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A Blast From The Past – International Combat Arms

Sunday, December 31st, 2017

I remember purchasing issue of Vol 1, Issue 4 of Guns & Ammo Action Series during my 9th Grade year from a local HyVee grocer. It was the premier issue of International Combat Arms (The Journal of Firepower) and included articles on knives, pistols, shotguns, sub machine guns and assault rifles as well as missiles, the Border Patrol and the 82nd Abn Div. Basically everything a kid could want in those pre-Internet days.

Recently, a friend in Canada sent me a pristine copy. I opened it and a wave of memories washed over me. But, what really struck me were the advertisements.

H&K definitely got in on the act with several full-page, color ads. Oh, to have a few of those offerings now.

Thanks Lav!

Tags: Guns & Ammo
Posted in History | 4 Comments »

WAR Pendant From Tyr Group LLC

Sunday, December 17th, 2017

The TYR Group WAR Pendant is a reproduction of WAR pendants during the Vietnam war. Some American Soldiers during the war would wear war pendants to counter those who wore peace pendants. The TYR Group WAR Pendant is made of AEB-L stainless steel and is approximately 3/16 inches thick. It is attached to a stainless steel loop finding and a length of 550 survival cord.

To get yours, visit tyrgroupllc.com/product-category/merchandise/pendants

Tags: TYR Group LLC
Posted in History, Morale | 17 Comments »

US Army Center of Military History Releases New Cold War Era Book About Berlin Occupation

Thursday, December 14th, 2017

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army Center of Military History (CMH) has released a new Cold War era book: The City Becomes a Symbol: The U.S. Army in the Occupation of Berlin, 1945-1949.

The latest addition in the U.S. Army Cold War series, this new book by William Stivers and Donald A. Carter begins in July 1945 during the opening days of the occupation of Berlin by the Allied powers. The four nations negotiated on all aspects of postwar life in the city, including troop placements, headquarters locations, food distribution and the question of which Berliners could serve in governing the city.

During the initial years of the occupation, differences emerged over policies and goals that led to the Soviets cutting off road and rail access to the city. With no other options, U.S. and British forces had to supply their sectors of the city by air. In addition to meeting the basic needs of the residents in their sectors, the Western allies worked to win the loyalties of the citizens and to convince political leaders to resist the spread of Soviet communism. These first four years of occupation set the stage for a decades-long face-off with the Soviets in Germany.

This book is 329 pages and contains six maps, forty illustrations and an index. It will be issued as CMH Pub 45-4 (cloth) and 45-4-1 (paper), and is available for purchase by the general public from the U.S. Government Publishing Office.

To order the book, go to bookstore.gpo.gov/products/city-becomes-symbol-us-army-occupation-berlin-1945-1949.

To see other books about the history of the U.S. Army in the Cold War please visit history.army.mil/html/bookshelves/collect/cold-war-series.

Tags: US Army Center of Military History
Posted in History | 1 Comment »

Combat Photographer Catherine Leroy

Tuesday, December 12th, 2017

Born in Paris during the height of World War Two, Combat Photographer Catherine Leroy is well known for her coverage of the Vietnam War.

Here, we see here just before a combat jump with the 173rd Airborne Brigade during operation Junction City in 1967, making her the first nrwsperson of the war to jump in a combat zone. In 1968, during the Tet Offensive, Leroy was captured by the North Vietnamese Army. She managed to talk her way out and emerged as the first newsperson to take photos of NVA Regulars behind their own lines.

Tags: Catherine Leroy
Posted in History | 6 Comments »

SMA Dailey At Army/Navy Game In Prototype Pinks and Greens

Monday, December 11th, 2017

You’re looking at the best leadership team the US Army has had in quite some time.

Army Chief of Staff Mark Milley is seen with Sergeant Major of the Army Dan Dailey during Saturday’s Army/Navy Game. SMA Dailey is wearing a prototype ‘Pinks and Greens’ service dress uniform which he was recently fitted for by a team from PEO Soldier.

The uniform is referred to as ‘Pinks and Greens’ because it is inspired by an iconic World War Two-era dress uniform. This modernized version is available in male and female versions. If it is adopted, there’s even talk of an optional wear leather A-2 flight jacket.

Update: Here are a few more photos from PEO Soldier.

