The SandGram

Happy Thanksgiving

George Washington’s 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to “recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.

Lord, so often times, as any other day

When we sit down to our meal and pray

We hurry along and make fast the blessing

Thanks, amen. Now please pass the dressing

We’re slaves to the olfactory overload

We must rush our prayer before the food gets cold

But Lord, we’d like to take a few minute more

To really give thanks to what we’er thankful for

For family, for health, a nice soft bed

For friends, our freedom, a roof over our head

Thankful Lord, that You’ve blessed us beyond measure

Thankful that in our heart lives life’s greatest treasure

So please, heavenly Father, bless this food You’ve provided

And bless each and every person invited

JOHN KERRY FOR SECDEF? HELL NO!

Tags: SECDEF, Sen John Kerry, war protesters

Veteran’s Day with an 86 year old…

Veteran’s Day…

This weekend coincides with the 237^th Birthday of the United States Marine Corps, so it’s natural to lump Marines into your Veterans Day speeches, especially when you are a Marine and that’s 95% of your complement of friends.

There is a Marine/Army Vet I sat down with on Sat who is very special and exudes everything about the Corps values that we love so dare.  Bill Stanbery fought in WWII on the tail end of the battle of Saipan.  He is a straight forward guy who has raised one helluva son, a friend of mine named John, who in turned has raised two awesome boys with his wife Millie.  One is now a 1stLt in the Corps out in California.

Let’s just say that the apples that fall of this tree never go bad and sit there above all the others.

The Corps values that Bill learned as a Marine were ingrained through his training and the brotherhood he formed in combat.  After WWII, he settled down with his wife and was talked into joining the Army reserves here in Fort Worth to make a few extra dollars.

Korea kicked off and “BOOM” Bill was over in the fight.  In July of 1950, his unit was in mass disarray with North Koreans attacking left and right with T-34 tanks.  As Bill was racing down a road just ahead of enemy after destroying some left behind artillery pieces,  he saw a GI’s body in the ditch.  He ordered the driver of his Jeep truck to stop so he could check on him.  The driver, young and experienced wanted to leave him and push on.

Bill wouldn’t have any of that and he forced the truck to a stop.  Walking over to the lifeless body, he soon realized that this GI was in fact alive, so he hauled him into the bed of the Jeep and held him as they raced to a field hospital.

The first one they came to, the doctor said “You should have left him, there isn’t anything I can do for him.”  Bill was mad…and told the Doctor, “Marines don’t leave their men or their bodies behind for the enemy to mutilate.  “

They got directions to the next MASH unit and the shortcut would take them through some heavily occupied enemy territory.  His buddy manned the .50 cal on the jeep and off they went, fighting their way down the road.  They made it to the next hospital and the doctor there said there was nothing he could do since they were out of blood.  Bill rounded up a bunch of Soldiers with the same type blood and they all donated for this wounded man.

After that, the Doc said he would give it his best and oh by the way, “What is your name Soldier?”

Seven months later, Bill had emergency leave to go home and see his dad who was about to die.  He was a WWI Vet with only one lung from the Germans gas attacks and Bill was able to make it from the fight before his dad passed.

You could imagine that heading back to the war wasn’t really what he wanted to do at that moment in time after the funeral, but off he went.

At Camp Drake in Japan, he had to check in for his airlift assignment back to Korea.  When the personnel Sergeant there asked for his name, Bill watched the man turn white.  He said “Sgt, are you ok? You look like you’ve seen a ghost…”

The Sgt looked up at Bill and said, “No, I’m looking at an Angel.”  He paused “You are the man who saved my life.”

Bill is a very humble guy and blew off the much deserved accolades I’m sure.  The Sgt asked him “Bill, do you really want to go back to Korea? Hint Hint… Bill thought about it for a minute and said “No, not really…” I think he had seen about all the fighting he needed to about that time and part of him wanted to get up to the front and the other part wasn’t in the mood.

Mind you it’s January of ’51 now and cold as hell fighting the ChiCom’s there on the border.  The Sgt ended up assigning him to duties in Japan for the rest of his short tour he had left.

Another example of a great Vet who served our Country with honor and would go out of his way to save a fellow serviceman!!  Thank you Bill for your service and thanks to all the other millions who have served and continue to serve today…

Semper Fi,

Taco

Happy Birthday Marines…

Tags: Happy Birthday to the Marine Corps, Marines Corps, USMC

Thoughts on the Election and the impact on our mission

It’s funny, I had a discussion the other day with a man who owns a nearby vacuum store.  See our vacuum we bought from him broke and I went to get it repaired.  Dressed in my uniform that recruiters wear he knew I was in the Marines and wanted to know what my thoughts were on the election.  He is a big supporter of the current President and his conversation was wrapped around getting out of Afghanistan.  I spent what turned into 40 minutes of a lecture as to why giving our enemies an exact date of withdraw is bad.  I penned a map of the area (he had no clue that Afghanistan was landlocked or where Pakistan was in relation to Iran) and explained the logistics of getting out of there and the past failures of the Alexander the Great/The  Brits and the Russians in that country and what made our mission different.  I could go on for hours…poor guy.

