Ordered to Germany, Pvt. Hagel wound up in Vietnam

By ROBERT BURNS | Associated Press – Thu, Jan 31, 2013.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Chuck Hagel says a funny thing happened on his way to the Vietnam War as an Army private 45 years ago.

He almost went, instead, to Germany as one of nine soldiers entrusted with a top-secret shoulder-fired missile designed to shoot down Soviet MiG fighters in the event the Soviets launched an invasion of Western Europe.

After two months of training on the weapon in New Mexico, and while packing up for his flight to Germany, Hagel decided he’d rather go to an actual war — Vietnam. His Army superiors, however, seemed to doubt the sanity of that choice and decided it better take a closer look at his motives for volunteering for combat. Continue reading →

The Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) is a subunified command of the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).  It is charged to study special operations requirements and techniques, ensure interoperability and equipment standardization, plan and conduct special operations exercises and training, and develop joint special operations tactics. Continue reading →

Bud writes:

I’m sure you have heard about the cruise ship that lost power and left the passengers stranded for five days without power/running water/hot food.

Well, I know of a group who were stranded for almost a year.  They had to eat out of cans that were thrown to them from a helicopter.  They were without cell phones and internet. Their only contact with the outside world was to write letters.  They didn’t get a change of clothes or a bath for weeks.  They slept on the ground and stayed soaked by the heavy rain for days at a time and people shot at them.

Don’t you feel sorry for those poor folks on the cruise ship?

Mission:

Provide fully capable Special Operations Forces to defend the United States and its interests. Synchronize planning of global operations against terrorist networks. Continue reading →

Mission:

The United States Army Special Forces have five primary missions: unconventional warfare (the original and most important mission of Special Forces), foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, direct action, and counter-terrorism. Other duties include combat search and rescue (CSAR), counter-narcotics, counter-proliferation, hostage rescue, humanitarian assistance, humanitarian demining, information operations, peacekeeping, psychological operations, security assistance, and manhunts.Special Forces have the ability to be virtually everywhere at once; this guarantees that they are the first on the ground or already at a crisis location when trouble starts. Continue reading →

Mike Stokes writes via Email:

It’s been 45 years since we were invited to celebrate the lunar new year in Kontum Vietnam. It was not a celebration any of us wish to repeat but it was an event which brought all of us closer together.

None of us will forget what we experienced that February of 1968 and the things we witnessed. Each of us carries a different emotion for what we were asked to do during our tours and I know many still carry deep scars.

My prayer for this New Year is that each of us will be able to separate a little further from trauma and pain. I pray we can each share our experiences of that time with those around us so that can help us unburden.

I thank all of you for your friendship

Mike Stokes

The 75th Ranger Regiment is a lethal, agile and flexible force, capable of executing a myriad of complex, joint special operations missions in support of U. S. policies and objectives. Designed and trained to be the most rapidly deployable unit in the Army capable of conducting operations in all types of terrain and weather using various insertion methods, today’s 75th Ranger Regiment is the Army’s premier raid force. Continue reading →

Capable of infiltrating by land, sea, or air, the Ranger Regiment plans, executes, and commands and controls special operations in support of the nation’s military objectives and global interests across the full spectrum continuum, worldwide. Continue reading →

Fighting for Dignity of Veterans

WHITTIER — When combat medic Jose G. Ramos returned home from the Vietnam War, the decorated Army veteran was wracked with guilt over the men he could not save.

Already smoking pot, he turned to cocaine to keep him awake when the nightmares worsened. Then he started drinking heavily. Ulti­mately, he didn’t care whether he lived or died.

“It’s only been the last six or seven years, I started finally getting my life back,” said Ramos, 64, who has been clean for about 20 years. “I don’t feel old when I look at the mirror; I feel good … I want to live. I couldn’t say that eight or 10 years ago.”

Today, as the founder of the Wel­come Home Vietnam Veterans Day project, Ramos has dedicated his life to ensuring that no veteran feels alone or helpless again.

Ramos has been the driving force in getting cities in Southern California, including Whittier and Los Angeles, to pass resolutions acknowledging the service of Viet­nam veterans by declaring a “Wel­come Home Vietnam Veterans Day.” Continue reading →