A few weeks ago I participated in an unboxing of a modified M65 field jacket and other gear worn on Operation Eagle Claw, the 1980 raid into Iran to attempt to free American hostages held by Iran.
Since then, several unit veterans have come forward to allow Dave Hall, President of the Silent Warrior Foundation charity to examine their jackets. In this second video, Dave meets with retired Sergeant Major Phil Hanson.
We’re fortunate that they produced not just one video during this visit, but two.
In the first unboxing video there were some surprises like the dog tags and watch cap. This time we get to see the non-issue boots worn by SGM Hanson in Iran along with some other items. You have got to watch these videos, if just to see the rigger modification to the Bianchi holster to make it a drop leg.
The information gleaned from these videos isn’t just of historical significance. The Silent Warrior Foundation is working Bergspitze Customs and Alpha Industries to recreate 10 examples of these jackets for a charity auction as part of their upcoming Whiskey and War Stories honoring Operation Eagle Claw event in August.
The jacket reproductions and many other items will be available for auction on www.auctionfrogs.org during the event.
I always try to do posts that have something to do with the Navy, being on the water, diving, or subjects like that. But I read about this a couple of years ago, and I have always wanted to post about it. The more I read about WWI, the more I am amazed at the plain disregarded for life.
The attack on Fromelles on July 19-20, 1916, was Australia’s first significant action on the Western Front. The 5th Division, which led the attack, was made up of veterans of the Gallipoli campaign and recently trained reinforcements. The operation was intended to keep the German reserves away from the Somme, where the main Allied attack had begun on July 1. This battle is considered Australia’s worst 24 hours in their military history.
The British 61st and the Australian 5th divisions were deployed at Fromelles. Both had just arrived in France without combat experience; for the Australians, it was their first battle on the Western Front. They were up against the 6th Bavarian Reserve Division, which had just won the battle of Aubers the year before. To make matters worse for Commonwealth troops, the pre-battle bombardment, which lasted eleven hours, was poorly executed.
With skillfully placed German observation positions, some camouflaged within trees, viewing the troop assembling locations, the battle was never going to be the surprise the Allies planned. Second Lieutenant Waldo Zander, a 30th Battalion officer from Sydney, remembered being perplexed by inconsistent information sent to him and his soldiers before the Fromelles attack. He also mentioned that, despite requests for confidentiality, he had overheard French folks at the local establishments inquiring about the “big day”.
The infantry onslaught, which began at six o’clock in the morning on July 19, 1916, was met by intensive machine gun fire and bombardment in a large stretch of no man’s land (over 300 meters). The four waves of troops were slaughtered one by one; while a few Australian soldiers managed to get through German lines, they were rapidly isolated and exposed to counter-attacks. The bodies of dead and wounded Australians littered No Man’s Land, with some comparing the gruesome scene to a big butcher’s shop. Despite the failure of the first attempt, a second attack was launched at 9 a.m. The Australian survivors of the first onslaught, completely isolated after a night in the German trenches, sought to reclaim their lines on the morning of July 20. Still, they were met by the enemy’s machine guns once again.
The Australians then began an attack based on intelligence regarding the German lines to capture the third and last German line. The attacking Australians were met with the fact that the German third and final lines were missing. Aerial reconnaissance revealed that the third line was nothing more than empty ditches. In an undefendable situation, the attacking Australians formed their defensive positions as best they could.
The Australians were nearly annihilated within 15 minutes of leaving their lines when they attacked the ‘Sugar Loaf’ defensive feature, which was characterized as an “elevated concrete stronghold bristling with machine guns”. The 59th Battalion’s Corporal Hugh Knyvett stated.
The Australians lost 5,533 men and the British 1,400 in a twenty-four-hour period with nothing to show for it. Only 107 of the Australian 60th Battalion’s 887 soldiers survived the conflict. Adolf Hitler, a corporal in the 16th Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment at the time, appears to have taken part in the combat.
Coffee or Die has made the jump to print. For years now they’ve done a fantastic job of providing coverage of military and first responders as well as some fantastic SOF history articles online.
Atlas 46’s Elastic Wrist Strap with Thumbhole is equipped with a magnetic panel and intended to keep bits, screws and nails handy.
Made from Neoprene it features a hook backing so you position the magnetic panel in the perfect spot. The wrist strap loops over your thumb the while thing is secured with the hook patch at the end for a snug and custom fit. It will also protect and stabilize your wrist during a long work day.
Over the years, REI has introduced clothing and packs so footwear was a foregone eventuality.
This is the Flash, the first of REI Co-op’s footwear. Think light hikers with HydroWall waterproofing, a waterproof/breathable membrane made from 75% recycled polyester. Their TerraGrip soles feature an anti-slip grip and are made with 20% recycled rubber which is paired with TerraLoft cushioning featuring 10% algae-based Bloom foam.
Offered in Men’s (sizes 8-14) and Women’s (sizes 6-11) models.
SOD Gear’s frontman Max sent us these photos of their Spectre Beer Shirt and Street Rider Pant.
Sizing for both garments runs the gamut and they can be had in several different fabrics. Based on my experience with SOD Gear expect high quality and an ergonomic fit.
DUGWAY PROVING GROUND, Utah — Soldiers from Fort Drum and Joint Base Lewis-McChord teamed with Marines from Camp Pendleton to test new tactical biological detection and chemical contamination indicator systems here.
Soldiers with the 59th Hazard Response Company and 13th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion along with Marines from the 3rd Marine Air Wing went hands-on with the Joint Biological Tactical Detection System (JBTDS) and the Contamination Indication Disclosure Assurance System (CIDAS), which indicates on chemical agent contaminants so decontamination can take place.
“These two operational tests have given my company the opportunity to focus on our critical war-time collective tasks of site assessment and decontamination and refine our tactics, techniques, and procedures,” said Capt. Ryan Oatman, company commander of 59th Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Hazard Response Company.
“The training benefit while conducting these operational tests to my unit’s operational readiness makes this tasking to support new materiel development a win-win.”
According to Test Officer Mr. Josh Smith of the U.S. Army Operational Test Command’s Maneuver Support and Sustainment Test Directorate, test data collected will be used to inform senior Army and Joint Service leaders on how effective, suitable, and reliable the JBTDS and CIDAS systems will be during real-world operations.
“Working with a test unit that is excited about and embraces the opportunity to train its Soldiers while providing valuable feedback on potentially new CBRN materiel solutions with considerations for its employment makes the hard work of operational testing worth it,” Smith said.
Smith explained the units will have employed the JBTDS and CIDAS systems during replicated security and sustainment operations through multiple days of tough, realistic training in the harsh Dugway Proving Ground environment.
“Since operational testing is about Soldiers and unit missions,” he said, “this test event is about making sure the systems developed are — and remain effective — in a Soldier’s hands and suitable for the environments in which Soldiers and units train and fight.”
By Mr. Edward M. Jagodzinski, Test Officer, Maneuver Support and Sustainment Test Directorate, U.S. Army Operational Test Command
Posted in Army, CBRNE, Guest Post, USMC | Comments Off on Soldiers, Marines Test New Chemical, Biological Systems at Dugway APG
You may remember similar lights form AIT, A School or Tech School, but the Pelican 2490 Light is pretty cool.
It features a lot screw-on traffic wand so it will be just as much at home during those low light marches to and from the classroom as it is checking for flight deck FOD (foreign object damage). Powered by 4AA batteries, the 2490 LED produces 64 lumens of clean bright light to ensure maximum communication visibility. And, with a run time of 12 hours, the 2490 LED will outlast a full work shift.
