1 I hope they find the asshole and fire them. We had one of our Moronettes on pins and needles with this shit for hours.

2 They don't care.

3 This reminds me of the scene in "We Were Soldiers" where the stupid cab driver goes around knocking on doors looking for a house while delivering telegrams.

4 Is this guy so stupid that he didnÂ’t know this or did he just not care? That some government official would do this shows how out of touch they are with the military and military culture. Yes, and yes they don't care about the military. They have complete loathing for those who truly serve.

5

Some self serving faceless bureauocrat seeking a bit of ego gratification and his minute of attention, curring favor with a despicable excuse for a journalist released this information.

Pond scum is more respected.

6

As I said, back in the day, I notified three Next of Kin and did survivor assistance for one family.  Hell of a way to make friends.

In addition, I was running the notification roster for our unit.  When people saw me wandering around with a clipboard and The Look, they tried to seem extra busy.  We hated the duty, and that's because of how hard it was for the families.  I could tell stories, but that would be breaking forty-plus-year old privacy which I won't do.

There's a part in the movie, "Hamburger Hill" where a guy gets a letter telling him his father eats his dinner watching the six thirty news.

My family had two in service at the time.  Pins and needles is permanent for those folks.

Firing isn't nearly good enough for the bastard who leaked this, and if it were learned that it was done for some other purpose than self-importance, prison at Leavenworth for his sorry ass, too, even if the Secret Service has to be in the next cell.

7 I was just telling my husband last night, if it turns out these guys were killed because of someone's loose lips there will be epic hell to pay.

8

I suspect this was leaked very deliberately by someone high up the food chain.  Probably in a feeble attempt to remind people about the killing of Osama.  The fact that nobody in the MBM has even mentioned the unprecedented and incredibly damaging nature of this leak tells me they were in on it. 

This is all a big freaking Nintendo game to these assholes.

9 Is this guy so stupid that he didnÂ’t know this or did he just not care?

Does it have to be an either/or?  Can't it be both?

RIP, brave warriors.  May God comfort their families and may their sacrifice be remembered and honored for all perpetuity. 

10 I hope he gets another one when he's fired.

Fired?  No, he gets off too easy that way.  Have some SEAL Team 6 and SOAR guys give him an "exit" interview.

11

Posted by: Richard Aubrey at August 08, 2011 09:25 AM (wxHHM)

God bless you and thank you. 

What the actual fuck is wrong with people?  See, this goes with my theory vs. reality rant on the Doom thread.  This is all political games and pr manipulation and big dicking it with press access and forgetting that there are actual real human beings who are affected by this shit.

 

12 5-my guess is that it was an appointee. Generally the careerists at the Pentagon don't do stupid shit like that. They understand the impact on both the mission and the family. Appointees have little training in the job or the etiquette necessary to deal with these situations. They are loose cannons put in place as thank you's for donating big bucks. It's one of the perks of winning an election that I wish would go away.

13 The guy probably styles himself as an Insider and did it for only that reason - so he could say to himself, "Look at what a bigshot I am."

14 Yeah I was down in Norfolk VA on Duty this past weekend and the word spreads pretty fast

15 "I thought, 'Oh, hopefully it's just a neighbor,' and as I rounded the stairs I saw the men in uniform and I just fell to my knees," she said. "There's no preparing for it. It's something you see in the movies. It's not something you're supposed to live through."

Her father was standing with her to hold her up as the Navy officers told her that her husband was killed in action.

"I fell to my knees and cried and didn't want to hear it, but it's the truth," Vaughn said. "You want it to be a mistake. You want them to say it's the wrong person, but I wouldn't wish this on anyone."

"I want to tell the world that he was an amazing man, that he was a wonderful husband, and a fabulous father to two wonderful children," she said. "He was a warrior for Christ and he was a warrior for our country and he wouldn't want to leave this Earth any other way than how he did."

link

16 Posted by: curious at August 08, 2011 09:39 AM (k1rwm) Yeah that stuff breaks my heart

17 Please read this blog.  This lady has been on this from the beginning.  She is like the Sipsey Street Irregulars to Fast & Furious.

http://barnhardt.biz/index.cfm

18

We spend a lot of time down by Little Creek every summer. I guess that makes me feel closer to those guys than I otherwise would.

