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I was featured in an article on the front page of The Buffalo News yesterday. I had been interviewed by Lou the week before and was not sure when or if it would run. I was surprised to see my picture in the print version (it is not in the online version).
It is a pretty good article with different opinions on the worth of the war in Afghanistan by three of us who have all been there at different times. Anyway, what is even more interesting is the friggen WHACKOS who comment on the online version of the article. I was going to reply to some of them, but honestly I don’t have the energy and can find a better use of my time. It is very clear that out of all of the commentors on this story, that only a few have any common sense and know their history. Anyone that does not know or can understand why the war was started in Afghanistan needs to have their head and eyes examined. I would be glad to give them the addresses of some places to visit in Washington DC, New York City and Shanksville, PA that they could check out. Also anyone who wants to say the war in Afghanistan is over oil (something there is absolutely nothing of in Afghanistan) needs to take off the hockey helmet and quit licking the windows of the short bus.
I wonder, is it too many seasons of Survivor and American Idol or people trying to replicate scenes from Jackass that have made this country to become dumber and dumber every day?
This is a great story and I glad SPC Carter was awarded what he deserved. Combat will change a soldier and sometimes those that you think would be Heroes turn out to be Zeroes or the other way around. I am not saying he was neither, but regardless of what his MOS was, he is a soldier first and this proves that nobody in the Army can use their MOS as an excuse not to be ready and squared away.
This last Saturday night, I long with family and friends celebrated my retirement from the Army with one awesome party. Thanks to my wonderful wife, PH, CP, and DG who all pitched in to help her they put one one great event. I had people from all different aspects of my life there. I had family, neighbors, past soldiers, current soldiers, my last 3 commanders, war buddies, parents of my soldiers, etc. etc. Thanks to several other conflicting events, a size-able number of people could not attend, however many of them sent me messages of support and regret for not being there.
When I got up to talk at the end, I think I went a little long but I was in a groove and I was a tad buzzed which helped me lose time. For those reading this that heard my speech, this may be a surprise to you but I left something out. For as much as the night seemed to be about me, I really felt it was about all of you who were there and those that wanted to but could not be there. I am not sure if that makes sense, but as I sat at the table looking out at all the people who took the time and expense to be there, I kept thinking this is about all of those who I have come to know through 22+ years. Friends, family, soldiers who reported to me, soldiers that were my peers, family members of my soldiers, my superiors, co-workers, neighbors, milbloggers….for everyone of you all contributed to me being me. I could not have developed the skills I did in the military and in life had it not been for those that I was around presenting me topics, issues, problems; all of which shaped and molded my work ethic and style.
For all that I spoke about, that small piece was left out. I wanted to be sure and get that out there. I am truly, truly blessed to have so many friends and family. I don’t know why I am so lucky to know so many great people, but then again I don’t know why I am so lucky to have a women as wonderful as my wife who has stood by me for 18+ years.
Last but not least, being back in the Armory where I started as a First Sergeant and where I was the last First Sergeant to serve there was awesome. There could have been no better place to host the get-together. The memories there all came back to me as I walk the halls and the old offices, platoon rooms, etc. I hope that any who are reading this whom once served in the Tonowanda armory will be back there this Sunday, Nov 22nd, as a documentary crew will be on hand to hear us tell the history and story of this old home of ours.
U.S. Army Pvt. John Stafinski fires his M-249 squad automatic weapon during a three-hour gun battle with insurgent fighters in the Waterpur Valley, in Kunar province, Afghanistan, on Nov. 3, 2009. Stafinski is an infantryman, with Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. DoD photo by Sgt. Matthew Moeller, U.S. Army.
Well now my buddy PJ Tobia goes after the same topic with pictures of 16-year olds serving in the Afghan National Police. I know some people may ask why the Afghan Government would even consider doing such a thing. It is simple, when you are desperate, you lower your standards. They need as many as they can to fill the AWOL plagued ranks of the Army and Police. Oh, and they are nothing new. When I was in Afghanistan a couple of years ago we saw everything from children to young men suffering from Downs Syndrome serving in the Afghan Army with weapons.
The Army has revealed which units in Afghanistan received experimental camouflage uniforms designed specifically for Afghanistan’s varied terrain.
Col. Bill Cole, the program manager for Soldier individual equipment at Fort Belvoir, Va., told Military.com that the 3rd Squadron of the 61st Cavalry Regiment had been issued the “Universal Camouflage Pattern-Delta” uniforms designed by the Natick Soldier Systems Center in Massachusetts, and that Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment have been issued MultiCam duds.
This is the first time the affected units have been identified by official sources.
Both battalion-sized units operate in Afghanistan’s eastern Kunar province, which features rocky, sub-Alpine terrain and lush green river valleys – an environment that some argue is unsuited for the Army’s current universal pattern because it stands out against the more forested backgrounds.
After initially resisting the move, the service relented to calls from Congress and within the military to seriously look at how “universal” the Army’s current camo is given the varied terrains where U.S. troops are fighting, particularly in Afghanistan.
A 2009 study by Natick buttressed claims by UCP critics that the all-terrain pattern fell short; the Crye Precision-made MultiCam performed better than the UCP in seven of nine environments.
In September, the service announced a plan to study how well their uniforms match up to Afghanistan’s environment. Those results could cause the Army to make a wholesale return to issuing different uniforms for different terrain.
Cole said the cavalrymen will wear uniforms and helmet covers in the UCP-D, which looks similar to the current UCP but with more coyote brown sprinkled in, while keeping their standard UCP plate carriers. The unit will also receive a new chest rig that attaches to the plate carrier patterned in the experimental UCP-D.
