Maj. Gen. Keith L. Ware was born in Denver on November 23, 1915. His military career began on July 9, 1941, when he undertook his basic training at Camp Roberts, California, following his induction into the Army under the Selective Service Act. He attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry on July 18, 1942.
Assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division, he sailed on October 22, 1942, from Hampton Roads, Virginia, and was part of the North African invasion force. He participated in the Algeria-French Morocco and Tunisian Campaigns. The next major operations he participated in were the invasion of Sicily, the Naples-Foggia battles of southern Italy, the landings at Anzio Beachhead, and then on the San Tropez beaches of southern France in August of 1944.
On June 18, 1945, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. An excerpt from the citation states, "On December 26, 1944, while serving as battalion commander of 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry, near Sigolsheim, France, he went forward of the front line elements of his command and for two hours reconnoitered a strongly held enemy position. He then led a small patrol forward and destroyed or captured four machine-gun positions and killed numerous enemy riflemen. Half of the patrol, including himself, were wounded, but he refused medical attention until his men captured the position."
As an interesting side note, Audie Murphy received his Medal of Honor for actions in January 1945 as a member of Ware's battalion. Later, he served as one of Ware's company commanders.
After serving six months in Germany's occupation forces, Ware returned to attend the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth and then was assigned to the Military District of Washington. This is where he met his future wife, Joyce, and they were married five months later on May 3, 1947.
Ware was then assigned to West Point to teach Military Psychology and Leadership, then attended the Armed Forces Staff College and was assigned to serve in Korea from March 1955 until June of 1957. It was then off to the National War College, back to Washington D.C. to serve as a Congressional Liaison and then a tour in Europe. During his next assignment as Assistant Division Commander of the
2d Armored Division ("Hell on Wheels") at Fort Hood, Texas, he was promoted to brigadier general. His next tour of duty was as Deputy Chief and Chief of Information for the Department of the Army from September 1964 through November 1967. During that tour, he was promoted to Major General on July 1, 1966.
Originally due for assignment to Germany, Ware appealed to the Secretary of the Army and was reassigned to Vietnam, where he initially served in major command assignments until taking over as commander of the 1st Infantry Division ("Big Red One").
On September 13, 1968, during the Battle of Lộc Ninh, elements of the 1st Infantry Division were preparing to attack Hill 222, 6 km north of the town. Ware's command group was flying in his command and control helicopter to view the battle when heavy anti-aircraft fire brought the helicopter down 5 km south of Lộc Ninh. Ware, his three command staff, and the four helicopter crew were all killed in the crash, including his dog. On October 25, 1968, Ware was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
His funeral was held, and he was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. President Johnson, whom Ware had known from his legislative liaison days, attended.
His wife, who resides in Colorado, said that "he loved his country dearly and was a man of very high morals, very dedicated and a wonderful human being."
The Army continues to recognize Maj. Gen. Keith L. Ware and his accomplishments to this day. The Army's annual Awards for Journalism are named after him, as are the Parade Ground and an Elementary School at Fort Riley, Kansas (traditional home of the "Big Red One"); a range facility at Fort Benning, Georgia (home of the Infantry"); a Simulation Center at Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois; and, of course, an etching on panel 44W of the Vietnam War Memorial.
His Medal of Honor is currently on display at the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning.
J. Keith Saliba's book's real-life setting is an isolated, heavily fortified frontier outpost In Vietnam's West-Central Highlands near the Cambodian border and the Ho Chi Minh trail, the main conduit for troops and supplies from North Vietnam.
"It was a 20th-century version of the Wild West frontier fortress," Saliba said, in territory Army Special Forces soldiers called "Indian Country"-remote, dangerous.
In October 1965, the camp at Plei Me was guarded by a 12-man American Army Special Forces "A-Team," along with Montagnard fighters native to the region and a small contingent of South Vietnamese Special Forces soldiers.
But by Oct. 19, almost 2,000 North Vietnamese soldiers had crept into position around Plei Me. An equal number were deployed to ambush any relief force sent to the camp's rescue.
And so begins the battle he describes in "Death in the Highlands: The Siege of Special Forces Camp Plei Me" (released this month by Stackpole Book).
