COLPO TO BECOME CHIEF OF STAFF AT WEST POINT

COLPO TO BECOME CHIEF OF STAFF AT WEST POINT – COL MIKE “NO COMBAT” COLPO (THE “CHAIRBORNE” RANGER) INFANTRY OFFICER DOESN’T GO INTO HARM’S WAY IN GRENADA, PANAMA, SOMALIA, KOSOVO, BOSNIA, GULF WAR, IRAQ OR AFGHANISTAN – ALSO MANAGED TO AVOID OVERSEAS DUTY DURING 27 YEARS IN THE STATES WHILE OTHER WEST POINT GRADS FOUGHT AND DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY COLPO HUNTOON’S “RIGHT-HAND MAN” DURING SHAMEFUL GEN. BRADLEY AIDE “GUN GRAB” AT TROUBLED CARLISLE BARRACKS

“You’re kidding me. This is a joke, right?” said one senior officer at Ft. Bragg when we told him COL Mike “NO COMBAT” Colpo was going to be the next chief of staff at West Point.

The field-grade, a highly-decorated veteran of the Gulf War who also served in Iraq, had reason to be disgusted.

Such a top position for Colpo, who never even served an overseas tour of duty in nearly 30 years in the Army, is indeed a “slap in the face” to the many highly-qualified colonels – fighting men all – who deserve to hold that prestigious post.

But politics and connections count more than valor on the battlefield these days, so “Mikey” gets the high-profile job, and West Point cadets will have to look elsewhere for a proven combat leader.

Could Colpo’s two separate tours of duty on the colonels’ assignment desk have something to do with his ascension to chief of staff at West Point? The controversial colonel’s lack of a CIB or even an overseas duty ribbon to go with his Infantry brass, airborne wings and Ranger tab might have been too much of an embarrassment for even the Pentagon to stomach just a few years ago.

But in the micro-managed world of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, colonels like Colpo are rewarded for “faithful service” even when it doesn’t involve doing anything risky, like leaving a comfortable stateside billet to go get shot at in some dusty, dangerous corner of the world.

Sycophants and suck-ups have a big advantage over wounded soldiers. They are right there to plant a big kiss on the boss’s behind every day, while combat veterans fight and die in far-off places like Iraq and Afghanistan and are quickly forgotten.

During our years in Vietnam, we remember the “ticket punchers” who’d land some staff job in Saigon and try and keep out of the line of fire until their tour of duty was up. But now, smart officers like West Point graduate Colpo know, despite wearing Infantry brass, they can play their cards right and stay safe back home for up to 30 years. It’s not what you know, it’s who you know, and “Mikey” has plenty of pals at PERSCOM and the Pentagon.

Readers of MilitaryCorruption.com and the ever-popular column “CARLISLE BARRACKS CAPERS” are no stranger to the antics of “NO COMBAT” Colpo, his friend, LTC Merideth “Bumbling” Bucher, the fast-track, former Pentagon flack and inept PAO at the Barracks – who we outwit at every turn – and other onerous individuals at the central Pennsylvania Army post.

What cadets and the West Point community should “read up on” is our past articles on Colpo’s performance of duty. Like the time a “fair-haired boy” major told an African-American security guard on post that he’d “break off” his finger and “shove it up his ass sideways.” The pampered field-grade went unpunished for his racist remark.

Or how about the highest-ranking female civilian worker on Carlisle Barracks who complained about the same officer making unwanted remarks to her in the workplace? She went to Colpo for help but received none. “I felt betrayed,” she told us after the traumatic incident, which caused her to resign and leave the once-respected Army installation.

We’d like to know what Colpo did about the mother in Carlisle , Pa. who was sent to “Mikey” by the military police after she complained about an individual on post sending pictures of his genitals to an underage girl (her daughter) via computer. Colpo allegedly asked for the incriminating pix. The mom was assured all would be taken care of, but it wasn’t. Why, colonel? What happened to the photos? Do you still have them?

As for COL Colpo’s ability to keep calm and cool under stress, maybe it’s just as well he never left the States. We learned how poorly he reacts under pressure the day we contacted him about reports we received of pornography coming in on the Carlisle Barracks computer system.

At any military installation, this would be a serious problem and the chief of staff or garrison commander – “Mikey” was both at the Barracks during his “hardship” career – would have to get on top of the problem immediately.

Prior to the infamous 2004 “witch-hunt” – where our sources were hunted down and interrogated, some being fired and others “turned” like a rat – there was an infamous murder on post where a faculty member killed his wife after she caught him ogling child porn on his personal computer. The light colonel was later sent to the Leavenworth DB, but should be out in a few years. The Barracks didn’t want its dirty linen being revealed during a public court martial. [Hint: LTC Bartlett wasn’t the only officer into child porn.]

