Free Republic

The first "lessons learned" reports are coming in from Iraq, and it seems that most troops thought the tools of war worked extremely well. Of special note: Guns, body armor, and the backpack canteen were winners. But there was a long list of complaints the Pentagon has to deal with. Take the 9-mm gun. Soldiers said it lacked "stopping power" and had to be rigged to feed bullets into the chamber. Boots were too hot, and the soles crumbled. And the stitching in the trousers came undone in the crotch. They also want more pockets on shirtsleeves; many soldiers even...

Iraq Information Minister 'Comical Ali' is alive, well and still in Baghdad, it was claimed last night.Mohammed Saeed Al Sahaf--the Saddam Hussein spokesman who denied Americans were in Baghdad when they could be seen behind him-- still wears his trademark green beret and army uniform, say reports. He disappeared on the day Saddam's statue was toppled (after looting $200,000.00 from the Iraqi Foriegn Journalist 'expense account'-ed) and it was thought that he could have committed suicide or even escaped.But last night it was reported that he is now a broken man who stays at home with his wife Larnia, two...

<p>The commanding general of Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio is warning military personnel not to wear their uniforms when off duty in that Texas city because of two recent threats on soldiers and sailors stationed there.</p> <p>"As individuals voice their opinions against military operations, they tend to direct their frustrations toward governmental and military symbols," Maj. Gen. Darrel R. Porr said in a notice sent to base members throught the Internet Mail Service on April 11.</p>

"If possible, avoid wearing of the uniform when dining in public places." ? From a "Protective Measures Awareness" notice sent to San Antonio's U.S. Army personnel by Maj. Gen. Darrel R. Porr on Friday April 11, 2003, will be remembered as one of the saddest dates in Alamo City history. Because of recent instances of harassment of uniformed personnel, Porr, the commanding general at Fort Sam Houston, felt compelled to warn the men and women who serve under him to use caution when traveling, shopping and dining in San Antonio. "Two separate incidents against military personnel have occurred," Porr reported....

Decorated Vet Rips General for 'Hide the Uniform' Order Members of the U.S. military, in San Antonio and everywhere, should be able to wear their uniforms with honor, pride and dignity. But they've been warned against wearing them in public by their own commander, Maj. Gen. Darrel R. Porr. Yes, you read that correctly. Our heroes can't wear in public what should be the finest piece of clothing any American could don. And one Purple Heart veteran of an 18 month combat tour in Vietnam as a 101st Airborne Division paratrooper and a Green Beret with the 5th Special Forces...

Roddy Stinson: 'Avoid wearing of uniform' general warns local soldiers Web Posted : 04/13/2003 12:00 AM "If possible, avoid wearing of the uniform when dining in public places." — From a "Protective Measures Awareness" notice sent to San Antonio's U.S. Army personnel by Maj. Gen. Darrel R. Porr on Friday April 11, 2003, will be remembered as one of the saddest dates in Alamo City history. Because of recent instances of harassment of uniformed personnel, Porr, the commanding general at Fort Sam Houston, felt compelled to warn the men and women who serve under him to use caution when traveling,...

Wounded soldiers describe Iraq ambush By Marni McEntee, Stars and Stripes European edition, Friday, March 28, 2003 LANDSTUHL, Germany — Army Staff Sgt. Jamie Villafane discovered the meaning of perfidy on a bridge south of An Nasiriyah, Iraq. The treachery of Iraqi troops dressed as civilians nearly cost Villafane and his gunner, Sgt. Charles Horgan, their lives. Villafane, 31, of Long Island, N.Y., doesn’t remember some of what happened, even though the whole fight on Saturday morning took just 10 minutes. Villafane and Horgan, of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, from Fort Benning, Ga., had been...

<p>I am the mother of a daughter in the U.S. Air Force. I'm in my 40's and generally try to conduct myself as a lady. I must admit to feeling _very_ unladylike over the last few weeks. I am absolutely appalled at what is befalling my country and am becoming quite militant in my beliefs. I have always felt that everyone is entitled to his/her opinion. I would fight to my last breath for anyone to be able to express that opinion freely regardless of how idiotic or worthy I personally felt that opinion to be. This is what makes our country great.</p>

Sorry about this ridiculous vanity. Last week there was a pic in the NY Times of two 82nd soldiers with a POW in Afghanistan. I haven't seen the pic, but a co-worker mentioned it and asked me about it. Evidently these two soldiers were wearing what the the co-worker described as knee & elbow pads. I was stationed at Ft. Bragg for 8 years and never saw anything like it. Do any of you have a link to the picture? Do any of you know what these pads are and why they are worn?

Washington -- From the color of cellphones that can be worn (black) to the length of a woman's fingernails (quarter-inch maximum from the fingertip), the Army's latest uniform regulations don't miss much. No green hair dye. No cosmetics for men, no ''eccentric, exaggerated, or trendy cosmetic styles and colors'' for women. No hands in uniform pockets ''except momentarily to place or retrieve objects.'' And so on throughout the latest revision of the Army's ''Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia.'' The 369 pages go into effect Aug. 1. It's the Army's first complete revision of these rules since...

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