righty Loc: Tenn

Welcome and thank you for your service. Don't mind the illogical lefties as well as the youngsters who still don't know their butts from a knothole. You will find out quick who is who. Look forward to hearing what you have to say.

Onelostdog Loc: Restless Oregon

He sounds like he is in the same boat as Song Bird McCain and Lying Kerry and a few other traitorous ex military politicos to me.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

He may be, but without knowing, as a fellow Veteran...I give him the benefit of the doubt, whether I agree with him or not. A man over 90, such as he, also warrants some respect, if not agreement.

MarvinSussman

In WW II, a battle was fought in Bogheim, Germany, and on a nearby hill. Less than a thousand men together on both sides were involved. But the whole war was this struggle multiplied by thousands. The following description of the battle comes in this citation from the American army headquarters. If you want a description of war, it is as good a description as you can find. I know because I was in A-troop's 2nd platoon.

BATTLE HONORS. As authorized by Executive Order, citation of the following unit indicated is confirmed in the name of the President of the United States as public evidence of deserved honor and distinction. The citation reads as follows:

The 4th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron is cited for conspicuously distinguishing itself in battle against the enemy on 20 and 21 December 1944. The Squadron's mission was to attack in its zone and secure Bogheim, Germany and the high ground to the southeast of the town.

Previous actions in the Hurtgen Forest had reduced the troops from 140 men to between 55 and 70 men each. Nevertheless, two battle groups of the 942nd German Infantry Regiment, 353rd Infantry Division, and one company of the 6th Parachute Regiment, which then represented one of the finest fighting units of the German Army, were completely destroyed during the course of this action.

On the morning of 20 December 1944, under dense fog and heavy concentrations of enemy artillery, the Squadron forced an entry into Bogheim. Resistance was fanatical, necessitating tortuous house-to-house fighting. By 1400 hours all resistance in the town had ceased, but the troop commanders of all the troops directly committed had either been killed or seriously wounded, and five of the nine platoon leaders of the reconnaissance troops were evacuated. Twenty-five percent of the enlisted personnel had also become casualties.

Again on the morning of the following day, still under heavy artillery saturation, at times reaching a density of 1000 rounds per hour, the remainder of the Squadron drove and fought its way to the top of the ridge to the southeast, held by vastly superior enemy forces in excellent defense. Almost completely exhausted from the heavy fighting of the previous day, the troops nevertheless attacked at a dead run over 200 yards of open ground uphill to the ridge.

Only the gallantry and esprit de corps of the officers and men, above and beyond the call of duty, enabled the Squadron to reorganize again and again after losing many troop commanders, platoon leaders, and other key personnel vital to the continued functioning of a tactical unit. The gallantry and supreme devotion to duty of the officers and men of the 4th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron and the magnificence of their performance are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Cavalry and the United States armed forces

MarvinSussman

In WW II, a battle was fought in Bogheim, Germany, and on a nearby hill. Less than a thousand men together on both sides were involved. But the whole war was this struggle multiplied thousands and thousands of times. The following description of the battle comes in this citation from the American army headquarters. If you want a description of war, it is as good a description as you can find. I know because I was there.

BATTLE HONORS. As authorized by Executive Order, citation of the following unit indicated is confirmed in the name of the President of the United States as public evidence of deserved honor and distinction. The citation reads as follows:

The 4th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron is cited for conspicuously distinguishing itself in battle against the enemy on 20 and 21 December 1944. The Squadron's mission was to attack in its zone and secure Bogheim, Germany and the high ground to the southeast of the town.

Previous actions in the Hurtgen Forest had reduced the troops from 140 men to between 55 and 70 men each. Nevertheless, two battle groups of the 942nd German Infantry Regiment, 353rd Infantry Division, and one company of the 6th Parachute Regiment, which then represented one of the finest fighting units of the German Army, were completely destroyed during the course of this action.

On the morning of 20 December 1944, under dense fog and heavy concentrations of enemy artillery, the Squadron forced an entry into Bogheim. Resistance was fanatical, necessitating tortuous house-to-house fighting. By 1400 hours all resistance in the town had ceased, but the troop commanders of all the troops directly committed had either been killed or seriously wounded, and five of the nine platoon leaders of the reconnaissance troops were evacuated. Twenty-five percent of the enlisted personnel had also become casualties.

Again on the morning of the following day, still under heavy artillery saturation, at times reaching a density of 1000 rounds per hour, the remainder of the Squadron drove and fought its way to the top of the ridge to the southeast, held by vastly superior enemy forces in excellent defense. Almost completely exhausted from the heavy fighting of the previous day, the troops nevertheless attacked at a dead run over 200 yards of open ground uphill to the ridge.

Only the gallantry and esprit de corps of the officers and men, above and beyond the call of duty, enabled the Squadron to reorganize again and again after losing many troop commanders, platoon leaders, and other key personnel vital to the continued functioning of a tactical unit. The gallantry and supreme devotion to duty of the officers and men of the 4th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron and the magnificence of their performance are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Cavalry and the United States armed forces

MarvinSussman

Why not agree with the facts?

Unless you don't have the required courage to face the truth that monsters used innocent Americans to kill innocent Vietnamese!

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Well, Marvin, if you read carefully, you would have seen that I was not arguing facts. I simply expressed my opinion that you have earned, more than most, the right to express yours. As a Viet Nam combat Veteran, I certainly question most of the reasoning behind the war, but I honor my fellow combatant's sacrifices. I saw enough of those sacrifices that I would not belittle or besmirch their presence there, this many years later.

working class stiff Loc: N. Carolina

Onelostdog Loc: Restless Oregon

So has Marvin answered either of your questions? I may have missed what branch of service he was in or for what country he served if he did. So far this looks like the liberal two shoe shuffle as usual.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Refresh me as to what questions I asked of him, OLD. I simply made a comment.

May I assume you read Marvin's lengthy double-post (just above) regarding one of his unit's engagements in Europe? I am not one to question a Veteran's service without reason other than political differences.

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

Folks.... are we off subject just a little? Is this not supposed to be greeting and welcoming a new member to OPP? Did I miss something.... I speak for myself, I honor our vets regardless of their branch and I respect their history and encourage them to talk about their pasts... but, there is a time and place.... is this the time or the place? May I suggest that Marvin or Slatten start a thread about his Marvin's "career" and how he served and have now come to think of it... and his supporters can put him on a pedestal and those who disagree with his opinion can have their say.... but for now, could we get back to being a community that welcomes others?

Onelostdog Loc: Restless Oregon

My apologies to you both as I missed the part of his personal involvement and the rest sounded like something that could have come from an internet search page. Again my apologies.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

That's okay, OLD. Your apology only reinforces my opinion of you, which was pretty solid already. We all have missteps.

Onelostdog Loc: Restless Oregon

Thanks Slatt. I don't mind a misstep or even putting my left shoe on my right foot while gnawing away on my right shoe but falling completely into a dry creek bed makes me think this senility thing ain't all I thought it was going to be.

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

To the all that I may have offended by my butting into your "conversation", my sincere apology. Rest assured, I was chastised for my request to return to welcoming a new member in a "bluntly" worded PM. To all, my apologies! I have learned a valuable lesson.... one that I will not soon forget.

Anyway, again... to our new member, Soquiliwodi, welcome to OPP! I hope that you decide to stay and engage in the varied conversations, arguments, and personal interactions. It can become "lively" at times.