In February 2025 Osprey Publishing will release Boots on the Ground: Modern Land Warfare from Iraq to Ukraine by Leigh Neville.
Written by a renowned expert in modern conflicts, this fully illustrated book provides an examination of ground warfare over the past 20 years and looks ahead to the future.
Available for pre-order on the Osprey Publishing website.
This 1942 US Army training film is a great snapshot in time, depicting various clothing and equipment issued at the time to ski troops, specifically members of the 10th Light Division.
Bu Dop Camp was located some four kilometers south of the Cambodian border in South Vietnam and far from any friendly forces. Deep in enemy-held territory, A-341 was under constant attack and the only access to the camp was from the air. It was manned by a Green Beret A-Team from 5th Special Forces Group and a force of CIDG troops (indigenous Nungs and Montagnards).
Bu Dop was also home to a top-secret team of Army Security Agency Green Berets from the 403rd Special Operations Detachment (SOD) who monitored and collected communist communications for its intelligence value. The ASA men were fully-qualified Special Forces soldiers and required to fulfill their Green Beret duties in addition to their intelligence duties.
Photograph: Christmas at Bu Dop – 1969 – On the left is Lt. Dietz (aka Santa Claus), 5th SFG, and on the right is Gary Lamberty of the 403rd SOD. (© thespecialforce.com now defunct)
Imagine it’s December 22, 1944 and you are in the 101st Airborne Division, surrounded by the Germans at Bastogne, in what would later be called the Battle of the Bulge. You’re cold, hungry, and it’s almost Christmas.
Acting Division commander Brigadier General McAuliffe, receives a message from German General Heinrich Freiherr von Lüttwitz delivered under flag of truce.
It says:
To the U.S.A. Commander of the encircled town of Bastogne.
The fortune of war is changing. This time the U.S.A. forces in and near Bastogne have been encircled by strong German armored units. More German armored units have crossed the river Our near Ortheuville, have taken Marche and reached St. Hubert by passing through Hompre-Sibret-Tillet. Libramont is in German hands.
There is only one possibility to save the encircled U.S.A. troops from total annihilation: that is the honorable surrender of the encircled town. In order to think it over a term of two hours will be granted beginning with the presentation of this note.
If this proposal should be rejected one German Artillery Corps and six heavy A. A. Battalions are ready to annihilate the U.S.A. troops in and near Bastogne. The order for firing will be given immediately after this two hours term.
All the serious civilian losses caused by this artillery fire would not correspond with the well-known American humanity.
McAuliffe responds with a single word that forever guarantees his place in history:
To the German Commander.
NUTS!
The American Commander
For a more in-depth version of this event, including some feather colorful language used to amplify the message to the Germans, visit www.army.mil/article-amp/92856/the_story_of_the_nuts_reply
“Le Combat de L’Infaterie” or Infantry Combat, is a 1972 Swiss documentary in French which details how Swiss Infantry forces would would have fought at the time in the event of an invasion. No dount, much of the tactics would remain the same based upon Switzerland’s terrain. This version has English subtitles.
Whether you’re a fan of the history of load carriage systems or a student of the wars in Africa, Niemoller Webbing has legendary status.
Niemoller webbing gets its name from its designer, Johann Niemoller. He served as a member of the South African Defence Force’s Recces, a special forces unit that conducted deep reconnaissance and raids into enemy strongholds.
Niemoller wasn’t satisfied with the 70s-era kit he had been issued, so like many of us, he modified what he could but eventually crafted a unique load carriage harness. Other operators saw what he had done and asked for their own. Before he knew it, everyone was wearing one of his rigs.
Unfortunately, his original design was dumbed down a bit once the SADF adopted it for general issue. Eventually, Niemoller founded the company Adro during the 1980s which served as a military outfitter.
Original Niemoller webbing can go for high prices on the collector’s market so few want to use them for training or operations.
Kommandostore made it a goal to reintroduce the design and tracked Johann Niemoller down to make it happen. They’ve re-introduced this design under their North Equipment Collection.
I don’t want to call these reproductions because these are the genuine article, just of new construction, Made in South Africa, using South African materials from the company that originated the design.
Now available for pre-order. To order, and for a much more in-depth discussion of this project, visit kommandostore.com/products/sadf-niemoller-recce-webbing.
The citizens of the island of Oahu awoke on the morning of December 7th, 1941, under attack by aircraft from the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Landscape
The surprise onslaught resulted in the death of 2402 Americans, including innocent civilians. In addition to those precious lives, America would lose four battleships like the USS Arizona seen above, which still sits at the bottom of Pearl Harbor as a memorial to their sacrifice.
American would rise as a sleeping giant from that act and bring the Empire of Japan to its knees along with their fellow axis of evil partners Germany and Italy.
America remains the land of the free and the home of the brave, woe be to anyone who tests that truth.
