Posted on 09/11/2019 11:36:51 AM PDT by Renkluaf
A reader who, in this day of blacklists, must remain anonymous, sends this observation about our soldiers in Afghanistan:
It's not unusual for the French to comment on anything American and normally in the negative. What is rare is a Frenchman saying something positive about Americans; in this case heaping praise on our soldiers in Afghanistan. Blogger and veteran Wes O'Donnell has translated an editorial in a French newspaper from a French soldier serving with a prestigious U.S. infantry battalion. I recommend reading the whole thing. Here are some excerpts:
US soldiers are in top physical shape compared to the French, and it appears much better in infantry tactics. The soldier notes:
Heavily built, fed at the earliest age with Gatorade, proteins, and creatine — they are all heads and shoulders taller than us and their muscles remind us of Rambo. Our frames are amusingly skinny to them — we are wimps, even the strongest of us — and because of that they often mistake us [the French] for Afghans. [snip] Even if some of them are a bit on the heavy side, all of them provide us everyday with lessons in infantry know-how. Beyond the wearing of a combat kit that never seems to discomfort them (helmet strap, helmet, combat goggles, rifles etc.) the long hours of watch at the outpost never seem to annoy them in the slightest.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
The French soldier fought bravely, especially when THEY weren’t getting on those boats personally.
The French politician though ... well, THEY were the surrender monkeys.
I am a Navy veteran of the Korean War. I remember that we could smell Japan three days before we saw land. It was a mix of sandalwood and excrement. When we were given our first liberty we noticed we were a good head taller than the average Japanese man. By the way, back in 1951 Japanese men pissed in the streets. Anyway, WWII had been over for five years, but the Japanese still weren’t used to the Americans. Besides our size and strength they couldn’t get over our various hues of white skin. And blue eyes. If we went even a few miles into the countryside people of all ages would stare openly at our blond haired and blue eyed guys. It is a rush to walk on a Japanese city or small town street and be so much larger than the natives were. And we loved the Japanese kids, and they loved us. Yep, the relative size of Americans compared to the average Hispanic in Latin America is also quite educational.
It’s amazing how Japan quickly adopted American culture after the war, after being told that we were the “devil” all those years.
Yes, American soldiers are exceptional.
Which is why we should not be wasting them in Afghanistan.
“”Absolutely amazing,” said David Beriain, the reporter (and the one who spoke English), said of the young Cavalry troops.
“In Spain, it is embarrassing - our soldiers are ashamed to be in the army. These young men - and they seem so young! - are so proud of what they do, and do it so well, even though it is dangerous and they could very easily be killed.”
***
I think so. The link I know of was the Spanish reporter which is also included the link you were referring to..
The Vietnamese, Japanese and other Asians eat a lot of fish which is good protein. The Japanese eat soy products too, which are a source of protein. I wonder why all that protein does not give them longer bones (height).
Gatorade - one of the most impactfull contributions from the University of Florida.
Actually and older piece. Saw this piece floating around 4 or 5 years ago.
FSU tried to come up with their own drink, but “Seminade” didn’t sell very well, outside of San Francisco.
I thought so. While it may be accurate or at least partly so I also thought it was a bit of a fantasy. Still a good one though.
This is the version remember reading back then.
Many of those soldiers spent their 'developing years' in the Depression.
The most highly decorated American soldier to serve in World War II stood 5' 5" tall, and weighed 112 pounds when he enlisted at age 16 or 17. He also learned to shoot while growing up during the Depression, using a .22 rifle to help put food on the table for his family...
I’m shocked the Frogs still have any kind of soldiers!
I have always found it somewhat entertaining to rib the French military, but...I do try to keep in mind the horrible, horrible losses they experienced in the first World War.
So many French men were lost that (and I cannot remember where I read it) the country seemed to be entirely populated for decades after by widowed women wearing black.
They were apparently tough soldiers who were fed into a meat grinder by fat, incompetent generals.
Not that they have ever had a monopoly on those.
I guess I could have said “mammary glands”. My point was that skinny little native rice-fed Vietnamese would not develop like that. But this girl, on American groceries, and probably some American baby formula, developed like an American kid. It was strictly observation in layman’s language.
I first hit Japan in Aug 1957 as a 17 year old and found the people accepting us and they accommodated us inasmuch as language etc.
Of course, they were after our money and figured it would work better if they were ‘nice’.
I especially thought they were very friendly towards the people that almost eliminated them from the face of the earth a mere ‘ten’ years earlier.
Yes, it was their own fault but on the outward appearance, they seemed fine.
Also outside ‘relieving’ was still predominant but I seem to remember benjo ditches for use by the populace, not necessarily just dropping trou and doing ones business in the street.
I fondly remember the bathhouses...
LET ME POINT OUT- a Japanese bathhouse in the late 50s/early 60s was/is not to be confused with frequenting a San Francisco bathhouse...
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