47th anniversary of battle of long tan

[Reynod]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-18/47th-anniversary-of-battle-of-long-tan/4894166

http://www.6rarassociation.com/battlelongtan.htm

I didn't realise those guys got a US Presidential Citation either ... its amazing any of them survived the day.

 

[riser]

Things you never hear about in the US history.. Though, I had to go to Wiki for the shorter story line. By the way the story went, I thought a huge amount of Aussies were killed.. likes dozens. Only to find out it was 18, but the VC had well over 200 dead.

Definitely a day to recognize those in other countries who fight.

 

[Reynod]

My uncles (both armourers / Cav in Nam) said the small arms we had let us down ... that and having poor fire support.

Oh and not being able to bomb the VC (or nuke them) once they crossed the border next door kinda ruined things ... otherwise the Yanks would have won the war in three months.

Rules !!! Sheesh.

You guys should have let Patton run that war ... he would have stopped AFTER China and Russia ... maybe once he reached ice.

 

[riser]

My dad said the same thing. He was in the air force and privy to some flight info. He said we wouldn't attack sites because they had Russians or Chinese at the base. Once the Russians/Chinese left, we'd go bomb it after it was operational and causing problems.

We did operate over the borders but nothing extensive to the point of significance. Search and Destroy missions.. send out a small platoon to get ambushed, send in air to bomb the hell out of them.. took heavy casualties doing that crap. Told me that did a lot of stupid things and that's what happens when the government runs a war instead of letting the military do what it does.

My grandfather had it right. He was under Patton. He came up through Italy and was the first Battalion into Berlin. He said along the way when the Nazis realized they had lost, they would send out a couple with rockets to take out tanks. They'd fire one shot and surrender. At first, they captured them as POWs. After 3 days, they just started shooting them on the spot. That quickly changed the tactics after realizing they weren't going to be POWs getting served food.

He told me he and another guy had to scout out a farm house. They thought German soldiers were hiding in there. The farmers were big Nazi supporters.. so after they cleared the house and barn, they wanted to lighten their extra load they took to the farm house. They threw all their grenades into the barn and blew up all the horses and cattle.

It sounds harsh, but that's how you win wars quickly. We keep dragging out these wars and causing more long term problems that just going in, doing the job, and getting the hell out.

 

[Reynod]

Jeez ... When I come over at chrissy I'll readjust the low and fast idle screws in your brain ... and maybe put a slightly smaller jet in.

Your mixture is way too rich and thats why the plugs keep fouling up.

You don't go around killing pow's ...