were the first Army Combat Unit deployed to Vietnam and the last to leave.
Our sons and daughters are now serving their second tour in Afghanistan after their initial Combat Parachute Jump into the Kurdish Area in the North of Iraq to act as the blocking force to encircle the Iraqi Army as it was assaulted from the south by the coalition forces.
With the Brigade being a unit formed 91 years ago during WWI in 1917, serving three campaigns under General Patton at the Battle of the Bulge and then into Germany during WWII, receiving the Presidential Unit Citation and Meritorious Unit Citation in Vietnam and receiving the Meritorious Unit Citation in the War on Terrorism while serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan, it is one of America’s most effective Parachute Infantry Units.
In the Fall of 2007, Chapter VI went to the towns and villages along Route 173 which runs east and west in Illinois just south of Wisconsin and requested each to pass a resolution designating that roadway as the 173d Airborne Brigade Highway in recognition of those who have served in that unit. Not only did they so designate the roadway for the Brigade but it was also passed as a unanimous House Joint Resolution by a non-partisan effort in the Illinois House and Senate.
The Brigade is currently rotating out of Afghanistan with 42 Killed in Action and one non-combat related death. We have scheduled a Motorcade down the 173d Airborne Brigade Highway on August 23, 2008, to celebrate the return of the Brigade to their bases in Europe and to thank each town and village along the way from Zion to Loves Park and the State Legislators for their support.
We are asking you to honor the men and women who served for the past 91 years in the 173d Airborne Brigade with a Proclamation Designating that Day – Saturday, August 23, 2008 – in Honor of the 173d Airborne Brigade for Their Service to Our Country. And, should you have the time, we would be honored if you could join us in that celebration.
Thank you for considering this request and, in closing, let me present you with the unique salute of The Herd.
AIRBORNE, ALL THE WAY!!
I have read quotes from Lt. Col. Chessani’s lawyer saying his client is considering suing Murtha. I hope he does. The colonel’s career has been ruined, his reputation besmirched and our country has lost the services of a man who by all accounts is among the most dedicated and capable of Marines. I hope he takes Murtha for every dime he has, his party has, his neighbors can collect, and his staff can pony up.
But before that happens I have one other suggestion.
After the Colonel body slams that windbag Congressman, I would suggest that he settle, under these conditions: the President of the United States agrees to recall Murtha to active duty for 24 hours; the Commandant of the Marine Corps agrees to hold a Special Court Martial on the spot; a panel of Chessani’s peers hears Murtha’s comments to the news media; they give him five minutes to make whatever statement he wants; then they find the bastard guilty of conduct unbecoming.
Then the Commandant strips Murtha of his rank, his retirement, the phony combat medals he never deserved in the first place, and drums him out of the Corps in disgrace. Then the defense lawyers for the falsely charged Marines can set their sights on libel suits against the media; slander if they think the malice issue might get in the way, although I believe most American juries would convict the news media on the first ballot.
This Tuesday, June 17th at 5:00PM EDT, Author and Talon contributor Ronald Winter ("Masters of the Art; A Fighting Marine's Memoir of Vietnam") will be the sole guest for one hour on the top rated program at Global Talk Radio's "Calling All Authors." Valerie Connelly is the host for this popular long running show. You can listen live and call in to ask Ron questions by visiting http://www.globaltalkradio.com/shows/callingallauthors/
Day 8:
Coop and I arrived just in time to catch the RTW RV as it was traveling to the step off point for the 8th day of the Resolve to Win Walk. I had dropped my vehicle at the VA/NC State line and rode with Coop. I was not prepared for the level of motivation displayed by these men and the people with them. I knew it was high; but when you experience it first-hand, it's truly inspirational.
These men had spent their lives in service to their country and retired to enjoy the benefits of the freedoms they had fought to preserve. They voluntarily returned to active duty and went to Iraq. What they saw there convinced them, in spite of news reports to the contrary, that we can win if only have the Reslove to Win. They didn't have to do this. They could have stayed home and enjoyed every minute of the rest of their lives and no one would have questioned it. Instead, they decided it was time to make a statement. It was time to show the American people, and the world, that America is a force for good and we need to win.
The Major runs a tight ship.
We stepped off promptly at 0730 with Gunny taking the Guidon, Major Heerup holding the American flag and just as promptly, it began to rain. Not too bad. The first leg of the walk was mildly uncomfortable, with intermittment rain squalls, but we had two young active duty Army recruiters on point and spirits were high. No way was I gonna go girly in front of these Warriors. I am a former Marine after all. I had prepared with rain gear, and knew I could handle just about anything short of a hurricaine or tornado.
