Real American heroes/Knives in combat

timdennis

timdennis

Joined
Sep 4, 1999
Messages
591
There was an article I was I just reading in a local newspaper. A University professor was commenting on the lack of heroes in kids today.Kids could name movie/tv stars and athletes and wrestlers,but none could name Medal of Honor winners or real life doers of great deeds.
The Philadelphia Inquirer ran a series last year I think called "BLACKHAWK DOWN". The author went on to write a decent book on this but the newspaper series was great because of photos and related maps,articles that with it.In addition theauthor went online in a forum to answer questions not covered in the articles.
It will make you want to cry when you see what actions the Sgts who were awarded the Medal of Honor performed. How they volunteered to be dropped into crash site facing literally thousands just to give their wounded comrades a chance.Real American heroes.Its hard to believe there are still Americans brave and unselfish. Kids now go to college to make big money. The concept of making yourself a better person and the world a better place seems to be lost.
Now as far as the knife slant.One Navy Seal survived because a round struck him but hit and shattered the hilt of Randall Knife. I forget if it was the model 1 or 18.
In the on line forum it was asked if there was any knifehand or hand to hand fighting.The suprising answer,None -everything involved firearms.
Knives are tools.

[This message has been edited by timdennis (edited 26 November 1999).]

[This message has been edited by timdennis (edited 26 November 1999).]

[This message has been edited by timdennis (edited 26 November 1999).]
 
Hand-to-hand combat still happens in war, depending on the terrain. Not in the Gulf War, but there was a great deal of night fighting in the Falklands as the Argentines chose a strategy of night attacks in an attempt to overcome the British advantage in support weapons. Bayonets, sharpened E-tools, and knives often came into play, as reported by veterans from both sides on sci.military.moderated. Of course even there edged weapons accounted for a very small percentage of casualties.

-Cougar Allen :{)
 
Nice post Tim.

Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden is one of the best books I have ever read and those American Rangers and Delta Operatives though out numbered by hundreds Mogadisians (sp?)did an outstanding getting out of that city and performed their actions heroically and the book brought me to tears a number of times.

I too, also noticed the reference to the soldier's Randall that saved his life. I recommend all Americans read this book.

If anyone wants to look at the web site relating to this book Click Here

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~Greg Mete~
Kodiak Alaska



[This message has been edited by Kodiak PA (edited 26 November 1999).]
 
Greg,
Make it easier on yourself...we just called them "skinnies".

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Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
 
The book and series were were amoung the most profound reading materials in my life. Although I loved the book, the INQUIRER's series and online stuff with the questions to the author and maps,graphics & photos added to being there almost.
This news article about heroes made me think of this and I needed a knife tie in to justify putting in in the blade discussion area.

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Tim

 
The most decorated American soldier ever, Audie Murphy, has been forgotten by the public today. It is disgusting to say the least. The Us post office refuses to put out a stamp honoring Audie. We have stamps for everything under the sun,but none for "Little Texas". Maybe i am off the topic or maybe not. Audie Murphy performed deeds in combat unheard of,but was so modest he once said that not only are the real heroes dead,but that he was only a survivor from the law of averages.
 
Ivan-You are certainly not off topic.Your comment about Audie Murphy was a perfect example of what I was referring to.I didn't know about the Stamp business. You can get Daffy Duck but not an authentic American hero and patriot!

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Tim

 
My 11th grade US History class just saw "The Red Badge of Courage", starring Audie Murphy. Before the film, I asked the students to ask their parents (or Grandparents) who he was. Relatively few knew, but after last week, 115 teenagers know who he was. They enjoyed the movie, too, even though it was in "glorious Black & White".
Tying in to the Mogadishu thread earlier, David Hackworth said in his latest book that "there were more tanks in Waco than in Mogadishu". Hope I haven't gotten off the subject too much.
 
This morning I was lucky enough to wake up early and I turned on C-Span and there was a panel discussion of US combat veterans. Many of these gentlemen were medal of honor winners (there are currently around 150 living CMH winners at this time). What a privilege to listen to these modest men speak. How fortunate we were to have them fighting for us. One older gent said he was not a hero but was a warrior. He spent 19 of his 30 years in uniform in combat!. I am glad that we have these types of thread every so often to put some perspective into our lives.

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~Greg Mete~
Kodiak Alaska

 
you guys will be happy to know that the P.O. announced that they finally will be putting out an Audie Murphy stamp in the coming year. It's about time.

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lifter
Phil. 4:13

Dave
Wharton,NJ


 
Yes! Right after i made the post on no Audie Murphy stamp, I was reading my American legion magazine and guess what? Next year will bve a Audie Murphy, Alvin York, Omar Bradley. and John Hines(decorated WWI commander and a Army Chief of Staff) And I didnt realize Sgt. York had not a stamp before. Finally! "Red Badge of Courage" was one of Audies best movies besides "to Hell and Back". Isnt strange that we can watch these movies over and over again,but these new movies we can forget in a heartbeat!
 
Would that I could perform even half as well as these men in the same situation.
Truly they are heroes.

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The bible is not such a book a man would write if he could, or could write if he would.

*Lewis S. Chafer

2 Tim 3:16
 
I wrote a contemporary story based on Beowulf and I used Audie Murphy as one of my characters. I got an "A". Audie Murphy truly was an American Hero!

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David Gardner
Vineland NJ

"If you fake the Funk, your nose will grow."
-W. Bootsy Collins


 
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