Comments for Recording history as it happens...

Recording history as it happens...

2009-03-31T12:40:13Z

...is traditionally, and popularly, the role of the Press. But there are others who do it - who record history as participants, in the form of diarists, and another breed.

The academic military historian. The professional. The one who generates source documents, in a sense, and doesn't wait for the boxes of papers and disks of files to be delivered. Who conducts his interviews in the S.L.A. Marshall mode - right after the event.

Though hopefully with a little more, um, professionalism than BG Marshall displayed at times.

Meet Sean Maloney, PhD. The inset patch says all you need to know.

A friend of Castle Argghhh!, Doctor Maloney is just back from his most recent foray to Afghanistan recording the history of the Canadian Forces and their efforts there. Over the next few days we'll be sharing some of his photos, and maybe I can bully him into some stories - but he's rather busy collating all the data he collected on his trip and preparing the documents that justify his salary, so don't hold your breath!

So, of course, I'm starting out with a picture of Americans that Sean sent. A firebase with M777's - and the reason I did that is because we've got a lot of Auld Pharts who visit, who might get bit by the "reverie bug" when they see this picture from 2008.

Slightly larger version available here.

Which doesn't look a heckuva lot different, in context, than this picture from 1970 (well, except for all that jungly green, maybe...), courtesy of former Lieutenant Dave Keenan. The former enlisted among us will probably appreciate the advance represented by the Hesco barriers over the sandbags, especially if there was a bucket loader to fill 'em, not just e-tools...

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-04-02

2009-04-02T14:20:54Z

Yanno, Paul - I've been wondering if one of the reasons Blackfive is blocked but I'm not is because of advertising - representing potential vectors for malware that might sneak past the guardians.

How's the Swiss Coast Guard these days?

Comment from Paul on 2009-04-02

2009-04-02T14:10:31Z

HAAA!

John: Remember the problem you have about unblocking BlackFive? I've had Sean Maloney's website in my Favorites menu for more than a year. Now that you've "unhidden" him, the Air Farce has blocked him!

And not with just the usual network warning. This one starts off with:

"Access is denied as this site is not currently approved for viewing due to content and/or security issues associated with potentially malicious file extensions. The intent is not to purposefully degrade mission accomplishment; instead it targets successful completion of mission objectives through an increased network security posture denying access to potentially malicious websites...."

So, Sean, be advised you've done your job! You're now officially a potentially malicious website!

Comment from Sean Maloney on 2009-04-01

2009-04-01T22:46:23Z

Thanx, Paul:

Oh yeah, I've run afoul all right. Challenging the whole Lester B. Pearson-Canada-invented -UN peacekeeping orthodoxy using their own records to explain what was really going on during the Cold War; demonstrating how nucs were GOOD for Canada-and we liked having them despite what two generations of historians had been telling everybody else....that kind of thing. Now its our phony, dangerous, and wasteful foreign aid policy that's next on my list.... But that's in my spare time. Because of the amount of knowledge I have built up on Afghanistan over the years, I am morally obligated to assist with the lessons learned process and continuity process, especially when our soldiers' lives are at stake in that incredibly lethal place. I also believe in putting my ass on the line to in order to understand the operational environment so I can constantly improve my knowledge and thus do my job better, and not sit at home in my safe office andp ass judgments from afar. Some people don't like that for some reason, BF'EITCTAJ.

Cheers!

-Sean

Comment from BillT on 2009-04-01

2009-04-01T13:40:33Z

Of course, such historical honesty made them extremely unpopular with promotion-seeking commanders, and the program withered fairly quickly.

My logbook, journal, and photo albums were all confiscated before I left the 90th Repl Depot CONUS-bound.

At the time, I thought it might have been because I wrote detailed observations on all the ops the ol' One-Six-Deuce took part in. Now, I'm more of the opinion that some REMF just wanted to lend authenticity to his war stories -- especially since my thoroughly-worn jungle boots were also confiscated.

Interesting thing, though -- some of my pix surfaced in the '80s in a couple of RVN helicopter pictorial histories with "Official US Army photo" tags...