My dad and his 3 brothers all lived through WWII. My dad was with the Corps of Engineers in Papua New Guinea in 1943. They had a burial at Arlington last Thursday for some airmen they finally got out of a ravine there. My dad said he knew there were hundreds of remains in those jungles. I always think of the motorcade that arrives at Mrs Benjamin's farm.

We've been doing this for a long time and I bet the culture in previous times would have "peer corrected" a sorry sob like this one from spouting off this type of thing. Perhaps even a media would have tempered it.

19 It's likely intentional.  Liberals think it's hilarious to call the wives and mothers of deployed servicemen, pretending to be a CACO, so they can tell them their loved ones have been killed.  They try to stay on the phone as long as possible to enjoy their despair.    Our families had to be repeatedly reminded that death notices were delivered in person only. 

20 17 Posted by: curious at August 08, 2011 09:39 AM (k1rwm)

Yeah that stuff breaks my heart

Posted by: Nevergiveup at August 08, 2011 09:41 AM (i6RpT)

As soon as I read that article, not only did I really pray for her but I have forced, forced many of my lib/dem friends to feel what I'm feeling to see that these are real people with real lives and families.  Was at a party yesterday and they were worried about if our currency wouldn't be the main currency and I was so pissed I kept pulling out copies I made of the article and saying to people, "well, she doesn't care about that right now, read it".

21 I'm such a piece of slop compared to those guys.

22

As I said, back in the day, I notified three Next of Kin and did survivor assistance for one family.  Hell of a way to make friends.

Thanks for your service.

I've had to do notification duty 3 times in my career and Survivor Assistance Officer once.  Both duties suck out loud.  The only thing that makes it even remotely bearable is that knowing that no matter how bad you feel - they feel worse, and somehow you're making it easier for them.

23 We've been doing this for a long time and I bet the culture in previous times would have "peer corrected" a sorry sob like this one from spouting off this type of thing. Perhaps even a media would have tempered it. Posted by: dagny at August 08, 2011 09:44 AM (abrv5) I'm not defending the guy, but to be honest, in today's world and in the relatively small community that is our Navy, in a Navy town such as Norfolk/Little Creek, News like this spreads like a wild fire with or without the media's help.

24

I'm such a piece of slop compared to those guys.
Posted by: Jack at August 08, 2011 09:46 AM (8IAHO)

Jack, if you remember them at all - at all - then you're a Great American.

If you ever think otherwise, go read Daily Kos for 20 seconds and you'll see my point.

25 This leak also gives the enemy propaganda material. Loathesome on many levels.

26

Posted by: Nevergiveup at August 08, 2011 09:47 AM (i6RpT)

That's true, but not all those familes lived around Norfolk.  They deserved a formal military notification - with all the support that comes with that - unfiltered by some asshole in DC.

 

27

My dad escorted the war dead home in the '40s. He rode the trains with the body and met the hearses. He stood with the casket during the wakes and went to the funerals and the receptions. He stood by the graves every where in the US in every kind of weather, at all times of the year, until they were interred. 95% of the people were grateful for his being there and treated him like gold. A few used him as a scapegoat.

When he died and was awaiting burial in Arlington, my mother looked out of the reception room toward the hearse and saw the young soldier standing there by it in 20 degree weather. She went out and stood with him until it was time to go. She told him that the body he was guarding had done the same duty 50 years before.

28 The bigger treason was announcing that SEAL Team 6 killed OBL.

29 I hope they find the asshole and fire them grant him one combat rotation.

I fixed that. For Us.

30 Posted by: Nevergiveup at August 08, 2011 09:47 AM (i6RpT) That's true, but not all those familes lived around Norfolk. They deserved a formal military notification - with all the support that comes with that - unfiltered by some asshole in DC. Posted by: Sean Bannion at August 08, 2011 09:50 AM (sbV1u) Absolutely.

31

I worked casualty during my stint as a personnel weenie--the other problem we encountered was that we had to validate incoming information.  Frequently, the initial casualty reports are prepared by low-ranking glorified typists who aren't responsible for verifying the names or circumstances--the protocol is to verify the casualty info thru multiple channels.  In a rush to leak, the traitor may have even divulged incorrect information.  Rolling heads.

