[Fenris6]

that's fair, and since he was a CPT at the time we can run that blame game all the way down the chain of command to the enlisted guy in charge of the rookie. Seems petty, but what the hey. Strawman -it was a stupid accident resulting in casualties. The ultimate responsiblity lies with Cleland for not training & inspecting his own people properly. There's a frickin SOP for helo acticity to prevent just these kinds of things.

So, how 'bout those 101st guys that got fragged in Iraq before the war. Think we can come up with ways to criticize the officers and enlisted there too?

Yes.

"See, Ann's column has got the idiots out in force today"

Case in point. Get back to me when you 1) run out of strawmen 2) have a clue how the military works.

[optimistically_conservative]

Strawman

Hardly. I have zero information of the number and ranks on the flight in question, but it is hardly an oversimplification to point out that the inspection of soldier's equipment prior to movement is primarily the responsibility of the NCO. But if in your experience, your CO personally inspected every soldier in detail, rather than spot checking, prior to any movement, I stand corrected. Perhaps in the Marines they like their officers acting like squad leaders.

-it was a stupid accident resulting in casualties.

True.

The ultimate responsiblity lies with Cleland for not training & inspecting his own people properly. There's a frickin SOP for helo acticity to prevent just these kinds of things.

I couldn't tell you what the SOP was in 1968 in the Army. I don't know if these were his men, or the rookie was his. Do you?

Case in point. Get back to me when you 1) run out of strawmen 2) have a clue how the military works.

I'm back.