Soldier in Iraq Writes To Stars & Stripes Because He has NO GEAR

[Dems Will Win]

This only shows that Bushco, Inc., are crooks and steal ALL the money. They are not dumb, they are not incompetent. That's just a cover, like the "Fog of War", to allow their total theivery.

Downrange with no gear
I'm in the 1st Battalion, 214th Field Artillery. I came with my unit in April but I had to go back to the States to get medical clearance because I got hit by an improvised explosive device in July 2004.

When they cleared me to come back over, I e-mailed my unit to let them know to have my gear ready. When I got to Kuwait, there was no gear, so I called my unit and asked about it. No word again. Then I got to Iraq and went to my supply sergeant, but still no gear. I asked my first sergeant and battalion commander and others. Still I don't have my gear.

You have a soldier in a combat zone with no individual battle armor. I have a weapon, but with no ammo or magazine, and I feel my higher-ups don't care about me. Every time I ask about my gear, my supply sergeant tells me he doesn't care and the commander and first sergeant are saying the same thing -- they don't care.

So, if we get attacked, what can I do with no gear to keep me safe? I have been here for two months and still no gear. How long is this going to go on before I get hurt or killed with no gear to wear?

I e-mailed the inspector general, but received no answer. If the inspector general is reading this, he needs to come to Camp Ceder 2 and clean this mess up. There is a lot of prejudice in this unit that we had at Fort Dix, N.J., and it is over here too, but nothing has been done about it.

What are we going to do about this?

I'm also writing my congressman. There's a soldier over here in combat with no gear.

Staff Sgt. Jack T. Kirt
Camp Cedar 2, Iraq

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=38782

LET'S SPREAD THIS SOLDIER'S PLIGHT EVERYWHERE! SUPPORT OUR TROOPS AND REMEMBER TO RECOMMEND FOR GREATEST...

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. LINK?

[democracyindanger]

2. .

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=38782

[democrank]

3. If this is true

it`s disgraceful.

[atreides1]

5. If it is true

It shows that the rot has permeated from the top down in the military chain of command, now it just has to be given time to spread. But with PFC Green and his crew it looks like its already started.

[Dems Will Win]

4. KICK

[Rex]

6. Sounds like criminal negligence to me.

I am having a very hard time believe this. Then again, I would have never believed our military bases would be lacking so much money that CPS might turn off their power!

WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE!?!? ANY CONGRESS-CRITTER WANT TO COMMENT ON THIS?

[Donnachaidh]

7. how does one recommend a thread?

I'm new ;-)

And this is a total disgrace. Has anyone set up a site somewhere to donate for these guys? They shouldn't BE there if they haven't got the protection they need.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. Go to the post at the top of this thread

and click on 'recommend' in the lower left hand corner.

Welcome to DU :hi:

[jonnyblitz]

11. welcome to DU!

:hi:

[SlavesandBulldozers]

26. they shouldn't be there at all. But you are correct

and welcome to DU.

[grytpype]

8. Well Staff Sgt., I suggest you get a big bunch of rocks together.

Because you are gonna be throwing them.

[HereSince1628]

9. Please paint me skeptical.

The one thing pounded into me in NCO Academy, and the one thing I believe they were absolutely right about: Take care of your men, you can't do your mission, combat or non-combatant, without the men.

My experience was that despite regular barracks squabbling each of the EM's tended to buddy-up and they watched out for each other.

If this is true it's damn different Army then the one I served in.

[Dems Will Win]

12. What reason would a soldier write such a letter --

if it wasn't true? Why did Dumsfeld take years to armor the Hummers--and they're still not done?

Because they just like war to make money--they are war profiteers and outright brigands. The Bush Family Evil Empire has made its money on war profiteering since 1917, after all.

And Darth Cheney has joined them in their quest to rip off billions.

Did you know Bush signed a signing that prevents DoJ from investigating stolen DoD Iraq funds??

It's not a government, it's a crime gang. It's not a citizen army, it's a criminal enterprise.

[HereSince1628]

15. As I said I am skeptical. Scams happen all the time.

Usually we get skeptical when things are too odd to add up. For me this one is, it's very wierd, especially the part about his top shirt telling him he doesn't care. That's asking us to believe a lot, enough to leave me skeptical.

[Dems Will Win]

13. $21 Billion missing in Iraq

This soldier's gear was pocket change...