Anyway, another friend of mine was having a conversation about the same thing and I asked if I could post his thoughts, so thank you Blue for allowing this and I hope you all enjoy this short missive on the impact of this election for our mission in the Stans.

“We are in the military.  We are all military thinkers, and as such we must not be driven by emotional responses.  We can’t say, “Screw it, let’s shut out the lights and leave!”   There is a difference between passion and emotionalism, and we need to stay on the side of informed passion and avoid frustrated emotional responses.  Some are looked to by civilian readership for some leadership, some courage.  Emotionalism in that role can be harmful, or at least unhelpful.  In the end, it sounds like another voice in support of the president’s non-strategy; even if it is a negative reaction to it.”

“I get the frustration.  I do.  I understand the urge to cry out for evacuation.  I do.  And it’s wrong.  First, logistically, it’s impossible or at least completely improbable.  You simply can’t move all that shit that quickly.  Second, it’s just flat ill-advised.  If you want a dissertation on why, I’ll happily drown you all in words that will make lots of sense if you dry your eyeballs out reading them.”

“Instead, I’ll give you this; if you want to advise quitting, your prayers have been, in part, answered.  Our commanders in the field have quit.  Force protection is job 1.  Period.  Mission?  Not really.  And it’s evident.  What’s happening now is lip-service being paid to the advisory mission and the de facto implementation of the Biden plan.  Our military in Afghanistan is a lost ball in tall grass.  We have lost our way because command climate trickles down, and our national strategy on Afghanistan is not based on any goal or desired end state in Afghanistan other than for it to be a plus in favor of Obama’s reelection.  The national command climate, set by the CIC, is a shambles, and that’s reflected in the zeitgeist on the ground.  National security strategy, the objective of which becomes to satisfy domestic political imperatives, is not national security strategy; it is domestic political campaigning.  That is what Afghanistan has become.”

“It’s what Afghanistan has been since the day that Obama announced his non-conditions-based withdrawal schedule with a time hack one month and six days before the 2012 election.”

“An Army left to fight a domestic political campaign in a foreign country will fail at it.  (Nobody told the Marines that they were fighting for votes in the 89th precinct, so they keep fighting what they believe to be a war.)”

“Romney’s approach to this is brilliant.  He cannot win otherwise.   He could not possibly have a brilliant campaign plan for Afghanistan.  He cannot possibly win after proclaiming Obama’s “strategy” of withdrawal to be in the least bit ill-advised.  There is no way for him to politically overcome the seduction of withdrawal.  It’s like the voice in your head that screams at you to stop running in the late stages of the longest run you’ve ever done.  America has that voice screaming in it’s head… and it sounds a lot like Obama’s voice.  He has always been the voice of the easy path, the seduction of the abdication of responsibility; the excusable acceptance of mediocrity.  For the same reasons that Social Security disability claims have surged so much in the past four years, there is no overcoming the seduction of the softer, easier path.”

“It is best that Afghanistan is a non-issue in this election.”

“That being said, it is a shame that it can’t be adequately discussed.  But, since that is impossible, it must be kept from the fray at this point.  Romney has handled this well.  His endorsement of the withdrawal deadline will not survive the first quarter year of his presidency.   But he danced around the president’s attempt to paint him as a hawk.  That was all he needed to do.  In an America which has convinced itself that Afghanistan is too difficult and in fact unworthy of our best efforts, which has convinced itself that it is tired of a war that most have experienced a few minutes at a time on the news, a hawk is not what the sheeple want to vote for.”

“And trying to explain that Obama’s plan is a disaster unfolding would avail him nothing.”

“What would a President Romney be expected to do?  I expect that he will approach this problem as he approaches any business problem.  That in itself would be a huge leap… if you will excuse my political jingoism… forward.”

“It’s hell when a simple word like the word “forward” become tainted by politicization.”

“I would expect a top-down review to be commissioned immediately after his inauguration.  Obama did the same thing.  He assembled (arguably) the best set of minds you could find on the subject of Afghanistan and Pakistan, and they gave him good recommendations.  At first, he appeared to listen.  Then he pulled the rug out from under the whole thing with the announcement of the withdrawal date.  It was immediately apparent as being driven by domestic political needs of the president, not driven by national security needs for results.  Here is where I would expect to see differences.  I would expect Romney to actually listen to the advice that he is given.  Romney is not a national security strategist, but he will know what his desired end state is.  When he chooses a strategy option generated by actual strategists, it will be chosen based upon that desired end state and not based upon domestic political imperatives.  A real goal based upon a desired end state on the ground will be a step (again, please forgive me) forward.”

‘Vote.”

Others who shared this too…

http://tcoverride.blogspot.com/2012/11/why-we-cant-just-get-out-now-from.html

http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2012/11/from_inside_the_1.html

Tags: thoughts on Afghanistand and the election, what someone in the Military thinks about this election

Advice for that Marine getting out…Stay in the reserves!

Everyone in the service comes to that point where you have said “has it stopped being fun?” should I pull chocks and go into the first CivDiv.  For me it was at the ten year mark in my career while stationed in Kansas City on recruiting duty.