Vastly outnumbered, the Special Forces soldiers fought back with their Vietnamese allies in an ultimately successful, week-long battle that involved vast amounts of close air support and daring air resupply missions.
Saliba, a former journalist, is an associate professor of journalism and mass communication at Jacksonville University. One of the men he interviewed for the book was Euell White, 86, who retired from the Army as a major and lives in Florence, Ala.
In October 1965, White was a 31-year-old first lieutenant in Project DELTA, a clandestine Special Forces reconnaissance unit. He was among those who joined in the rescue attempt at Plei Me, during which he was wounded in a ferocious firefight - an experience Saliba describes in harrowing detail.
He praised Saliba's book."It was really educational for me because I didn't know about the background, the build-up to Plei Me," White said. "He did all that research."
But White said he knew the risk he was taking heading to Plei Me.
"I knew it was going to be bad out there, and when I got wounded and left alone for a time, my chances of getting out of there looked pretty slim to me," White said.
So what motivated him?
"It was a Special Forces team, under siege," White said. "We always tried to look after our own. From the time I enlisted in the Army in 1951, it was part of being a soldier."
Saliba said he found that same sentiment in his research.
"The response I got from both the guys on the ground and the guys in the air was: They would do it for us. They needed us, and so we were going to be there for them. That was our job, that is what we were going to do, to do whatever we could to help them."
Saliba has written about Vietnam for some 20 years, even though at 53, he is far too young to have fought in it-or even to be that aware of it while it was going on.
He said the tragedy and heroism of the war is what drew him to it and kept him interested in exploring it.
"My generation, those kids who came up in the '80s, were maybe the first ones to see that the Vietnam vets were not well-treated," he said. "It was almost like a dirty secret. It always rubbed me the wrong way."
As a young journalist in Albany, Ga., he interviewed a veteran of the battle at la Drang, which was told in the 2002 movie "We Were Soldiers," starring Mel Gibson. It took place just weeks after the siege of Plei Me, which is considered the prelude to that clash.
While the veteran, unhappy with how Vietnam vets had been portrayed, was initially reluctant to speak, he eventually told his story to the reporter. And he and Saliba became friends.
"Hopefully, I fulfilled my pledge to be respectful and, at the same time, tell the story," Saliba said.
La Drang was the subject of a book by war correspondent Joe Galloway, on which the Mel Gibson movie was based. Saliba interviewed Galloway about Ple Me, and Galloway gave him a nice cover blurb for his book, saying, "This story has it all, Keith Saliba has done them all proud."
In graduate school, Saliba's master's thesis was on Esquire magazine's coverage of Vietnam, from writers such as Michael Herr ("Dispatches") and John Sack.
He's since contributed to a series of books on the war and has researched the psychological effects of the 1969 Tet Offensive.
Saliba said he's thinking of next tackling a book on the rise of fall of ISIS in the Middle East. But he's not likely done with Vietnam.
"There were so many different layers, so much nuance. It was just fascinating. And obviously, the longer you pay attention to something, the more comfortable you feel about writing about it," he said. "Vietnam always keeps calling me back."
"Recon," a good old-fashioned World War II movie, turns out to be one of the few films that are trying to make a big impact in theaters this fall.
The movie follows four American soldiers over the course of a day after they are sent on a possible suicide mission over a mountain. An old Italian partisan leads them, and no one can be sure of his loyalties. The men witnessed their Sergeant kill an Italian civilian just before this assignment, so no one really knows whether they are supposed to succeed or perish.
The producers have released the movie's trailer, and we can get now getting a sense of what the movie's like.
The Allied campaign to take Italy from the German forces was both brutal and tedious. Young American soldiers are ordered to climb a mountain and bring back intel to their Sergeant. On their journey, they encounter an Italian partisan who offers to serve as a guide.
After the group locates the German tanks, they hightail it back down the slopes to deliver the news. There is a sense of unease that explodes into an outright confrontation in the group once they realize a German sniper is tracking them. Did the Italian set them up? Will they complete their mission?
The movie is the feature debut for writer/director Robert David Port, who won an Oscar for his 2003 documentary short "Twin Towers" about the bravery of two brothers, one a fireman and the other a policeman, on Sept. 11, 2001.