Comment from Paul on 2009-04-01

2009-04-01T12:52:15Z

During the ~~Vietnam War~~ War of Glorious Liberation, the U.S. Air Force came up with the concept of Project CHECO -- Contemporary Historical Evaluation of Combat Operations. They assigned teams of historians to work with the Air Force combat units in Southeast Asia, and tasked them to prepare historical monographs identifying what worked and what didn't work.

Of course, such historical honesty made them extremely unpopular with promotion-seeking commanders, and the program withered fairly quickly.

I've read some of Sean's work - and I can't believe he hasn't fallen afoul of Canada's politically correct senior leadership. Either he's got one heckuva powerful mentor - or there's still enough engrained honesty in the Canadian Defence Establishment to allow him to do his job despite his candor. Good on you, Sean! Keep up the good work and let the chips fall where they may!

Comment from Mike L on 2009-04-01

2009-04-01T12:44:47Z

And a 175 is a beeg boolitt... That explains it - ALMOST (exaggerating) as bad as the SCUD - safest place to be is where they're aiming. Howitzers over guns anytime!! Just sayin'. ML

Comment from Grumpy on 2009-03-31

2009-03-31T22:17:35Z

Military Historians, Recording the good, the bad and the ugly, no rank is immune. Good idea, if we included everybody. Great for a "Lessons Learned Library", if we learn. Well, what do you expect from us, the auld pharts.

Comment from BillT on 2009-03-31

2009-03-31T21:38:47Z

Never been an adherent of the Big Sky, Little Bullet Theory of Aviation Operation.

Too many little bullets decided to occupy my little portion of the big sky over the course of several hundred hours.

And a 175 is a beeg boolitt...

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-03-31

2009-03-31T21:32:36Z

Hey, "Mark center of sector..." and "Big sky, little bullet."

Comment from Cannoneer No. 4 on 2009-03-31

2009-03-31T20:48:18Z

I don't think patriotic Canadians would drink vending machine coffee after heaven and earth was moved to bring Tim Horton's to KAF.

Three DFACs, two Green Beans and MWR could not satisfy the Canadian caffeine craving.

Comment from BillT on 2009-03-31

2009-03-31T20:45:15Z

I *hate* it when the commo fail occurs in the portion sandwiched between the observer and the toobs...

Observer (circling south of target at 3,500 feet AGL): "Add one thousand, gimme one round of Willie Pete, over."

FDC: "*mumble-squark* thousand, shell Willie Pete, out." "Quadrant! *mumblety-three-mumblety!"

Toobs: BAMF!

FDC: "Shot, over!"

Observer: "Shot, out!"

FDC: "Splash, over!"

Observer: "Spl -- HOLY %$#@!"

*flying through white phosphorus airburst which has just appeared in front of the aircraft rather than atop the target 3,500 feet below*

Comment from JimC on 2009-03-31

2009-03-31T20:36:30Z

Ooh and betraying my gruntness I forgot to mention I love the Greek helmet on the patch.

Comment from JimC on 2009-03-31

2009-03-31T20:31:41Z

I love when you cannon cockers fail to communicate.

Comment from Mike L on 2009-03-31

2009-03-31T19:26:39Z

Just agreeing with you, Chief!! ML

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-03-31

2009-03-31T18:27:39Z

The vending machine latte is a nice touch, though, ainnit?

Comment from Fishmugger on 2009-03-31

2009-03-31T18:08:17Z

This has to be type casting; if they were going to make a movie central casting would definitely choose the good Professor. He looks like what an Academic Military Historian should look like.

He can use a little more dirt on his uniform though.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-03-31

2009-03-31T15:06:17Z

Hence why I mentioned the bucket loader, Mike!

Comment from Mike L on 2009-03-31

2009-03-31T14:31:33Z

Hey Armorer - Hesco Barriers - if that's the standard then I never had a prepared/fortified position in my life; I don't care how much time we spent "improving our positions." As for filling sand-bags and e-tools; you don't have to be in that hell hole very long to realize that sand may be all around, but it's like digging in concrete. Those barriers represent a lot of sand that obviously had to be shipped in. Great shots - all that's missing is the smell of wolf-pu...... , er, cordite!! ML