My goal in life was to fly for a major airline and now was the time to leave the Marine Corps and take that chance since all the airlines were hiring.  I pretty much set myself up for that career wise by not doing any of the mandatory educational schools that all junior and senior officers must complete for promotion.

So I guess it was no big surprise when I was passed for Major on that board in 1998.  I had applied to a few different airlines and was only waiting to hear back from them on a job.

Not knowing where your next paycheck was coming from is a bit disconcerting, but I had planned to have some fun until I found a job and had saved a bunch of money so I could live for almost two years with no employment at all.  That was the life of a single guy.

As it turned out, the day I signed my DD 214 to get out, was the day I was hired by a Major International Airline.  So I literally stepped out of my Marine Corps Cami’s to a blue suit to fly the friendly skies.

I was blessed no doubt in a lot of things at that point in my life.  One thing I wish had happened though was to have a mentor to sit down with me and explain my options as a Marine Reservist and the number of jobs available to guys willing to drill.  I didn’t have that and figured I had closed that Marine Corps chapter in my life.

Here is the deal for all you reading this and thinking about getting out with 7 to 10 years of active duty.  Don’t give that time up and stay a part of the reserves whether it’s in the Corps or another branch of the service.  I’ll explain why here for you and I apologize to all the Enlisted guys who read this because I’m not savvy on the process you go through.

For Marine Officers, if you entered through the PLC program, that time counts towards your retirement.  So my two summers at Quantico for OCS was worth about 50 points each summer which is a “SAT” year with the reserves.  You ROTC/USNA guys are hosed on this I think.  With that being said, my ten years active duty along with two years in reserves with PLC meant I only had eight years to cross the finish line and retire later on at age 60.

Now with no mentor to guide me, I choose to keep my commission and not resign it.  OK, something they don’t tell you.  You only have twenty years from the day you are commissioned to reach retirement, that’s a federal law.  If you are promoted to LtCol then you can go onto 28 years and Col somewhere around 30 or more (yeah, more PFT/CFT’s as the old guy! Ha!).

A person who resigns their commission can always go back in later but their clock has stopped for that maximum 20 year law.  A guy like me who kept his commission active and stayed in the IRR (Inactive Ready Reserve) has to maintain “Satisfactory” years in the Reserves. The secret problem is you must do something to achieve points to have a “SAT” year in the reserves. That means you have to join an SMCR unit or IMA det or do Marine Math coloring books MCI’s to score enough points to stay in active in the reserves.  You get 15 membership points a year for just being a part of the Reserves so you only need 35 other points to have a good reserve year of 50 points.  This is valid for every branch as well.  Are you tracking with what I’m saying?

In my case, I did nothing for five years.  9-11 had happened and I felt the urge to join back up.  It was easy to get me going but I had a rude awakening.  Five years of my 20 years total commission time had burned up putting me at the 15 year mark with only 12 SAT years towards retirement.  I could only go five more years which would put me at 20 years as a commissioned officer with only 17 SAT years for retirement. Guess what, the Corps can give you a waiver for an extension but that is not guaranteed and most likely the Corps would say “Thanks for playing, but you don’t pass go and collect a retirement” especially in the day and age of the big draw down.

So my advice to you is once they drop you into the IRR, you take a year off and do MCI’s on your own time have a good year point wise with the Corps.  Then go look for a job with your PSR (prior service recruiter) and stay active.  Because here it is 2012 and I’m still playing in the reserves with 21 SAT years (so I could retire) and a mandatory drop dead date of 2016 for retirement.

Did you know you can get promoted in the Reserves???

I have to laugh looking back on my life.  Somewhere in 2000, my cell phone rang “Captain Bell?” me thinking it was my airline crew schedulers trying to reach me, I replied “No, you have First Officer Bell, I think you are looking for the other Bell. “

He says no, he’s looking for Captain Bell, United States Marine Corps.  I chuckle and realize it was me he was looking for, hell I felt like Obi wan Kenobi from Star Wars…General Kenobi, oh yeah that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time.

“You got him, what can I do for you?”

“Sir, this is SSgt Robins from the Reserve Majors promotion board here in Quantico and they asked me to call you.  You have a date gap on your fitness reports and we were wondering if you could fax them up to us?”

“No SSgt, pretty sure all my fitreps were all up to date when I got out.  What date gaps are you looking at?”

He says, “From Sept 98 to present.”

“Oh” I reply, “that’s easy, I got out and haven’t done anything in the reserves, so no fitreps to send you.”

“Sir, could you fax us a letter to that affect?”

I was actually on my way to fly out for Cancun Mexico and didn’t have time to play around, for something I didn’t feel I was going to use anyway.

“SSgt, are you going to go back and report to them what I say?” the voice on the other says yes.

“Ok great, I want you to go back and tell the board to go Pound themselves ( I don’t recommend doing this by the way, but at the time felt I had nothing to lose).  If I wasn’t good enough to promote to Major on active duty, what the hell do I need it in the reserves where I’m not even doing anything?”

He became very serious on the other end of the line “Sir, I can’t tell them that”

“Sure you can SSgt.  Am I still a commissioned officer in the Marine Corps?”

“Yes Sir…”

“Great then go back in there and tell them word for word that Captain Bell just told them all to pound sound.”

