The FReeper Foxhole Profiles Lt. Col. Harold G.(Hal) Moore - Sep. 6th, 2003

Army Magazine ^ | November 2002 | Col. Cole C. Kingseed, U.S. Army retired

[Light Speed]

Hi Gang..visited Tarawa last night..late..left off posting..cuz you 2 needed sleep.

Radu and I were laughing about that today in a offboard chat. : )

Found this article on the Marine Corp Harriers in the Gulf...some CAS [Combat airsupport data]

These ships carry alot of power projection.

Harriers win the day for Marine Corps aviation during Operation Iraqi Freedom
Submitted by: MCAS Miramar
Story Identification Number: 2003717182744
Story by Sgt. David A. Bryant

MCAS Yuma, Ariz.(July 17, 2003) -- One of the biggest challenges for Marine Corps fixed-wing aviation during Operation Iraqi Freedom was the scarcity of airfields within the theater of operations.

Commanders were aware of this fact before operations began overseas. More than 400 aircraft deployed with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, most of which require traditional airfields to operate from, said Col. Mark Savarese, commanding officer, Marine Aircraft Group 13.

In order for the Marine Corps to bring the combat power necessary to support ground troops, the only option was to base attack jets on ships, he said. However, with traditional aircraft carriers already loaded with Naval aircraft and only a limited space available at Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, the only place to base those jets were the LHD class ships, a type of miniature aircraft carrier designed for amphibious assault[Sgt. Nap1].

Enter the AV-8B Harrier, a single engine attack fighter capable of Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing and the only fixed wing aircraft able to operate from a LHD.

"The beauty of Harriers is their flexibility," Savarese said. "It is a unique airplane that can go anywhere and operate from anywhere, which is what allowed them to operate from what I like to call an attack carrier."

The Marine Corps deployed 76 Harriers to the theater of operations during OIF, 60 of which were spread between USS Bonhomme Richard, USS Bataan, USS Tarawa and USS Nassau, he said. The remaining jets were stationed in Kuwait. Harriers made up more than 50 percent of the Marine Corps' fixed-wing offensive air support aircraft -- the 60 Harriers on ship comprised 45 percent of the total airborne firepower.

"During the twenty-six days of combat operations, we flew more than 2,000 sorties and logged more than 3,000 flight hours," Savarese said. "Harriers expended more than 750,000 pounds of ordnance in support of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, dropping 1,000-pound and 500-pound bombs.

"The Harrier community on both the East Coast and West Coast has worked diligently over the past two years to revise what we do professionally," he said.

From a standpoint of logistics support, maintenance and operational flying, OIF was the Harrier's "finest days."

"I'm so absolutely delighted with the total professional effort of both the Sailors and the Marines that were out there working so hard to get these airplanes flying so pilots could go fly combat missions," Savarese said.

Even after all the missions the Harriers conducted, not a single plane returned with bullet-holes in it, a fact he credits to the professional flying of the aviators and superior intelligence on enemy forces and capabilities. The mission capable readiness rates for the Harrier were an unprecedented average of 80 percent.

"For this conflict, we required the basing flexibility that STOVL aircraft provide," Savarese said. "The STOVL concept has come with a price, as sometimes innovation does, but OIF demonstrated that through persistence, a vision can become reality."

Operation Iraqi Freedom showed not only the flexibility of the Harrier, but it's dependability as well.

"I think Harriers were well-trusted by the ground folks in the theater of operations," said Lt. Col. Paul K. Rupp, commanding officer, Marine Attack Squadron 211. "Not only are they extremely effective in missions, but extremely efficient. Our airplanes had tremendous tactical aircraft readiness availability in the theater for the 3rd MAW -- our planes were always ready to go."

The AV-8B was one of the few TACAIR platforms that did not lose an aircraft in combat during OIF, he said.

"The Harrier wasn't used to it's full potential out there when it comes to (Forward Arming and Refueling Points) and (Forward Operating Bases)," Rupp said. "But it takes a lot of support and logistics to support FARPs and FOBs -- about 45 tons of ordnance a day are needed at a FARP alone, so we chose to use other platforms."

Basing the Harriers on ship, in Kuwait and using the FARP at An Numaniyah, 60 miles southeast of Baghdad, also helped with refueling issues, he said. The Harrier did not need to refuel in mid-air, which allowed aircraft without STOVL capabilities the opportunity to make full use of aerial-refueling aircraft.

Precision-guided munitions helped the AV-8Bs post a 65 percent mission effectiveness rate, verified by the new Northrop Grumman Litening II targeting pod, Savarese said. Effectiveness was determined by a narrow definition of target bomb hit assessment -- a hit is when a bomb lands within 13 feet of a target, and not a single bomb dropped fell outside of 200 feet of its target.