Has anyone explored the possibility that Obama may have engineered this?  Students of history know how Stalin purged his military of any potential threats--he was on watch about being outshined.  Given Obama's malignant narcissism (which is evolving into paranoia before our eyes), wouldn't it be to his benefit to eliminate any competitors for the public adulation deriving from the Osama raid?  Wouldn't the visage of Obama "grieving" over the coffins of dead SEALs provide him an exceptional photo op?     

32 #29 - this is what I was wondering also.   Was it a good idea to publicly announce that SEAL Team 6 killed OBL?   Wouldn't such publicity set them up to be targets?

33 I read recently somewhere... wish I could link it... that if we suffer casualties among SEALs or other elite forces we lie publicly about it, claiming it was a training exercise.

Why did we rush to give our enemies such a massive PR victory?  Why even inform the world they really succeeded against one of, if not the, best units in the world?

Seems like this administration has absolutely no control.  I imagine the idiot who spilled the beans on this was just cultivating favors from the press.  It's incestuous.  I doubt there's an agenda, but from Biden's initial 'SEALs got OBL!!! HEY EVERYBODY!!! SEALs!!!!!' crap to today, this admin has been disturbingly stupid at best.

34

Liberals think it's hilarious to call the wives and mothers of deployed servicemen, pretending to be a CACO, so they can tell them their loved ones have been killed. 

Could a drug have been dropped into the american water supply in the 60s affecting 30% of the population making them such a bunch of dispicable pieces of shit? I don't think there was such a division from decency and reality before.

35 I blame Obama

36

This info was leaked by the asshole in chief to take the S&P downgrade off the front page.  I'm sure that nameless government official was sitting with his feet on the resolute desk while making the call to the MFM to fill them in.  Douchebags, all of them.

Why would we want the ragheads to know they killed our elite covert forces.  I would have told the press that it was the Barnum & Bailey Circus coming to Kabul to entertain the troops and we're real sorry about the loss of all the lives of the clowns.

37 "33 #29 - this is what I was wondering also.   Was it a good idea to publicly announce that SEAL Team 6 killed OBL?   Wouldn't such publicity set them up to be targets?

Posted by: Mike at August 08, 2011 09:56 AM (NH9Y5)"

 I think it would.  Not only the SEALs in theater, but also their training facilities, family, etc.  That's obvious, and why Biden et al were asked specifically not to reveal the info.  They just rolled their eyes at OpSec and went ahead.  The Obama Administration wanted as much press as possible, so they needed to add little detail after detail.

It was pretty obvious when you watched it... almost as though they planned out an agenda where everybody had a different detail to announce to keep the media printing updated stories.  It got unbelievable because they didn't even stay on the same page for a lot of this.

It was just a PR extravaganza.

Bush, on the other hand, let the Pentagon handle announcements of this nature.  He didn't try to grab credit for things that were ultimately lucky opportunities that we can capitalize because of tremendous human sacrifice in the military.  But Bush, for all his flaws, was a very decent human being.

38 I've been thinking for days that this was a set up. Those guys were going after another high level target whose position had been leaked. The bad guys were waiting for them. They were even ready for a fire fight near the downed chopper. They had been lured to where they were. Someone on our side took the bait.

39

I'm still in favor of delivering death from 40,000 feet.  Effective, indiscriminate, and reflective of the technological superiority of our culture over the untermenchen. 

40 "Liberals think it's hilarious to call the wives and mothers of deployed servicemen, pretending to be a CACO, so they can tell them their loved ones have been killed. "

That shit really happens?  Why would a Tea Partier be considered a terrorist and that shit not be front page news?

Same reason the Texas governor's mansion was destroyed by the left, and yet they use Perry finding a different place to live as a scandal against him.

"This info was leaked by the asshole in chief to take the S&P downgrade off the front page"

Hmmmm.

41 "This info was leaked by the asshole in chief to take the S&P downgrade off the front page"

Makes more sense than anything.

42 Liberals think it's hilarious to call the wives and mothers of deployed servicemen, pretending to be a CACO, so they can tell them their loved ones have been killed.

I beat the holy hell out of someone who did that. No frakin mercy, none at all. Baseball bat, bones, some assembly required.

Phone calls can be traced.

43 I hope the MBM assholes don't report the names of the fallen. Not that they don't deserve all the honors that this country can give them, but so the enemy doesn't learn the names of the families. I recall after OBL was rendered room temperature they said they would go after the soldiers and their families.