The film stars Alexander Ludwig ("Vikings") and Sam Keeley ("68 Whiskey") as American soldiers and the great Franco Nero (the original "Django" himself, "Die Hard 2," "Django Unchained," "John Wick: Chapter 2") as the old man who leads them on their mission.
The screening will be a Fathom event and was originally scheduled to play at more than 350 AMC, Cinemark, and Regal venues. Unfortunately, Regal decided to close all its cinemas for the foreseeable future after the James Bond movie moved its release to spring 2021.
AMC and Cinemark say they have no plans to close and Fathom previously announced that it was looking to add smaller independent venues to the roster before the screening date.
This year, the US Senate unanimously passed a bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to US Army Rangers who served in World War II.
The bill was not officially announced until after the anniversary of D-Day. Senator Tammy Duckworth, S-Ill sponsored the bill.
And Senator Joni Ernst, R-Iowa. Both of the sponsors are veterans. They announced the passing of the bill in a joint announcement.
The Rangers are famous in part for scaling the Pointe du Hoc cliffs during the invasion of Nazi-occupied France on D-Day.
The Rangers were formed in the mid-1700s to fight in the French and Indian War. Major Robert Rogers wrote nineteen standing orders for the Rangers, which are still used today.
In WWII, the Rangers took part in battles in Northern Africa, including the critical Battle of El Guettar.
They took part in the D-Day landings where they gained fame for their work in clearing German gun emplacements, which allowed Allied landing craft to reach the beachhead without encountering German fire.
Rangers also played a role in the Pacific theater, where they liberated American POWs in the Philippines.
Representative Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, has taken the lead on getting the bill passed in the House of Representatives.
There is another effort currently taking place to get the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to Merrill’s Marauders.
In 1943, President Franklin D Roosevelt and the other leaders of the Allies recognized that the US needed to engage in a long-range penetration effort to disrupt the Japanese's supply and communication lines while the main forces worked to re-open the Burma Road.
Roosevelt issued a call for volunteers, which received around 3,000 responses from US servicemen. Officially named the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), it was codenamed “Galahad” and became popularly known as “Merrill’s Marauders” after their leader Brigadier General Frank Merrill.
With no tanks or artillery to support them, the Marauders walked over 1,000 miles through dense jungle.
They engaged the enemy in five major battles and thirty minor engagements. They defeated the Japanese 18th Division, who had conquered Singapore and Malaya and vastly outnumbered the Marauders. They disrupted the supply and communication lines completely.
To top it all off, they captured the Myitkyina Airfield, which was the only all-weather airfield in Northern Burma.
No other American force had marched as far, fought continuously for as long (four months), or showed as much stamina and endurance as the Marauders.
Every injured Marauder was safely evacuated, which required carrying the wounded to an evacuation point and then hacking out a landing strip from the jungle.
When the mission was over, every single member of the Marauders was placed in the hospital for tropical diseases, exhaustion, malnutrition, or an "A.O.E. (accumulation of everything)."
US Air Force Delivers Sig Sauer M18 Pistols to Security Forces
The Congressional Gold Medal is Congress’ "highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions by individuals or institutions."
When I returned from Vietnam in 1969, my next duty station was Electricians Mate 'A' School at the Naval Training Center in the Point Loma section of San Diego. The Naval Training Center closed in 1997. Many of the buildings on the site were designated 'historic' by the city of San Diego, a decision I appreciate having been a fan of the architecture since my first day there. Those buildings on the 361-acre site have been repurposed and now operate in a variety of functions as 'Liberty Station.'
The nearby Marine Corps Recruit Depot also has a long history in a town the Chamber of Commerce has justifiably called 'America's Finest City' for years. About 15 years ago, my wife Cathy and I had a family member graduating from MCRD, which was a great reason for us to make our first visit to that base.
