Thursday, October 06, 2011
Who gives a damn if a Marine dies?
No Title
Take a man and put him alone
Put him twelve thousand miles from home
Empty his heart of all but his blood
Make him live in sweat in mud
This is the life I have to live
This the soul to the devil I give
You have your parties and drink your beer
While young men are dying over here
Plant your signs on the white house lawn
"Lets all get out of Vietman"
Use your signs and have your fun
then you refuse to use a gun
There's nothing else for you to do
Then I'm supposed to die for you
There is one thing that you don't know
and thats where I think you should go
I'm already here and it's too late
I've traded all my love just for hate
I'll hate you till the day I die
You made me hear my buddy cry
I saw his leg and his blood shed
then I heard them say "This one's dead"
It was a large price for him to pay
to let you live another day
He had the guts to fight and die
to keep the freedom you live by
By his dying your life he buys
but who gives a damn if a marine dies
~Author Unknown
Found in the pocket of a dead marine – Quang Tri Providence,Vietnam
7 JUNE 1969
Rest in peace Steve Jobs...but remember...
Remember your Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen that are in harms way.
Steve brought you entertainment.
The military is fighting and dying for you.
Give a damn when one of them dies.
The most valuable ships in the fleet are under stress.
The amphibious fleet of the US is in high demand because they are the most flexible ships in the US arsenal, but is seen as and is given a low priority by leaders in the US Navy with the total amphibious force now 15% below clearly articulated bare minimum size and 25% below stated requirement size. For whatever reason, both Congress and the DoD are watching the Avondale shipyard that builds amphibious ships go out of business due to lack of work.
What is the plan to address these problems, because all indications are there is no plan.
Defense Review's write up on the SRTV-5
K-MAX Quick Reaction Assessment
K-Max is about to deploy. Late but still good news. Less trucks, less IED attacks...less injured Marines.
Good stuff.
Good stuff.
ArmorWorks Hyena Special Ops Truck.
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I got curious because I had never seen it. I knew of ArmorWorks but had no idea that they were working on this type of vehicle.
Mystery solved.
The Hyena is out of the UK branch of ArmorWork, this is good news for them and even better news for that country. The UK appears to be the new home for specialized special ops vehicles...or they're at least working to carve out that niche.
F-35 at sea...the takeoff's
Spudman! My boy...thanks for the heads up...got slammed at work so I'm late to the table...
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
A 1000 yard stare
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A soldier from A Company, 1
Rifles looks on wearily following an engagement with the enemy during a
joint helicopter assault with the Afghan Uniformed Police (AUP) in
Helmand, Afghanistan.
Photographer: Sergeant Alison Baskerville RLC |
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A Rifleman puts down covering fire over a wall as his patrol from A Company 1 Rifles comes under heavy fire during a joint helicopter assault with the Afghan Uniformed Police (AUP) in Helmand.
Photographer: Sergeant Alison Baskerville RLC |
Monday, October 03, 2011
Former Australin Naval Aviator speaks about cross decking F-35B's...
*Note*
During a conversation with Phil, he hit me with the thought that soon after the F-35B is introduced into USMC service, that we'll see them cross decked on Royal Australian Navy Amphibs. I was so intrigued by the thought that I requested to post his response. It follows...
UPDATE: Shortly after my e-mail exchange with Phil, I ran across this photo of the 11th MEU preparing for its upcoming deployment. Who do we see on deck observing MV-22 ops? Australian service members! I've been so focused on the Aussies acquiring F-35's that we might be missing other bits of gear they might have an interest in. Emphasize might.
During a conversation with Phil, he hit me with the thought that soon after the F-35B is introduced into USMC service, that we'll see them cross decked on Royal Australian Navy Amphibs. I was so intrigued by the thought that I requested to post his response. It follows...
I guess that answers the question on why the Australian Navy needs the F-35B!“BZ F-35B & USS Wasp. Now that the RAN has been out of the carrier business for almost 3 decades the imminent arrival in service 2014-5 of 2 LHDs means the possibility of at least USMC F-35Bs (and AV-8Bs) cross decking during exercises at the very least. The news reports then, if not now, will put the idea back in some Australian minds about 'why does not the RAN/RAAF get a bunch of F-35Bs' for use not only on our RAN LHDs but also as 'far north Australia' as bare base aircraft that can be easily transported via LHD to a Pacific trouble spot (we have a fractious Fiji for example where HMAS Melbourne used to visit at least once a year to remind them about stuff). Today the Fijian PM ‘dictator’ does as he pleases - not concerned by any local/regional response. A few years ago the Fijian Military Dictator “Voreqe Bainimarama, also called Frank 'Barney' Bainimarama” 'PM' of Fiji, threatened Australian/New Zealand citizens there. Australia & New Zealand started to put together a rescue mission that ultimately was not needed. A big flat deck on the horizon always gives 'pause for thought' IMHO.”Phil.
UPDATE: Shortly after my e-mail exchange with Phil, I ran across this photo of the 11th MEU preparing for its upcoming deployment. Who do we see on deck observing MV-22 ops? Australian service members! I've been so focused on the Aussies acquiring F-35's that we might be missing other bits of gear they might have an interest in. Emphasize might.
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