Tags: GEN Mark A Milley, SMA Daniel Dailey
Posted in Clothing, Design, History, PEO-Soldier | 67 Comments »

A Date Which Will Live In Infamy

Thursday, December 7th, 2017

President Roosevelt called December 7th, 1941, “A date which will live in infamy.”

Today is the anniversary of the surprise Japanese attack on the US fleet at Pearl Harbor. Sadly, we no longer even hold ceremonies commemorating that day. As our greatest generation passes on, let us honor their sacrifices to keep America free.

I’d also like to take a moment of silence for the 2402 Americans who were lost on that day, along with the hundreds more who were wounded during the attack.

Posted in History | 6 Comments »

How Would You Carry An HK G11?

Wednesday, November 29th, 2017

During the 1980s, German weapons manufacturer Heckler & Koch developed the G11, a weapon which fired a 4.7mm caseless cartridge. It was big, black, and bulky. But even then, those crafty Germans developed a means to carry it. In fact, they came up with several ways to carry it.

The G11 was evaluated by the US Army during the Advanced Combat Rifle Program, but was not adopted. The ammunition proved to be too much of a challenge.

For more information on the HK G11 ceaseless gun, visit armourersbench.com/2017/11/19/an-introduction-to-the-heckler-koch-g11.

Tags: H&K
Posted in History, weapons | 11 Comments »

“GSG 9 The special operations unit of the Federal Police: Germany’s spearhead in the fight against terrorism”

Sunday, November 26th, 2017

My friend Dr Jan-Phillipp Weisswange has teamed up with Sören Sünkler to present the new book, “GSG 9. The special operations unit of the Federal Police – Germany’s spearhead in the fight against terrorism”, available from k-isom.com.

The photographs are excellent and the book includes English text, so don’t shy away because of language concerns.

He offered me this description of the book:

Producing an illustrated volume aimed at introducing today’s GSG 9 to a wider public is undoubtedly among the highpoints in any specialized journalist’s career. It has been an honour and a pleasure to turn this project into reality. On 16th October 2017, Sören Sünkler (my publisher, producer and co-author) and me have had the great honour to presenting the very first copy of our book “GSG 9. The special operations unit of the Federal Police – Germany’s spearhead in the fight against terrorism” to the unit’s commander, Colonel Jerome Fuchs. Now the book is available on the market finally!

The core task of GSG 9 is the fight against terrorism and other forms of serious and violent crime. In performing this mission, protecting human lives has always been GSG 9’s utmost priority.
Ever since its foundation in 1972, this has been its raison d’être – around the clock and around the world.

Throughout its 45-year history, continuity and change have been GSG 9’s constant companions. Founded on 26 September 1972 as “Grenzschutzgruppe 9”, or Border Guard Group 9, of the former Bundesgrenzschutz (BGS), or Federal Border Guard, it is one of the world’s oldest police special operations units. Following the transformation and renaming of the BGS to the Bundespolizei, or Federal Police, in July 2005, GSG 9 was the only unit to retain its traditional nomenclature. Since then, the special operations unit has been officially known as “GSG 9 der Bundespolizei”.

Evolving “modi operandi” and the emergence of new threats as well as the ever-changing global political situation have confronted the GSG 9 with fresh challenges right from the start – challenges which GSG 9 has invariably met with matchless resolve.

Featuring 208 pages, the lavishly illustrated book offers a unique look at today’s GSG 9, the ultramodern special operations unit of the German Federal Police, and its 45-year history. Short texts in German as well as in English language provide further information about GSG 9’s tasks, organization, selection and training, operational units, special skills, missions, national and multinational cooperation, weapons and equipment as well as history.

I was fortunate to meet with Jan-Phillipp at Milipol where he presented me with a copy.

The first edition of the book is strictly limited to 2.000 copies for the public book trade. When ordering (bestellung@k-isom.com), a number between 1001 and 3000 can be chosen and will be delivered if still available. I already have number 1776.

Jan-Phillipp Weisswange and Sören Sünkler: GSG 9. The special operations unit of the Federal Police – Germany’s spearhead in the fight against terrorism. Nuremberg/Germany 1/2017: S.Ka-Verlag. ISBN: 978-3-9815795-4-3. 208 pages, Hardcover. Price: 49,00 € plus shipping. Contact: bestellung@k-isom.com

Tags: Dr Jan-Phillipp Weisswange, GSG 9, Sören Sünkler
Posted in Forces Focus, History, International, SOF | 1 Comment »