In one wave alone, 12 Harriers flying off USS Bonhomme Richard completely destroyed the Republican Guard Baghdad Division's one and only armored tank battalion, he added. The tank battalion was found by MAG-13's intelligence team to be hiding in Al Kut, captured on video by the Litening II targeting pod on a Harrier returning from a sortie. That one mission allowed the MEF's push on Al Kut to continue without a pitched battle.

"There was one other incident that I think was pretty noteworthy," Savarese said. "One of our pilots saved Oliver North's bacon, as well as a few others. He was embedded as a Fox News broadcaster, and he went down in a UH-1 with some engine trouble. It didn't crash, but I think they had to land near An Numaniyah when immediately they started receiving fire from enemy artillery, mortars or such, with enemy infantry moving in from the east.

"We had a section of Harriers airborne at the time, and our pilots engaged, taking out the enemy position closest to the helicopter and provided delaying action against the enemy infantry moving west, allowing Marine rescue helicopters into the landing zone to get those guys out of there. It wasn't until afterward we found out that Oliver North was one of the guys in that helicopter. We were pretty proud of that."

Elements of VMA-214 also took out a Baath Party headquarters building near the hospital where Army Pvt. Jessica Lynch was held, he said. The target was taken out to allow the rescue attempt to proceed.

"I think we were highly effective because we had an incredible team of great individuals working together," Savarese said. "Everybody gave 110 percent, we had the equipment, we had the readiness, and I believe we had the squadron commanders that were top notch and ready to move these guys in the right direction."

General Randolph Pate, Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1956 to 1959, once said "vertical takeoff and land characteristics are an ultimate requirement for all Marine aircraft in support of amphibious operations in the future ... obtaining a STOL/VTOL capability is vital to Marine aviation."

"The AV-8B Harrier has fulfilled those characteristics," Savarese said. "The contributions the aircraft made during OIF have validated the STOVL basing flexibility as a fundamental feature for responsive offensive air support.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks Light Speed.

I've heard the Harrier get a bum rap sometimes. But it is an excellent plane for what it does. It was never meant to be an Air-Superiorty fighter.

[SAMWolf]

Some really good pictures there Aloha Ronnie. Thanks for the link. Hard to believe we were ever that young.

[SAMWolf]

Afternoon manna.

[Light Speed]

Reflections from a member of 2/5 in the IA DRANG

November 14-15 Charlie Company, along with the rest of the 2/5 Cav, combat assaulted into a new LZ named Victor, about 3.5 kilometers (clicks, in the vernacular) southwest of LZ X-Ray, where the 1/7 Cav was fighting to stay alive. Their mission was to move overland from LZ Victor to LZ X-Ray and relieve the 1/7 Cav.

At 8:00 AM the morning November, the 2/5 Cav moved out from Victor with Company A and Company B abreast, and C echeloned to the left rear. The march to LZ X-Ray took about four hours and was uneventful, though A Company had some light contact.

Below is a map carried by CPT Boyt during that battle. The reader might wish to print out the map. (Source: Ed Boyt and "Pleiku: The Dawn of Helicopter Warfare in Vietnam" by J. D. Coleman.)

November 14-17

C 2/5 Cav is involved in the famous Ia Drang Valley fight. This was the first major engagement between US Army troops and main force units of the People's Army of Vietnam (known to us as the NVA.) On November 14, 1st Battalion 7th Cavalry air assaulted into LZ X-Ray, adjacent to the Chu Pong Massif near the Cambodian border in II Corps. It ran into the 32nd, 33rd, and 66th Regiments of the NVA. LZ X-Ray became a killing ground, and the 1/7th was almost overrun. During the morning hours of November 15th, C 2/5 Cav, along with the rest of the battalion, marched overland to their aid, closing on LZ X-Ray at noon. Almost immediately , C 2/5 was involved in the rescue of 2nd Platoon, Company A, 1/7th Cav, which had been separated from the rest of the battalion. C 2/5 Cav was commanded by CPT Edward A. Boyt. That night, they formed part of the perimeter around LZ X-Ray. The following morning, they secured the LZ while the 1/7th was extracted. During the morning of November 17th, the 2/5 Cav marched out of LZ X-Ray to clear the way for a B-52 strike on the Chu Pong Massif. The move to LZ Columbus was made with C Company in the lead, and was uneventful. (Sources: "1st Cavalry Division After Action Report Pleiku Campaign", "Pleiku - The Dawn of Helicopter Warfare in Vietnam" - J.

A bomb run by U. S. Air Force fighters on the Chu Pong Massif west of X-Ray. NVA troops were massed on this mountain, and the NVA headquarters was located there as well.

LZ Columbus - most of the artillery was fired from this LZ in support of X-Ray, and C 2/5 Cav marched to Columbus as they left X-Ray. In this picture, a Chinook helicopter is bringing in supplies

[Victoria Delsoul]

SAM and I just returned from the store and they had halloween decorations up already!

LOL, I bet he looks really cute in his halloween costume.

[snippy_about_it]

LOL! I'm not telling!

[ALOHA RONNIE]

NEVER FORGET



............Points of Interest................