44 Please read this blog.  This lady has been on this from the beginning.  She is like the Sipsey Street Irregulars to Fast & Furious.

http://barnhardt.biz/index.cfm

Posted by: chillin the most at August 08, 2011 09:43 AM (6IV8T)

Wow.  Incredible link.

45 39 I've been thinking for days that this was a set up. Those guys were going after another high level target whose position had been leaked. The bad guys were waiting for them. They were even ready for a fire fight near the downed chopper. They had been lured to where they were. Someone on our side took the bait.

I think I remember reading that the chopper was shot down after the unit completed their mission and were on the way home.  Maybe I'm wrong?

46

My brother, a C130 nav, was killed overseas in 1970.  I heard from my father not too many years ago that, after his death notice had appeared in the paper, he and my mom started getting "he deserved it" calls.

Never figured the bastards would move any closer to human, but now it's proven.

Two minutes in room with the bastard. All I ask.

47 34 I read recently somewhere... wish I could link it... that if we suffer casualties among SEALs or other elite forces we lie publicly about it, claiming it was a training exercise. ---------------------------------------------------------- That depends on where they were killed. For instance, if they died in Pakistan then it was a training exercise. If they were KIA in Iraq or Afghanistan then the military will publish that info. I've learned much about the incredible men who had served in Delta and SEALs after they were KIA in the war zone. These guys are the best among us. Very brave and utterly fearless.

48 I watched a heartbreaking video linked by Drudge to CNN.

Let me just say, the the commenters at CNN are the filthiest, vilest sub-humans on the face of this earth. 

49

I almost threw up when I read about this. How do rock throwing goat fuckers like the Taliban take down are helicopters with an RPG? God, with all our technology, you would think there were some sort of countermeasures for things like that.

Fuck Afghanistan. Flatten the place, leave, and if terrorist camps pop up, flatten it again.

50 It's likely intentional.  Liberals think it's hilarious to call the wives and mothers of deployed servicemen, pretending to be a CACO, so they can tell them their loved ones have been killed.  They try to stay on the phone as long as possible to enjoy their despair.    Our families had to be repeatedly reminded that death notices were delivered in person only. 

Posted by: brando at August 08, 2011 09:44 AM (IPGju)

 

Anyone who does something like that ought to be strung up

51 43 Liberals think it's hilarious to call the wives and mothers of deployed servicemen, pretending to be a CACO, so they can tell them their loved ones have been killed.

I beat the holy hell out of someone who did that. No frakin mercy, none at all. Baseball bat, bones, some assembly required.

Phone calls can be traced.

Our son is not in country yet, but local shits think it's hilarious to ring our door bell early in the morning and run.  I'd love to strangle the life out of them with my bare hands.

52

My dad was with the Corps of Engineers in Papua New Guinea in 1943.

*****

My dad escorted the war dead home in the '40s. He rode the trains with the body and met the hearses. He stood with the casket during the wakes and went to the funerals and the receptions. He stood by the graves every where in the US in every kind of weather, at all times of the year, until they were interred. 95% of the people were grateful for his being there and treated him like gold.

Posted by: dagny

So was mine (in the Corp of Engineers in New Guinea in 1943).  What did he do there, and do you know his unit?  He sounds like he was a really great guy.  You must still be awfully proud of him.

My Dad died in 1977 of lung cancer (mesothelioma from inhaling asbestos brake dust, probably), but it would be great to find out someone he might have served with.

53 my mother looked out of the reception room toward the hearse and saw the young soldier standing there by it in 20 degree weather. She went out and stood with him until it was time to go. She told him that the body he was guarding had done the same duty 50 years before.

Posted by: dagny at August 08, 2011 09:53 AM (abrv5)

That's an incredible story and tribute to your father and the work he did.  I haven't been as touched by anything in quite a while.  Thanks for posting that.

54 #47 - this is why I'll never vote for a Democrat on a national level.   The way many of the radical left treated our Vietnam Warriors was shameful.   And many of these radicals hold prominent positions in the Democratic Party today.

I'm sorry for your loss.

55 How do rock throwing goat fuckers like the Taliban take down are helicopters with an RPG? God, with all our technology, you would think there were some sort of countermeasures for things like that. Fuck Afghanistan. Flatten the place, leave, and if terrorist camps pop up, flatten it again. Posted by: UGAdawg at August 08, 2011 10:13 AM (mwctc) Yeah I hear ya. I hate the thought of losing any more good men/women in a "War" we are bugging out of in months. Damn stupid way to fight a war. As for the Chinook helicopter, it's the only helicopter we have that can operate at those altitudes in the Afgan Mountains. Our "newer" more sophisiticated Choppers can't. The Chinooks are slowing moving large targets.

