Rummy's Desparate - Arlington Tomb of Unknown Guards deploy

[RamboLiberal]

NY Times reporting they're sending Company B of the Third Infantry Regiment known as the Old Guard, the unit responsible for the Tomb of the Unknowns and for the burials at Arlington and sending them to East African nation of Djibouti. This has not happened since Vietnam.

One Pentagon official says this means the Army is "getting near end of available forces".

BTW, decent fictional book/movie of the Old Guard and the huge number of burials during 67/68 from Vietnam is "Garden of Stone". I greatly enjoyed both.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/07/international/worldspecial3/07CND-GORDON.html?hp

[alphafemale]

1. That's bizarre. What next - deployment of the Marine Corp Band to Iraq?

What are those BFEE freaks doing to our country?

[Qutzupalotl]

2. The Salvation Army is next.

Followed by an angry Boy Scout with a pen knife.

</sarcasm>

[burrowowl]

3. The WWI and WWII

vets of foreign wars.

The DRAFT!

[RamboLiberal]

4. Hey, maybe they'll get down to the Freepers

and the sons and daughters of the rich!

BTW, this was in the NYT article - I posted the link in my original post.

For months, soldiers at Camp Doha, Kuwait, have been wearing T-shirts that say, "Operation Iraqi Freedom: Mission Accomplished." But recently a new T-shirt has appeared suggesting that the mission may be more open-ended.

It reads, "Operation Iraqi Freedom: Established 2003."

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

26. Would you believe...

...an angry Boy Scout with a pen knife?

[Old and In the Way]

5. When are those gung-ho Freepers going to start a

volunteer militia to help the cause? I think JimRob could lead his charges in an armor plated wheelchair.

[RamboLiberal]

7. I want to send the Freepers in their hummers over to fight

I was thinking the other night there should be a draft - mine would be 18-30 year olds to the active military, 31-55 to the Reserve and Guard. No college exemption. Very few medical exemptions. If you got a boil on your butt - too bad - you can still stand guard duty somewhere in Iraq or serve as a machine gunner on a vehicle. A bad knee - then sit on your butt and drive convoy.

Think of how good a shot all those NRA's would be - couldn't the Army and Marines use them?

[politicat]

19. And those of us who have already done our service?

He's a Gulf War Vet 1991-1992 plus 7 additional years of Guard. I'm 5 years of Reserve, never needed, now completely out.

We have paid our dues, thank you. This country can keep our brains or I can take that job teaching English in Tokyo and the DH can go work progamming Japanese computers.

No fucking way again. It was bad enough the first time around.

[Grins]

24. Boil on the butt...?

"Very few medical exemptions. If you got a boil on your butt - too bad - you can still stand guard duty somewhere in Iraq or serve as a machine gunner on a vehicle. A bad knee - then sit on your butt and drive convoy."

Boil on the butt? Is that like a pilonidal cyst?

[caledesi]

6. Vets? Am I dumb? I don't understand this article. Please explain.

[RamboLiberal]

8. I'm not a vet - but the Old Guard is a ceremonial unit

Yes, they train as regular Army, at least since Vietnam they haven't deployed as far as I know (could be wrong).

They are supposed to be DC's defense, but what they do everyday is is as Guard of the Tomb of the Unknowns. Burials at Arlington. They also do shows with their Fife and Drum Band, the Army Band and the Rifle Drill Team. In fact I saw the 3rd Infantry Regiment in a free show they had for two days in Pittsburgh in September. Great show and great young soldiers.

But what this deployment says to me is that Rummy's got the Army stretched to that absolute breaking point if they are forced to draw soldiers from a ceremonial unit.

[caledesi]

9. Thank you rm, that's what I wanted to know.

That the point is that Rummy "little Army" is stretched to the max. I wanted to make sure I was reading this correctly.

[Noordam]

10. old guard at work

Members of the Old Guard fold the American flag which draped the casket of U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Joseph P. Bellavia, who was buried with military honors at Arlington Nation Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, October 31, 2003. Bellavia was killed during hostilities in Iraq (news - web sites) on October 16. REUTERS/Mannie Garcia

[gbwarming]

11. Who stands guard at the tomb when they deploy? nt

[havocmom]

12. They will probably 'privatize' it , award a no bid contract for security

and get a huge campaign donation. The taxpayer will get the bill and the sacred field of Arlington will become a parking lot.