California Congressman William Kettner was the initial driving force behind both the Marine Corps Recruit Depot and the Naval Training Center. Additionally, Colonel Joseph Pendelton, eventually a General and the namesake of Camp Pendelton, was instrumental in MCRD becoming a reality. Ground was broken for MCRD and its initial construction on March 2, 1919. The buildings feature a Mission/Spanish Revival architectural style that was also utilized at the now 'Liberty Station.' The architect, Bertram Goodhue, had used that style for the buildings at the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. MCRD is adjacent to the San Diego International Airport and is listed in the United States Register of Historic Places. The site consists of 388 acres; 367 of them are reclaimed tidal lands. During World War II, the focus of activity, training was a priority over other activities. The base was formally commissioned in 1921. Two years later, it became the Marine Corps Recruit Training Center for the Western United States. On January 1, 1948, it was officially named Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. After World War II, the recruit detachment continued to be the primary tenant. The base is the home of the 4th, 6th, and 10th Marine Regiments, the 2nd Marine Division, and the Fleet Marine Force. The primary focus continues to be training and 'Making Marines.'
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More than 21,000 recruits, in this case, males that live west of the Mississippi River, are trained every year. Their training is a 13-week process covering weapons training, close-order drills, personal hygiene and cleanliness, and Marine Corps history. Qualifications to be a part of the graduating class include rifle marksmanship, combat-oriented swimming, and successful completion of 'The Crucible'; a 54 hour simulated combat exercise.
The Command increased from 3 to 8 battalions to accommodate troop requirements for the Korean War. In excess of 700 Quonset Huts accommodated the new recruits. Named for the always reliable structures the Seabees first built at the Davisville Naval Base near Quonset Point, Rhode Island, 'Quonset' in the language of the Native American Narragansett people who once lived there means 'Bounty.' Those involved in the design and construction named them Quonset Huts. Some of those Huts are still standing and currently in use, a testament to their durability. The Vietnam War brought about the next phase of expansion on the base. With an overflow of new troops, a 100 tent cantonment (temporary housing for troops) was erected. Also new was a chow hall, 5 new recruit barracks, a Regional Dental and Medical Clinic, and a bowling alley. The 1970s saw an upswing in recruiting efforts, and the Depot evolved into the Western Recruiting Center. Currently, the base has 25 buildings. Of those, 13 have been named for famous Marines.
As history has shown, at one point in 2005, the possibility of closure of the base was under consideration. It was not on the 'Base Realignment and Closure' list. There were, however, a number of assorted groups in Washington that wanted it taken into consideration. The Marine Corps established a strong resistance. They noted the status of the Parade Deck as a memorial to veterans of World War II. Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq. The cost of closing the base and relocating to Parris Island were also aspects of their opposition to the closure. Gordon England was the acting Deputy Secretary of Defense. It pointed out a closure would create a 'Single point of failure' given the number of hurricanes that strike the area around Parris Island. England also noted the cost of demolition in San Diego, and the required new construction in Parris Island would create a 100-year payback. Bottom line, after 'Marine Corps Recruit Depot,' you can still see the name 'San Diego.' Another branch of the military, the United States Coast Guard, is on board at MCRD. Their Pacific Area Tactical Law Enforcement Team and Maritime Safety and Security team are on site.
The world of film and television has made a few MCRD visits. From the days of black and white film, 'Tell It to The Marines' starring Lon Cheney, William Haines, and Eleanor Broadman was filmed there. It was the most box-office success Chaney had throughout his career. The 1926 silent film was the biggest moneymaker of the 1926/27 season.
The Technical Consultant for the film was General Smedley D. Butler, Commander of the base. Cheney established a friendship with him that lasted for the rest of Cheney's life. Those of you who remember 'Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.' may know the Marines marching footage on the Parade Deck is part of the opening montage. It was a spin-off of 'The Andy Griffith Show' and starred former Mayberry gas station attendant Jim Nabors. Aaron Ruben and Sheldon Leonard produced the show. Some Vietnam War era training can be seen in 'Tribes,' a 1970 ABC Television film starring Darren McGavin. It was broadcast on November 10, 1970, the Marine's 195th birthday.
Non Commissioned Officers Association
NCOA is excited to announce, we have placed an order for NCOA Challenge Coins. This is a fundraiser for the Association. Order your Challenge Coins in advance! Please pass on to your members and others!
We are asking for a donation of a minimum of $15.00 per Coin. This will include shipping and handling. The proceeds will go towards our Scholarship and Member Development Funds Programs. Coins should be ready in late December.
