KafirChobee
12-03-2005, 09:29
At one time, long long ago and far far away, I sorta trusted the reports depicted in their (History Channel) reports (especially when Mudd was giving his name to them).
But, for a while now, I have noticed that some of it is pure BS and out and out lies by the men that were purportedly there (in one combat situation or another).
Mayaguez is just such a report, "Heroes Under Fire". From its start to its finish it is the party line of the USMC's version of events. It is ... Bull. The men supporting their heroism ... well, what does one expect from men that were kids that were terrorified to say?
Here is the deal, atleast from the persectives of men I knew, and know were there.
My brother was on leave from the CoralSeas (the AirCraftCarrier turned = fast reaction assault ship; ergo anything old can be retitled something new), I recall we were sitting around my Dad's pool when he got the call to report - like yesterday if possible. Boot (my Bro's nickname from the time he was 3) begged a ride from Dad, and was gone. BTW, did I mention Boot was a SSgt.?
Boot's rendition (not mine) of what occurred:
1) Ship (Mayaguez) gets taken.
2) We (Ford) discover who (Khmer Rouge) stole it and where it is.
3) We (Ford) send in Seals to find out how fortified the island is.
4) Seals say it is only a buncha pirates and maybe 200 men, tops. (btw, were nearly 3.000 men there - SEALS musta found a good MJ patch and forgotten to look Aaround).
5) WE SEND IN THE MARINES (5 big and slow as you can get them helicopters loaded with green marines hungry to ... go home) none with a tad of combat experience and with only two NCOs that knew a damn about combat - one of which dies within two minutes of their hitting the ground.
6) My Bro arrives - thankful as a MoFo that he was late enough (by like 15 minutes, fortunately for him the moron in charge of the operation couldn't wait that long to send Marines to die) not to go in with these sissy green marines (he said they were all a buncha a panty wastes by his standards of what a Marine ought to be .... look at their photos. You judge, he knew them and didn't think one of them was a real Marine (of course Boot had high standards. .... He did say they might a been good gobs).
7) Bro goes in on the rescue after a buncha helicopters get shot down.
8) Rescue is complete ... well, as he put it he was kicking butts off the heli to set a perimeter for the other Marines there to be able to escape.
9) The "enemy" was firing over our heads, according to Bro, He even claims he saw some of them with tears in their friggin' eyes. Other wise, they owned us. It coulda, woulda, shoulda been an American massacre.
10) There were no heroes there. Only survivors.
My brother has such ill esteem of the Navy Seals, even today, that if some moron claims to be one he will kick their arse - and he's 55 today.
Now, what bothers me ... is the rewriting of how sucessful the Mayaguez mission was. When in fact, had we asked for the ship it woulda been given up. Period.
I, personally, was in awe of the operation as reported in the news. The last 41 names on the "Wall" - and even though the Marines left only 3 behind (according to my Bro that is more like 30+ - if we include the bodies, but maybe thats part of the 41), it seemed impressive. Bro, who planned a career in his beloved Marine Corp - relalized he was playing with sissys and wanted no part of it. Bro bailed after 12 years service (E-6).
What bothered me about it all was the gungho, BS, believe it or not attitude of the producers of this "documentary". Is it a matter that if they glorify an operation that someone was in, maybe they'll jusy shut the f'up and point at it for their family and say "hey. that me did that?". Who knows, maybe even that will work for the new propangandizing of our new and perfect "God told me to be President". Just what does it mean when we have a retro-history of the facts?
But, for a while now, I have noticed that some of it is pure BS and out and out lies by the men that were purportedly there (in one combat situation or another).
Mayaguez is just such a report, "Heroes Under Fire". From its start to its finish it is the party line of the USMC's version of events. It is ... Bull. The men supporting their heroism ... well, what does one expect from men that were kids that were terrorified to say?
Here is the deal, atleast from the persectives of men I knew, and know were there.
My brother was on leave from the CoralSeas (the AirCraftCarrier turned = fast reaction assault ship; ergo anything old can be retitled something new), I recall we were sitting around my Dad's pool when he got the call to report - like yesterday if possible. Boot (my Bro's nickname from the time he was 3) begged a ride from Dad, and was gone. BTW, did I mention Boot was a SSgt.?
Boot's rendition (not mine) of what occurred:
1) Ship (Mayaguez) gets taken.
2) We (Ford) discover who (Khmer Rouge) stole it and where it is.
3) We (Ford) send in Seals to find out how fortified the island is.
4) Seals say it is only a buncha pirates and maybe 200 men, tops. (btw, were nearly 3.000 men there - SEALS musta found a good MJ patch and forgotten to look Aaround).
5) WE SEND IN THE MARINES (5 big and slow as you can get them helicopters loaded with green marines hungry to ... go home) none with a tad of combat experience and with only two NCOs that knew a damn about combat - one of which dies within two minutes of their hitting the ground.
6) My Bro arrives - thankful as a MoFo that he was late enough (by like 15 minutes, fortunately for him the moron in charge of the operation couldn't wait that long to send Marines to die) not to go in with these sissy green marines (he said they were all a buncha a panty wastes by his standards of what a Marine ought to be .... look at their photos. You judge, he knew them and didn't think one of them was a real Marine (of course Boot had high standards. .... He did say they might a been good gobs).
7) Bro goes in on the rescue after a buncha helicopters get shot down.
8) Rescue is complete ... well, as he put it he was kicking butts off the heli to set a perimeter for the other Marines there to be able to escape.
9) The "enemy" was firing over our heads, according to Bro, He even claims he saw some of them with tears in their friggin' eyes. Other wise, they owned us. It coulda, woulda, shoulda been an American massacre.
10) There were no heroes there. Only survivors.
My brother has such ill esteem of the Navy Seals, even today, that if some moron claims to be one he will kick their arse - and he's 55 today.
Now, what bothers me ... is the rewriting of how sucessful the Mayaguez mission was. When in fact, had we asked for the ship it woulda been given up. Period.
I, personally, was in awe of the operation as reported in the news. The last 41 names on the "Wall" - and even though the Marines left only 3 behind (according to my Bro that is more like 30+ - if we include the bodies, but maybe thats part of the 41), it seemed impressive. Bro, who planned a career in his beloved Marine Corp - relalized he was playing with sissys and wanted no part of it. Bro bailed after 12 years service (E-6).
What bothered me about it all was the gungho, BS, believe it or not attitude of the producers of this "documentary". Is it a matter that if they glorify an operation that someone was in, maybe they'll jusy shut the f'up and point at it for their family and say "hey. that me did that?". Who knows, maybe even that will work for the new propangandizing of our new and perfect "God told me to be President". Just what does it mean when we have a retro-history of the facts?