Is a soldier's life worth more than $650? (Parents buying body armor for sons in Iraq)

JWR ^ | 10/02/03 | Jonathan Turley

[Dr. Scarpetta]

For many GIs, Iraq appears to be a strictly BYOB war — Bring Your Own Bulletproofs.

Suzanne Werfelman is a mother and a teacher who has been shopping for individual body armor. This is not in response to threats from her elementary-class students in Sciota, Pa.; it's a desperate attempt to protect her son in Iraq.

Like many other U.S. service members in Iraq, her son was given a Vietnam-era flak jacket that cannot stop the type of weapons used today. It appears that parents across the country are now purchasers of body armor because of the failure of the military to supply soldiers with modern vests.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Army Spc. Murphy's reserve unit, which initially had no modern jackets, was eventually given some Interceptor vests weeks after they arrived in Iraq, but even then the new vests were missing the essential ceramic plates.

That is when Mrs. Werfelman went out and bought some plates for $650 — more than her weekly salary — and sent them to her son so he'd have basic protection.

Workers at one armor company she called said that they had been deluged with calls from parents trying to buy vests and plates for their sons and daughters overseas.

[scan59]

I remember being issued the heavy, old style flak jacket for training and manuvers, and then being told that if this was a real situation they really wouldn't do us any good.

Protection against shrapnel, not bullets.

[liberty or death]

The answer to the question is YES. I would spend 10 times that amount on a good BPJ for each of my 4 sons if they were over there.
The truth is we should be flattening the areas that are producing the terrorist bombers and snipers. If we anihilate an area each time it happens than the people living there will start killing and stopping the terrorist before he starts.

[MD_Willington_1976]

http://www.bulletproofme.com/Body_Armor_Accessories_RIFLE_Protection.shtml

http://www.bulletproofme.com/TACTICAL_Body_Armor.shtml#Military-Tactical-Vest

Military OTV – OuterTactical Vest $790 here
Fragmentation Level PASGT Vest $195

[trebb]

If we anihilate an area each time it happens than the people living there will start killing and stopping the terrorist before he starts

Roger that - I've been a proponent of Israel doing the exact same thing for years. It will either get the locals to fix the problem or end up with no one left to commit the terror acts; either way, problem solved.

[SoCal Pubbie]

I have a hard time believing this article, or at least there must be more to the story.

[AdamSelene235]

Hell, every citizen should own a battle rifle and a IIIA vest.

Guess we are too busy buying pills for granny and sending money to Africa to bother protecting our troops.

The money went sent to African dictators for their alleged HIV problems would have bought 1.6 million vests.

[LADY J]

How many vests and plates could be bought with the pay raises the House and Senate gave themselves? Someone should ask them!

[MississippiMan]

The truth is we should be flattening the areas that are producing the terrorist bombers and snipers. If we anihilate an area each time it happens than the people living there will start killing and stopping the terrorist before he starts.

Bingo. That's how wars are won. Surgical strikes make for never-ending wars IMO. War is supposed to be something so horrible that the people rise up to stop it or prevent it. Our leaders have totally abandoned that thinking, though.

MM

[Dr. Scarpetta]

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[Dr. Scarpetta]

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[Dr. Scarpetta]

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[68skylark]

I remember being issued the heavy, old style flak jacket for training and manuvers, and then being told that if this was a real situation they really wouldn't do us any good. Protection against shrapnel, not bullets.

I was taught in basic that shrapnel wounded or killed soldiers 4-5 times as often as bullets. So protection against shrapnel isn't worthless. Still, this country is very wealthy and I can't imagine any reason why our troops shouldn't have the best new body armor.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

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[TrueBeliever9]

As a mom who has purchased her share of military gear I am hear this mom! I would buy my son whatever he needed. We should not have to do that, but the alternative is not looking good. Our men should be the best equipped in the world and their families should be given the best care!

[Dr. Scarpetta]

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[OneTimeLurker]

"Still, this country is very wealthy and I can't imagine any reason why our troops shouldn't have the best new body armor."

Maybe because we would have to run an enormous deficit in order to do it....oh never mind!

[Ronaldus Magnus]

I've been watching the current U.S. issue Point Blank Interceptor vests on Ebay for several years now. The price went way up around the time of the D.C. sniper shootings but is now quite low. They usually run between $250 and $450 new depending upon the size and accessories (collar, neck guard, and groin plate). I picked up a slightly used size extra-small for a friends daughter in the National Guard last year for $150. The full size level IV plates run about $400 extra. Every U.S. serviceman should be issued a set with their first BDU.

[Blessed]

It's simple.This decision was one of budgeting during the Clinton Administration. They decide to phase in the purchase over 10 years. They could have done it sooner but their would have been no money for training or updating firepower.This was a rational decision during peace time once they were refused funds by the rats under Clinton.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

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