56 One thing I haven't heard discussed at all in the context of this disaster is that President Obama killed a program to procure more advanced combat search and rescue helicopters as part of his general gutting of the military. Which is why we have SEALS being shuttled around dangerous combat zones in helicopters that are fifty years old.

57 Our son is not in country yet, but local shits think it's hilarious to ring our door bell early in the morning and run.  I'd love to strangle the life out of them with my bare hands.

Jane, I'd like to volunteer to hide in front of your house and hog-tie them for you.  I think I'll get some more takers too.

58 "I've learned much about the incredible men who had served in Delta and SEALs after they were KIA in the war zone. These guys are the best among us. Very brave and utterly fearless."

Yes, it's right to honor their sacrifice in combat instead of paper it over.

Here's a question: if Obama gets 100% credit for taking down Osama Bin Laden, does he get 100% credit for this unbelievable loss?  In both cases his administration's handling seems to be pretty crappy.  No OpSec, no control.

Why isn't Obama apologizing for this if he's accepting congratulations for that?  Where's the logic?

59 I wasflipping out if you remember. My guy isnt SF but people forget theres other folks on those missions. Mine was out at thet time and he tells me jack shit for my own peace of mind and I like it that way. But I figure out plenty and was climbing the walls till he checked in. I wish we had that old consensus that silence is golden. I miss the idea that top secret mans you go to jail if you blab. I want to see these bitches in orange jumpsuits. I really dO.

60

2 They don't care.

 

Yes they do. Anything that could hurt Bush was otay. In the immortal words of Harry Reid, "This War is Lost."

61 "I miss the idea that top secret mans you go to jail if you blab."

I guarantee had a Republican announced it was SEALs taking down OBL the way Biden did, Obama would have prosecuted him.  They probably know who leaked the KIA as well, and are trying to control what's covered by the press.

Are they taking the war in Afghanistan seriously?  Are they committed to winning it?  Just how they flap their gums, I think not.  I know Chinooks are fast helicopters, but it's clearly not a very safe way to transport these guys. 

I get the impression that after a decade in this theater we should be more established by now.  Obama claimed Bush was failing to take care of it... but we're doing a lot worse in Afghanistan after Bush left office.  Five times the KIAs, and a timetable for Taliban victory. 

Why isn't that a major story?  Why are we even in this war if the admin knows we're going to cut and run?  Save our troops for a fight we're willing to win.

Democrats like using the Air Force.  So pull out these guys and just start blowing shit up until we get a real president again.

62

My nephew was just at the end of his tour in Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne when I saw this story breaking online.   We were waiting to hear word that he was coming home, and my heart stopped when I saw it, thinking how horrible it would be if he made it all the way through (this was his third tour, one in Iraq, two in Afghanistan) and then was hurt or killed on maybe his last day.   My heart goes out to these poor families who lost loved ones.   They were/are our finest young men.

And, yes, someone's head needs to roll for leaking this information.   People without a family military connection might not understand, but it's sacred that immediate families (wives, mothers, fathers) get notified first before news of KIAs is released.   Period. 

But, then, I'd like to see a survey of how many people working in the White House in a PR function have family members who are in the military or who have been in the military.   I'd bet it's a very low percentage.

63 Those are great stories dagny and Reader C.J. Burch. You both must be so proud.

64 Our son is not in country yet, but local shits think it's hilarious to ring our door bell early in the morning and run.  I'd love to strangle the life out of them with my bare hands.

Jane, you live in Savannah, right?

65 Jane, get a camera mounted over your door.  I had to get one to find out who ripped down my Mccain Palin sign (and I'm in Texas!).

It was who I thought it would be.  A punk.  Told him what he needed to hear and the coward never bothered me again.  And I'm not exactly Mr Macho in person.

Society used to be closer and more connected, and cowards were afraid of the shame. 

66 65 Our son is not in country yet, but local shits think it's hilarious to ring our door bell early in the morning and run.  I'd love to strangle the life out of them with my bare hands.

Jane, you live in Savannah, right?