He wasn’t sure if I was being on the level with him I’m sure “Sir, are you sure you want me to repeat all that to the board?”

“Sure am SSgt, besides when is the last time you were able to curse at stuffy senior officers before?  Go have fun on my account because it really doesn’t matter to me one way or the other.  So have a great day and thanks for calling.”

Six months later I was promoted to Major in the United States Marine Reserve.  That blew me away.  I often wondered if being flippant with the board worked in my favor or what actually happened that day when the SSgt went back in that room among some really bored guys.

Fast forward, I’m now a Major and work my way back in the reserves Nov of 04 on recruiting duty.  I then volunteered for a billet over in Iraq leaving Aug of 2005.  The Chief of Staff calls me into office while over there with the bad news that I was passed for LtCol.  I explained that I wasn’t surprised considering I only had one fitrep written on me as a Major by another Major so I didn’t think it was appropriate for me to waste the boards time on my package.  He acknowledged that and told me to put one in next year, because I was doing great things on this combat tour.  At the time, I wasn’t sure I was even going to stay in.

I did put that package in that next year and was selected to LtCol on May 22^nd of 2007 and pinned it on June 1^st of 07 (how’s that for fast?)  So I guess God looks after drunks, idiots and airline pilots after all.

That is the story of how Taco Bell made it to retirement years.  I just wish someone had taken the time to coach me on how all this reserve stuff works.  I could be ready to retire with 28 or 30 good years (PLC time included) vice the 23-24 years I will have when it’s time to hang up my uniform again.

Bottom line is don’t throw away that time you have built up and find a reservist to take you under his/her wing to tell you what options you really have and go for the retirement!

I hope you have a great career

Semper Fi,

Taco

Here are some good links to check out…

http://marines.mil/unit/marforres/MFRHQ/G1/IPAC/NEW%20IPAC%20SITE/Documents/RETIRED%20RESERVE%20FAQs.pdf

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I am an IRR Marine, how do I request to join the Individual Mobilization Augmentees (IMA)?

A: Contact your local Prior Service Recruiter (PSR).

Q: How long is my IMA tour?

A: Your initial tour is 3 years. We can submit 1 yr extension request to Reserve Affair, they will grant extensions on a case by case basis not to exceed 5 years.

Q: How do I reenlist in the Individual Ready Reserve or Request an Extension?

A: You must contact the IRR Career Retentions Specialists at 1-800-255-5082 or 816-843-3374/ 3376. You will have to submit a written request, a verified height and weight statement, possibly a certified CRCR (Career Retirement Credit Record), a full physical or Annual Certification of Physical Condition.

Q: How many points do I need to complete a satisfactory year?

A: 50 points are required in order to complete a satisfactory year.

Q: What are membership points?

Each member of the Marine Corps Reserve is awarded 15 membership points for each anniversary year completed.

Q: Can an IMA Marine be involuntarily transferred to the IRR for unsatisfactory participation?

A: Yes. Per MCO P1001R.1J (MCRAMM), Operational Sponsors may submit a request to CMC(RA) for an IMA to be involuntarily transferred to the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) due to unsatisfactory performance or inability to maintain billet proficiency. This request should be based upon a relief for cause and endorsed by an officer in the OpSponsor’s chain of command with court-martial convening authority over the IMA.

Q: What is the maximum amount of regular drills I am authorized?

A: You rate 48 regular drills per fiscal year.

Q: How many drills per day can I complete?

A: Only 2 per day; A 4 hour period is 1 drill. 1 drill is equal to 1 point

Q: Where can I check how many drills I have completed?

A: You can verify your drills via Marine Online. Marines must manage their drills carefully to ensure consecutive drills are reported to also accommodate the anniversary year requirement.

Q: Who and Where do I turn my drills into?

A: You turn them in to the RSU; via fax (858-577-4564) or e-mail

Q: How long does it take to get paid for drills?

A.  The MOBCOM web site states 5-7 businesses days.

Q: How do I request Annual Training (AT) orders?

A: A request must be received from your section SNCO in writing at least two weeks prior to your orders starting.

Q: When do I get paid my Initial Partial Payments for Annual training?

A: Your first IPP payment is reported half way through your orders and your final IPP payment is paid off once your travel claim is submitted and settled.

Q.  What should I do once my AT orders are complete?

A.  The marine has to complete a travel claim within 5 business days to close out the orders.

Q.  What should I bring in to complete my travel claim?

A.  Your original orders and lodging receipts.

Q: How long does it take for me to get a travel claim settled?

A: Depending on the type of Travel Claim it can take 8-15 business days.

Q: How do I activate Government Travel Card credit for upcoming orders?

A: Your card should be activated upon issuance of your orders.

If your card has not been activated call Government Travel Card Coordinator cell phone at (816)813-3889

Q: When are fitness reports for Reserves due for Reserve Marines?

A: Fitness Reports are due:

SGT                                SEP

SSGT                              SEP

GYSGT                           SEP

1STSGT/MSGT              SEP

SGTMAJ/MGYSGT       MAY

WO/CWO                       OCT

MAJ                                SEP

LTCOL                            JUN

COL                                JUL

Q: Where do I check if my latest fitness report has posted?

