December 31, 2003

I was a bad leader.

I always traded away my .45 or my (hock, p-tooey) 9mm Beretta for an M3 Grease Gun. Usually the VTR driver's in an artillery unit.

Why?

If I, as an officer, had to defend myself or influence a fight. I wanted to influence it! Not just make noise.

I made a point with my Sergeants, Lieutenants, and Captains that if you wear fancy field giear your Privates can't afford, you don't know how the weather is affecting them. So, I made them wear issue gear.

I suppose I could make the argument that I used issue gear, but, I console myself with the thought that I was being true to my basic intent - taking care of the troops. And I could do a he11 of a lot more damage with that Grease Gun than I could with the Berretta. And, while the .45 would knock 'em down, the Grease Gun would do more of 'em at a greater distance. As an artilleryman, I'm always for killing 'em when they are far away, not when I can smell their bad breath!

Hat tip to Don Sensing and Blackfive.

John | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) | Observations on things Military
Comments on I was a bad leader.
Blackfive briefed on January 3, 2004 04:20 PM

I think the officers of the 3rd ID that helped take Baghdad might disagree. It really depends on what you are doing at the time and what your role is as an officer. You never know when the battle might go south on you.

In my unit in Desert Storm, most of the men chose to carry (and were issued) just about anything other than M16's or 60's.