Posted by: UGAdawg at August 08, 2011 10:38 AM (mwctc)

Yes.

67 This is what transparency means in the Bamster's administration.

68 52 43 Liberals think it's hilarious to call the wives and mothers of deployed servicemen, pretending to be a CACO, so they can tell them their loved ones have been killed.

I beat the holy hell out of someone who did that. No frakin mercy, none at all. Baseball bat, bones, some assembly required.

Phone calls can be traced.

Our son is not in country yet, but local shits think it's hilarious to ring our door bell early in the morning and run.  I'd love to strangle the life out of them with my bare hands.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at August 08, 2011 10:15 AM (UOM4

I live pretty far from base on my farm.

I dont deal with the bitch politics and drama that comes with the other dependents (there! Yeah, i said it. Some of those chicks are loco or flat out stupid) That said, theres some protection i guess in company. OTOH... IF someone did that to me, Im pretty sure i would go BATSHIT CRAZY ON THEM.

There are protocols. I dont think those creeps know them. So it would just be a fucked up crank call. I think all i would feel would be Rage. I think all they would hear would be the most horrible profanity, vile epithets and suggestions for activities they never heard of before. And flat out i have been taught to believe nothing, trust nothing, trust nobody-- if Grim died i dont know if i might not end up yelling at the people who notify me. Because of my past experiences with stalkers, you bet i know how to find out who called if it was a crank, and by the time i was done, they would wish they hadnt done it.

But this kinda makes me happy Grimmy keeps me separate and very few people know where i exist, and that i exist. He just said "its so my work doesnt follow me home."

You know, It never even occurred to me that people would do this.

69

Yes.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at August 08, 2011 10:48 AM (UOM4

 

So do I. You get a name for one of these little shits, let me know.

70

Joe Biden was the first of this totally incompetent and dangerous administration to tell the world that "SEAL Team 6" got Bin Laden. In former times this would be treason. It was a huge, huge mistake to identify the special ops team. Military families were put in harms way from this "slip" of his senile tongue.

The Obama WH stupidity may not have a thing to do with the horrible tragedy and loss this weekend, and may those brave heroes RIP and their families feel the comfort of our prayers...but I was horrified and angry the second I read this last May:

http://tinyurl.com/6hxhuvl

71

So do I. You get a name for one of these little shits, let me know.

Posted by: UGAdawg at August 08, 2011 10:54 AM (mwctc)

Thanks.  Will Do.

When the kid comes home on pre-deployment leave, I think he'd love to handle it. 

72

When the kid comes home on pre-deployment leave, I think he'd love to handle it. 

Posted by: Jane D'oh at August 08, 2011 11:02 AM (UOM4

DONT LET HIM.

let someone else handle it.

the command has no sense of humour about  brushes with the law and that kind of asshole will go straight to the police. he could ruin his career. get paper that could keep him from getting his good conduct award, or worse follow him forever. Remember this is not your dads USMC where that sort of thing is commended.

A DUI can ruin you. An assault might get you in the brig.

73 My kid knows better.  He's a good boy, but he'd put the fear into them.

We kind of think we know who two of the little shits are.  Wealthy parents, unsupervised, running around in a golf cart at all hours.

Husband said when our boy deploys, he may install a camera over the front door.  And the next time one of the bastards rings the door bell (repeatedly) and runs, he'll have what he needs to go to the parents.  And we'll make sure every.single.person in the community knows what brats they are.  (The know our boy is away in the military.  They have no idea whether he's deployed yet, which makes their actions even worse.)

74 74 My kid knows better.  He's a good boy, but he'd put the fear into them.

We kind of think we know who two of the little shits are.  Wealthy parents, unsupervised, running around in a golf cart at all hours.

Husband said when our boy deploys, he may install a camera over the front door.  And the next time one of the bastards rings the door bell (repeatedly) and runs, he'll have what he needs to go to the parents.  And we'll make sure every.single.person in the community knows what brats they are.  (The know our boy is away in the military.  They have no idea whether he's deployed yet, which makes their actions even worse.)

Posted by: Jane D'oh at August 08, 2011 11:16 AM (UOM4

Ok good. i have seen young and reckless but good boys get sucked into trouble and ruin good careers. I dont want that for your kid. Grim's a hothead but so far hes not stupid. If somebody did that to me i really dont know what he'd do. but i think i would take care of it myself. And not EVER tell him.

