Picture of the day

[Dark Alley Dan]

I wouldn't jump to too many conclusions. Look at the ribbons, and the faces.

You misunderstand me, mate. I implied they were old, not hard, or capable.

 

[DOOK]

Methinks any one of those serious mf's would eat any current average 20-30 yr old's ass for brunch, and send him on his way with a limp, and a few less teeth.

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

Dad's 77 this year. He's often said "Don't mess with old people. They don't have the time or energy to feck around."

Very generally speaking, the Veterans Guard lads probably had that serious combination of strength, wisdom, experience, and patience that old people are often blessed with. Doubtless some were complete jerkoffs, but you'll find that in any group of humans. I've never heard of any reports of excesses or poor behaviour amoung them.

 

[MarkCNP]

 

[john@]

Any idea what is a "fitted housewife"?

 

[diopter]

Uniform sewing kit with spare buttons, etc.

 

[shredder]

Looks like the gear a WWII soldier carried is a lot lighter than what our soldiers carry now.

What's the average combat load an infantryman carries these days?

 

[Recce21]

Depends on role. Minimum 70 lbs up to 100+ lbs.

Looks like the gear a WWII soldier carried is a lot lighter than what our soldiers carry now.

What's the average combat load an infantryman carries these days?

 

[Surplus1]

Wisdom and experience trumps most things

 

[Gibbs505]

Looks like the gear a WWII soldier carried is a lot lighter than what our soldiers carry now.

What's the average combat load an infantryman carries these days?

About 40 lbs as shown. The valise and water bottle would add maybe 20-30 ibs? Total would then be about 60 or so. At a guess.

 

[purple]

The age old question of what is the optimum soldier's load. To a great extent it depends on where he is and what he is doing. Physiology hasn't changed all that much, but the gear has, both in terms of weight and quantity. Packing 70-100 lbs as they did in Afghanistan was virtually incapacitating. History shows that the troops figure out what is important pretty fast and a lot of the "nice to haves" soon get tossed in the ditch along the line of march.

 

[screwtape]

The age old question of what is the optimum soldier's load. To a great extent it depends on where he is and what he is doing. Physiology hasn't changed all that much, but the gear has, both in terms of weight and quantity. Packing 70-100 lbs as they did in Afghanistan was virtually incapacitating. History shows that the troops figure out what is important pretty fast and a lot of the "nice to haves" soon get tossed in the ditch along the line of march.

No, no, no. NOTHING just gets "tossed in a ditch along the line of march"; it ALL gets "lost as a result of enemy action". That stuff in the ditches is all just a mirage...

 

[AP]

No, no, no. NOTHING just gets "tossed in a ditch along the line of march"; it ALL gets "lost as a result of enemy action". That stuff in the ditches is all just a mirage...

and a good "RQ" will make sure there is appropriate paper to cover that.

 

[Donald Mackenzie]

In the 1960,s Fighting Order, was no helmet ,web gear(belt and harness)with small pack ( on back),water bottle, poncho, bayonet, 4 mags and 1 bandoleer, (No pouches for mags), we picked up surplus pouches mostly US, for carrying mags, We had Bush gear then, not combat gear. About 20lbs not including ammo.

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

Someone's gonna have a bad day in a second or two:

 

[Ganderite]

^^ Looks like the tail guns are adding to the excitement.

 

[MarkCNP]

Japanese soldier, Hiroo Onoda, relieved of duty in 1974:

 

[shredder]

Was he not the last Japanese soldier to surrender to the Allies in the Philippines? I seem to recall reading that he would not surrender until his old commanding officer actually read the Emperor's surrender order to him (over loudspeakers IIRC) sometime in the early 70's.

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

Apparently, two fellows (Kiyoaki Tanaka and Shigeyuki Hashimoto) hung in with a communist insurgency in Malaysia until 1990. Hard, stubborn old buggers.

When the Malaysian Communist Party surrendered in Southern Thailand in 1989, there were at least two former Japanese soldiers with them. About 200 Japanese consisting of soldiers and civilian employees joined the MPAJA. While most of them joined soon after the end of the war, some who could not support the oppressive Japanese policies deserted the Japanese army to join the MPAJA during the war. They were resolved, together with the Malayan people, to liberate Malaya from British colonial rule. When the MCP finally decided not to wage an anti-British war, Lai Tek considered them to be obstacles to the implementation of this peaceful line. In accordance with his order, nearly 100 Japanese members were killed. Of the remaining one hundred, only two managed to survive the protracted armed struggle that ended in 1989.

Interesting how communist revolutions have a phase when violent people are useful tools, and a phase immediately afterward when they're a liability. Like owning a vicious dog, then having kids.

In other troubling news, the idea of the Japanese Holdout is so pervasive, even Gilligan and crew had to deal with a guy in a mini-sub in "So Sorry, My Island Now":

 

[MarkCNP]

That guy had some mad tailoring skills.