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"WE WERE SOLDIERS" The MEL GIBSON Movie Website

http://www.WeWereSoldiers.com

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"WE WERE SOLDIERS" Veterans & Families Forum

http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=8

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"WE WERE SOLDIERS ONCE and YOUNG" Website

http://www.lzxray.com

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'WE WERE SOLDIERS ONCE...& YOUNG'...4-FREEDOM

http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a39626542519c.htm
(Thread includes "ALOHA RONNIE" Guyer's U.S. 7th Cavalry Story)

---

NEVER FORGET

[PhilDragoo]

Lt. Rick Rescorla

I can't think of another movie that moved me as much. Thermopylae with a better ending.

November 1965 the Joint Chiefs led by Gen. Earle Wheeler USA were allowed fifteen minutes by LBJ to convince him of their plan to bomb Hanoi and mine Haiphong.

They failed to do so, and LBJ cursed them vulgarly.

The crucial event is described in "The Day It Became The Longest War" by Lt. Gen. Charles G. Coopoer, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.) published in May 1996 Proceedings of the U.S. Naval Institute.

I will gladly fax the four-page article to any who express an interest via freepmail.

The valiance of quintessential warriors such as General Moore was undercut by the cunning depravity of Johnson.

As with so many dark days, we say never again, again.

Now our soldiers have the wind at their backs and every tool at their hand.

We have only to imbed more reporters, perhaps by climbing to higher altitude before jettisoning them.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for the links, Aloha Ronnie.

[SAMWolf]

Good Evening PhilDragoo.

Johnson was too busy with his "War on Poverty" and Social programs. He never intended to "win" the war in Vietnam, he just didn't want to "lose" it.

[E.G.C.]

Thanks Phil for the op-ed and the bump.

[Iris7]

Personally, SAM, I think you are much too forgiving towards LBJ. To my mind he was an utterly vile creature who should never have been born.

Colonel Moore talking about "layers of discipline" and the need to think, to face the truth of the situation you are in, to be utterly remorseless in dominating the storm of emotion with the thinking part of yourself, is the only way, in my experience, that you have even a ghost of a chance of surviving. Never been to anything like LZ X-ray, never been under that intense a pressure, but nonetheless, I know that I am speaking the truth.

[SAMWolf]

To my mind he was an utterly vile creature who should never have been born.

I reserve that feeling for clinton, Carter was an incompetent President and Johnson was so hard trying to turn us into a Socialist Country he didin't have time for a war that distracted him form his Domestic agenda. IMHO clinton was the vile creature.

[stand watie]

well, thanks!

free dixie,sw

[Iris7]

Well, at least LBJ wasn't a Chinese agent, bought and paid for!

I don't talk about Clinton much because I don't think it is wise.

[colorado tanker]

Thanks, Sam for a fantastic post. Gen. Moore is a true hero, exemplifying the kind of soldier, leader and man we should all strive to be.

As for our political "leaders" during Vietnam, I hate even to see their names in the same thread as Gen. Moore.

I don't blame Johnson so much as McNamara, who IMHO was the true architect of the Vietnam mess. He influenced Johnson, who knew little about foreign policy and kept himself between Johnson and the chiefs. McNamara designed the "hold until November" strategy to lie to the American people by running Johnson as a peace candidate against Goldwater and withholding how bad the Vietnam mess was and withholding that the administration intended to send combat troops after the election.

The aftermath of the Ia Drang battle was to give the valley back to the NVA, which to me symbolized the ridiculous tactics McNamara's Pentagon used in Vienam.

[SAMWolf]

I was so pissed when McNamara come out with his book saying "We knew we couldn't win but went ahead anyway". All that time and all that grief and "We couldn't win, sorry". That doesn't cut it. Those gutless politicians didn't have the will to do what was necessary to win.

[colorado tanker]

Have you read "Dereliction of Duty"? It has lots of stuff from the archives of the Johnson library that only became available in recent years. It lays out NcNamara's antics in detail. The chiefs had the resources necessary to take on the task pretty well assessed early on but McNamara browbeat them into telling Johnson what McNamara wanted him to hear. He despised the military and basically ignored the military staff work.

I guarantee if you read that book you will be p!ssed of to the maximum degree of pissifissity.

But that was the whole problem with the Kennedy administration - they thought they were the "best and brightest" so they bypassed good staff work in favor of ad hoc committees of their own clones. And they produced the Berlin Wall, a communist Cuba, surrenduring the Turkey missiles and the Vietnam mess. They didn't even fact check their own speeches. Did you know "Ich Bien Ein Berliner" means "I am a jelly donut"???

[SAMWolf]

LOL. Yeah I knew about the Jelly donut remark. I can remember my mom busting out laughing and explaning why to us.

The "best and brightest" attitude seems to apply to all democrats not just the Kennedy Adminstration.

Haven't read that book, I'll have to remember it for when I want to put myself in a bad mood.