I dont want him to go to prison.

75 Jane, I'm glad you have confidence in your son's discipline.  I worry, though.  Things are intense these days, and if someone screwed with my family while I was deployed I would have lost my cool.

Some are above that, and you know your son.

I like your idea about identifying him and using that information to shame him to the community.

Get a notice of trespass if you ever do catch him.  I got my cheap camera from Deal Extreme, btw.  They have cheap stuff like that.  It wasn't super quality, but I learned who tore my sign down.

76 IM watching FOX and they are Airing interviews with bereaved relatives. I cant believe the leering lack of respect for the dead and their  families. I know its what journalists do. But its cheap and shitty. Like i said someone like that calls me and they will get a face full of screaming nasty like they never would believe.

Maybe i would teach them some new idioms. Perhaps i would break their eardrums.

When the Old Man died, 20 years ago, the thing i hated most was talking about it and tellin people. I would really resent being poked at by strangers in a moment of deep grief like that over Grim. I would tell them stuff about themselvs i bet they wouldnt like.

77   Actually, it's even worse than you guys know.  That leak about it being a 160th SOAR MH-47?  That was bad info, it was actually a CH-47 from the 158th Aviation Regiment, an Army Reserve unit with guys from Kansas and Nebraska.  The Army Aviation websites already have the names of the two pilots and two crew chiefs that were killed in the attack.

   So, imagine you have a father, son or brother flying for the 160th.  You assume it must be a true leak, because the SEALs always fly with the Nightstalkers, right? (believe it or not, the 160th can only handle about 50% of the SOF airlift in Afghanistan these days, according to an interview with Brig. General Mangum up at Ft. Bragg a few weeks ago).  So, there you are, convinced that the helicopter that crashed is from your father/son/brother's unit.  Even if the grapevine says it was a non-SOF CH-47, who are you conditioned to believe?  The grapevine or the MFM?  Think the media will correct their mistake and apologize for identifying the wrong unit? 

   So, besides violating OPSEC, that fucking anonymous 'government official' can't even get the unit of the helicopter crew right in his 'leak'.  But hell, we have a President (I refuse to call him the Commander in Chief, W was the last CINC we had in this country) who confused Medal of Honor winners while standing in front of the 10th Mountain Division (apparently, the names Salvatore Giunta and Jared Monti are too similar for that goddamned idiot Obama to keep straight).  With a total douchebag sitting in the White House, is anyone really surprised by all of this? 

     And just to let you guys know, I knew someone that was on that helicopter.  Matt Mason was a buddy of mine , met him in Djibouti back in 2002 when he was a SEAL with ST-3A and I was an MH-53J pilot with the 20th SOS.  I spent all day Sunday looking at pictures I took of Matt and his platoon during my 3 months in Africa.  I was doing some brazilian jiu-jitsu training with those guys and Matt was always getting me to show him extra 'stuff' so he could get a leg up on the other SEALs during their sparring sessions.  Guys like him are almost impossible to replace, he was a great human being, one of the best men I've ever met (and I've been in the military 24 years, so I've met my share).  If any of you Morons and Moron-ettes could drink a beer or two in memory of Matt Mason, my friend and all-around awesome dude, I'd really appreciate it.

PLJ

78 I said a prayer for Matt Mason and his family.  I'll try to remember him, John, though I never met him.

"Actually, it's even worse than you guys know.  That leak about it being a 160th SOAR MH-47?  That was bad info, it was actually a CH-47 from the 158th Aviation Regiment, an Army Reserve unit with guys from Kansas and Nebraska.  The Army Aviation websites already have the names of the two pilots and two crew chiefs that were killed in the attack."

That's really strange, isn't it?  Are we waging war on the cheap, or something?  Was this a desperate and unplanned last ditch effort to get the SEALs to the fight? 

Just seems strange to me.

79 My home internet service is out till this afternoon and I have been trying to keep up via my phone all weekend. Reading this makes me ill and want to cry. My first thought when it was leaked that there were 25 SEALS was that this was a set up and I still think that. Paranoid maybe, but who can blame me considering the direction our country has been heading for quite a while now.

80 Posted by: Pave Low John at August 08, 2011 11:32 AM (+7wcr)

I'm just physically ill over the whole damned thing.  Totally agree about the POS so-called CiC.  I hate with the heat of a thousand suns our boy serving under him.

