Archive for the ‘History’ Category
USCG Beach Patrol – 1941
Sunday, October 30th, 2016Operation Urgent Fury
Tuesday, October 25th, 2016
On the morning of October 25th, 1983 America awoke to reports that our troops had invaded a small Caribbean nation named Grenada in order to liberate American medical students from danger posed by political instability. Joined by Regional Security System troops from a variety of Caribbean partner nations they swiftly overwhelmed the Grenadian and Cuban troops. While Operation Urgent Fury was in name, a joint force operation, and included the use of Special Operations Forces, it highlighted many interoperability issues such as use of joint operational overlays and communications issues.
Several stove pipe issues suffered by the pre-Goldwater-Nichols military were identified during this operation. Additionally, Urgent Fury was conducted with many systems still in use which dated from the Viet Nam war. Our next time at bat, in Panama, saw several new weapons developed during the Reagan buildup such as the F117 stealth fighter and the Marine Corps LAV. Grenada was a great learning experience for the US military as it highlighted issues with joint service operations, particularly in the comms arena as well as interoperability between Special Operations and General Purpose forces. For example, SOF also took a much more prominent role in operation Blue Spoon during the Panama invasion. We’ve come even further in the past three decades.
Finally, as with any conflict, lives were lost. Let us not forget the 19 Americans killed in action and the 116 who were wounded. Unfortunately, there were also 24 Grenadian civilians also killed in the conflict.
Those Were The Days
Sunday, October 23rd, 2016
2nd Bn, 3rd SFG(A) Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary
Thursday, October 20th, 2016On 14 October, the 2nd Bn, 3rd SFG(A) celebrated its 25th anniversary. Seen here is LTC David Painter and CSM Christopher Raube placing a wreath to honor Bush Hog Soldiers, past and present.
I stood in formation during the activation ceremony on the parade ground of Fort Bragg’s Old Division Area back in 1991. As a severely understrength Caribbean-oriented battalion, we weren’t known as the Bush Hog’s yet and it would be several years before we completely ready. The unit cut its teeth on JCETs and Operation Restore Democracy in Haiti, served as our capstone. In the ensuing years, the Bush Hogs have really shined, earning their nickname in Afghanistan. I’m proud to have served on a SOT-A in 2/3.
Happy 25th Anniversary to my fellow 2/3 Veterans. Here’s to 25 more!
Rhodesians Didn’t Invent The Chest Rig
Wednesday, October 19th, 2016In a recent post about Intellectual Property, a commenter mentioned that the US had stolen the chest rig from the Rhodesians. Well, I can assure you, that is not the case. We stole it from the same place they did, the Chicoms. For you youngsters, or anyone who slept through the Cold War, that’s short for Chinese Communists, the same folks you’re buying your TVs from these days.
The US use of chest rigs took a slightly different route than the Rhodesians although the reasons were similar. We started using them during the Viet Nam war, mainly by Special Operations Forces, like the US Navy SEAL seen above. For many, it was simply a means to look like the enemy. Others carried AK-47s and the Chicom Chest Rig was the only means to carry the 30 round magazines with its distinct curve.
For the most part, the US got out of the chest rig business after the war. However, UKSF used them and there was some cross pollination with US SOF over the years. US issue chest rigs, although limited at the time, go back to the 80s, and continue today.
By the time the ‘Rhodesian’ was issued via SPEAR there was already a long history of the US use of chest rigs.
SSD Saturday Night At The Movies Presents “A Short Vision”
Sunday, October 16th, 2016Not just once, but twice, Ed Sullivan horrified America when he showed this 1956 British short animation to his audience because he thought its message was so important. It depicts what many feared then, just as today, the annihilation of all life due to nuclear war.
SSD Saturday Night At The Movies Presents ‘World War III’
Sunday, October 9th, 2016Tonight, my obssession with the Cold War continues. ‘World War III’ is a so-called mockumentary offering an alternative history version of the end of the Cold War which turns all too hot.
This 1998 film combines actual historical footage with fictional scenes to depict what might have transpired if, following the overthrow of Mikhail Gorbachev, Soviet troops, under orders from a new hard-line regime, had opened fire on demonstrators in Berlin in the fall of 1989 and precipitated World War III.
It was directed by Robert Stone and distributed by ZDF along with an English version, offered in collaboration with The Learning Channel.
Remember Task Force Ranger And The Battle Of Mogadishu
Monday, October 3rd, 2016Today actually marks two major anniversaries in the history of US Special Operations. First, is the creation of the 75th Ranger Regiment through the activation of its 3rd Battalion. It’s also the date of 1993’s Battle of Mogadishu during which, elements of TF Ranger which was deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia, conducted an operation on that city’s Olympic Hotel in order to capture key leaders of the Aidid Militia.
Unfortunately, during the exfil portion of the raid a battle ensued that claimed the lives of 18 Americans and wounded another 73. Additionally, CW3 Michael Durant was captured by the militia. Fortunately, Durant was later repatriated and went on to retire from the 160th. Of the men killed that day, two would be awarded the Medal of Honor, Delta Operators Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart for their selfless efforts to protect Durant after his aircraft, callsign Super 64 was shot down.
For those of you unfamiliar, one of the best accounts of the battle is contained in the book, “Blackhawk Down” by author Mark Bowden. Much of the information was serialized prior to the book’s publication in the Philadelphia Enquirer. Later this was made into a movie bearing the same name.
If you want to here more from a man that was there in the thick of it, check out Panteao Productions‘s “Battle of the Black Sea” featuring MSG Paul Howe (USA, Ret).
Please take a moment to remember these men and their sacrifice.