We prefer payment by check or money order be sent to NCOA Headquarters: 9330 Corporate Drive, Suite 708, Selma, Texas 78154. Thanks in advance for your support! Please keep safe!
If you are not already a member, please join us at https://ncoausa.org/membership/.
Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Association
Just a few things we've been able to accomplish recently through the Coalition of Military Associations:
Landmark Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Bill
S. 785 - The Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Improvement Act was recently signed by President Trump.
This critical bill provides veterans with transition assistance, mental health support, and telehealth access. It commits
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to deliver bold new initiatives to improve veteran mental health and well-being and help bring an end to the tragic trends in veteran suicide.
National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, S. 2661, P.L. 116-172 Oct. 17, 2020.
The law designates 9-8-8 as 3 the digit number to be used as the National Suicide Hotline number by 2022 and requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to designate 9-8-8 as the universal telephone number for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline.
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living (COLA) Adjustment Act of 2020, H.R. 6168, P.L. 116-178 Oct. 20, 2020.
This bill directs the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to increase, as of December 1, 2020, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. The percentage increase in benefits shall be the same 1.3 percent as the cost-of-living increase for Social Security recipients.
Vet Center Eligibility Expansion Act
H.R. 1812, P.L. 116-176 Oct. 20, 2020.
This law expands the eligibility to receive counseling from VA Vet Centers to members of the National Guard and Reserves or U.S. Coast Guard who served during emergency situations in the wake of a national emergency, major disaster, civil disorder, or drug interdiction operation.
Please click here to join the CGCPOA
Veterans Last Patrol
Mission Statement
Last Patrol: Serving veterans by bringing new friends to veterans in hospice.
Purpose
America’s veterans served their country. They protected us and our way of life. We must stand by them.
Our veterans know about patrolling land, sea, and air. Veterans in hospice are on their final fight and in their last patrol. Whether it goes by the name “battle buddy” or “shipmate” or “wingman” - all veterans understand that tough assignments are best faced together.
How We Make A Difference
Last Patrol connects veteran volunteers to veterans in hospice. We cooperate with medical providers of hospice care to connect volunteers to the patients so that their last patrol isn’t alone. It’s hard to underestimate the importance of friendship during end-of-life care. Last Patrol brings new friendships when friendship matters most.
When America’s veterans go into hospice care they often lose contact with family, friends, and with the military community. Some are alone. Some sit quietly in nursing homes. Many families are loving and attentive to their hospice patient but appreciate getting the support, connection, and information that a friend from the military community can provide. Last Patrol helps provide that support.
Some stories are only shared between veterans. The exceptionality of military experience is such that a special bond of service results. Many veterans describe their military service as a singularly unique period of their lives. As many veterans approach death, meeting a new supportive friend, sharing stories, and reawaking memories of “patrolling” with their buddies can be richly rewarding for both the patient and their families, as well as veteran volunteers. Last Patrol brings that service.
How Can You Help?
Be a Friend to a Patient in Hospice
Tell Us About a Patient in Need
Provide Financial Support
Click HERE to find out more about this organization.
Marine Corps League Peter P. Monaco, Jr. Det 40 celebrates a successful mission of the "Backpacks For Life" project in CT
With the generous support of the Glastonbury area community and area towns on Saturday, November 21st, the League members were kept busy with a steady stream of donors delivering bags of daily essential items for the Backpack For Life project.
The event took place at the Veterans Hall of Glastonbury at 980 Chestnut Hill Road, South Glastonbury. Donations were received from 9 to noon, and the League members worked the rest of the day sorting and packing the items to be ready for distribution on December 5th.
Over 2,000 items were collected, sorted and broken down into 3 main kits with 1 extra kit for female veterans. The kit items were then put into gallon size storage bags that were then added to each of the 50 backpacks. Monetary donations also were welcomed to purchase any additional items to complete the kits. A total of 28 different items made up the 3 main kits of daily essentials that a veteran would need. (5 of the 50 kits were designated for female vets that contained an extra kit.) The kits can be viewed at mcldet40.org/backpacks-for-life-fundraiser/.