They have no souls, no honor and no limit to the humiliation they will subject this nation to.

[DUreader]

13. That would be funny, except it is all too possible

[RamboLiberal]

16. LOL - exactly what I was thinking

But seriously not the whole unit is being deployed just one company. Probably puts extra duty on the ones that are left.

[caledesi]

22. I think Halliburton is a good choice, don't you? nt

[Nailzberg]

14. Yeah, they're the spit and shine boys

Just like the street cops you see around the museums and hotels downtwon. There real cops, but their job is to look good.

Those 3rd infantry boys can fight. But they don't. The fact that they are being sent anywhere is scary proof that our forces are over-deployed.

I guess they can't be far away from calling the inactive reserves.

[Nailzberg]

15. I got an idea, how about all those "militias guys" go next.

If they are so adament about training to defend the country and what not, perhaps we can send those guys. Heck, most of them already have thier own camoflague. It's orange, but who cares?

[RamboLiberal]

17. Nah those militia guys have the real deal camo

And lots of weapons and ammos. And some of them do regular weekend war games in the woods. Sounds like a plan to me.

[Nailzberg]

27. You're right, the have real camo, but it's a joke

They all go out and get good camo, but a lot of times they end up having different styles, and end up without much uniformity to their uniforms.

And I love how there's always the one guy with blue jeans, a camo jacket, and a Detriot Lions ballcap. His camo pants are either in the wash (or warsh as they say in Southern Illinois, fine militia down there) or he doesn't own the pants yet. They look like a joke.

But you are grimly correct about the guns and ammo. Right to defend oneself is one thing, but these guys have machine guns. And they don't get busted cause ususally one of the guys is the sheriff.

But sense they are itching for the day they get to do some killing, let them go to Irag. At least can't blow up our federal buildings if they're overseas.

[AP]

18. Are they leaving the US undefended to encourage an invasion of CA

by N Korea?

[grasswire]

20. more old guard

I wonder if the horses are going?

[RamboLiberal]

21. One unit I'm wondering about is First Troop Philadelphia Cavalry

It's a unit of mostly rich white guys who parade in their expensive uniforms on horse back. They're part of the National Guard I believe. They actually have to get in by membership invitation I believe. They also have fancy-dancy social parties.

I remember in '02 reading a story wherein they were shocked I tell you, just shocked cause they actually were ordered to deploy to Bosnia. According to their page I don't think they're back yet.

It would be great if they got 6 months back and then sent to Iraq.



http://www.ftpcc.com/

[leftofthedial]

23. they are calling up the Hitler Youth next

no doubt.

[eleny]

25. The one and only time I saw the Old Guard in person was...

years ago at a big fife and drum muster they hosted. My dear father in law was a member of a fife and drum group on Long Island since his childhood. My husband and I also attended the muster that was held at Fort Myers in Arlington.

These guys are the ones who wear the Colonial uniforms and powdered wigs and play fife when they meet visiting dignitaries from other nations. For pity sakes! Yes, it's things like this that make it all too clear how far things have gotten.

[spotbird]

28. The draft is coming.

They just pray that it won't be necessary until December '04.

[VolcanoJen]

29. Wha....? I really, really admire the Old Guard.

These are some of the most soldierly soldiers you'll ever see or meet. Tough as nails, proud as pie, hard-working, stuck in crappy barracks (the officers do get some choice digs at Fort Myer, though) working on their uniforms all day. Often, you'll see them jogging around the mall and memorials in DC. They're amazing, they do important work, and I think we should all be proud of them.

I have always been interested in the history of the Old Guard, and just finished a great book about Black Jack, who was an American hero too:



Here's some more info on the 3rd U.S. Infantry:

http://www.dcmilitary.com/baseguides/army/mdw/oldguard.html

When you're deploying the 3rd US IR overseas, I'd have to say you're pretty strapped. I think this is sad, and telling news, indeed. Thanks for reporting it, rmpalmer.

[Nailzberg]

30. I don't think anyone was dissing them, these guys are great.

Nobody understands honor and sacrifice more than these guys. Remember when that Hurricane hit DC this year, they were given permission to stand watch from inside and, as one soldier said "It went in one ear and out the other."
It's one of the most high regarded units in the military.

I think the sentiment people are trying to get across here, is that their overseas deployment is a signal that our troops are spread dangerously thin.