It's Been A While

[Major Matt Lewis]

So,

With work and such CAS has had to take a bit of a back seat.  I have also been in the process of going through a life changing decision and making that happen.

You see lately, I been wrestling with a desicision.  To go back in the Reserves or not.  I felt that there was some left I could contribute and had narrowed my choice down to the Kansas National Guard.  I would have my choice of deploying in January to Iraq or Afganistan.  So, having made the decision to follow through.  I needed to resolve 1 last issue.  That of weight.  I had just got so I was close to the tape test.  Those who were in know the deal with that.  Then on Tuesday night, I had an accident.   I was dehydrated from an minor procedure that I had done and when I stood up and began to walk, I passed out and in the ensuing fall, gave myself a hairline fracture of my right ankle.  So, now, not only will I miss the GAF Match, which was scheduled to be a work conflict, but I will likely miss the rest of the shooting season here in Kansas and also delay reaffiliating with the Reserves.  Luckily, the break is not so bad.   Very minor as far as breaks go. 

So, there it is.  I haven't been spending a lot of cycles on CAS because I have been focusing on the Reserve thing.  Now, looks like I will be delayed in that objective as well.

[Gripmaker]

Sorry to hear about your accident and ensueing problems. Get well and back on the road. You are missed.

[US Scout]

Even though I knew you were heavily engaged at work, I was just about ready to send out a search party to insure that you hadn't gone UA on us (that's AWOL for you Army types).

Sorry to hear of your accident, and hope you mend soon.  You'll recall my shoulder injury of two years ago and how I couldn't shoot anything for a long time, so I know how you feel about missing CAS for a spell.  Glad that is behind me.

National Guard?  We had some boys from the Kansas National Guard protecting Camp Slayer when I was over there.  Good people.

My office has someone permanently deployed to Iraq - we rotate the person in the billet every six months.  I'm not currently scheduled to deploy but as of yesterday, I may be going back over next year for a short visit. 

US Scout
Bvt Brig Gen, GAF

[Major Matt Lewis]

I started looking at the Army Reserve, but found out that I would have to go through another MOS School.  Because of my Graduate Degree, the Recruiter was really pushing Civil Affairs at me.  But then I found out that the CA Reserve folks deploy all the time.  I figured that for what I want to contribute to it, a couple of years as an 11B was just about right.  I could pursue a commission if I liked it.  If not, hey, I fought the good fight.  I also caught the Army Reserve guy in a lie.  Didn't confront him about it, but just mentally check marked it.  All in all, I just want to serve.  I don't want to seem "poor me" but it is getting frustraiting to overcome a significant obsticle like blood clots and the tape test only to trip (literally) on the finish line.

[Silver Creek Slim]

Sorry ta hear of yer accident, Matt. I hope ya mend quickly, Sir.

Slim

[RattlesnakeJack]

Best wishes, Richard, both in your recovery and your other plans!

[US Scout]

Perhaps the GAF could field a company to go over to Mesopotamia? 

Think about how confused the bad guys would be when they see a bunch of folks dressed up in blue, gray, khaki, and other assorted uniforms riding down the street on horseback? 

US Scout
Bvt Brig Gen, GAF

[Major Matt Lewis]

Hey, that sounds pretty good.  Strap me to a pony and take a couple of sixguns in my hands and I am ready for duty.  I am hoping my recovery is satifactury enough to be heading over there in January or so.  Timing is everything and this break has poor timing.

One thing though, I would definately want to use something bigger than the gamey .38's I shoot.  How about my new Ainsworth

http://www.usfirearms.com/cat/henrynettleton.asp

[US Scout]

One thing though, I would definately want to use something bigger than the gamey .38's I shoot.  How about my new Ainsworth

This is why I am a strong proponent of shooting calibers and their respective rounds in CAS that I wouldn't be afraid to shoot at bad guys with in case of a close encounter of the life-threatening kind.   As I used to say in Iraq, I didn't want to die for lack of shooting back ... and I intended that after the shooting was over that I'd have a clean match.