I had emailed two morning radio shows about this event and had called in around 0630 to the Lee Brothers on WRVA.
I was informed that they would take my call at 0750. Coop is giving me five minute warnings as the clock ticked. Promptly at 0750 I made the call and was put right through. Scott Lee spoke to Major Heerup and emailed at 0759 to tell me that VNN had picked up the story.
I mentioned two morning shows didn't I? The second show was John Boy and Billy out of Charlotte. I never heard a response back from this one, and no one picked up the phone during the broadcast. I'm disappointed with these people and will let it be known just how disappointed I am shortly. They have always been good supporters of the troops in the past, but apparently, three retired Army officers just back from Iraq who decide to walk 400 miles to show their resolve that we can win this thing isn't worthy of their time. I would appreciate it if anyone reading this would take a minute and let them know how I feel as well.
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Our first stop came, and we rested for thirty minutes and stepped off again. I noticed a white SUV parked on the side and assumed it was a LEO waiting for us. As I walked past, I looked back and saw a license plate with 173DABN Sky Soldiers mounted on the front. Well, I wasn't going to walk past THIS vehicle without a question. Turned out to be the parents of two soldiers with the 2nd Battalion 508BCT. They had heard of the walk and brought two little ones with them and those are the pictures you see at the top of this post. They met us twice more during the walk and the video is Major McCool speaking to the parents at the VA/NC state line.
A little more rain, and now my feet are starting to bark. I have good boots; I never had a problem with my feet. Suddenly, I'm feeling pain where there usually isn't any. Shifting my weight from the ball to the heel helped; the burning on the bottom of my heels subsides and then it becomes a contest to see how long it takes to relieve the pain in my heels, versus the pain in my calves as I shift my weight.
I think the thing that impressed me most was the fact that Major Heerup and I share a common interest. Major Heerup is a structural engineer in civilian life. Because my job involves the construction of infrastructure, I had questions about the conditions in Iraq, and whether he had used his skills as an engineer during his deployment. We spoke about the conditions of the infrastructure in Iraq. He told me it was bad. Insurgents apparently do not appreciate the basic neccessities we here in America take for granted and really don't think about until they cease to function: clean water, waste water treatment, and power. Not only do the insurgents not appreciate them, they don't want anyone else to have them either. Major Heerup spoke of an incident where a WWTP (waste water treatment plant) had been repaired and put online. Within days, the insurgents had stripped and removed every piece of equipment, every run of wire, anything that could have been sold for scrap. Clean water is the basis of a civilized society. When you provide a clean sustainable source of clean water to any area, you can build from there. PRT's (Provincial Reconstruction Teams) are working daily in Iraq and Afghanistan to provide these people with the basic neccessiities and AQI and the Taliban are working just as hard to keep these people in the Dark Ages.
The left in this country don't seem to understand this fact either; and if they do, their actions make them culpable with the terrorists. They are either incredibly stupid or they are traitors.
The day ended for me at the VA/NC state line. Gunny and his wife Lori were impressed. Lori chastised me for not getting in the car with her for the last 1/2 mile. Fussed at me is more like it. She could tell I was hurting, and frankly, the thought had crossed my mind until I saw that Georgia-Pacific water tower in the distance. Thats in VA. Just across the line. From my position as "Tail-end Charlie" I called out to the group "Ya see that water tower? THAT'S IN VIRGINIA!!!"
I hurt in places I haven't hurt in since boot camp. I move like an old man this morning. But you know what, I'm going to join them again in Fairfax on Sunday and walk the last 16 miles with them.
You couldn't keep me away with a shotgun.
Last week’s Vietnam flashback was courtesy of the mixed nuts in Berkeley who took it upon themselves to label the local Marine recruiters “intruders” and “unwelcome.” Some people will do anything for a feelgood liberal headline. But we were heartened by the overwhelming numbers of proud and patriotic Americans standing by our defenders. And, typically for liberals, Berserkely kinda backed down under their pressure. (Hey, Mrs. Obama: plenty of folks manage to find lots to be proud of in America.)