A: You can go to https://www.mmsb.usmc

Q: Where can I update my current personnel information?

A: You can use Marine Online to update any personnel information and also update your Career Retirement Credit Record.

Q: What is a Career Retirement Credit Report (CRCR)?

A: The CRCR is the document that records the retirement credit points in MCTFS by anniversary year and it reflects a reservist’s entire career.

Tags: advice from the old guy, Career Advice, how many points does it take to have a sat year in the Military, Marine corps reserves, reserve mentor, should I stay in the Reserves?, what happens when I get off active duty

LtCol Chris “Otis” Raible and Sgt. Brad Atwell…Marine Hero’s

Well guys, a week has passed since LtCol Chris “Otis” Raible and Sgt. Atwell died and you only hear bits and pieces about it on the news.  I just heard Sen. McCain on talk radio mention the deeds of these two, it but he was very vague on the details like when he said it happened three days ago.  Wrong but at least it was getting some airplay.  Also, an “inside” piece was just done posted below.  More and more information will start to make its way out to the general public as the details unravel and it will become Marine Corps legend.

You might ask why this particular attack needs more attention and that’s fair considering others have made the ultimate sacrifice in this war over the years.  This was a complex and coordinated suicide mission against our base in what could have been a total disaster if not for the courage of our Marines. “Otis” was secure in the thought that for the most part, he was behind the wire and this possibility, while there, wasn’t on the top of his to do list but it’s obvious that he prepared for this scenario in his mind.

The night of the attack, he and others raced to the sound of gunfire armed with only their 9mm pistols and a buttload of courage.  Like a fireman who rushes into a raging inferno, Otis ran into harm’s way throwing a kink into the enemies OODA LOOP.

I know his wife and kids have to live with this for the rest of their lives, also the parents and families, so if you ever come across this, please know that the courage both Otis and Sgt. Atwell will be Marine Corps lore for generations to come.  It’s our jobs as Marines to fight and they did it in a spectacular fashion.  True heroic fashion.

Right now, the missions of VMA-211 are being picked up by VMFA-251 who are paying tribute to our fallen brothers as we speak.  Let me tell you that the Taliban have just kicked a hornets’ nest (no pun intended…F-18’s and all) that they really didn’t want to mess with.

Here are some pictures of what the Sqd has done to honor VMA-211, Hat’s off to the T-Bolts!

Also, here is a story of that night and what happened.  More will come out as time passes and like I mentioned before, these brave men deserve more a Silver Star…we’re talking much more.

S/F

Taco

http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/24/insiders-recount-fighting-off-insurgents-inside-afghanistans-camp-bastion/

By Barbara Starr

It was after dinner at Camp Bastion on Friday, September 14, when the first shots rang out. Maintenance officer Maj. Greer Chambless was with fellow U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Christopher Raible, the squadron commander, moving some gear.
“We looked up the flight line and quickly realized that the airfield was under attack. There was maybe one second where we were thinking what to do and then Col. Raible sprang into action,” Chambless told CNN.
Before the night was over, a brutal firefight raged across the airfield. As helicopters backed them up with fire from the air, U.S. and British troops fought together on the ground for hours against Taliban insurgents attacking the base in Afghanistan.
It would be become a night of tragedy and heroism for many.

