Indian, US armies begin joint exercises in Hawaii(Gurkha Regiment and 25 Infantry Division)

Indo-Asian News Service ^

[indcons]

Ping

[river rat]

"Gurkha" is a term that designated unique/mercenary troops from Nepal.

Sounds like India "hired" their own Gurkhas regiment to serve within the Indian forces?

Semper Fi

[taxcontrol]

Two years after the Second World War ended, with the granting of independence to India, the Gurkhas regiments were divided. Six of the ten regiments became the Indian Gurkhas Rifles; the four (2ndGR, 6thGR, 7thGR and 10GR) remaining the British Brigade of Gurkhas. In India the troops plunged immediately into the India-Pakistan conflict over Kashmir; later came the Sino-Indian war (China-India) or 1962 and further battles between India and Pakistan in 1965 and 1971.

[ChristianDefender]

Pics please...

[indcons]

Gurkhas live in both India and Nepal and the name "Gurkha" is actually the name of an Indo-Tibetian comunity that lives in that region. Most Gurkhas in the Indian Army are citizens of India.

They are some of the most ferocious warriors on the face of the planet. Many a Nazi who lost his head to a Gurkha khukri (dagger) can attest to the terror that Gurkhas bring to the enemy in the battlefield.

[indcons]

"Gurkha, also spelt as Gorkha, are people from Nepal who take their name from the eighth century Hindu warrior-saint Guru Gorakhnath. [...] Later descendants of Bappa Rawal moved further east to found the house of Gorkha, which in turn founded the Kingdom of Nepal. Gurkhas are best known for their history of bravery and strength in the British Army and the Indian Army."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurkha

[Candor7]

The Gurkha Regiment has a long and distinguished history, and the Germans feared them during WWII , for good reason. As a former member of the Canadian military, I was told in basic training of the story as to why Canadian troops laced their boots in a certain way.

Gurkhas were famous in the Pacific and European WWII theaters of war for stealthily sneaking into the lines of the enemy, and feeling the sleeping soldiers bootlaces. If they were not speed laced ( no x lacing), the throat was stealtily cut with the Khukri knife, and the soul commended to Shiva.

British Commonwealth soldiers are identifiable by the lacing system of their boots.

The gurkhas are excellent soldiers, and were natural companions to the Highland Regiments of Scotland. They even have their own regimental highland pipe band.

I am very happy to see them training with our soldiers in Hawaii. They are the best of the best that India has to offer. And they know the fine art of diplomacy with Islamofascists, having conducting it in the dark of night over many centuries. Our soldiers can learn from them as much as they learn from our soldiers, if not more.

[sheik yerbouty]

"Alas, the Ghurkas are upon you!"

[Candor7]

And the Gherkins are upon me too!

Talk about being in a pickle!

LOL.

[epow]

I have reservations regarding India as a dependable US ally, but having the feared Gurkhas on our side would be a plus for any US-Indian joint military operation that involved ground combat.

Those Taliban ragheads who think they're such total badasses don't know what kind of hell they would be in for if the Gurkhas ever got on their case. Disembowelment by a Gurkha's khukri isn't the most pleasant way to arrange a meeting with those 70 ancient "virgins" who have been hanging around in muslim paradise ever since that randy old pedophile Mohammed kidnapped them out of a Mecca brothel.

[indcons]

"Having seen plenty of Gurkhas guarding various sites in Iraq, it was a comforting feeling knowing these little bada$$es got your back."

LOL...one thing the Islamo-fascists have learned is the power of Gurkha vengeance. Along with the Sikhs, the Gurkhas are the only other community that the muslims don't dare to attack during their regular post-Friday namaz riots in India. And for good reason indeed!!

I remember a thread from about a year ago that discussed Gurkhas in the British Army. Needless to say, the Gurkhas have quite a few fans on FR (especially among FReepers who have worked or served with them in Allied forces).

P.S.: Welcome back...glad that you are safe from your tour of honor and sacrifice.

[indcons]

I agree with you. As long as the leftists in India are in power, US-India relations will never reach their true potential. The good news is that a majority of educated Indians see the US as a friend and an ally. This is also a reason why Pres. Bush has something close to 70% favorble ratings in that country.

The bad news - the notorious Indian bureaucracy and the usual culprits (communists, unions, and the fifth-column muslims) are the biggest (and formidable) obstacles in US-India relationships.

[indcons]

Ping

[indcons]

Gurkhas in action in Tunisia (WW2)

[river rat]

I didn't know ANY of that!
My view of the Gurkhas has been wrong for a whole lot of years!

Thanks for clearing that up..

Semper Fi

[ChristianDefender]

Thank. Geat pics.

[MPJackal]

I always loved those pickles.

[familyop]

This is good to see. We must work together with friends to defend the independence of each of our nations from unfriendly nations that lust for "empire."