Very Brave Americans ! !
- Thread starter Ben
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JWFilips
Well-Known Member
Thank You Ben that brings tears to my Eyes!
My Brother Frank was in the 101st In Vietnam and a Green Beret ( demolitions expert).
Made it through 2 1/2 tours ( GOD rest his Soul)
Not the best photo photo of him (because My Niece grabbed up all of my memorabilia of him when he pasted)
My Brother Frank was in the 101st In Vietnam and a Green Beret ( demolitions expert).
Made it through 2 1/2 tours ( GOD rest his Soul)
Not the best photo photo of him (because My Niece grabbed up all of my memorabilia of him when he pasted)
Kevin Stenberg
Well-Known Member
All living Americans OWE those boys a debt of Thanks for what they did!!!
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Pistolero
Well-Known Member
We engaged a local guide in Normandy a few years ago, and took a small bus tour (6 adults, 2 bored kids)of the area where
the Easy Company members landed and fought. We walked much of the ground that they fought over, which was
quite interesting, as it is actually very different terrain and conditions than that shown in the mini-series in many
cases, although the building in Carentan where the one guy had hysterical blindness looks pretty much exactly like
the one in the movie. Where they captured the three artillery pieces was a quite different setup, all that terrain is
unchanged.
And then a couple days later we went to Bastogne, and found Boise Jacques (Jack's Woods) and walked into it. Amazingly,
it looked VERY much like the movie set, and you could still see the slowly filling in foxholes that Easy Company dug, and
the OP on the edge of the woods looking over the fields towards the village of sFoy was still there, the log overhead cover
collapsed. Amazing that they found a movie site which was almost exactly like the real thing. This is where
Bill Guarnier (sp) lost his leg, and were Spiers ran across the fields to take over company command during the
attack on Foy. Spiers then ran through the German lines, through Foy, to the Americans on the other side, got
them organized and headed in, then ran back through the German in the town to (now) his company (Easy) on the
other side of Foy to lead them in taking the village. Spiers was a vicious killer, but unbelievably brave and a good
combat soldier and leader. They said Shifty Powers "never missed a shot" with his Garand.
An amazing group of men, but there were also many other groups who were probably just about as amazing, and who
never got the publicity that the Easy Company men got.
RIP Easy Company, Well Done!
the Easy Company members landed and fought. We walked much of the ground that they fought over, which was
quite interesting, as it is actually very different terrain and conditions than that shown in the mini-series in many
cases, although the building in Carentan where the one guy had hysterical blindness looks pretty much exactly like
the one in the movie. Where they captured the three artillery pieces was a quite different setup, all that terrain is
unchanged.
And then a couple days later we went to Bastogne, and found Boise Jacques (Jack's Woods) and walked into it. Amazingly,
it looked VERY much like the movie set, and you could still see the slowly filling in foxholes that Easy Company dug, and
the OP on the edge of the woods looking over the fields towards the village of sFoy was still there, the log overhead cover
collapsed. Amazing that they found a movie site which was almost exactly like the real thing. This is where
Bill Guarnier (sp) lost his leg, and were Spiers ran across the fields to take over company command during the
attack on Foy. Spiers then ran through the German lines, through Foy, to the Americans on the other side, got
them organized and headed in, then ran back through the German in the town to (now) his company (Easy) on the
other side of Foy to lead them in taking the village. Spiers was a vicious killer, but unbelievably brave and a good
combat soldier and leader. They said Shifty Powers "never missed a shot" with his Garand.
An amazing group of men, but there were also many other groups who were probably just about as amazing, and who
never got the publicity that the Easy Company men got.
RIP Easy Company, Well Done!
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smokeywolf
Well-Known Member
JW, it's a great picture; unrehearsed, unstaged. It is your brother as he was at that moment, with no window dressings. God bless him and all who stood up for us and protected us.
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
I missed the Viet Nam War by a couple years. I am still bitter and resentful over the lack of support given to veterans returning from service in that war, which ranged to outright hostility at times. I understand that it was a small minority's viewpoint unrealistically amplified by propagandists in MSM, but that doesn't excuse it. At all. God bless our service members now--then--and throughout our nation's history. The debt owed for their collective and individual sacrifices is impossible to repay.
