Open carry is not to be recommended in vicinity of Patrol Base Shamal Storrai:
Within 40 days, the two marksmen from 4 Rifles, part of the Welsh Guards Battle group, had achieved 75 confirmed kills with 31 attributed to Potter and 44 to Osmond. Each kill was chalked up as a little stick man on the beam above the firing position in their camouflaged sangar beside the base gate – a stick man with no head denoting a target eliminated with a shot to the skull…
On one occasion they killed eight Taliban in two hours, ‘I wasn’t comfortable with it at first,’ said Osmond, ‘you start wondering is it really necessary?’ But the reaction of the locals soon persuaded him. ‘We had people coming up to us afterwards, not scared to talk to us. They felt they were being protected’.
I imagine that after the first dozen or so, the novelty of the experience wears off.
At least, I hope it does.
A reporter asked a military sniper what he felt when he killed a Taliban fighter…
His answer, ” Recoil. ”
Pour it on Lads…..make’em count…..Good Show. Brilliant.
They aren’t the only people that are happy in their work.
The Israelis just shared stats that “79.5% of all those fit for field unit duty requested to serve in combat positions”, stating that motivation amongst new recruits in the IDF is the HIGHEST EVER.
The new troops are probably looking at the Maghreb and feeling a bit of concern. Hard to blame them.
Every now and again the Army or Marines come up with a sociopath that comes to enjoy killing. I’ve met a few that thought they would, then when they experience it they get sick. William Manchester’s description of his first kill in combat is typical of the reaction, if not the full outcome – he vomited.
At the same time, men get hardened to it. You have to if you are going to survive spiritually. The line in the “Warrior’s Song” – “I’ll take your life with a heart like Arctic Ice” pretty much states the goal. No hate, or passion. Just another day at the office offing wogs.
My son’s best friend served as an MP with an ARNG unit in Iraq. 3 of his friends were killed, and he killed some as well. He was a care free, happy go lucky kid at the going away party for him and my son back in 2001. When he came back he was not the young man we sent away. Like so many that have had to kill in combat, he didn’t fit in anymore back home. He went down to the recruiter’s office and went back on active duty. His wife isn’t sure what she got back.
Anyone that enjoys killing has a very deep seated problem. Only wacky leftists think Soldiers like it.
QM -
While I understand what you have stated, we are not in a fight that would allow ” The Rules of War” to be adhered to…These bast-rds murder women & children like you go out to cut the grass in your yard.
Read this -
“(June 10,2010) — Taliban militants have executed a 7-year-old boy after accusing him of being a spy for the Kabul government, an official in southern Afghanistan said today.
The boy was reportedly kidnapped from his home, taken to a neighboring village in Helmand province and hanged in public from a tree after he was killed.
The execution was carried out Tuesday after the boy was put on trial and found guilty of working for the Afghan government, London’s Daily Mail reported.”
Sorry – I am FULLY behind sending these murderous idjits to meet their maker post haste, by whatever means are necessary. No regrets. No remorse. It’s no different than taking out the garbage.
SK, I’m not in disagreement with you. My point is we should not come to the point of enjoying killing of another human being. Even if that human being is a murderous idjit himself. We kill because it’s us or them, not because we like it. If we like it, then we are no better than them.
I misspoke on the year. It was 2004 vice 2001.
Greetings:
My favorite Platoon Sergeant used to say that it was impolite to keep counting after your first dozen.
QM, I remember how it was after my release from active duty in ’78, and how different I felt from the college kids my age. At age 22 we were light years apart in maturity and how we reasoned through things. It’s not just killing in combat that changes us, it’s the service itself that transforms us into those creatures that, initially, don’t fit in anymore.
A couple of differences for us, I believe, were 1.) Our generation seemed to actively make a choice to put certain things behind us after leaving the military. 2.) We didn’t have the media pumping our lives full of an ongoing war to the extent that we have now. I sometimes think a military news blackout would do us some good.
Not only do these youngsters today have to kill in combat, but they are expected to go back for four and five tours in a four year period. WWII was over, for the most part, after five years of combat, whereas today’s conflicts transition from one chapter into another. Today’s young war fighters have known little else but war in their adulthood, so I’m not the least bit surprised that any vestige of their childhood has been stripped from them.
I know there’s no practical way to implement this in the military, but establishing something like term limits on combat tours would not be a bad thing. Barring extensive post-tour psychological therapy, I don’t know how we’re going to get these fine lads healthy again and back into mainstream civilization.
Well said, Mongo.
I agree about the military changing a man. I’ve said as much here and over at the Castle.
Combat, however, changes a man even more, espcially if he knows he has killed. I’ve seen lighthearted men before going to combat come back introspective and brooding. TacAir pilots don’t seem to be as affected by it, but it’s more impersonal to them. Infantry, however, are far different.
It has to be done, but I don’t have to like it.
At some point it becomes a job…..and how the repetitive recoil affects your curve ball in the Sunday cricket game.
If one has never done it, then I think they cannot have any idea of its effects… not only on mission success, but on the person.
However if one has done it and believes “it becomes a job,” I submit they are not being totally honest with themselves, via false bravado.
But this “self-numbing” defense does help the psyche for most of them to continue on successfully…. And to live somewhat normally, long thereafter.
So if it works for them, I certainly can’t knock it. In fact, it is probably good.
[Disclaimer – I have never been, nor do I think I could ever be a sniper. But I honor those who are, for their dedication, expertise, and for the extreme importance of what they do.]
For the sane it never becomes just a job…as ” the thousand yard stare” in it various incarnations can attest. Best
Had a Viet Nam era Army sniper in my A&P class. Had some interesting photos from his years in country. Don’t know if he was a bit of a sick puppy before that duty but he certainly was by the time I knew him. Though it might have been as much his time on the Tacoma PD special investigations (special victims type crimes).
From ‘Nam to a detective slot in special victims unit is a jump from the frying pan to the fire. No wonder he was a mess.
Thank God we have such kids who can do the mean and nasty so that we can sleep securely in bed! I also say that we should spare no expense for them afterwards. God Bless them all and take good care of them!
Many of the comments at the end of the linked article are … expressive. Those unhinged loons make Flit sound like a Reagan conservative.
Thank you Casey…..( I think).