We legally tape-recorded a call to Colpo in which we asked him, some 18 months after the Bartlett murder, if pornography was still accessible on post computers. Of course, we knew it was, but we wanted to see what “NO COMBAT” Colpo had to say about it.

His reaction was unsettling to say the least. He flipped out and screamed “THAT’S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!” Not, “we are looking into this,” or “that matter is being taken care of,” no – the (chair)borne ranger lost his composure! In fact, you can read his other sarcastic remarks in the transcript of the phone conversation we published on MilitaryCorruption.com. Just “click on” to the “Related Stories” box at the end of this article.

Among the related news stories that will give the reader a wider perspective on Colpo and the “goings-on” while he was at Carlisle Barracks, one of the most shameful chapters in that installation's history is just wrapping up, with us – and Bradley aide Charles Honeycutt – winning the ultimate victory.

Colpo was Gen. David Huntoon’s chief of staff all during the time Honeycutt’s treasured .45 cal. pistol, issued in Gen. Bradley’s name and given to the faithful aide by the general’s widow, was deliberately taken across state lines (a federal offense) and hidden away at Carlisle Barracks.

Until MilitaryCorruption.com and WHTM-TV, channel 27, the ABC NEWS affiliate in Harrisburg, Pa. got on the case, the Command there wouldn’t even acknowledge they had Honeycutt’s property. Finally, faced with legal action in Federal Court, the “leadership” at the Barracks decided it would be better to relinquish possession of the stolen property. It is now back in California. We will write about that at the proper time.

But what inquiring minds want to know is what role did Colpo play in this disgraceful incident? As chief of staff to Huntoon, why didn’t Colpo inform his boss of the indecency of “ripping off” personal possessions from the aide of the most beloved and admired general in American history?

In the interest of fairness, we want to offer “NO COMBAT” Colpo an opportunity for equal time and space on these pages to answer our questions. We are more than ready to hear his side of the story. If we’ve been wrong about the man, we’d like to see proof. Then we will apologize. But, true to form, we don’t think “Mikey” will exhibit any more guts to do that than the airborne-infantry officer did “volunteering” to serve in combat during all the years he enjoyed clean sheets and hot showers at cushy Stateside Army posts. The title of a movie or book comes to mind: “NO GUTS, NO GLORY.” Sadly, that about sums it up.

Of course these questions below can never be asked, since even a fellow colonel at West Point would incur “Rummie’s” wrath if he dared to ask Colpo the following:

Why do you think you are better qualified to be chief of staff than proven combat veterans of the same rank who could serve as an honorable example to the cadets here at West Point?

Why do you wear Infantry crossed rifles, paratroop jump wings and the Ranger tab if all that training wasn’t intended to be put to use defending our nation in combat?

How did you manage to stay Stateside for 27 consecutive years? Are you ashamed fellow West Point graduates have fought and died overseas while you stayed safely behind?

What would you say are your most significant achievements during nearly 30 years in the military?

What did you do to combat racism and abuse of women employees during your many years at Carlisle Barracks?

How did you treat the DOD workers at Carlisle Barracks and did you always tell the truth in negotiations with the various unions there?

What was your role in trying to save the career of COL Alan Cate, arrested for assaulting a woman and threatening to kill her dog? This colonel advertised himself in “sex-swingers” magazines, yet was a highly-placed officer on Carlisle Barracks. Did you know he was “perverted?” What did you do about it?

Does it embarrass you to have so few decorations and not even be eligible to wear the Overseas Service Ribbon? Even PFC Je$$ica Lynch has that one, plus the Purple Heart and Bronze Star!

What advice on “duty, honor, country” do you plan to impart to each graduating class at West Point as they prepare to go fight for us in Iraq and Afghanistan?

Do you think you have sufficiently “repaid” the taxpayers of the United States who financed your free education at West Point? Are you going to be telling the “poor boy from the coal mines” story up on the Hudson, or is that tale now relegated to the dustbin?

What’s this BIG, or should we say, HUGE “surprise” you have that the leadership at West Point don’t know about yet? Have you told them all about it? They’ll find out eventually.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: To all Army colonels and combat veterans out there who feel they should have been considered for the position of chief of staff at West Point over “NO COMBAT” Colpo – please contact us at staff@militarycorruption.com at once. Thank you.]

Related Stories AN “OPEN LETTER” TO THE FACULTY, CADETS AND ALUMNI AT WEST POINT REGARDING YOUR NEW CHIEF OF STAFF COL MIKE ”NO COMBAT” COLPO COVER-UP AT CARLISLE BARRACKS RACISM, SEXISM “TOLERATED” AFRICAN-AMERICAN WORKER THREATENED FEMALE MANAGER QUITS JOB AFTER “FAIR-HAIRED BOY” MAJOR CREATES “HOSTILE WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT” IVANY, MADDEN, COLPO ACCUSED AN OPEN LETTER TO THE READERS OF “CARLISLE BARRACKS CAPERS”

AN “OPEN LETTER” TO THE FACULTY, CADETS AND ALUMNI AT WEST POINT REGARDING YOUR NEW CHIEF OF STAFF COL MIKE ”NO COMBAT” COLPO

We are at war. And West Point is at the epicenter of preparation for our combat leaders of the future.

