Author Topic: How many have actually been in a combat situation? (Read 2784 times)

lord dolf vader · « **Reply #75 on:** February 18, 2003, 03:10:20 PM »

cgn 38 USS Virginia 90-91

got a real kick out of sandman braggin on sm2 lol

very best of what 1959 tech your killin me wont even seek if target when not iluminated.

the 50 cals made me feel more secure. as in not at all.

senna · « **Reply #76 on:** February 18, 2003, 05:22:22 PM »

I think everyone knows how feel about vets. I've mentioned that before. Just wanted to say thank you to all of the vets that have served.

Habu · « **Reply #77 on:** February 18, 2003, 05:31:12 PM »

I thought this post was going to be full of cool and interesting and offbeat stories.

Boreing.

fd ski · « **Reply #78 on:** February 18, 2003, 06:02:47 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Ripsnort
Pencil pusher?

Ripsnort, as much as i like you in person, insulting of those who served, just because their political opinion isn't same as yours, is as low as it gets.

I hope this is a case of a missed smiley, that's all.

Airhead · « **Reply #79 on:** February 18, 2003, 06:40:25 PM »

fd ski and Dowding, thanks for the support but Rip meant no insult, nor was one taken. As a matter of fact Nha Be was a large UN base complete with forces from Australia, Korea, Philippines and just about every other group who played there. I was attatched to Mobile Riverine Warfare Forces and after Nixon decided in 1971 to honor his campaign promises of the 1968 election so he might be reelected again in 1972 my function was as an instructor to PBR and Mike Boat crews manned by VN crews in how to handle damage control (re: firefighting.) Not exactly pushing a pencil, but a damn sight less of what Easymo, Hangtime, Mr. Lars or the other grunts who've posted here had to do. I had three hots and a cot, which is more than they had.

Really, my biggest danger was from drunk Aussies in the bars in town confusing me with a skinny hooker, which is partly why I took my R and R in Sydney.

gunnss · « **Reply #80 on:** February 19, 2003, 01:03:10 AM »

SFG(A) 83-87
Desert Storm
Provide Comfort
and out for being Disabled in PC

28sweep is a moron who would'nt have lasted a day in my squad, he sounds allmost exactly like the bonehead that I put in jail for abandoing his gaurdpost and hiding in the reffer truck while his partner fried in the sun.

Of note Provide comfort was the first time I was ever Requiered/allowed to wear sunglasses in formation

Gunns

wulfie · « **Reply #81 on:** February 19, 2003, 01:04:09 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by GScholz
Miko, you were Spetsnaz?

Miko: "No, I was a mountain climber attached to the Soviet Army as a caloric intake instructor".

Is that an acceptable answer Miko?

One of my favorite, favorite stories from the 'cold war'. Soviet defector type flees into Turkey. Placed in some super secure hidden place for debriefing. Middle of summer in Turkey. Guy is living in some teeny apartment in the middle of an urban sprawl and the Turkish security guys (who are absolutely not slouches) control the adjacent 2 blocks in all directions.

Morning comes, guy sipping tea, ZAP! Shot in the head. Impossible. No one could have gotten into position to make such a shot.

2 or 3 days later, small blurb in Euro news:

"Soviet Olympic Biatholon athelete detained while exiting Turkey. Was training for next winter Olympics".

Training for the winter Olympics, in Turkey, in the summer.

They let the guy go. No choice really. Just your average Soviet Olympic Athelete.

(FYI: No small # of Soviet Olympic/International atheletes were Soviet special forces personnel)

Mike/wulfie

Hortlund · « **Reply #82 on:** February 19, 2003, 01:28:37 AM »

I remember reading about those guys when I was in the military. I dont know what they use to scare the grunts with in the US army, but in the Swedish army we were told Spetznaz stories.

I have nothing but respect (and a healthy dose of fear) for those guys.

