[Lurker]

Humm.

L

[Poohbah]

The weapons were not defective--only the soldiers' maintenance of those weapons.

[SJSAMPLE]

So one guy's civilian wife says, "There must be copies here." and everybody's supposed to say, "Sure they do." Bullshit. Small arms maintenance records are recorded on small slips of paper and kept with the maintenance/armorers vehicle. Even if they had not been destroyed, they wouldn't show who cleaned what, and when. Military wives should STFU about military matters and keep the kids fed. Many of these wives are starting to go directly to the press, hidering our war effort. Loss of base priveleges would be a good start for some of them.

[mbynack]

We had problems with the M-16s during DESERT SHIELD, but it was because we weren't using the correct lube. Once we started using the proper gun oil they worked fine, even when dirty.

[Feckless]

The "records" at unit level would consist of a DD314 which only records the date of TM specified services and/or lubes performed and scheduled. With weapons and other small items (masks, heaters, stoves, etc) many items can be recorded on the same DD314, i.e. 200 M16's would be one entry for an annual inspection.

[Ispy4u]

"They are blaming the soldiers for not keeping their weapons clean, but my husband knew better than that. He did everything right."

Arlene Walters, mother of Sgt. Donald R. Walters, who died in the attack and would have celebrated his 34th birthday Tuesday, said her son was dedicated to his job and to details. She said she finds it hard to believe that her son's weapon wasn't kept clean."He kept his guns as clean as can be," she said. "He even talked to his dad about it."

Based on my experience those weapons probably had not been cleaned prior to the order to depart kuwait. If they had been most if not all would have worked. Remember that the front line troops also marched from Kuwait right before them and we have heard nothing of entire 3ID or Marine units with large numbers of weapons failures.

[stylin19a]

Sometimes the weapon is fine and the magazine is wack-a-doo. I remember having to keep 19 rounds in the magazine, the 20th round would sometimes retract the spring too tight where it wouldn't release. Also grit in the magazine could do the same thing.

Sure seems like too many weapons and too many different kinds of weapons to be the weapons fault.

[Jumper]

Liberal type slander, hiding behind their common cry that no one should be held responsible, even when they die or fail. Having spent 20-years with the Army around weapons, it was rare for a misfire - and being a true professional I made damn sure I knew how to clear the round/jam. Trouble with support troops is that they care little for their physical fitness, weapons training or anything akin to being a soldier... a fatal flaw in combat.

[gnarledmaw]

"...were destroyed in the Iraqi attack ..."

I heard that aliens guided by Santa Claus took them...Well, its just as believable anyway...

[verity]

Laura Cruz: Another media slut fabrication!

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Ping.

[Newbomb Turk]

I would be a hell of a lot more interested in the records of small arms training that was or was not preformed prior to deployment.

It is not unusual for non combat units to receive only familarization fire and virtually no instruction. ( 30 rounds per soldier per year )

Just got an E-Mail from a friend in a transportation unit in Iraq who said after 6 months he finally got to zero his weapon and practice for weapons qualification.

[deport]

The U.S. Army on Tuesday revealed that all records and documents about the weapons that jammed during the March 23 ambush that led to the death of nine Fort Bliss soldiers were destroyed in the Iraqi attack and that there is no way to trace the weapons' histories.

The Army, responding to an El Paso Times request under the Freedom of Information Act, said any official information about the weapons used by Fort Bliss' 507th Maintenance Company was lost on a supply truck taken into combat.

I can understand any item on the trucks in the convoy being destroyed during the attack, etc.... But would it be normal to have that type info carried with you into a field deployment? Wouldn't those type records be kept at a more permanent hqtrs location or are they saying the hdqtrs was being moved?

[Squantos]

These days REMF's need to know they ain't anymore. Attitude of "in the rear with the gear" is dead and done when no real established "FEBA" is in place IMHO. Even then those leaders in support units endanger their units if at least 50% of their training is not divided on task to be performed and basic infantry tactics . Take care of all yer tools of the trade, train as you fight and work or die a horrible death and make your loved ones anguish over what you, your superiors , your equipment as issued or the field commanders did or didn't do right.

Simple rule , follow it.

Stay Safe !

[jaykay]

Rather than try to figure out how everything was all Jessica Lynch's fault, why not pay attention to the weirdest statement in the article:

Ruben Estrella, father of 18-year-old Pvt. Ruben Estrella-Soto, from El Paso, said he no longer believes anything the Army tells him.

"They told me that my son was shot in the head, and now they are saying that he was struck by a tank," he said. "I think the Army or the government is hiding something, but sooner or later the truth will be told."

Missing records, changing causes of death, what's next? Really, what? Oh, I know: Maybe Jessica Lynch shot him in the head but her gun was jammed so she had to run him over with a tank. Oh, wait, I forgot, all she did during the episode was:

[TankerKC]

Maybe an Army trooper can clear this up...isn't small arms maintenance reported in STAMIS? And, doesn't that create an electronic record? There should be a record in STAMIS as of their last upload...correct?

[Walkingfeather]

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