Soldiers issued the MultiCam ensemble will don full-MultiCam uniforms and helmet covers and will be issued MultiCam-patterned plate carriers and molle pouches. About half the UCP-D chest rigs and MultiCam molle has been issued, and Joes should begin receiving their MultiCam plate carriers next week, Cole said.
A small team from the Army’s Program Executive Office Soldier is in Afghanistan to help issue the new uniforms and track any problems that crop up. Natick is in the midst of collecting data from an initial survey of the uniforms and their effectiveness in the combat zone and will conduct another one in mid-December, once the uniforms have been used in operations.
Cole said, given the mission and terrain they’ll be required to operate in, it’s up to the unit commanders to decide which uniform the troops should wear on patrol.
My good friend CJ has not asked me to post this or do anything specific. I asked his permission to blog about his case and he said that was ok. He has no idea how this post looks. If you don’t know, CJ is a fellow Sr. NCO, co-host on You Served Radio, milblogger and very close friend of mine. The guy is more patriotic and dedicated to not only this country, but also the Army than I think most people will ever know. His wife Emily is a sweetheart and would not hurt a fly unless you try to hurt her family.
After watching and reading all of that I am sure you will agree with me that there has been a terrible injustice done to CJ, Emily and their kids. Even though I could say what I wanted in my blog as a National Guardsmen as long as I was not on duty, I can really say whatever I want now that I am retired. So here goes; the Garrison CSM is a complete tool. He is what is despicable in the Army today. He is the example of what gives Sergeant Majors a bad name and reputation. Leaders that have forgotten what it is like to take care of soldiers. When the Principal and PTA president called the military base to complain about CJ and make up slanderous allegations that CJ threatened them and made them scared (keep in mind that I am pretty sure both of these people are ex-army) the military should have responded with “This is a private matter between a parent in your school and you, this is not a military matter”. That should have been it. There was nothing else for the Army to do. As long as CJ did not show up in uniform or use his military status in some way during his conversations or interactions with the school principal or PTA, then it is NOT AN ARMY PROBLEM!!! PLAIN and SIMPLE. But becuase the leadership of the base caved in and acted with cowardice becuase some “civilians” complained, the Principal and PTA President know they have CJ by the marbles. All they have to do is call up the military, make fake allegations and they see the outcome…CJ being called on the carpet, having his career put in jepordy and facing a lot of stress in his family.
How is it that a Army Major can make treasonous remarks and still hold his job and then go and murder 13 people, but CJ tries to exercise his rights of free speech and then gets his life turned upside down? What the hell is this about? How can this happen? There are lots of unfair things in life, and I usually mark those as “that is life”. Not everyone can get a trophy, not everyone can get all the breaks. But what is happening to CJ, Emily and their kids is criminal. An Army that CJ has fought for, supported and evangalized for, has turned their back on him. It was stuff like this that the American people never see. Not everyone in the Army is a “hero” or worthy of praise. Some are complete tools that don’t deserve to wear the uniform, like the Post Command Sergeant Major, Ricky Cooper. If you can’t support your soldiers that report to you, then it is time to leave and quit taking up space. The Garrison Commander, COL Pastorelli started out supporting CJ, but he has caved under the pressure of CSM Cooper and the civilians.
Don’t get me wrong this is not all on the Army, as they had nothing to do with the start of this and have no control over civilians making unfounded allegations. There are others who can be asked, written to, called and pestered to look into this situation and possibly have the authority to step in.
Who are they you ask? Well let me tell you. Rather than have people searching all over the web, here is some contact info for anyone that wants to step up and ask the hard questions that others are failing to. In all my years in the Army, I can tell you that if there is one thing that Army leaders are afraid of, it is a congressional inquiry. I have seen the impossible happen when a elected representative starts asking questions of the military.
The State of Alabama Board of Education
President- Governor Bob Riley
State Capitol
Room N-104
600 Dexter Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36130
Phone: (334) 242-7100
Fax: (334) 242-0937
Contact Form- www.governor.state.al.us/contact/contact_form.aspx
Secretary and Executive Officer- Joseph B. Morton
State Dept. of Education
5114 Gordon Persons Bldg.
Montgomery, AL 36130
Phone: (334) 242-9700
Fax: (334) 242-9708 jmorton@alsde.edu
District 8 Representative and President Pro Tem- Dr Mary Jane Caylor
PO Box 18903
Huntsville, AL 35804
Phone: (256) 489-0541
Fax: (256) 489-0552 caylor@hiwaay.net
Alabama Parent Teacher Association
470 South Union Street
Montgomery, AL 36104-4330
Phone: (334) 834-2501 or toll free (800) 328-1897
Fax: (334) 834-2504
Executive Director Cell: (334) 549-0140
Email: al_office@pta.org
Website: www.alabamapta.org
Last but not least, I encourage you to check out www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=157465044584&topic=10593 and read the letter from Jennifer Dombrowski-Scott who is the VP of membership for the PTA at Williams Elementary School. As you read it and then read the responses by CJ, Emily and several other parents I think you can get a good appreciation of the obviously confused and mentally challenged people that sit on the PTA of that school. This lady talks about everything from quoting scripture to how American soldiers rape and abuse enemy prisoners. Somehow that is all related to wearing uniforms in schools and a parent trying to get the chance to speak on the issue. I think once you read the letter it is obvious what caliber of people CJ has been dealing with on this PTA.
Thank you for taking the time to read all of this and I thank you ahead of time for any correspondence you have with those listed above or for spreading the word to anyone you can.
