IT IS NOT THE SAME Every time our military forces are put to use they change. It is, at times, a call for improvement and it seems to come about when new troops are deployed to active areas of conflict.
We have become aware from actual combat experience, for example, that many of our units were too large. This has made transport aircraft our main need all others. Forces, when requested, must arrive promptly and be line-ready; fully operative for immediate action - not dependent on any “to follow” materials or personnel.
I think we all recall when we suddenly started hearing about American soldiers requesting more “body armor”. The Idea was misused by some politicians. Such requests were often vilified and set aside as complaints from poorly-trained, somewhat sissified soldiers who seemed to want an electronic “coat-of-arms” to wear when enemy fire started. It was, however, a sensible suggestion from people who, in actual experience, found the metal sheets making up the skin of their Jeeps, Humbees, weapons carriers and other such people movers had to be made thicker.
Smaller windshields and bullet-proof glass would help, too. In the actual war, enemy forces were focusing anti-tank weaponry on such carriers and using anti-personnel bombs along roadway edges.
There never was a person who flew in B-24's and B-17's during WW II who has not held a fifty caliber shell, in hand and compared its size to the thickness - or thinness - of the fuselage shell surrounding him for protection.
In short, our vehicles are out-dated; our combat units as worn. They need re-designing and replacement. In Desert Storm, in Afghanistan and in Iraq, our mobile forces were required to move faster, farther and under the most unfavorable conditions. They are worn out. The entire nature of war - making has, has changed and our situation is further complicated by the fact that there are now some legitimate questions as to the availability of adequate manufacturing facilities needed to re-fashion our military might. It remains to be determined if we have retained enough of our manufacturing
capabilities needed to re-build our defense force, at least It will soon become a major concern and most of the industrial plants which could be converted - are gone.
My carbine in WW II was manufactured by the Underwood Typewriter Company The foot lockers at Ft. Meade, Maryland were made at the Basic-Witz Furniture plant at Staunton,Virginia The vehicles we drove were put together at assembly plants with parts and pieces from our own foundry sites - most of which longer exist.
The Pentagon seems to be aware of the impending time of need. The media has not, as yet, been able to get with it. You can expect it to do so at any moment now. After their steady diet of Jackson, Peterson, Schiavo, Stewart and other star distractions, you can prepare yourself for a fantastic fact-finding frenzy generously salted with numerous “I told you so!” interludes concerning the present offshore nature of our manufacturing capabilities.
A.L.M. March 25, 2005 [c524wds]
