Mmmm, delicious bowl of Jigglypuffs is part of this balanced breakfast.

Although I prefer start my day with a bowl of "Green Berets", gives me all the energy I need to rescue my kidnapped daughter Jenny, AND throw a pipe through Bennett.

Easy old man, easy. The war is over.

He reminds me of the Green Beret from 'Commandos' the game.
http://www.freewebs.com/greateuropeantroops/Green%20Beret%20C1_insert%20cd.jpg

Less ridiculous, but...
http://videosift.com/video/Sgt-Barry-Sadler-Ballad-of-the-Green-Beret
>> ^Gamble:

Damn, as an American paratrooper, I wish we had some ridiculous music video with a Jumpmaster vocalist.

Sorry to say, but:
*dupeof=http://videosift.com/video/John-Pilger-Freedom-Next-Time

Wasn't till I got to the Green Berets and Deer Hunter stories that I recalled this one.

In reply to this comment by marinara:
cool reply.


In reply to this comment by chicchorea:
Outstanding.

The account in the vid pales.

He sustained serious injuries from a land mine in Vietnam before undergoing SOG training at Ft. Bragg with the spinal injury. Almost unbelievable as far as that goes.

I just reread the MOH Citation for the first time in many years. (http://www.valorremembered.org/RPB_MOHCitation.htm)

I see his name all the time here. It good to be reminded of why.

>> ^NordlichReiter:

It's a shame that this sort of heroism is needed, in such wasteful wars.


a shame? i bet that couch yer sittin on is comfortable. a shame? spoken like a true keyboard patriot. a shame? say what you will about the vietnam conflict, but acts carried out by men like MSG Benavidez show what embodies the human spirit: courage, vigilance, tenacity, intestinal fortitude, selfless service, and integrity in the face of crippling fear and certain death.

what's really shameful is that you would hold an act of personal sacrifice such as this in contempt so that you may add relevance to your political commentary

cool reply.


In reply to this comment by chicchorea:
Outstanding.

The account in the vid pales.

He sustained serious injuries from a land mine in Vietnam before undergoing SOG training at Ft. Bragg with the spinal injury. Almost unbelievable as far as that goes.

I just reread the MOH Citation for the first time in many years. (http://www.valorremembered.org/RPB_MOHCitation.htm)

I see his name all the time here. It good to be reminded of why.

Tags for this video have been changed from 'marine, green, beret, ballad, 60s' to 'green, beret, ballad, 60s' - edited by MarineGunrock

>> ^charliem:
This is fucking horrible.
12 US Soldiers dead due to corporate neglegance....someone needs to go to prison.


Actually, I find it far more horrible that they're there because of a lie and the men behind that lie shall never be brought to justice. That lie has cost over 100,000 deaths. Meanwhile, Bush is having such a good time, he feels completely comfortable dancing on television.

The name of the fellow that needs to go to prison is George W. Bush.

Ok, I don't get it. So which were they? Navy SEALs? Delta Force? or Special Forces (Green Berets)?

>> ^charliem:
This is fucking horrible.
12 US Soldiers dead due to corporate neglegance....someone needs to go to prison.

The one sergeant is dead, but I think the remainder got shocked yet survived. AFAIK, electrocution ≠ death by electricity.

It's not my intention, however, to downplay this egregious state of affairs. My deployment was to a safe part of the Gulf and our base was as comfy as they come, but after five months even we started to get a little stir-crazy and began snapping at each other. When I imagine going to war and then having to worry about getting shocked (to death, no less) in my own shower -- the mind boggles.

First things first. If anyone has ever seen me post they know I'm one of the first to speak about taser abuse, racial imbalance in the prison system, or other problems of the sort. I'm hardly an apologist for anyone, especially for authority. But the "how can one expect a military man to understand humanity" thing was out of line.

The most gentle and childlike man in terms of wanting to play rather than fight I've ever met in my life was a former green beret who fought in Nam, 68-69. He like many others didn't join to kill people, he joined to play baseball on special teams and when that was cut to expand the war in Nam they asked him to try out for the other. Most who join think they are doing the right thing, at least when they start. Although most have had the chance to rotate out by now we started this war with kids who joined to get money for college or to get out of dead end towns, not with killers. Almost anyone put into an ugly situation can find themselves doing things they never would have dreamed of on their own, be it on the streets, prison, or in war. I did, streets and lockup. Blame the war and the leaders, or the drug war, or whatever applies in that particular case.

Some of those same people come out to form groups such as Veterans Against The War, or Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. Convert them if they aren't already with us, don't condemn them.

As far as the vid, personally I think it's in poor taste and doesn't have anythiing to do with nature but I've never down voted anything yet and I'm not going to start with this one. I'm as surprised by some of the reaction to it as I am about the vid itself. Not that people didn't like it, but at how fast the discussion got personal. We're normally better than this. WTF? You don't change minds or get a point of view across by getting combative, you do it by explaining.

I thought you would appreciate this:

Reaction to Snakes
• Civilian: Runs away from the snake screaming.
• Paratrooper: Lands on and kills the snake.
• Armor: runs over snake, giggles, and looks for more snakes.
• Infantry: "Look, a pussy cat. Come 'ere kitty....Ouch! Hey, that's not a pussy cat."
• Army Aviation: Has GPS grid to snake. Can't find snake. Back to base for crew rest and the club and some sort of drink called "The Snake."
• Ranger: Plays with the snake, then eats it.
• 2nd Ranger: Assaults the snake's home and secures it for use by friendly snakes.
• MI: analyzes all available intelligence and national asset input on the reptilian situation; reports sighting of Godzilla to National Command Authority.
• JAG: Advises the snake on the rules of engagement and the law of war as it pertains to the snake and its defensive posture.
• Quartermaster: Captures snake and applies a NSN to it. Implements a FOI procedure and picks up snake on property book. Has company commander sign hand receipt for "Snake, Green, One Each," as non-expendable unit property.
• Chemical Corps: Starts to gas the little booger, but then realizes that there is an M-18, A-2 Respirator especially made for snakes, remembers the Chemical Corps Motto, "UTRWBAG" (Up Their Rear With Bugs and Gas), and conducts three experiments on it that have been strictly prohibited by the Clinton Treaty of 1999.
• Navy SEAL: Expends all ammunition, several grenades and calls for naval gunfire in a failed attempt to kill the snake. The snake bites the SEAL then retreats to safety.
• Artillery: Kills snake, but in the process kills several hundred civilians with a massive TOT with three FA BDEs in support. Mission is considered a success and all participants (cooks, mechanics, clerks) are awarded Silver Stars.
• Marine Recon: Follows the snake and gets lost.
• Pathfinder: Guides the snake elsewhere.
• AF Fighter Pilot: Mis-identifies the snake as a Russian HIND helicopter and engages it with missiles. Crew chief paints a snake on airplane.
• AF Pararescue: Wounds the snake in first encounter, then feverishly works to save the snake's life.
• Green Beret: Makes contact with the snake, builds rapport, wins its heart and mind, then trains it to kill other snakes.