I'll say prayers for your awesome friend Matt, and all our lost heroes.

81

The guys and gals in the military DESERVE better than this. We owe it to them and whoever the scumbag is that is leaking this crap needs to pay for this travesty. Outragous.

Herer's to Matt Mason, his comrades and family. Thank God for honorable people like him.

82 Truly surprised. Wouldn't think that there would be a possibility that notification hadn't happened before press release. Ever since CNN was on the beach in Somalia media lips have been loose. But this is ridiculous.

83 Whenever I see something like this, I really, really miss Bush.   Like everyone else, he had his flaws.  But he "got" the military and how important they are.  The idea of Obama as CIC just makes me ill. 

Godspeed, boys. 

84

Joe Biden was the first of this totally incompetent and dangerous administration to tell the world that "SEAL Team 6" got Bin Laden. In former

times this would be is treason. It was a huge, huge mistake to identify the special ops team. Military families were put in harms way from this "slip" of

Posted by: ChristyBlinky at August 08, 2011 11:01 AM (FnRYN)

FIFY! 
I am pretty burnt out and cynical, but I couldn't read this thread without having eye trouble. 
How can our supposed leaders live with themselves?
Unfortunately, I think I know the answer to that and it is not a pretty answer.
It must be nice to be an academic/lawyer/politician and not have to worry about the "little people" that defend this country.
God Bless all the Troops and may He give special comfort to the SEAL community!

85 We went through this in the 80's when that Christmas airlift went in.  Someone on the logistics management side of things fucked up, so there weren't enough planes slated to bring back the guys who were overseas doing who knows what.  I think it was 101st, 82nd, and a few other units.  They went around and asked for volunteer aircrews from dad's side of MAC (basically the Atlantic coast airlift units), so dad volunteered himself.*  Mom was PO'ed; it was to be the first Christmas he'd been around since sis and I were born, and if everything went right, he'd be back at like 4 am Christmas day.

Well, one of the airlift planes went in off Greenland and took all 250 people onboard with it.  It was one of the charters they had arranged, so initial reports was 'airliner' crashing.  Then some anonymous government numbnuts who wanted to be 'helpful' to the newsies said it was part of the xmas airlift, before they could even figure out which group of returning guys it was.  Protocol then (and I believe it is now) was to put outside communications in the affected units on lockdown until official notifications were out, so nobody would call and tell a family member, who might tell someone in the MFM circus.  So suddenly you've got the families of all the guys in those combat arms units, and a good chuck of MAC (including my family) wondering if it was their loved ones who bought it, and no way to find out short of them walking in the door, or an Notification Officer showing up on your porch.

*Whenever dad or mom has mentioned this, they've noted that the only guys who volunteered for things like this had family.  Not a single single person on the air wing side, other than dad's loadmaster, volunteered for the xmas airlift that year.

86

Ranba

I believe the first unit coming back was made up of married guys, the single guys having volunteered to await for later airlift.

Some conspiracy theories about that.  Autopsies redacted to incomprehensibility, lungs showing smoke inhalation which does not square with a flight into terrain with no previous damage.

Biggest daily loss for the 101st ever, including D-Day.

87 Richard,

Dunno about other units, but dad's line is that the single guys in his unit who just walked out were pricks anyway.

88 I hate Obama and the little fuckers on Moveon with the fire of a thousand suns. The fake phone calls are beyond sick.

89

Well my nephew was in Iraq when they had a helo go down. he was intransit at the time. we all held our collective breath untill he called. Its just MEAN and STUPID to leak crap. I had fears of going to my brother in laws to help him. some people cannot think outside of themselves.

 

90

""Actually, it's even worse than you guys know. That leak about it being a 160th SOAR MH-47? That was bad info, it was actually a CH-47 from the 158th Aviation Regiment, an Army Reserve unit with guys from Kansas and Nebraska. The Army Aviation websites already have the names of the two pilots and two crew chiefs that were killed in the attack."

That's really strange, isn't it? Are we waging war on the cheap, or something? Was this a desperate and unplanned last ditch effort to get the SEALs to the fight? "

It sounds strange, but its not...and explaining why would violate OPSEC.

That being said, we're certainly not waging war on the cheap.  A former co-worker of mine, CW4 Dave Carter, was on board that aircraft, and he was probably one of the most experienced Chinook pilots in the Army...bottom line.