[Major Matt Lewis]

I have heard that the Beretta 9 MM has performed really well, but it just didn't have enough killing power over in the desert.  I kind of think it's funny that religious fanatics have to get all hopped up on dope to fight the "unrightous infidel."

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Rich/Matt - "Gute Besserung!"  (Same as: "Get well soon" in Ger-mer-man.)

I can attest somewhat to the 9mm M9 in the sandbox. (Version 1.0 & 1.1: Desert Shield & Desert Storm)  We traded in our 1911A1s (  ) a month before deploying in Dec. '91.  The weapon shoots well and, despite its size, behaves very nicely on the range.  Keeping the weapon in a belt or shoulder holster kept most of the sand/grit-associated problems away ... especially since I cleaned mine daily!    (To a Tanker a pistol is the last resort before a blade, so ... I wanted mine to work!  And the other weapons too, for that matter!  )

The BIGGEST problem (and to ME, a HUGE one) was that the magazines, no matter whether Beretta Italian made, OR the Beretta USA made ones were garbage and after about 2 weeks of remaining loaded - including me unloading them and cleaning them DAILY as well, the springs weakened so much that they became 10 round mags instead of 15.  They were no longer reliable with more than 10.  NO - it was too new and our armorer COULDN'T get new mags OR replacement springs at that time.  I base this information on the fact that as the acting Platoon Leader, then later Platoon Sergeant, I had over 100 mags for my men.  ALL failed the same way.  100%.  Pretty crappy performance in my most humble opinion!!!!!  I believe that problem has been addressed, but I'll bet there are still PLENTY of the original mags with original springs in the inventory now - 16 yrs. later!   

Couple this FACT (NOT just MY opinion) with the already marginal performance of the 9mm hardball that our troops MUST use (Geneva Convention) I feel that the 9mm is not suitable for issue use.  Even if the mag problem is fixed, the ammo is still (specifically the projectile not the power) not up to snuff.  Let's be real - for a Military person, the pistol is pretty much a feel-good addition ... but it needs to be effective.

Having said all that, I had to use my M9 once.  It was after I was only loading 10 (+1 of course  ) and the weapon/magazine/ammo combination worked FINE ... against an attacking dog.   

Don't know if the fanatics still get "hopped up" on dope, 'tho.  The Moros did, however.  When we were using ANOTHER sub-caliber (almost 9mm) round.  And it didn't work well then.  Politicians and bean counters have short memories.

The most compelling reason I remember for the 9mm's adoption (besides the NATO standardization thing  ) was the argument that: "The 9mm hardball can still penetrate body armor, but the 45 ACP hardball won't."  I believe this to be totally TRUE.  However, and I can't speak for the fighting troops NOW, I wasn't issued Body Armor!!  And neither were the Iraquis.  Or the radical militants!  I WAS issued a Kevlar flak vest, MUCH more effective and comfortable than the bulky ones from Viet Nam, but it was stressed that it was NOT bullet proof - or even particularly bullet resistant.

Go figure.  It's such a shame that the wealthiest nation in history STILL insists on short-changing its fighting troops by NOT buying the best equipment available.  (No - I don't want to pay MORE taxes, but they COULD weed out some of the free-loaders and junk programs to afford better tools without raising taxes!)  I DID notice that the Military bought some Sigs (called the M11, I believe) which DIDN'T have the magazine problem.  Only the ammo problem.  My solution?  All Sigs (Or H&Ks. Or Berettas. Or Glocks.  Or ...)  and in 45 ACP.  Or redo the 1911s for the budget conscious.  Screw NATO and the REST of the shortsighted militaries that still use the 9mm.

Can you tell that this is a real sore spot to me?    I'd better get off'a my soapbox before I FALL off. 

[Shamrock]

Rich,
Don't we have a "walking wounded" class that you could shoot in?
Will miss seeing you agian.
Regards,
Pat " Shamrock" Gannon

[US Scout]

The most compelling reason I remember for the 9mm's adoption (besides the NATO standardization thing  ) was the argument that: "The 9mm hardball can still penetrate body armor, but the 45 ACP hardball won't." 

