Don't piss off a Gurkha

[packman]

One Gurkha vs. 40 bandits with intent to rape - no problem. Stuff of legends.


http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htinf/20110203.aspx

[Xyzse]

1. I've heard many stories.

They really are stuff of legend.

[progressoid]

2. Wow,

[annabanana]

3. or a Gherkin

[NightWatcher]

4. Just try not to get yourself into a pickle to begin with

[pipi_k]

6. Some of us don't relish the thought n/t

[pinboy3niner]

9. It is jarring. nt

[Raine1967]

7. they are Dill-lightful!

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

5. Sounds a bit like Ed Silk

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/easilk.htm

Citation:
1st Lt. Edward A. Silk commanded the weapons platoon of Company E, 398th Infantry, on 23 November 1944, when the end battalion was assigned the mission of seizing high ground overlooking Moyenmoutier France, prior to an attack on the city itself. His company jumped off in the lead at dawn and by noon had reached the edge of a woods in the vicinity of St. Pravel where scouts saw an enemy sentry standing guard before a farmhouse in a valley below. One squad, engaged in reconnoitering the area, was immediately pinned down by intense machinegun and automatic weapons fire from within the house. Skillfully deploying his light machinegun section, 1st Lt. Silk answered enemy fire, but when 15 minutes had elapsed with no slackening of resistance, he decided to eliminate the strong point by a 1-man attack. Running 100 yards across an open field to the shelter of a low stone wall directly in front of the farmhouse, he fired into the door and windows with his carbine; then, in full view of the enemy, vaulted the wall and dashed 50 yards through a hail of bullets to the left side of the house, where he hurled a grenade through a window, silencing a machinegun and killing 2 gunners. In attempting to move to the right side of the house he drew fire from a second machinegun emplaced in the woodshed. With magnificent courage he rushed this position in the face of direct fire and succeeded in neutralizing the weapon and killing the 2 gunners by throwing grenades into the structure. His supply of grenades was by now exhausted, but undaunted, he dashed back to the side of the farmhouse and began to throw rocks through a window, demanding the surrender of the remaining enemy. Twelve Germans, overcome by his relentless assault and confused by his unorthodox methods, gave up to the lone American. By his gallant willingness to assume the full burden of the attack and the intrepidity with which he carried out his extremely hazardous mission, 1st Lt. Silk enabled his battalion to continue its advance and seize its objective.

[malthaussen]

11. You should read the late Senator Inouye's MoH citation.

The man definitely had a pair.

-- Mal

[pinboy3niner]

13. I had a friend and roommate who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously in Vietnam

He was an Army platoon leader with the 25th Infantry Division who had men down from NVA fire coming from bunkers. He advanced on the bunkers and took out one or two, but by the time he got to the last bunker he was so shot up that he couldn't throw the grenade. So he carried it in.

R.I.P. Steve Doane.

[malthaussen]

14. A salute fo Steve Doane

-- Mal

[SwissTony]

8. Somebody posted a joke about a year ago in the UK group.

A troop of Gurkhas were going into a mission and were being asked to jump from a plane without a parachute. The commander agreed provided they didn't have to jump from more than 400 feet.

Quite a few non-Brits interpreted this as racist. Brits regarded this as a sign of how tough these guys are. They really are. They have an amazingly high degree of admiration in the UK. Actually, not amazing...just well deserved.

[malthaussen]

10. Boy, whoever posted that butchered the joke.

It's a very old chestnut, but originally went more like this: the Gurkha commander was informed that his men would be jumping from 400 feet, and he asked for a lower altitude. He was told the parachutes would not open from lower than 400 feet, whereupon he responded "Oh, I didn't know we were to have parachutes."

My favorite Gurkha joke, though, is the one General Slim used to tell on himself. The Japanese were laying heavy shell fire on a road, and General Slim, in best officer-like manner, was strolling around trying to seem unconcerned "to inspire the men." He passes a foxhole of Gurkhas who are laughing their heads off. Asked what is so funny, the havildar responds "The General looks so stupid walking around out there, not knowing what to do!" And they were right, Slim concludes. He also muses that Rajputs would have begged him to take cover, a Sikh would have left safety and covered him with his own body... but the Gurkhas laughed.

Should you be interested in the heritage of the Gurkhas, you might want to give Brian Farwell's book a look. Still in print after many years, but it doesn't spend enough time on the Gurkhas's sinister attachment to Scots and bagpipes.

-- Mal

[SwissTony]

12. Oops. i think I butchered it.

Your recollection is much more accurate than mine. It's also a lot funnier.

Thanks, malthaussen.

Apologies to any Gurkhas and supporters.