While we were distracted by the Berserkely street theater, a much more disturbing scene was unfolding in our Nation’s Capital. On Friday, February 15, members of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) stormed a recruiting office at 14th & L and laid siege while Metro Police stood by. In a protest entitled “Funk the War” these children delighted in an act of civil disobedience that is as pathetic as it is chilling. Didn’t see that on Keith Olbermann’s report? I wonder why.These spoiled privileged brats are the tools of some of the most disturbing figures on the Left. At Friday’s event, the sagging hags of Code Pink stood off to the side while cheering on the SDS kidz’ action. You can almost see their petuli-addled brains whirling, “If we send the children to do our dirty work, the police will be hesitant to make arrests.”
I have to believe that the police would find joy in hauling one of those old prunes off to the clink. But getting your photo in the paper arresting a white, fresh faced college student? Not so much.
According to witnesses, Code Stink and the other aging hippies stood by the side and sent the children to the front lines, and ultimately into the recruiting station. Yet another technique the Left has borrowed from the Viet Cong.
Read the rest at Human Events Online
Full disclosure: I spent 30 minutes on the phone with this writer. Turns out we have some mutual friends. A LOT of mutual friends.
This is what I told her in reference to the public threat of violence against me and other pro-victory activists posted on the Indymedia site;
It's a member of the Washington DC extreme left movement who knows us and thinks we're intimidated by threats posted on the Internet.
We're pretty sure who it is, and all of us doubt seriously HE would be that violent, but he could instigate a confrontation by others who are capable of violent actions, and make it look as if we started it. My concern is the safety of some of our group who do not have the physical capabilities to defend themselves. I doubt anything will happen, but I've never underestimated the left before and I'm not about to start.This whole thing is getting uglier by the day. The left keeps saying Iraq is another Viet Nam and they are doing everything they can here to duplicate the anti-war movement in the '60s. The SDS/WeatherUnderground evolved after the 68 DNC in Chicago. It was violent then, it's beginning to get violent now.The next thing I look for is a bunch of them chanting "The whole world's watching the whole world's watching"
Big & Rich Video with introduction by Kris Kristofferson
My friends at FreeRepublic have stepped up and lent a hand.
One of them has created a tribute to the illustrious history of the 173rd Airborne Brigade.
They have truly been the Tip of the Spear since their inception.
Thank You StarCMC for taking the time to design and post this important piece of military history.
From the jungles of Southeast Asia in November of '65 to the mountainous regions of the Afghan/Pakistan border in November of '07, the 173rd Airborne Brigade has been the first line of defense, taking the heat and giving what they got and then some.
They are Warriors.
Video of Press Conference 27 September 2007
Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faZdOB1feRM
Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LON1yZ_J7a4
text of Rep Ted Poe's statement on the floor of the House on 20 September 2007
HON. TED POE OF TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Madam Speaker, "I do not believe that the men who served in uniform in Vietnam have been given the credit they deserve. It was a difficult war against an unorthodox enemy.''
These are the words of General Westmoreland in the war where "all gave some and some gave all.'' But the disrespect continues. Now, despicable vandals have desecrated the sacred black granite Vietnam Wall. An oily, slimy, greasy substance was smeared over the Wall and the walkway. The Park Service is attempting to remove the damage, but the monument desecraters run free.
This monument bears the name of 56,000 warriors. They answered the call for America and they died in their youth. I grew up with friends whose names are on that wall.
The unpatriotic, cowardly, abusing criminals should be tracked down, prosecuted, and put in jail somewhere off the shores of America, maybe Guantanamo Bay.
It has been said that "Vietnam was a war that asked everything of a few and nothing of most in America.'' Now America must be resolved to capture these outlaws and restore dignity to those who died for the rest of us.
And that's just the way it is.
TX Rep John Carter (R-Tx):
Resolution Draft:
110TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. RES.
Condemning the actions of September 7, 2007, resulting in damage to the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Mr. CARTER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on ......
RESOLUTION
Condemning the actions of 7 September 2007, resulting in damage to the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial.
Whereas the Vietnam Veterans Memorial serves as a memorial to the 2,700,000 men and women in the United
States Armed Forces who served in the designated war zone during the Vietnam Era;
Whereas 58,256 men and women died while serving in South East Asia or as a result of their wounds or a service-connected disability;
Whereas on Friday evening, September 7, 2007, the United States Park Police reported being notified of a light, oily,
and unidentified substance that was spilled over portions of some of the names, panels, and paving stones of the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial;
Whereas at least 14 of the 140 inscribed panels of the Memorial Wall were damaged; and
Whereas the National Park Service has determined that the damage was the result of an act of vandalism:
Now, therefore, be it Resolved,
That the House of Representatives condemns all attacks upon the memory of veterans and their service to the United States, as exemplified by the incident of vandalism of 7 September 2007.