It was an audacious insurgent attack right from the start. Fifteen Taliban fighters infiltrated onto the base by blasting through a security fence along the eastern perimeter. Dressed in American military-style uniforms they quickly divided into three groups of five; one group headed right for the flight line.
NATO releases details of brazen raid on base in Afghanistan
“Col. Raible was positioned to the north of me. We see flaming aircraft. We see the enemy shooting at us. We’re seeking cover. We’re hearing small arms fire,” Chamless said.
“Then at some point soon there after, we see another (rocket-propelled grenade) shot towards us and towards our building. So during this whole time I’m hearing Lt. Col. Raible directing the Marines and positioning them to continue to fight the enemy in order to protect the airfield and protect the rest of the Marines.”
As squadron commander, Raible’s job was to fly the unit’s AV-8B Harrier jets providing air cover for troops on the ground. But many of the Marines on the airfield on that late night shift were maintenance or fuel specialists, getting the planes ready for the next day in the skies over Afghanistan.
That did not matter when Raible initially asked for Marines to go outside onto the field with him.
“They were Marines so he said ‘Hey, I need volunteers to bring the fight to these guys,’ and we had to choose from the volunteers because there were many of them,” Chambless said.
Chamless said what confronted them next was a chaotic scene. “Surreal is probably a better word for it,” he added.
Source: Insurgents got onto Prince Harry’s base through hole in fence
Six jets were on fire and destroyed, the fuel storage area was ablaze. Taliban fighters were shooting at the Marines from behind concrete bunkers on the airfield.
“We’re hearing ammunition beginning to cook off as well as their rounds that they are firing at us. We’re hearing the sounds of fire as the gases release from the aircraft. So, it was, like I said, a surreal scene to behold,” Chamless said.
A short distance away, Staff Sgt. Gustavo Delgado – a supply sergeant – was leading another small team in the counterattack. He had just come from his nightly gym workout when the attack erupted.
He knew he had two Marines on duty on the airfield, and he raced to find them. The Marines all found safe positions from which they could fire back. But Delgado said it was like something out of the movies.
“The fire was huge you can smell it, you can hear all the snapping and cracking and all around the walls, all around you. You see all the rounds that are coming from us that are impacting the wall where we knew the insurgents were. You just smell the gun powder, you see just nothing but rounds impacting all around you.
“I think more or less it’s the sound, that you know that it’s pretty close, especially when it’s – you have your back against the wall and you feel the rounds that are right next to your ear. That’s when you realize that you’re in a firefight.”
Delgado got to the airfield so fast, that he suddenly realized all he had was his pistol, so he ran back for his rifle. But Raible and Chambless stayed in the firefight armed only with those same 9mm weapons. For another Marine, Sgt. Bradley Atwell, and for Lt. Col. Christopher Raible, it would be their final mission. Both men died of their wounds on the airfield.
“He saw a challenge and he took action. He took decisive action. He led his Marines and he led them from the front,” says Chambless of Raible. “He embodied the Marine Corp ethos.”
Taliban video doesn’t show attack on Afghan base
For Delgado, part of the challenge now is talking to all of his young Marines about the loss of one of their leaders.
“We have to dig deep and remember why it is that we’re in the Marine Corps and why we’re here in the first place,” he said. “You know, for some of the Marines, for most of us, we never see some of this stuff on an everyday basis but, you know, as a leader, we have to be able to … let them know, reassure them, hey, everything’s gonna be all right.”
For now, an investigation remains underway on how the Taliban were able to breach security at the base. All attackers were killed during the fight except for one who was captured.
On Monday, NATO reported it arrested one of the Taliban leaders behind the attack.
Military officials are also still looking at two videos posted by Taliban groups that show potential reconnaissance of the base and a group of insurgents training in the field and planning in front of a hand-drawn map that may be of Camp Bastion.

Tags: attack in Afghanistan, Camp Bastion, LtCol Chris "Otis" Raible, LtCol Chris Raible USMC, Sgt. Brad Atwell

A true Marine Leader…”Otis”

LtCol Chris “Otis” Raible and Sgt Brad Atwell, died last week in the attacks at Camp Bastion.  There was intel/rumor floating around about his (Otis’s) last actions and I published this before there was solid word on his final hours and that was a mistake on my part, one I regret.  It turned out to be fact and “Solid Gouge” that he led the charge against the bad guys armed only with his pistol.  Not much of a defense when the others are sporting AK’s, RPG’s and heavy machine guns but it’s the reason they failed.  His courage in the face of incredible odds must have inspired his men to put up the fight of their life.  In light of past mistakes the military has made like when Pat Tillman died, it’s understandable why you need the official word on situations like this.

If I was the CMC, I think I would be floating the idea of the Medal of Honor (MOH) for Otis because I can’t think of someone more deserving. In fact, I think if you read this, you should email Headquarters Marine Corps and ask if they have considered this award for a true hero…

I published his guidance below for all Marines, hell for anyone who wants to know what a great leader is all about.  Please pass this on to all your friends and family so that his spirit never dies and for the rest of us to know what inspires men the most… “Otis” is my new hero and Godspeed brother!!

They say that he would walk the flight line every night to check on the crews and birds. When the attack happened he went after the bad guys only armed with his 9mm. He is my newest Hero. This is a true leader…not something taught at business school either. Here is his guidance to his pilots and it speaks volumes to the man he was.
S/F
Taco

LtCol Raible’s Command Guidance that he put out to his squadron. Sent out by the Senior Marine at 122 today. Using his own words, he gave the Olympian effort.

From: Commanding Officer, Marine Attack Squadron 211
To: Squadron Attack Pilots

Subj: COMMANDER’S GUIDANCE FOR SQUADRON ATTACK PILOTS

1. Professional hunger. My goal is to identify those Officers who want to be professional attack pilots and dedicate the resources required to build them into the flight leaders and instructors that are required for the long-term health of our community. This is not a socialist organization. We will not all be equal in terms of quals and flight hours. Some will advance faster than others, and because this is not a union, your rate of advancement will have nothing to do with seniority. Your rate of advancement will instead be determined by your hunger, professionalism, work ethic, and performance. If flying jets and supporting Marines is your passion and your profession, you are in the right squadron. If these things are viewed simply as your job, please understand that I must invest for the future in others. Your time in a gun squadron might be limited, so it is up to you to make the most of the opportunities that are presented.

2. Professional focus. Our approach to aviation is based upon the absolute requirement to be “brilliant in the basics.” Over the last few years Marine TACAIR has not punted the tactical nearly so often as the admin. Sound understanding of NATOPS, aircraft systems, and SOPs is therefore every bit as important as your understanding of the ANTTP and TOPGUN. With this in mind, ensure the admin portions of your plan are solid before you move onto objective area planning. Once you begin tactical planning, remember that keeping things “simple and easy to execute” will usually be your surest path to success. If the plan is not safe, it is not tactically sound.

