Posted on 08/04/2005 5:53:50 AM PDT by Jarhead1957
Truce?
I know.
My brother-in-law's father fought at Saipan, was stabbed in the gut with a bayonnet and received the Silver Star.
He was US Army.
The US Army participated in nearly every campaign/battle the USMC fought in WWII. One of the toughest fights (if not THE toughest) was the Burma Trail operations with General Frank D. Merrill. "Merrill's Marauder's" marched longer and fought harder than any unit in WWII (IMHO, of course).
But, I still admire those Jarheads that stormed ashore in the initial waves.
Well I can say this, MY boots were on the ground IN Saudi Arabia on August 13, 2000. Didn't see any Army around there at that time. Lead force? Hmmm... I have questions about that but I cannot say I know if thats true or not. Maybe you were the lead force and thats why we sat waiting so long. Yeah they would have sent our squad in and done the job. That is the job of the Marines as stated earlier. We kick the door in, but we can't occupy every room of the house, we aren't as big as the Army.
What the hell is your problem? We are all on the same side, but you have a chip on your shoulder a mile wide.
Chill out
NO, this article was bound to provoke some defensive comments from both sides. Yes, maybe I took a cheap shot I guess, but I am not defensive about anything said, this arguement has gone on since the creation of the armed forces, and will never end.
Truce!
My problem is that some jerk started this thread to run down my branch of the service. Implying that we are not pulling our weight. Don't you think I should have a chip on my shoulder about that? Do you expect me to just take it and not reply? Go away.
If you can point to anything I have said that is not true, please do so. Marines are not the only veterans entitled to be proud of their service.
True-I think there was no offense intended on your part, just straight interservice bickering.
I never said you didn't have a right to be proud of your branch of the service. What I did ask you to do was chill out.
We have boys dying overseas, Army, Marines, Air Force, Navy.
They are ALL Americans.
My Father was a tail gunner on a B17 in WWII. He was proud of his service and I also am proud of what he did.
The angst needs to stop, we are, after all, brothers in Arms.
Semper Fi
Tell it to the guy who started this thread to run down the Army. I am only defending my service. Why did you choose to reply to me instead of him?
Enough is enough. Me thinks it's time to finally operationally verify the effectiveness of our post world war 2 nuclear arsenal. I believe the Anbhar province would make a wonderful test site.
I chose to respond to you because of the venom in your posts.
I am a retired Marine but I don't feel that the Marines are the only ones doing a tough job over there.
I do take exception to your "oohrah" comments on a thread that lists the deaths of 14 of my comrades.
They are unnecessary and childish.
Incorrect. I MEF did indeed have M1A1s in Desert Storm serving with 2d Tank Battalion and elements of 4th Tank Battalion. 60 M1A1s were borrowed from the Army, in exchange for some LAVs, and 16 were new builds. Following the skirmish the Army got their Abrams back.
You are making the fundamental mistake that you assume this reporter knows what she is talking about. When is that ever true? Let's take a look at the facts:
The USMC, currently II MEF is responsible for Al Anbar Province and other piece of turf in Western Iraq. Current task organization is built around 2 Marine Regimental Combat Teams and 2 Army Brigade Combat Teams. The toughest fight in Iraq is being carried out by BOTH the Army and the Marines fighting under Marine command. Marines and Army troops are cross attached at brigade/regt and lower levels to take advantage of capabilities unique to each unit. Unlike some of the sniping and ignorance evident in this thread - our soldiers and marines are fighting TOGETHER
The 2d Brigade, 2d Infantry Division, who just left Ramadi have been fighting under Marine control for a year. They had a Marine battalion (1/5 MAR) attached. The Chief of Staff of the Army recently approved a request by them to wear the 1st Marine Division patch as their combat patch in lieu of their own 2d Division patch. Some may remember that in World War I, the 2d Division consisted of an Army brigade and a Marine brigade - Deja Vu all over again.
Rotation: Again, the reporter is clueless. Army troops are on 12-month rotations, but some have served longer. Many of the troops rotating now are going back for their 2d full year rotation. Marine Corps rotations are for about 7 months, give or take. At least one USMC unit is on its 3d 6/7 month rotation. The Marine Corps is fighting in Iraq because that is what they do. Oh, by the way, the Army is fighting too - with 15 brigade combat teams currently on the ground.
Marine Corps infantry battalions are experiencing about 2x the numbers of KIA as Army infantry battalions. This statistic holds true for Army battalions that are fighting in the Marine TAOR. The 3/25 Marines are now the most bloodied unit in Iraq. I don't know why this is, but I certainly hope that the leadership is looking into it.
But using that occasion to start a thread to run down another service isn't? I said that to those who were disrespectful of my service, they were deserving of my venom. Are you reluctant to admonish a fellow Marine, or do you think his comments are justified?
You might want to comment on the performance of the Army Reserves in Gulf War I compared to the Marine Reserves.
OK-why Bradley?
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