The lists grows longer, day by day, of West Point graduates who have made the supreme sacrifice in Iraq and Afghanistan.

These honorable men went into “harm’s way” and willingly laid down their lives for their country. They deserve our everlasting respect as we honor their memory.

So how can the arrogant and mercurial Donald Rumsfeld explain his latest insult to the United States Army?

“NO COMBAT” COLPO LANDS BIG JOB AT WEST POINT

At a time like this, who gets the coveted spot of chief of staff at the U.S. Military Academy but COL Mike “NO COMBAT” Colpo, who not only inexplicably “missed” any combat duty since graduating from the Point in 1978, but in the ensuing 27 years, didn’t serve one day overseas despite his Infantry brass, airborne wings and Ranger tab.

“This is disgusting,” said a senior NCO and Gulf War veteran. “Colpo’s just a chairborne Ranger who knew what butts to kiss along the way.

“Sending him up to walk among real heroes at West Point is a disgrace! No one can tell me he was the best qualified candidate for the job. Surely there are bird colonels and experienced combat leaders in today’s Army whom the cadets could look up to and learn from. Instead, they get a desk jockey and politician. It makes me sick!”

AVOIDED OVERSEAS DUTY FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS

Well, you’re not alone, Sarge. Lots of people are shocked and upset about this assignment, but there’s little they can do about it.

Because of Colpo’s powerful friends, we doubt any officer at the Point – certainly no cadet – will dare to ask him why he avoided overseas duty.

“Stateside for nearly 30 years? That just doesn’t happen by accident,” an officer who served with Colpo at Carlisle Barracks told MilitaryCorruption.com.

“Even if he was MI (military intelligence) or in the Quartermaster Corps, such a thing would be shameful! But to be airborne-infantry, a ranger, and a West Point graduate, yet ride a desk your entire military career, that tells me all I need to know about his character, even if I hadn’t already seen him in operation at the Barracks.”

COMBAT TROOPS NO ADMIRER OF COLPO

Reaction pouring into our office in Arizona from enlisted soldiers, officers, DOD civilians and military retirees is virtually unanimous.

“That yellow ribbon with the red borders on each end denoting the blood of those who went into combat, you should send him that to add to his collection of merit badges,” a Vietnam vet said.

Actually, to be entirely accurate, the “award” was suggested by a reader last year and we wrote about it at the time. No such ribbon has ever been presented, not that it would be entirely inappropriate in Colpo’s case.

There was a time we would have been willing to cut “NO COMBAT” Colpo some slack, despite his arrogant and obnoxious personality. But knowing his recent role in the disgraceful Gen. Omar Bradley aide “gun grab,” (see “Related Stories” box below) we think “Mikey’s” elevation to such a high and coveted post at West Point is a cruel joke.

We know of one “Mustang officer” and decorated, multi-tour Vietnam combat veteran who now walks with a cane who’d love to debate Colpo publicly on the virtues of risking one’s life for his country. How about it, colonel? You could lecture us all on the definition of “bravery” on the battlefield. Just read up on it in the history books.

WEST POINT CHIEF OF STAFF SHOULD BE COMBAT VET

What does it say to the United States Army and the American people that the high position of chief of staff at West Point is filled during wartime, or any time for that matter, by a non-combat vet who even managed to safely stay in the United States for 27 years? Colpo doesn’t even have one overseas tour to his credit in Germany, Korea, Kuwait, anywhere. How many West Point officers, Infantry branch, do you know, dear reader, who over three decades could pull off a stunt like that?

We are sure there are more than a few colonels out there who proudly wear the Purple Heart, Silver Star and Combat Infantryman’s Badge, who’d like to know why the new chief of staff at West Point has so few decorations, he’s even ineligible to wear the Overseas Service Ribbon.

Maybe Alumni members – those who don’t have a son or daughter currently attending the Point – might pay a visit to “NO COMBAT” Colpo’s office and ask him why he thinks he deserves to be the chief of staff.

Cadets, when you salute Colpo, as you must, keep in mind what kind of man he is. Remember the honored names of Patton, MacArthur, and the greatest of them all, Omar Bradley.

When you look to be inspired by genuine leaders who went into battle at the head of their troops, not warming some chair behind a Pentagon desk, think of those men. Not some sycophant wearing “chicken wings” who is skilled as a politician but undeserving of any respect by combat troops.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Please give this “open letter” the widest possible dissemination within the bounds of your own safety. We have publicly offered to “debate” Colpo on the meaning of courage and have offered him equal time and space on MilitaryCorruption.com to respond to our views. From his track record, we doubt if he will rise to the challenge.]

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