3. Attitude. I firmly believe in the phrase “hire for attitude, train for skill.” Work ethic, willingness to accept constructive criticism, and a professional approach to planning, briefing, and debriefing will get you 90% of the way towards any qualification or certification you are pursuing. The other 10% is comprised of in-flight judgment and performance, and that will often come as a result of the first 90%. Seek to learn from your own mistakes and the mistakes of others. Just as a championship football team debriefs their game film, we are going to analyze our tapes and conduct thorough flight debriefs. It has often been said that the success of a sortie is directly proportional to the caliber of the plan and brief. The other side of this coin is that the amount of learning that takes place as a result of a sortie is directly proportional to the caliber of the debrief.

4. Moral courage. Speak up if something seems wrong or unsafe. We all know what the standards are supposed to be in Naval Aviation and in the Corps. Enforce them! When we fail to enforce the existing standards, we are actually setting and enforcing a new standard that is lower.

5. Dedication. If you average one hour per workday studying, 6 months from now you will be brilliant. That is all it takes; one hour per day. As you start to notice the difference between yourself and those who are unable to find 60 minutes, I want you to know that I will have already taken note. Then, I want you to ask yourself this question: “How good could I be if I really gave this my all?”

6. When all else fades away, attack pilots have one mission: provide offensive air support for Marines. The Harrier community needs professional attack pilots who can meet this calling. It does not require you to abandon your family. It does not require you to work 16 hours per day, six days per week. It requires only a few simple commitments to meet this calling: be efficient with your time at work so that you can study one hour per day; be fully prepared for your sorties and get the maximum learning possible out of every debrief; have thick skin and be willing to take constructive criticism; find one weekend per month to go on cross country. When you are given the opportunity to advance, for those few days go to the mat and give it your all, 100%, at the expense of every other thing in your life. To quote Roger Staubach, “there are no traffic jams on the extra mile.” If you can be efficient during the workweek, give an Olympian effort for check rides and certifications, and are a team player, the sky will literally be the limit for you in this squadron.

C. K. RAIBLE

Tags: attack in Afghanistan, AV8B, Camp Bastion, COMMANDER’S GUIDANCE FOR SQUADRON ATTACK PILOTS, LtCol Chris "Otis" Raible, LtCol Chris Raible USMC, USMC

The Bill of Rights…225 years

Monday, 17 September, was the 225^th anniversary of the signing of our Constitution.  You know the yellowed piece of paper enshrined over at National Archives in Washington DC that was featured in “National Treasure” (see for an old guy, I’m up on semi current movies) when they stole it.

It turns out, that I was giving my Joe Foss patriot talk to a local High School on the 17^th, the exact anniversary.  It was fitting really because kids really don’t understand the freedoms we have here in our country and why others will do almost anything to be here.

The course that the Joe Foss program promotes, talks about the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.  Because I’m limited to an hour per class, I gloss over the country building details and concentrate on the Bill of Rights.

This is the most important part to me and I use my vast experience and travels around the world to demonstrate most of the major points.

So let’s start with the first Amendment

• First Amendment – Establishment Clause, Free Exercise Clause; freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly; right to petition

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

This one is great.  Let’s talk about Freedom of Speech and assembly.  You have the right to say almost anything.  Actually you can say all you want but there may be repercussions for what you spew.  I mean, if you talk bad about your company, don’t be surprised if they ask you to leave.  Maybe you decide to make a movie that depicts the Prophet Mohammad in poor light, it’s your right to do so.  The ignorant and intolerant over in the middle east may not agree with you which may cause some problems as they burn their countries down.

On the other hand, if you wish to protest against President Obama, you can take out a permit and talk about why you think National Health care is a bad deal, see it’s legal.  Now of course you are entitled to have a peaceful protest but if you decide to veer from that course and destroy shop windows along your walk, pretty sure you will be arrested but not shot.

There are tons of examples in the news where protestors in a half dozen of these Muslim countries this past year and during the “Arab Failed Spring” were killed for protesting against the Government.   Heck, let’s throw in China for that matter, they have killed lots of college kids and others over the years.  Maybe Russia for good measure as well, when Millions, with a capital M were expunged and killed.  Ole Stalin did a good job on weeding out the problem children during his purge?

See, they don’t have the right to free speech.  We do.

Freedom of Religion.  You have the right to worship whoever you believe in, whether you call him God, Allah, or Buddha.  Doesn’t matter and you can build a house of worship almost anywhere here in the States.  Did you know that it’s illegal to worship anything but Islam in an Islamic country?  There was a Christian Missionary over in Afghanistan I met once who was caught with a Bible.  They (the culturally sensitive Muslims) beheaded her for that.  No trial, just a nice rusty sword.  That goes for just about any Islamic country.  We don’t have that problem here, just ask the Air Force who built an 80 thousand dollar Wiccan/Pagan/Druid worship center at the Air Force Academy to accommodate a few of these folks.   Could you imagine the Islamic Republic of Iran building a Methodist church for a few converts to Christianity?  Nope, it would be a cold day in hell.

