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Why they call it “infantry”

By lex, on December 26th, 2007

piosa.jpg

And he’s one of the officers.

Hard work in a far place.

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December 26th, 2007 | Category: GWOT, Military

11 comments to Why they call it “infantry”

  • Eric
    December 26, 2007 at 6:09 am

    We were soldiers once. And Young.

    SSG, USA (Ret)
    1975-1995

  • Snake Eater
    December 26, 2007 at 7:00 am

    Eric, Well said…it’s now their turn. Best

    PS, Were we that young?

  • EJ Smith
    December 26, 2007 at 9:20 am

    Wow.
    Gotta love them Grunts.
    There are none like them.

    That “kid” (pictured) is leading some really fine troops.

    God Bless them all.

  • Albany Rifles
    December 26, 2007 at 10:07 am

    Outstanding…

  • Eagle1
    December 26, 2007 at 10:17 am

    He’s old enough, as noted in Catch-22:
    “You’re inches away from death every time you go on a mission. How much older can you be at your age?”

    And thank God for them…

  • xformed
    December 26, 2007 at 11:31 am

    When I get home, I’ll dig out the quote from “Hog Pilots.” The author had a really good observation about what these young people are involved and what that may bring to us in the future as a result of their experiences.

  • Allen
    December 26, 2007 at 11:35 am

    “it’s now their turn.”

    Too true. Makes me damn proud to see what they are doing.

    Sky Soldiers!

  • The Owner's Manual
    December 26, 2007 at 11:48 am

    From the article—

    “By many measures, Afghanistan is
    falling apart. The Afghan opium crop has flourished in the past two
    years and now represents 93 percent of the world’s supply, with an
    estimated street value of $38 billion in 2006. That money helps
    bankroll an insurgency that is now operating virtually within sight of
    the capital, Kabul.”
    Meanwhile…

    To satisfy Western demands that [the opium] supply chain is broken, Afghan farmers have had their entire crops destroyed. Other farmers who voluntarily gave up growing poppies on the promise of financial help to grow other crops say the help never materialised. Reports have emerged of farmers made destitute by the West’s anti-poppy campaign, who have resorted to selling their children in order to stay financially afloat.
    The targeting of the poppy fields is widely believed to be a major factor in the popularity
    of the Taliban insurgency in the south and east. British troops facing
    some of the most intense fighting are in Helmand, a major centre of poppy cultivation.
    [...]
    Western anti-narcotics agencies have
    rejected the suggestion of cultivating Afghan opium for
    medicinal use …
    Doctors
    propose using Afghan opium as NHS pain-killer
    Evidently, the War on Drugs trumps the War on Terror as the fruits of the former undermine the prosecution of the latter, with the Afghan economy in the crossfire.

  • jpr
    December 26, 2007 at 4:06 pm

    I read that last week. As written in the story, one of the NCOs, Rice, at 27, is considered the “old man” of the platoon. I can’t recall mostly what I did at 27, but it sure wasn’t what he’s doing now.

  • HomefrontSix
    December 26, 2007 at 9:21 pm

    T.O.M. ~ I just read that part. And yes, it does seem like a Catch-22.

    Battle Company is my BIL’s old company. He was in Piosa’s shoes not more than 24 months ago. Reading this article brings back memories – good and bad.

    Piosa looks so young. Then again, so it my BIL.

    Wow.
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