462
California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
JW,
I'll be sending you a PM regarding your brother -- we may have been stationed at the same base.
I've visited the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument (Custer's Last Stand), and to see it in person, after reading several books and many accounts about the battle, puts a very enlightening perspective on the events.
I'll be sending you a PM regarding your brother -- we may have been stationed at the same base.
I've visited the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument (Custer's Last Stand), and to see it in person, after reading several books and many accounts about the battle, puts a very enlightening perspective on the events.
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
I agree, 462. My biggest surprise is the expanse of the battle site, and how far apart the Army elements were from one another. I think the site must be viewed in order to 'get' the context of how WRONG the follow-on retribution against the soldiers and their commanders who did not/could not engage with the hostiles was.
Pistolero
Well-Known Member
Yes, the efforts to blame Reno & Benteen for not riding to Custer's rescue were very misguided. Benteen's and Reno's force was
heavily engaged themselves and barely managed to survive when they joined with Reno's troops, partially due to better
terrain which provided at least a modicum of cover for his and for Reno's troops, where Custer had basically dead
horses to hide behind.
heavily engaged themselves and barely managed to survive when they joined with Reno's troops, partially due to better
terrain which provided at least a modicum of cover for his and for Reno's troops, where Custer had basically dead
horses to hide behind.
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462
California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
I don't know how long the Indians had been encamped along the river, but suspect that, even if it were only a matter of a few days, they would have scouted the surrounding area to become familiar with it. Too, it may have been on their regular migration route, thus they would have been exceptionally familiar with the terrain.
The hillock, where Custer eventually fought, is the highest point in area and a natural place to set up a defense, however the many coulees that surround it hid Indian movements and in the heat of battle Custer and his troops were probably not aware of their existence.
Obviously, debates continue 140-plus years later, but being outnumbered at least 3-to-1, and outgunned by repeating rifles versus single shots, puts the odds heavily in the Indians' favor, even if all the other aspects of the battle are disregarded. Blame (excuses?) can be placed on the various officers' personalities and enmity toward one another, but I think the results could not have been otherwise.
And, Crook was lucky that he wasn't similarly defeated, just days earlier, at the Battle of the Rosebud.
The hillock, where Custer eventually fought, is the highest point in area and a natural place to set up a defense, however the many coulees that surround it hid Indian movements and in the heat of battle Custer and his troops were probably not aware of their existence.
Obviously, debates continue 140-plus years later, but being outnumbered at least 3-to-1, and outgunned by repeating rifles versus single shots, puts the odds heavily in the Indians' favor, even if all the other aspects of the battle are disregarded. Blame (excuses?) can be placed on the various officers' personalities and enmity toward one another, but I think the results could not have been otherwise.
And, Crook was lucky that he wasn't similarly defeated, just days earlier, at the Battle of the Rosebud.
Pistolero
Well-Known Member
Another key issue against the Cavalry was that their standard ammo load out was extremely limited. IIRC something
like 40 rds per rifle and 12 rds per pistol was all that they carried on their individual horses. The rest of their ammo was
in the pack train which Custer sent a message to Benteen to hurry up with. Unfortunately, Benteen ran into Reno's men,
already heavily engaged, and had to join up with them to survive. Continuing on to Custer was impossible when they
were so outnumbered. And again, many Indians had repeating rifles against the Trapdoor Springfield single shots
and Colt SAAs.....with very little ammo. Ultimately, no matter how well things go, if you are outnumbered by a determined
enemy and start out critically short on ammo, you are pretty much pre-screwed.
like 40 rds per rifle and 12 rds per pistol was all that they carried on their individual horses. The rest of their ammo was
in the pack train which Custer sent a message to Benteen to hurry up with. Unfortunately, Benteen ran into Reno's men,
already heavily engaged, and had to join up with them to survive. Continuing on to Custer was impossible when they
were so outnumbered. And again, many Indians had repeating rifles against the Trapdoor Springfield single shots
and Colt SAAs.....with very little ammo. Ultimately, no matter how well things go, if you are outnumbered by a determined
enemy and start out critically short on ammo, you are pretty much pre-screwed.