Freedom of Press.  This is to keep the Government honest.  The only problem is when all the news and paper outlets are so slanted in one direction or the other, it almost becomes state directed mass media.  But back to the start, you have the right to free speech so you can write in the local paper and depending if they allow your opinion to be voiced, it will be printed.  Now on the other hand, even in a semi free country if you were to do a caricature of the Kind and Gentle prophet Mohammad with say a bomb in his turbine to express the asinine belief of giving your life for a spot in heaven, there might be a few crazed Muslims banging on your door or giving you death threats.

The Second Amendment (my favorite)

• Second Amendment – Militia (United States), Sovereign state, Right to keep and bear arms.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

We are about the only country that allows its citizens to be armed.  While there are those in power who believe no one should have a gun except himself and his body guards as he goes about his daily duties in New York City, the rest of us carry a weapon or have the right to own one.  My Cousin down in Australia doesn’t have that right.  The Government had everyone register their weapons and then came back a few years later to collect them all.  It didn’t matter if the Colt .45 was the weapon your father carried back in WWII.  They took them all.  Now the only folks who own a gun are the bad guys and the police.  The rest of them pretty much have to bring a knife to a gun fight.

Do you know why the Japanese decided not to invade America?  Because they knew we would go “Red Dawn” (another great movie reference) on them.  Every American would start shooting at them from behind every tree.

Funny how this can be such a hot topic especially after every mass shooting in the US.  But can you imagine if the citizens of Norway were allowed to have a Concealed weapons permit when Anders Behring Breivik, the man who killed 77 people, started mowing folks down.  Maybe one guy could have stopped it.  Who knows…tragic.

The Third Amendment is pretty straight forward and because King George would just kick you out of your house.

• Third Amendment – Protection from quartering of troops.

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

• Fourth Amendment – Protection from unreasonable search and seizure.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

I tell the kids that if a police officer were to pull you over and asked you “Hey do you mind if I search your car?” that you have the right to say no.  If they don’t have probable cause, they can’t search your car without a warrant.  That’s why you, with nothing to hide, wants to be the good citizen and agrees to let him.   There are lots of different examples of this so there isn’t one blanket example to cover them all.  Of course this doesn’t work with your parents and somewhere you signed a slip of paper giving the school the right to search any of your property on school grounds.  The funny thing is, when you know your rights, there is little to be afraid of.

The Fifth Amendment is my favorite.

• Fifth Amendment – due process, double jeopardy, self-incrimination, eminent domain.

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Right after Zimmerman had shot Martin, I was giving this talk in a mostly Black High School.  I asked who thought George Zimmerman should be strung up and hung for the death of Trayvon Martin.  All the kid raised their hands and shouted out “Justice for Trayvon!” almost in unison.  I looked at them all and then asked, “What if the shooter was black and the dead guy was Hispanic/white, would you want the shooter hung without a trial?”

They were pretty mum about that.  That’s when I explained about committing a “Capital Crime-murder” and the DA had to present this case to a Grand Jury to see if it should go to court or not.  I told them stories of the old man in Dallas who has killed four trespassers over the years.  These now dead worthless elements of our society broke into his metal salvage yard and threatened him with a crow bar (never bring a crow bar or knife to a shotgun fight) and he gave them both double doses of .12 gauge buck shot.   He was given a “No Bill” which means no court for him and it was a justified shooting.  These rights are here to protect you from the instant hanging lynch mobs.

Well, that’s it for tonight as I look at almost four pages of me spewing madness.  Go read the Constitution and look over your Bill of Rights, it really is what makes this the greatest nation on the planet.

Tags: Bill of rights, intolerant muslims, Prophet Mohammad

9-11

Another year passes marking the attacks against the United States by Radical Muslims.  How fitting is it that last year, the mastermind of those attacks was cut down by a single 5.56 bullet to his face by a Navy SEAL as they creep up to the top floor of his hideout in Pakistan.  We were led to believe that he was armed and went down as he was going for his weapon.  Turns out that the coward had a rifle and pistol over the door to his bedroom untouched and instead of going out in a blaze of glory was shot without returning a single round to the very men he hated so much.

He was later dragged unceremoniously down three flights of stairs to the first floor and placed in a body bag.  I can think of no finer ending to a monster like Osama Bin Laden.  His blood trail along the floor leading out of the bedroom down those concrete steps to the spot where he disappeared forever.  With his head bouncing along. A loud thud, thud, THUD.  I only wish he was alive to feel the pain of that exit in his last minutes knowing he had finally been caught and punished for his war against the United States.

Dumping him in the ocean was too good for him and I could think of a few pig farms where it would be better served.  Do I hate this man? Yes I do, with a passion that I can’t explain.  His actions have caused more pain and suffering on all sides that can’t be put into words.

If Islam really was a peaceful religion, then they would curb their renegade sects out there.  That will never happen and my children now will have to live in a world populated by a new generation of third world brain washed Jihadist.

We will always remember the catalyst that forced our new way of life.  To all the guys and gals out there who think that taking on the US is a good idea, I can tell you that we will never let you get away with it.  If it takes another ten years to track you down, well rest assured that we have the troops to make that happen.

To all the victims of 9-11 and all my brothers and sisters in arms, your sacrifice will never be forgotten or ignored as the years pass.  May you rest in peace and Godspeed.

Semper Fi,

Taco

Tags: 9-11