Posted on 04/26/2009 6:20:31 AM PDT by Eric
My fellow veterans please forgive me. But I must purge my soul. I only ask that you reserve judgment until you read all of if. I only want peace for all and a world free of torture.
What I saw in the military was much worse than water boarding. The prisoners were taken to a 12 foot deep pool. Feet weighted they were forced into the pool. Those who hesitated, were moved onto a plank high above the pool and forced off. They were to stay in this deep water for over an hour feet weighted and in full clothing. Those who touched the side of the pool had their fingers stepped on by angry guards. Not enough to break their fingers as that would reveal this terrible secret but just enough to inflect severe pain without detectable injury. The guards knew their craft well. Like water boarding, the prisoners were not allowed to drown. No, that would expose the cover-up.
It gets worse! I must tell all! They were then taken to a wooden building far from the main complex. A lantern like device burned in the middle of the building. It gave off a horrible gas. The prisoners were forced to run around the lantern without the benefit of the gas masks worn by the guards and sing in their native language their country’s patriotic songs. I saw them with my own eyes as they were finally released from the windowless building: eyes red, mucus flowing uncontrollably from their mouths and noses. Some looked near death. A spec of humanity prevailed as they were allowed to recover for several minutes before being taken to the bleachers.
The prisoners were taken to the bleachers. I think there were about one hundred of them. They were not restrained, no that would blow this horrible trick. The bleachers were located in a bug infested marsh. Those prisoners who moved their hands in any effort to ward of the flying bugs were severely punished. Mockingly, the guards in the native language of the prisoners said that “their bugs had to eat too.” The guard threw a dud hand grenade into the helpless group. He laughed as they scattered in terror. The prisoners were regathered and prepared for more.
I saw one prisoner taken out of out of line in just his shorts which were on backwards. Horrible sexual innuendos and insults were directed at him. I saw a tear roll down his cheek.
The prisoners were United States Marine recruits the “torture” described above was part of our training. The guards were drill instructors. The above is why we shake our heads in disbelief when water-boarding, bugs, and loud music are described as torture by the main stream press.
The above prepared us for combat so that fair-weather pacifists can stand on our street corners only in the best of weather. God forbid, they should be out in the cold or even worse the rain as that would resemble water-boarding.
Ed
USMC.
Vietnam 1967-1968
Semper Fi !
I almost forgot! In AIRCREW training, they put us inside a huge trashcan floating inside a huge pool with seats and seat belts inside which simulated a helicopter. This contraption was attached to a hydraulic lift and was called a “helo-dunker”. Once strapped inside, they lift you a few feet up in the air, then the whole compartment falls into the water and TURNS UPSIDE DOWN! You have to grab a point of reference, and unhook your seat belt with your free hand and find your way out without drowning. The catch? You cannot unhook your seat belt until the “dunker” stopped moving completely, usually about 5-10 seconds. By then , so much water has entered your head through your nostrils, that your sinuses are about to explode! Oh, and you have to do it with LIGHTS OUT and wearing a blacked-out mask! Talk about water-boarding!!!!
Love you looong time G.I., 5 dolla’...Yes, Manila bar crawl...the hand-stamp marathon...
Beerboarding?
I have a friend who was a Navy Seal. He didn't talk much about his experiences in training, but I got the idea it was quite rigorous.
I got my submarine pins punched on my chest (without backers) by over 100 people the day I got them. I had a huge black mark on my chest for over a month.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0IAX/is_6_86/ai_n6220836/
Living off the land is often romanticized in movies, books and television as peaceful
coexistence with nature, where food is delicious, nutritious and easily obtainable and shelter
is convenient. The reality of wilderness survival is more likely to include life-threatening
injuries or illness, hunger, exposure to the elements, fatigue and, under wartime conditions
behind enemy lines, constant movement to evade pursuers. Today’s sailors and Marines are
living in a fortunate age when there are very few times that finding an insect under a rock
conjures up the thought, “What a good source of protein.” On the other hand, there are
worse things than eating insects. The field instructors of the Survival, Evasion, Resistance
and Escape (SERE) School prepare students to know what to do when things go from bad to
worse.