Military veterans have all learned to survive for months with just a backpack, and this project provides the basic essentials as well as resource material for our fellow veterans who are most in need in CT. After challenging deployments, when a military member returns home they often face the hardest part of the process – reintegrating into their civilian lives while battling with the hidden wounds of war.
The Backpacks For Life project offers the first-ever military-grade backpack, designed and engineered with a homeless veteran in mind. Marine war veteran, Brett D'Allesandro of New Jersey, founded the project in 2014. Like many veterans, his story is very unique and motivating and truly shows the compassion veterans have for one another. His story can be found on www.backpacksforlife.org. The term, "We've got your six" simply means "We've got your back" and this is exactly what motivates the members of MCL Det 40 and what moved them to recently embrace the BFL project locally. This backpack will provide at-risk and homeless veterans with personalized assistance based on their personal needs. It's important to let veterans know there is HOPE and that they can get on a path to self-sufficiency. Don Davis, a member of the League, works at the Veterans Hospital in Newington and said that the need is greater than ever before and this BFL project is perfect especially during these challenging times.
From 'The Nam' Facebook Group
My Brothers kept whisperin' in my ear as I sat here with them..., "Please read us just one more poem..., PLEEEASE..., we've got plenty of time, and we love to hear about our Buddy, Boondocker. He's a good Marine..., ALWAYS WAS!
Maybe he can come see us soon. Tell him we'll all be right here waitin' to see him."
Needless to say, my shirt was soaking wet when I got up, and the crowd around me couldn't understand why.
I reckon they couldn't hear me..., and I know they couldn't hear my Brothers, for they were ONLY talkin' to me...,BUT, they WILL talk to anyone who will "LISTEN"! (Bill Roach)
If you would like to join this Facebook group, click this banner:
Shortly after Congress passed the Cares Act, the Pentagon began directing pandemic-related money to defense contractors.
A $1 billion fund Congress gave the Pentagon in March to build up the country's supplies of medical equipment has instead been mostly funneled to defense contractors and used to make things such as jet engine parts, body armor and dress uniforms.
The change illustrates how one taxpayer-backed effort to battle the novel coronavirus, which has killed more than 200,000 Americans, was instead diverted toward patching up long-standing perceived gaps in military supplies.
The payments were made even though U.S. health officials think major funding gaps in pandemic response still remain. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in Senate testimony last week that states desperately need $6 billion to distribute vaccines to Americans early next year. Many U.S. hospitals still face a severe shortage of N95 masks. These are the types of problems that the money was originally intended to address.
Pentagon used taxpayer money meant for masks and swabs to make jet engine parts and body armor
Shortly after Congress passed the Cares Act, the Pentagon began directing pandemic-related money to defense contractors.
Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper speaks as President Trump listens during a news briefing with the coronavirus task force March 18 at the White House.
Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper speaks as President Trump listens during a news briefing with the coronavirus task force on March 18 at the White House. (Evan Vucci/AP)
A $1 billion fund Congress gave the Pentagon in March to build up the country's supplies of medical equipment has instead been mostly funneled to defense contractors and used to make things such as jet engine parts, body armor, and dress uniforms.
The change illustrates how one taxpayer-backed effort to battle the novel coronavirus, which has killed more than 200,000 Americans, was instead diverted toward patching up long-standing perceived gaps in military supplies.
The Cares Act, which Congress passed earlier this year, gave the Pentagon money to "prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus." But a few weeks later, the Defense Department began reshaping how it would award the money in a way that represented a major departure from Congress's intent.
The payments were made even though U.S. health officials think major funding gaps in pandemic response still remain. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in Senate testimony last week that states desperately need $6 billion to distribute vaccines to Americans early next year. Many U.S. hospitals still face a severe shortage of N95 masks. These are the types of problems that the money was originally intended to address.
"This is part and parcel of whether we have budget priorities that actually serve our public safety or whether we have a government that is captured by special interests," said Mandy Smithberger, a defense analyst at the Project on Government Oversight, a watchdog group.
DOD officials contend that they have sought to strike a balance between boosting American medical production and supporting the defense industry, whose health they consider critical to national security. The Pentagon, which as of 2016 employed more than 156,000 people working in acquisitions alone, also has lent its expertise to the Department of Health and Human Services as it seeks to purchase billions of dollars in needed medical equipment.
