Posted on 02/21/2015 2:52:47 PM PST by jonascord
HUNTER GARTH was in a gunfight for his life — and about to lose.
He and seven other Marines were huddled in a mud hut, their only refuge after they walked into an ambush in Trek Nawa, a Taliban stronghold in Afghanistan. Down to his last 15 bullets, one buddy already terribly wounded, Mr. Garth pulled off his helmet, smoked a cheap Afghan cigarette, and “came to terms with what was happening.”
“I’m going to die here with my best friends,” he recalled thinking.
I didn’t know any of this — nor the remarkable story of his survival that day — when I met him two months ago in Colorado while reporting for an article about the marijuana industry, for which Mr. Garth and his company provide security. But I did know he was a vet and so I did what seemed natural: I thanked him for his service.
“No problem,” he said.
It wasn’t true. There was a problem.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I know Klass, Gulley, Stone and Collins are in here, not sure if that 1978 date is correct, but, these are kewel :)
I see GySgt Clark, he is on facebook, Collins we cant find, klass we cant find, stone...But, I do have Wayne Gulley as a friend on Facebook :)
in the bigger picture, the first face behind frady that lines up with frady, about 4 rows back, that is Sgt Collins
The Black guy top left, I think that might be Sgt Stone, he drove a green vette, 72? 75?
“My brother-in-law was a LRP (Lerp) in nam in the sixties. Though we don’t get along all that well (largely because of my sister), I have written him many times over the decades about his extraordinary military service. I think at least arguably that the Vietnam War was more terrifying for the average grunt because u most of the time didn’t get to see the enemy. Many times our guys were just feet from the enemy and could not see them until a flash bang went off in their face.
Before anybody jumps me, I’m not taking away one ounce of credit from any other vet in any war. They are all heroes!
I just thank my lucky stars that the closest I got in 71 was Keelung Port City on Taiwan aboard the USS Hector, AR 7”.
Thanks for sharing your experience. If you want to learn more about LRRPs (Long Range Recon Patrol), I highly suggest you read the following -
Sog: The Secret Wars of America’s Commandos in Vietnam Mass Market Paperback – July 1, 1998
by John L. Plaster
This was a highly classified unit that did not exist, who had ‘get out of jail free’ cards, carried exotic weaponry, dressed like the enemy, boobytrapped enemy ammunition, etc. I believe their existence remained classified until the late 80s or early 90s. Not to diminish the LRRPs, but SOG (Studies and Observation Group) seemed to be a step above everyone else, as they hand picked the best of all branches of special ops guys. I believe their mission was primarily outside South Vietnam (Laos, Cambodia, North Vietnam). The author points out that on numerous occasions, a team was being hunted by enemy units as large as a battalion. You may want to skip the 1st one or two chapters, as I recall it is mostly hierarchy type stuff. I gave my copy of this book to a neighbor who flew the F105 in Vietnam. Otherwise, I would send it to you.
This unit (SOG) pioneered the first HALO junp, at least in combat.
Awesome!
Have long plane flight coming up your book recommendation will make tolerable!
Having done multiple deployments myself, I see this article as an attempt to drive a wedge between the service member and the civilian population while making the soldier appear to be a jerk that can’t accept a simple expression of gratitude in the spirit in which it was intended.
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