Steel Horse,

When I got to Iraq (OIF) they told us our Kevlar vests would stop a 9mm but not a 7.62mm.  I asked at what distance and got a blank look.  I never had to test it so can't say one way or the other, or what effect a .45 would have it either. 

I carried the M9 the whole time I was there but would have gladly swapped it for a 1911 at any time.  I'd seen too many jam from the sand, dust, and poor quality magazines so didn't have a lot of confidence in the Beretta.  Consequently, and because my DI taught me to, I cleaned my pistol every day, and also carried it everywhere I went because I wanted to be sure it was handy if and when I ever needed it.  We only had one penetration of the wire - but that told me it could happen again at any time.

US Scout
Bvt Brig Gen, GAF

[Guns Garrett]

When I was in Bahrain (an ally, remember!) at the beginning of Desert Shield/Storm me and a buddy went across the airfield to eat at the Barainian Air Force chow hall.  We had just arrived in-country, (mid-August) and were leery of pissing anyone off, so we did not go "heeled" into the chow hall.  My friend was a SigInt guy, an Arabic Lingust.  Since it was only a couple weeks after Saddam's Army invaded Kuwait, most conversations were about "What will he do now?"  Since Bahrain is connected to Saudi Arabia by a causeway (near Dhahran) everyone figured that the Iraqis would sweep down the east coast of Saudi, they would obviously come into Bahrain.  That being said, we were sitting there eating - whatever-it-was, and suddenly my bud stops eating and his eyes got REAL BIG.  Seems he overheard the group of Bahranians behind us talking, and the gist of the conversation went like this:
   -  "They say the Iraqis may come.  What will you do?"
   -  "Well, we should fight them.  I hear the causeway is mined."
   -  "But they are our Muslim brothers!  How can you say that?"
   -  "This is our country; besides, the Americans are here to help."
   -  "I don't care about the Americans.  I cannot fight my brothers.  If the Iraqis come, I will get my gun and kill every American
       I see"
   -  (Several grunts and murmurs of agreement among the group)

From that day on, we were well-armed at all times and places.

We reported what went on to the S-2, and never went over there to eat again.  MRE's suited us just fine.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Guns - those MREs would've sounded pretty good to me too, in that situation!

Isn't it wonderful to go somewhere ya might get killed (or perhaps worse = maimed) for a bunch of a$.holes who don't have the SLIGHTEST appreciation of what YOU are potentially giving up?!  Wouldn't bother me if the Red Sea / Black Sea / ocean / whatever water or oil is handy covered over that whole area and washed it away!

OOPS ----- maybe a bit too radically political.  Sorry

[US Scout]

Isn't it wonderful to go somewhere ya might get killed (or perhaps worse = maimed) for a bunch of a$.holes who don't have the SLIGHTEST appreciation of what YOU are potentially giving up?! 

Actually, they come in all shapes and sizes, and aren't necessarily foreign.

I used to work at the Washington Navy Yard. The Clinton Inauguration Committee was lodged in the building next to us.  Usually these mostly young staffers just glared at us with distaste bordering on pure hatred. 

One day several soldiers and I were leaving our building just as a young attractive woman was leaving the other building.  She saw us and began to spew forth about how we were all baby-killers, war-mongers, leeches on society because we couldn't get real jobs, and how we should be ashamed of ourselves, etc, etc.  Not only was her tone offensive, but the language would, as they say, make a sailor blush.

A few days later we were leaving the building again when we spot the same young woman - this time standing next to her car with a flat tire.  She then sweetly asks if we could fix her flat. 

Reciting her own words against her, we suggested that she didn't obviously didn't want to be seen associating with such men.  At which point she then opened up on us again. 

We left wondering why we should risk our lives defending the likes of her.  Consequenly, when we heard the story a few months later about one of the Clinton aides insulting a visiting general officer, we weren't exactly surprised. 

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Pitiful!