They were masters of the craft of illusion and deception, and their greatest disappearing act was to vanish from history. The men of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops were recruited to become phantom warriors in a ghost army to help win the Battle of Europe. A thousand strong, they fought in more campaigns, from D Day to the Rhine River, with more Allied armies, than any other unit in the European Theater of Operations-yet, not even their fellow American soldiers were aware of their presence.
After Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., USNR, completed a tour of England and its special forces installations, the Hollywood star convinced the Navy brass to train an elite unit that eventually evolved into the only Army force of its kind. These elite soldiers counted among their number designer Bill Blass and painter Ellsworth Kelly.
The Special Troops' mission was two-fold: to deceive the German Army into believing that the Allies possessed more troops and material than they actually did and, even more heroically, to draw enemy fire on their position to allow other units to advance free of lethal resistance.
Through the art of camouflage, sonic deception, and illusion, this extraordinary troop of brave, ingenious men saved countless American lives-while sometimes losing their own. From the use of inflatable rubber tanks and howitzers to elaborate sound effects, radio transmissions, special effects artillery, and other stagecraft elements, these shadow soldiers put their lives on the line for their brother soldiers and their country-only to disappear from history and memory.
Secret Soldiers tells the astonishing story of this special troop whose mission was, so top secret, information about it was only recently declassified. More than half a century later, these uniquely talented patriots can, at long last, take their place alongside the other honored veterans of World War II.
Customer Reviews
This book gets into the technical details just enough to let the reader understand the basics of the various deceptions the units "played" without bogging the book down.
Its strength is painting a whole picture of how the unit formed, the key leaders that made the unit successful, the unusual mix (for the Army) of artists that had the initiative and innovation to pull off their deceptions, the daily routines for the enlisted men, and of course the various operations that were conducted. Well balanced between interviews with the actual soldiers and the facts of the operations while setting the scene of what wartime Europe was like during their short deployment, Gerard has done a great service in documenting the unit's once top-secret history.
~Daniel
The book was well presented, and each chapter primed my interest in the next. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and hated the moments I had to put it down. I am not a fan of war stories, but this book was different. These men were unknowingly heroic and contributed to the successful outcome of World War II. Their behind-the-scene story should have been told long before. Recognition, at least by recording for all of us to experience secondhand, is much deserved. Not all heroes need suffer wounds or aim guns.
~Charles
This is a really interesting book. Intriguing in every sense and difficult to put down once you start reading. Some really great portraits of creative, resourceful people. I loved this book.
~Dallas
I generally have little interest in military stories, but this book is exceptional. I cannot recommend it too highly. I had trouble working last week because my reading hours ran long. The 23rd Headquarters Special Troops makes for a great story, to begin with. This specialized and highly secret unit of guys put on "shows" throughout the Allied campaign from Normandy into Germany with inflatable tanks, stereo broadcasts over the countryside of moving tanks and equipment (where nothing was moving but show-people), and pyrotechnic light shows - all designed to cover up weak spots in the Allied line, tie up German divisions where they were ineffectual, and to draw attention away from actual troop movements. But who do you round up to do such work? For camouflages, you need artists, including a guy who spent years studying how birds blend into their habitat; for producing "shows," you need scriptwriters and other show people.
~Retired Marine
About the Author
Philip Gerard artfully guides readers through the entire creative nonfiction writing process, going beyond the technical basics to address topics such as ethics, voice, and structural integrity.
In response to the genre's evolution, the latest edition includes examples to illustrate how cultural changes have influenced the way writers conduct research, approach writing, and communicate during the production of their projects. Timely, engaging, and poetic, Creative Nonfiction is the practical manual every novice and the seasoned writer will want on their bookshelf.
Assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division, he sailed on October 22, 1942, from Hampton Roads, Virginia, and was part of the North African invasion force. He participated in the Algeria-French Morocco and Tunisian Campaigns. The next major operations he participated in were the invasion of Sicily, the Naples-Foggia battles of southern Italy, the landings at Anzio Beachhead, and then on the San Tropez beaches of southern France in August of 1944.
