Army Reserve irked by soldier's fund-raiser

[caligirl]

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/12/22/MNGUIAFLPL1.DTL


Bay Area man is selling 49ers keepsakes to raise cash for equipment to take to Iraq
Maria Alicia Gaura, Peter Fimrite, Chronicle Staff Writers

Wednesday, December 22, 2004



An Army reservist's plan to sell some of his 49ers memorabilia to raise money for equipment to take to Iraq took an unexpected turn Tuesday when the soldier's reserve unit announced that its soldiers in Iraq have all the equipment they need.

The flap over what the Army Reserve provides, and what enlisted individuals may raise funds for, began when 18-year-old Sean Flynn of Morgan Hill took some valued pieces of San Francisco 49ers memorabilia to a sports shop -- the Fan Club in San Jose.

Flynn hoped to raise money to buy extra equipment for himself and two close friends, all facing deployment to Iraq, according to Mike Herkenrath, who co-owns the Fan Club with his father, Ken.

[cornermouse]

1. It is really pathetic that they don't give them the

protection that improves their chance to live. Even worse when they try to block outside attempts by soldiers to improve their odds at living.

[Florida_Geek]

7. The last I heard Florida Sheriffs had collected

lots of used bullet proof vests and the Army didn't want them. I guess they wanted new stuff from * friends.

[matt819]

15. Maybe this is as it should be

AFter all, we have all got used to fund raisers for such things as a critical operation, or to buy things for the local volunteer firefighters -- things that a civilized nation provides as a matter of routine. Maybe the military should have to have bake sales as well.

[Solly Mack]

2. If the military is upset about this then I suggest they buy all the

equipment a soldier being deployed needs...and they don't...not even for active duty.

[underpants]

3. That is classic Army thinking-You have all the equipment you need

but I want more

No no it says here you have everything you need now get on the Deuce and a half.

[mom cat]

14. Cheney the bastards! At least give them helmets that work.

[NNN0LHI]

4. CNN has had a couple of former soldiers trying to cash in on Iraq lately

Hawking different nick knacks and sundries and such. Found it all to be in pretty bad taste.

Don

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

6. re: CNN has had a couple of former soldiers...

And how is that relevant to this discussion?

[NNN0LHI]

11. I would have thought the military would have put the kibosh to those too

To try and be consistent and all.

Don

[Barkley]

5. Iraq: B-Y-O-B

Bring your own bombs.

The U.S. spends more than the next five countries combined on defense and our GIs are pillaging landfills in Iraq in search of metals to protect their vehicles.

They say it will take 6 months to get the proper equipment.

But I bet when those oil pipelines get sabotaged it doesn't take
six months to fix.

This goes war beyond incompentence.

[murray hill farm]

8. my 43 yr old son..leaving in a week for Iraq

taking his own protection with him...but he will be driving truck in Mozel...and as we have been told...no amount of protection for the trucks will help ya....if protection was really wanted for those trucks, it would have been there yesterday...so what really happens...we look into it for another six monthes. I am one angry mother.

[caligirl]

9. why are troops driving supply trucks across Iraq not protected by

attack helocopters.

We just saw(yesterday) a news story on trucks running supplies up to Bagdad that leave early every morning. During Vietnam they were escorted by attack helocopters. It looked like that isn't being done in Iraq. He felt this was incompetence. Those supply trucks, fuel for example, should all have attack helo escorts.

[Javaman]

13. and in another military faux par, they leave at the same time each day

[Stinky The Clown]

17. Because we don't have enough pilots or choppers or any other

damned thing we're supposed to have cuz they did it on THE CHEAP cuz they DON"T FUCKING CARE.

[caligirl]

18. My husband flew decades old helos with

the bullet holes still in them from Vietnam so I know, the Congress went for F18's instead of replaceing the CH-46. He flew in the 80's.

[Barrett808]

19. We feel for you -- have you joined Military Families Speak Out?

Check it out:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MilitaryFamiliesSpeakOut/

[murray hill farm]

20. Thanks, Barrett808

Checking it out now!!

[Barrett808]

23. Mari & Co. are doing some great work n/t

[radar]

10. Yep...

"...Our GIs are pillaging landfills in Iraq in search of metals to protect their vehicles."

And right there, in Kuwait, are a bunch of armored vehicles gathering dust....

Gary Motsek, the deputy director of support operations for US army materiel command, said: “I have roughly 700 113-series vehicles sitting pre-positioned in Kuwait, though some are in need of repairs. I have them available right now, if they want them.”
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040429/asp/foreign/story_3185023.asp

The 21st Theater Army Area Command (TAACOM), Kaiserslautern, Germany, has been in the "getting rid of excess equipment" business for some time.
http://www.almc.army.mil/alog/issues/Janfeb96/ms974.htm

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/4/29/125714.shtml

http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/bminiter/responses.html?article_id=110005092

http://www.worldaffairsboard.com/showthread.php?p=22615

http://www.network54.com/Forum/thread?forumid=211833&messageid=1083135569&lp=1083367389

[0007]

12. Good for him, the Army should wake up `

[BUSHOUT]

16. Give the money to charity....like landmine victims or Iraqi widows.

Let America pay a little to those who suffer at it's own hand.

[Tab]

21. Other fundraising goes on too

In my area, a few months ago, a platoon leader (or equiv) being shipped out was raising funds to buy "real" GPS units for his unit, since the ones that they apparently get are not up to par (like they give coords, but no digital map).

[ernstbass]

22. It's a shame they don't get irked over casualties