Comments for A Real Hero

A Real Hero

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:49:04 -0600

Captain Phillps' actions to save his crew were already known, and his attempted escape on Friday drew him praise for gutsiness. But what should truly catapult him into the pantheon of Mensches is this sentiment: Maersk Chief Executive Officer John Reinhart called the rescue a “good moment.” He said he’s spoken with Phillips, who told him to say that “John, I’m just a byline. The real heroes are the Navy, the SEALs who have brought me home."Sounds like the kind of person who would be quite welcome 'round here...

Comment from Toejam on 2009-04-15

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:49:09 -0600

Dear Lamigra (and others),

If you're interested about the Vietnam war I found the following site:

http://www.cc.gatech.edu/fac/Thomas.Pilsch/Vietnam.html

Comment from Josh on 2009-04-15

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:15:38 -0600

Ummmm.....cuz they are the same at least according to some....

"Some" are mistaken. I blame the mainstream media.

Sadly, even people who write dictionaries get it wrong now and then.

Comment from Lamigra on 2009-04-15

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:29:45 -0600

My M-14, which replaced the Garand a year later,

Which I was issued in 1966, but that is neither here nor there, my question is this:

What was the 7th Cavalry doing in 1965 with M16s? I never saw one until I got to Fort Lewis, en route to Vietnam, in 1971. Truth to tell, though, the M16s we had _in_my_unit_, were newly issued to the unit (as I recall), but were well worn. I 'spect and vaguely recall, that some grunt _units_ were already on their way home, and must have turned in their serviceable M16s for reissue to other, lesser, units.

Think I'll go do some googling, now.

Comment from Lamigra on 2009-04-15

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:11:42 -0600

Toejam

Ummmm.....cuz they are the same at least according to some....

clip n 1: a metal frame or container holding cartridges; can be
inserted into an automatic gun [syn: cartridge holder,
cartridge clip, clip, magazine]

Howsomeever, for the sake of arguement, I will accept your correction, and I had seen the point made before, elsewhere and when, I do not recall.

I stand corrected, and thank you kindly for pointing out the error in my ways.

Comment from Toejam on 2009-04-15

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 07:25:41 -0600

OBTW, the device at hand is a meager Ruger 10-22...with 30 round clip (Lamigra)

Why do lots of folks use "clip" when referring to a magazine?

The M-1 Garand I was entrusted with back in 1961 utilizied an 8-round clip.

My M-14, which replaced the Garand a year later, utilized a 20-round magazine.

They did not in any way resemble each other.

Comment from Lamigra on 2009-04-14

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:19:48 -0600

OBTW, the device at hand is a meager Ruger 10-22...with 30 round clip....so I don't have to get accurate, just put lots of ammo out there at strange vehicles in the night. Oh and the backups to the device at hand include an M-1 Carbine. More the deponent sayeth not.

Comment from Lamigra on 2009-04-14

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:04:09 -0600

As I understand it, the shot (shots) were taken at 7:19 PM (local), about 30 minures ago, my local time (MST, El Paso TX), at 100 feet/30 yards, about the distance from my front door to the front gate. I _think_ I could do a shot like that, and _pray_ that I could if I had to...three shooters taking one shot per shooter, on command. Commendable, gentlemen (and I use the term with all respect to those that got it with a commission). Not being Navy, I believe the term is Bravo Zulu. You guys are KICKIN' A##"!!!

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-04-13

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:23:23 -0600

Um, Cricket, yes they do. Surely you mistyped?

Comment from Cricket on 2009-04-13

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:29:18 -0600

Easter SEALS? Bwahahaha! We were praying for Captain Phillips around here. When the Engineer told the eldest CLU that it was three snipers that took out the perps, he said 'We are the BEST!'

Last I checked, criminals have no rights.

Comment from Sandy Daze on 2009-04-13

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:37:43 -0600

What he said:

Kill all the pirates and their accomplices. Don’t waste time trying to sort it out, they are all corrupt. TIA.

Let me select 50 men and proper equipment, perhaps less and this problem will be resolved very quickly.

( From: http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/11/guest_editorial_2.html )

Comment from BillT on 2009-04-13

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:32:28 -0600

Easter SEALs? Works for me...

Heh.

Didn't have to wait too long -- one of the guys just busted out laughing at a comment he saw at HuffPo, to whit: the Somali pirates started out in the 1990s as a bunch of civic-minded individuals who decided to stop the toxic waste dumping and illegal fishing off the Somali coast.

Ergo, we are fighting the Somali Coast Guard.

Moonbats. Gotta love 'em...

Comment from Neffi on 2009-04-13

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:12:48 -0600

Brings all new meaning to the phrase Easter Seals, I'm thinking...
ahem

Comment from Josh on 2009-04-13

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:49:38 -0600

"NO BLOOD FOR TILAPIA!"

That's prime bumper sticker material, right there!

Comment from fdcol63 on 2009-04-13

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:35:27 -0600

I'm sure Justice Ginsburg is checking "international law" statutes right now to see how she can complain about the SEAL action.

Comment from Saker on 2009-04-13

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:28:36 -0600

Well, you won't have to wait long for the complaining, Bill. The news on my homepage today is full of "pirates vow to retaliate" and "U.S. raises stakes."

I thought it was really cool that Capt. Phillips was rescued on Easter Sunday. It's an appropriate day for the Good Guys to win. :)

Comment from BillT on 2009-04-13

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:02:35 -0600

This means that none of the Muslim goons got to see their buddy's heads explode. Oh well ... can't have everything, I guess. ..."

Yeah, but I'll bet that some heads will be exploding over it closer to home...

"They inflicted the death penalty on foreign citizens without a trial! Those ~~thugs~~ poor free-range boat-harvesters had their Constitutional Rights violated by the military, just like the ~~thugs~~ poor free-range goat farmers being held at Gitmo!"

"NO BLOOD FOR TILAPIA!"

*checking watch*

Comment from JamesLee on 2009-04-13

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 08:28:46 -0600

As I understand it, the seas in that area are actually quite calm at this time of year, and depending on the craft(s) in question, there may not be that much movement at all. And not to take anything away from the Awesomeness of 3-at-a-time head shots, I also have heard the life raft was in tow, and the shots were only about 30 yards or so. Even so, all things considered, very impressive! Probably much better than I could hope to accomplish under similar circumstances.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-04-13

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 08:01:25 -0600

I don't know the sea state, nor do I know what the SEALs were up to, so, in a sense, I can't answer the queston -but yes, both situations are possible, though, frankly, I think the shot might be easier shot from ship-to-ship than floating in the water - especially if they were simultaneous shots.

But I can also see utility in the Navy wishing the pirates to think that level of marksmanship is possible from your average Navy vessel and to not know there were SEALs that close-in.

In other words, yes.

[Waves "Hello!" to Somali guy in Michigan who's surfing the 'net for intel on the issue to send home to refine pirate TTPs]

Comment from fdcol63 on 2009-04-13

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 07:33:12 -0600

I like Neal Boortz's comments:

" ... One regret. The head shots that killed the three pirates were simultaneous. This means that none of the Muslim goons got to see their buddy's heads explode. Oh well ... can't have everything, I guess. ..."

Comment from wolfwalker on 2009-04-13

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 05:46:26 -0600

Question for the experienced military folks who hang out around here: The news this morning is saying that three pirates were killed by "Navy snipers" with head shots. One shot each.

Question: Is it possible to snipe accurately at people on a boat from the deck of a ship several hundred yards away, when both are moving on the waves and one or both are also under way on their engines? Or is it more likely that the "snipers" were SEALs in the water close by the boat, using waterproofed guns or some sort of gas-powered gun?