2d Armored Division ("Hell on Wheels") at Fort Hood, Texas, he was promoted to brigadier general. His next tour of duty was as Deputy Chief and Chief of Information for the Department of the Army from September 1964 through November 1967. During that tour, he was promoted to Major General on July 1, 1966.
His wife, who resides in Colorado, said that "he loved his country dearly and was a man of very high morals, very dedicated and a wonderful human being."
In October 1965, the camp at Plei Me was guarded by a 12-man American Army Special Forces "A-Team," along with Montagnard fighters native to the region and a small contingent of South Vietnamese Special Forces soldiers.
In October 1965, White was a 31-year-old first lieutenant in Project DELTA, a clandestine Special Forces reconnaissance unit. He was among those who joined in the rescue attempt at Plei Me, during which he was wounded in a ferocious firefight - an experience Saliba describes in harrowing detail.
"The response I got from both the guys on the ground and the guys in the air was: They would do it for us. They needed us, and so we were going to be there for them. That was our job, that is what we were going to do, to do whatever we could to help them."
While the veteran, unhappy with how Vietnam vets had been portrayed, was initially reluctant to speak, he eventually told his story to the reporter. And he and Saliba became friends.
The movie follows four American soldiers over the course of a day after they are sent on a possible suicide mission over a mountain. An old Italian partisan leads them, and no one can be sure of his loyalties. The men witnessed their Sergeant kill an Italian civilian just before this assignment, so no one really knows whether they are supposed to succeed or perish.
The movie is the feature debut for writer/director Robert David Port, who won an Oscar for his 2003 documentary short "Twin Towers" about the bravery of two brothers, one a fireman and the other a policeman, on Sept. 11, 2001.
The bill was not officially announced until after the anniversary of D-Day. Senator Tammy Duckworth, S-Ill sponsored the bill.
There is another effort currently taking place to get the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to Merrill’s Marauders.
No other American force had marched as far, fought continuously for as long (four months), or showed as much stamina and endurance as the Marauders.
The nearby Marine Corps Recruit Depot also has a long history in a town the Chamber of Commerce has justifiably called 'America's Finest City' for years. About 15 years ago, my wife Cathy and I had a family member graduating from MCRD, which was a great reason for us to make our first visit to that base. 
More than 21,000 recruits, in this case, males that live west of the Mississippi River, are trained every year. Their training is a 13-week process covering weapons training, close-order drills, personal hygiene and cleanliness, and Marine Corps history. Qualifications to be a part of the graduating class include rifle marksmanship, combat-oriented swimming, and successful completion of 'The Crucible'; a 54 hour simulated combat exercise. 
As history has shown, at one point in 2005, the possibility of closure of the base was under consideration. It was not on the 'Base Realignment and Closure' list. There were, however, a number of assorted groups in Washington that wanted it taken into consideration. The Marine Corps established a strong resistance. They noted the status of the Parade Deck as a memorial to veterans of World War II. Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq. The cost of closing the base and relocating to Parris Island were also aspects of their opposition to the closure. Gordon England was the acting Deputy Secretary of Defense. It pointed out a closure would create a 'Single point of failure' given the number of hurricanes that strike the area around Parris Island. England also noted the cost of demolition in San Diego, and the required new construction in Parris Island would create a 100-year payback. Bottom line, after 'Marine Corps Recruit Depot,' you can still see the name 'San Diego.' Another branch of the military, the United States Coast Guard, is on board at MCRD. Their Pacific Area Tactical Law Enforcement Team and Maritime Safety and Security team are on site.
Veterans Last Patrol
Marine Corps League Peter P. Monaco, Jr. Det 40 celebrates a successful mission of the "Backpacks For Life" project in CT
My Brothers kept whisperin' in my ear as I sat here with them..., "Please read us just one more poem..., PLEEEASE..., we've got plenty of time, and we love to hear about our Buddy, Boondocker. He's a good Marine..., ALWAYS WAS!
The change illustrates how one taxpayer-backed effort to battle the novel coronavirus, which has killed more than 200,000 Americans, was instead diverted toward patching up long-standing perceived gaps in military supplies.
Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper speaks as President Trump listens during a news briefing with the coronavirus task force on March 18 at the White House. (Evan Vucci/AP)
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