My favourite one is the one about the Soviet diplomats kidnapped in Beirut sometime during the 80s, and what happened with the terrorists who kidnapped them. But I have heard so many versions of that one, I cant really say what is legend and what is fact any more. If anyone "knows" what really happened it would be really interesting to know.

Miko

*mental note: Never ever say anything silly to Miko again*

straffo · « **Reply #83 on:** February 19, 2003, 01:44:16 AM »

does the O'club count in Combat experience ?

wulfie · « **Reply #84 on:** February 19, 2003, 02:27:24 AM »

GScholz I think there is a language barrier here.

I wasn't 'poking fun' at your question at all - just in case that's what you were thinking.

I was making a joke about the 'never verify anything' principle. I.e. if he was in a special forces unit, he'd come up with another explanation - no matter how ridiculous it may sound.

It was kind of an 'inside joke', and had nothing to do with you asking the question, etc.

In other words, no offense intended.

Mike/wulfie

davidpt40 · « **Reply #85 on:** February 19, 2003, 03:21:18 AM »

I read in "Dirty Little Secrets of World War II" that some guys were only slightly nervous during combat, perhaps complaining of a knot in the stomach or fast heart rate, while other guys were flat out terrified. I think the biggest factor determining a persons performance in combat is genetics. Some people get scared, others dont. I'm not trying to downplay anything, just giving a bit of trivia.

wulfie · « **Reply #86 on:** February 19, 2003, 04:04:11 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by davidpt40
I read in "Dirty Little Secrets of World War II" that some guys were only slightly nervous during combat, perhaps complaining of a knot in the stomach or fast heart rate, while other guys were flat out terrified. I think the biggest factor determining a persons performance in combat is genetics. Some people get scared, others dont. I'm not trying to downplay anything, just giving a bit of trivia.

Selection and training play a huge role.

Your average U.S. infantryman, while often brave, was relatively poorly trained in WW2 when compared to British and German infantrymen. A major cause for this was Britain and Germany having 'full time professional' armies by tradition where the U.S. had a small professional core that was intended to form the backbone of a large army that was 'filled out' with draftees.

Mike/wulfie

Kanth · « **Reply #87 on:** February 19, 2003, 04:38:56 AM »

Desert Shield/Storm

UH60 Crew Cheif (read mechanic)
also on AH64, OH6, and UH1. (any helicopter needing help basically)

miko2d · « **Reply #88 on:** February 19, 2003, 11:21:46 AM »

GScholz: Miko, you were Spetsnaz?

Not Spetsnaz. We were neither as rigorously selected nor specially trained. We were healthier than your average soviet grunt but nowhere as tough as the athletes in fighting sports favored by SpecOps.

...he just "might" be in an ad-hog regular army outfit

Right, "ad-hock" is the right word - just a bunch of guys thrown together from various services and given a hasty infantry refresher. Being a tanker, I've only shot an AK at a range about 3 times in my first year of service.

We did not sneak into the midst of an enemy camp and cut throats but rather shot it out ambush/skirmish style or sat tight and spotted.

miko

miko2d · « **Reply #89 on:** February 19, 2003, 01:38:01 PM »

??

Don't worry. "ad hock" is a perfectly civil non-offensive expression. It means "Formed for or concerned with one specific purpose" or better yet "Improvised and often impromptu".

In most cases it does denote an amateurish or sloppy effort and it is about a right description of the state of affairs in soviet army or soviet society in general.

But I did not feel in any way personally responcible for that sorry state of decaying socialism and would not be offended if anyone pointed out any drawbacks, however personal my involvement.

In fact, GScholz, I fail to understand why is everybody so worked up about the stupid 28sweep's remarks, however offencive it was ment to be.
The high-level screwup that happened there on a dutch detachment's watch was a disgrace, to say the least, but how does that reflect on the virtues of a dutch grunt with a rifle, let alone a norwegian one? The sheer volume of rebuttals is more attention that such people deserve. Just use the ignore button next time.

~~miko~~