We can play a role in the war effort
A report from MNF-Iraq today said five soldiers were killed in Iraq when "an improvised explosive device struck their vehicle while on patrol in the Multi-National-Division Baghdad area of operations."
The vehicle is not specified, but it would deeply sadden me if it was a Humvee.
In my previous post on this particular topic, I included casualties involving Humvess from Nov 29 through Dec 15. Here are casualties since then, where Humvees were specified as being involved.
Now, in doing this, I am absolutely not trying to say that these brave soldiers died in vain. I've begun paying closer attention to this solely to ask the question, are we truly doing all we can to provide those who are in harm's way on our behalf with what they need? If not, why aren't we moving heaven and earth to develop an adequate fighting vehicle?
We can ask these questions of our government representatives. We can ask that someone with the power to change things take this on and make it their work to make sure we as a country are not letting this need slide simply because it is easy to do so, while the military has to bear the burden. This is our fight, too. We owe it to those defending us that we have made every effort to support them.
Previous Posts
Can't we do better?
The Rock
It is still an inadequate vehicle
More on the Humvee
The vehicle is not specified, but it would deeply sadden me if it was a Humvee.
In my previous post on this particular topic, I included casualties involving Humvess from Nov 29 through Dec 15. Here are casualties since then, where Humvees were specified as being involved.
| Date | Name | Assigned To | Circumstances |
| Dec 19 | Staff Sgt. Johnnie Mason | 52nd OG | IED detonated near his HMMWV |
| Dec 20 | 1st Lt. Michael Cleary Spc. Richard Naputi | 3rd ID | IED detonated near their HMMWV |
| Dec 24 | Sgt. Myla Maravillosa | 301st MIB | her HMMWV was attacked by RPGs |
| Dec 23 | Sgt. Regina Reali Sgt. Cheyenne Willey | 351st CAC | IED detonated near their HMMWV |
| Dec 25 | Spc. Anthony Cardinal | 3rd ID | IED detonated near his HMMWV |
| Dec 26 | Sgt. Dominic Coles | 5th EB | his HMMWV came under attack |
| Dec 26 | Spc. Dane Carver | 125th IR | his HMMWV came under attack |
| Dec 28 | 1st Sgt. Tobias Meister | 321st CAB | IED detonated near his HMMWV in Afghanistan |
| Dec 28 | Spc. Aaron Forbes | 4th ID | IED detonated near his HMMWV |
| Dec 30 | Pvt. Jonathan Pfender | 101st AD | IED detonated near his HMMWV |
| Jan 1 | SSgt. Christopher Vanderhorn | 101st AD | IED detonated near his HMMWV |
| Dec 30 | Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Dostie | 101st AD | IED detonated near his HMMWV |
| Dec 29 | Spc. Prince Teewia | 101st AD | IED detonated near his HMMWV |
| Jan 1 | Sgt. 1st Class Jason Bishop | 101st AD | IED detonated near his HMMWV |
Now, in doing this, I am absolutely not trying to say that these brave soldiers died in vain. I've begun paying closer attention to this solely to ask the question, are we truly doing all we can to provide those who are in harm's way on our behalf with what they need? If not, why aren't we moving heaven and earth to develop an adequate fighting vehicle?
We can ask these questions of our government representatives. We can ask that someone with the power to change things take this on and make it their work to make sure we as a country are not letting this need slide simply because it is easy to do so, while the military has to bear the burden. This is our fight, too. We owe it to those defending us that we have made every effort to support them.
Previous Posts
Can't we do better?
The Rock
It is still an inadequate vehicle
More on the Humvee
1 Comments:
At Sat Jan 07, 11:46:00 AM, Anonymous said…
absolutely. the humve is a piece of *%&%$&$*&^!!
i know, i fight in one all time. i have had good buddies and fellow soldiers and americans killed in them many many times.
its better than nothing, the factory armored version is better than the johny come lately add on but...its still a rolling joke.
go look at the pictures of all the blown up ones. where were they hit and why did their armor get penetrated (if that was the cause of catastrophy, ie there are other ways to destroy them and/or they can be taken out because there was never any armor penetratd in the first place because the bad guys struck WHERE THERE ISNT ANY ARMOR on the "armored" humvee!)
ag! if i had a dollar, every time general pace or rumsfeld or some other safe in the states suit says, 'yes, but they can always build a bigger ied to attack you with...' duh! you think i dont know that? or that i somehow dont know even a tank can be taken out by an ied?! well, duh, a battleship can be blasted with big enough ordnance.
Thats a pathetic cop-out not leadership to change the status quo and get the junk we drive off the streets NOW before more good men are lost.
WE have literally had years to fix this problem and its not happening. I see no massive push to drop the humve like a piece of vulnerable flawed design that it is.
a national disgrace.
like i said, for me, i dont care, i will ride a bike to battle.
for the young gi joe and jane, I know we can and should and ought to do better.
Post a Comment
<< Home