As a part of Fleet Aviation Specialized Operational Training Group Pacific, NAS North Island, Calif., SERE School is actually an advanced code of conduct course. All military personnel get their initial code of conduct instruction during basic training in which they’re taught an American service member’s legal responsibilities regarding capture by enemy forces. But SERE training goes far beyond that. Because the school is a combination of courses designed for personnel with jobs that entail greater than normal risks of being stranded behind enemy lines or captured by enemy forces, students get a deeper insight into the philosophies behind the code. Aviators, aircrewmen, and special forces and force reconnaissance personnel are the types of jobs that require SERE School training. The instruction starts with classroom work, and for several days it focuses on real-world applications of the code of conduct for a service member. After the classroom, students board a bus and end up at the Navy’s remote training site near Warner Springs, Calif., ready to break down the acronym SERE into individual lessons. Here, they begin with the survival and evasion portions to learn methods of avoiding capture by the enemy. Eventually, they’ll be captured and enter resistance and escape training.
I started catching on in the first couple of paragraphs, as it reminded me of the letters I got from Boot Camp (MCRD San Diego) from my future (now ex) husband. I sent it to him and a few others.
Read the article. It’s about boot camp.
Did this as:
1. Kid aged 10 - at Park District pool learning to swim.
2. Boy Scout - Swimming/Lifesaving Merit Badge
3. Marine - MCRD San Diego, Utilities and Combat Boots. Hard to keep afloat sometimes when, Drill Instructors are screaming crazy stuff at non-hackers. I laughed water into my lungs a couple of times. Did Bends and Thrusts for 30 mins. after I got done treading water for an hour. This was far from the most tortuous day of Boot.
Grow up, Liberals.
THis thread most likely will degenerate into that hysteria: civilians will all decry the horror of boot camp, Marines and Soldiers will all brag about how sick they got in the gas chambers!!
They are no different than us moms. Men cringe at hearing the details of childbirth, women brag on who was in labor longest and had the fewest pushes to give birth. Its human nature :) I for one would rather childbirth over boot camp. Thats what my husband did to serve the country, I brought three patriots into the world for mine....... Thanks to all on here that did go stand on that wall for me so I could bring up 3 men to serve this country in their way.
I went through a similar experience while attending SERE School in Little Creek Naval Station in 1969. Only it was winter so there were no bugs. I suppose, since they could expose us to bug bites, that standing around in our skivies at 20 degrees F for hours on end is equally uncomfortable.
Heck no, that would make Marines out of ‘em. lol
Prisoners? Not a chance. I went through boot camp and infantry training at about the same time as the author. It might have been scary to some at the time but everyone made it through and understood the reasons. It was not torture, it was “correcting their military posture” or “military attitude”.
It’s dangerous sending something like this to the Slimes. Aren’t they famous for taking things out of context? What’s to stop them from publishing all but the last two paragraphs?
How about the barbell squat in the SDI’s office...
They had a barbell, (two huge coffee cans cemented to a bar), you'd have to bend over at the waist and pick it up, with your back against the wall, slide down the wall into the squat position while holding the barbell straight out
(about fifty pounds) and maintain that position until he says UP! You repeat on command, and don't dare lower the barbell.
Been there, done that. Not pleasant, but we got the message. Resist capture and if captured make every attempt at escape. The sooner the better.
I wouldn't go through boot camp again for no man's money...
but I wouldn't sell that accomplishment for all of the gold in the world either.
“Believe me, what happened at Gitmo was NOT torture in any way shape or form.”
Are you kidding me? I am 100% in AGREEMENT WITH YOU; what happened at Gitmo was NOT torture. I believe they should have done more, and worse, to Gitmo detainees to glean every tiny shred of information those animals could provide.
Worse things happen on elementary school playgrounds. Rush has it right with his “Camp Gitmo” products.
In addition to “Boot Camp”, there used to be some fun and games at a place called Pickle Meadows. Escape and Evasion school: you paid a price for being recaptured. As I recall, Mountain Leadership School was there also.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.