[Hissyspit]

14. It's a different damn ADMINISTRATION than the one you served under...

It is a different TYPE of administration than has ever existed. A level of fascistic behavior and disdain for American lives unseen before - and yes, I'm aware there have been really bad presidents and leadership in the past. Bushco's abuse of the military is unprecedented within the context of what has come before in American history.

[HereSince1628]

19. If you ever served you would know this story doesn't smell right.

I don't believe it has anything to do with the Administration, sure the military is stretched...

But do you really believe that a person in a command position is going _TELL_ a person that leadership of the unit _doesn't care_ if the soldier has been issued his proper standard equipment?? Really??? I really am skeptical of that.

[Joey Liberal]

28. I am familiar with the 214th Brigade

If this were true, I would not be surprised at all. Artillery units are good at putting rounds down range, but not good when it comes to taking care of its Soldiers - just my opinion:)............

[stillrockin]

16. and you can color me pissed off

that once again at this administration's incompetence and callousness.

[tanyev]

18. Pretty brave to give his name and unit, then.

Wouldn't Stars & Stripes do a basic verification before they printed any LTTEs?

[Dems Will Win]

20. There have been many letters criticizing the way the

war is run in Stars and Stripes.

[HereSince1628]

21. Brave or maybe less than rational.

I have read media reports here on DU that numbers of soldiers have been returned to second and third tours with unresolved psychological problems. Why couldn't this possibly be one?

I'm not sure whether S&S verifies everything in LTTE's or not. How sure can we be that an inaccurate or even phoney story couldn't make it into S&S or even originate with S&S staff? Phoney shit does get into newspapers.

I'm very damned sure that his Brigade and Battalion would respond very strongly to such a thing being printed. No leader in the guy's Company or Platoon is going to survive in his position if he/she doesn't give a shit if a member of his unit isn't properly equipped for the role that trooper serves.

At any rate I'm not claiming it's phoney. I'll say I'm skeptical.

[JohnnyLib]

22. another Army vet agrees--

doesn't pass the smell test.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

27. I'm not a vet but stories like these have been circulating since the

invasion. Frankly I'm surprised at others' surprise.

[Dems Will Win]

23. A Soldier complains Stripes has become depressing

I always look forward to reading Stars and Stripes, but recently have found it more depressing than enlightening. Instead of human-interest pieces about the great progress we’re making in Iraq, or cheerful news from the States, the pages are littered with reports of accusations against my fellow soldiers.

As a member of the 101st Airborne Division, not a day goes by when we don’t read about the charges brought up against other “Screaming Eagles.”

In fact, in July 11 edition of Stars and Stripes there are three articles within three pages of each other that are about the 101st and none of them fails to mention the accusations. One of the articles in particular that I thought was going to raise my spirits, “Fort Campbell preparing for return of 101st,” seems to dedicate more than half of the article for the latest news of the accusations rather than the long-awaited homecoming we are all looking forward to.

Whatever happened to the saying “Here to bring me the good news” as far as I could? I sure don’t see it in Stars and Stripes.

War crimes are inexcusable but almost inevitable, and I don’t see how excessive coverage of these incidents is going to help us win this war.

Spc. Jameson Tade
Camp Stryker, Baghdad


http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=38677
- snip -

THere's just so much gone wrong with the way the Iraq Occupation is being run. The Army is a fighting force, not trained or set up to be an occupying force.

[Rex]

32. "If this is true it's damn different Army then the one I served in."

Same here.

[npincus]

17. I've never had so much hate in me.

[proud patriot]

24. This is a DISGRACE

We have got to get that man his equipment ASAP :grr:

[Gold Metal Flake]

25. What the muthafuck!

This goes to Boxer, Feinstein and that assfuck puke McKeon tomorrow!

[Dems Will Win]

29. kick

[Dems Will Win]

30. kick for the gear

[indepat]

31. Sgt. Kirt has it right: they don't care

[wabeewoman]

33. He probably didn't pay for it

I have two relatives who are Marines, one already deployed and one going soon, who have to buy their own equipment at a cost of several hundred dollars each. On a E-2, E-3 salary (base about $1300 a month) its hard. One wasn't allowed to come home on leave until he bought his equipment and many have to borrow the money. I wish I believed in Hell so I could know bush would rot there.