Posted on 05/13/2004 4:47:23 PM PDT by StarCMC
JEFFERSON CITY - An Army spokesman confirmed Wednesday that Missouri National Guard truck drivers were sometimes riding shotgun in the cabs of civilian trucks hauling supplies to U.S. forces in Iraq.
Gov. Bob Holden and the state adjutant general, Brig. Gen. Dennis Shull, have complained to the White House about the practice, saying it is a dangerous duty the soldiers have not been trained to perform.
**snip**
Holden wrote a letter of complaint Tuesday to President George W. Bush saying it was an inappropriate use of members of the 1221st Transportation Co. to provide labor for civilian contractors such as Kellogg, Brown and Root. He wrote the letter in response to complaints from the families of some soldiers.
Joe Boyd, an Army reservist who returned from Iraq in April, said Kellogg, Brown and Root was helping units like the 1221st by reducing workloads. Boyd is a captain in the 969th Transportation Detachment, an Army Reserve unit based in Belleville that sometimes worked with soldiers in the 1221st.
Boyd said that without civilian contractors like Kellogg, Brown and Root, soldiers would be deployed longer in Iraq.
"It's a touchy situation, I understand," Boyd said, "but I think the governor and adjutant general are missing the point.
"There are risks involved. At the same time, the civilian drivers take the added stress of driving away from the soldiers."
Boyd said that when he left Iraq in April, soldiers were providing security in civilian convoys by riding in gun trucks. He said soldiers were not riding in the cabs with civilian drivers, but that if they were, he didn't see a problem.
**snip**
Reporter Terry Ganey E-mail: tganey@post-dispatch.com Phone: 573-635-6178
(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...
What? It's too dangerous for armed soldiers but ok for unarmed civilians???
Allah forbid the U.S.mility does the job they're trained for!Now they are supposed to just give up their weapons and submit to a beheading so the democrats in senate can sleep better at night knowing that only the American suffers a horrific death and the islamo fascist is comfortable!I mean we would'nt want the enemy to be hurt when there are Americans to be punished for frat house pranks,as opposed to savage beheadings that need to be implemented by filthy bums in dirty nightgowns!
BTTT!!!!!!
Got it! I will let him know. You know, he told me yesterday that he called this reporter because he was so mad about the article. We who have returned are not going to stand idly by while the liberal idiots spew their lies and stupidity about what is happening over there!!!
You know, you say that, but I did route recon's over there with nothing but two HMMWV's and 5 M-16's. No machine guns or grenade launchers. The civilians are told what they are walking into, and their company has agreed to the security arrangements. The addition of a shooter in the cab of every third truck is about the 10th alteration to the security of these convoys. I do know that shortly after I left, they were using the Stryker Brigade to secure convoys because the MP's did not have enough firepower. People need to quit complaining and understand that as the situations change, we will alter our posture to meet the threat. That means that soldiers are going to be in harms way!! Wait, isn't that part of the job?????
The military is supposed to provide Force Protection. Those civilians are delivering goods to the military so it only makes sense to protect them and the convoys.
IMO, the military ain't holding up their end of the deal. They can't/won't supply convoy support even when it is in their own best interest.
And at least you had a side arm. We've had convoys split up and left without protection. Yep, the military high tailed it out and left the civilians behind. Right now it is more deadly to be a contractor than a military member
Really? Hmm, every convoy that we sent out had an escort. You remember Scania?
Never said they didn't leave without escorts. Said that sometimes the escorts abandoned them.
I got stuck at a site for weeks because the military wouldn't provide escort, wouldn't allow my vehicle (SUV) to convoy out to another site. I had to abandon it and fly out.
My original job description said nothing about regular travel, but it has become that way. I have more problems with convoy commanders not wanting my SUV in the convoy than with the potential dangers. THEY are more afraid of the roads than I am. And I don't have any armor or sidearms. They ususally do. Go figure.
They ought to send the Honorable Gov Holden to Iraq to drive around the country unarmed and unprotected and see if he still objects so strongly.
LOL!
It sounded like that was what you were implying with the statement that the military wasn't holding up their end.
Thanks, it is good to be back, believe me!!!
I rode in a convoy that stopped just after the Mosque of which you are speaking. I just about went nuts, and the drivers were all laughing at me. You have just proven the point that I tried to make to them...!DON'T STOP! anywhere alog the rout unless absolutely necessary! Did they listen? Absolutely not, and they have paid for it. Routines are a very bad thing over there. The enemy is smart enough to see that and take advantage of it. Unfortunately, the drivers for KBR are now seeing the logic behind what we tried to tell them. The convoy commanders are learning what not to do I hope. Glad your friend made it out ok, and hope he doesn't have to go back!
Oh, and are you talking about military convoy commanders here, or KBR convoy commanders?
Why wouldn't the convoy commanders want your SUV in the convoy? Doesn't seem like one SUV would be that big an issue if there were no other options available. Did they figure it was too much additional responsibility? Is that civilian or military convoys?
"Gov. Bob Holden and the state adjutant general, Brig. Gen. Dennis Shull, have complained to the White House about the practice, saying it is a dangerous duty the soldiers have not been trained to perform."
Bitch, bitch, bitch. Tell me, has anyone heard Bush being given an Attaboy recently? I didn't think so.
Rodney Dangerfield said "Every once in a while just give me one of these".
Funny thing is, these soldiers are in a TRANSPORTATION Co. They have been trained in convoy ops, and one of the tasks is "Defend a Convoy." Hmm, not trained, huh? Sounds like good 'ole Bob has no confidence in his commanders and their ability to train their troops.
"I'll bet Gov.Holden never even fired a Daisey BB gun in his left wing life!"
And I'll bet he'd rather your children were HOLDEN onto a filthy Koran instead of a copy of the U.S.Constitution or a Christian Bible!
Gov.Holden of MO.along with Ted Kennedy and the rest of the LIB DEMS should all be arrested for sedition and/or TREASON!
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