GORDON DUFF: From an “Old Fart”, Advice for our Soldiers in Afghanistan
March 7, 2010 posted by Gordon Duff · 26 Comments
THIS IS “BETWEEN US”
By Gordon Duff STAFF WRITER/Senior Editor
I just returned from the region after a REMF “combat tour” of my own, 5 star hotels, dozens of armed guards and “consultations” with tribal leaders in Afghanistan and “everyone” in Pakistan. This qualifies me to be as pig headed as the “Perfumed Princes of the Pentagon” that are running the show. I expect I will start talking out an entirely new orifice any day now. I could, however, talk as a former member of a Marine rifle squad in Vietnam. That might be worth something, as long as I tell it straight. So many seem to have forgotten how to do that.
None of us know each other, the military from today, those who fought in Desert Storm or Grenada and the aging and shrinking group from Vietnam, represented typically by rear eschelon blowhards, phonies or psychos. If troops today learned early on not to listen to Vietnam vets, I would call that decision “reality based.”
Increasingly, Afghanistan is taking on the look of Vietnam. It is an unpopular war, a war whose purpose and goals are now in question and even disrepute. Welcome to my world. Vietnam was a purists dream, dumb built on dumb. 58,000 initially and another 200,000 or much more not so long afterwards died in and after Vietnam, a war with little purpose than to amuse defense contractors and set the stage for America to do alot of business with the Communists we claimed we were going to save the world from.
From day one, ariving in Vietnam, it was obvious. The war was a joke, a deadly joke and our own military was corrupt beyond imagination. Nobody cared so long as TV was still TV back home and someone else did the dying.
Now, the old guys who fought in Vietnam are told that today’s soldiers look down on us for being cowardly, unprofessional and uncommitted to the protection of Christian values and American honor. I don’t know this to be true, but veterans of Vietnam hear it alot, hear it constantly.
Does any of this matter? Not hardly. Too many of those serving now are our kids. If we had our way all veterans would learn to respect each other. Nothing should ever divide any of us, we are all each other have. All we really care about is that you be kept safe, brought home quickly as possible and have the kind of lives we hoped we had hope America would give you.
When I see soldiers praying and talking about religious war or killing farm animals or see photos of dead civilians, I try to remember that this isn’t reality, it is the “news,” the people we pay to lie to us. Be warned, the news media is taking a dump on you like it took a dump on us. However, we are having none of it, thank you very much.
My advice, for what it is worth is for all of you in uniform and especially those of you in combat to keep yourselves whole. What does this mean, “whole?” First of all, it means not to buy in on patriotism, sacrifice or honor crap. It is only going to lead to you being bitter or angry later on. Bitter and angry isn’t worth it. If you need to justify yourself with something from a preacher or politician, you are at risk. Find strength in each other, not from books, stories, myths or phony politics.
Few of us know what is going on in Afghanistan. We are told our t-shirts are replaced with body armour, the weapons work better and food is no longer 30 year old c-rations. However, if the military tells me something I have learned not to believe it even if I see it myself. Nearly half the Marine grunts that served in Vietnam died there or soon after. None of it was necessary and none of it our fault.
I only wish the billions we spend on these wars actually went to arm and protect you as we mean it to and not into the pockets of the thieves. If you are trained, equipped and led well, good. If not, make sure we know. This is still a democracy and it is our job to see to it that you aren’t used up like so many of us were.
Sadly, we also know we have failed at this too. 400,000 recent vets are in line for VA benefits. I am thinking that this is a message of some kind and I don’t think it is because they love filling out forms and being humiliated by Army and VA doctors.
The war.
Counter-insurgency is something I understand. It involves making people pretend they like you while waiting to kill you the moment you turn your back. Oh, you were told something different? Listen to me, don’t turn your back for a minute, don’t trust anyone.
I love that “hearts and minds” crap. We now call it “irregular warfare” and it is taught by people who live inside their own heads and think life is a video game. Common sense, restraint and good manners are the best weapons you have. Use them.
More stuff to be aware of:
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You are in the military, meaning, you are not “free.” It is hard to love freedom when someone controls your life, to the point of being able to make a simple mistake and kill you at any moment. Do not fall in love with that warm and fuzzy feeling of being told what to do. An active and disciplined intellect questions everything. Lose that and you have lost your best weapon of all.
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Afghanistan is full of lovely and decent people and some of the most vicious animals on two legs. Learn the difference and stay alive. Just because people fight Americans doesn’t mean they are monsters, but there are monsters out there. Cover your ass.
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How do I tell someone who takes orders from military leaders I wouldn’t let wash my car that they, and I mean you, are going to have to start running this country? You may not know it, but this is the job you have been training for. I look at it like this, the military and the war should have gotten all the dumb and deluded out of your system, unlike the folks running things back in good old Washington DC.
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I have a good friend who tossed two Viet Cong prisoners out of a helicopter when they made it impossible for him to save an American soldier who needed extreme measures to keep him alive. In a kidding way, I tell him, “Hey, you were only doing about 90 knots at about 1500 feet…..they are probably just fine.” I tell him that because he hasn’t slept since then, not without meds anyway. Think about it.
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Everything you have seen, especially the worst of it can either kill you or make you stronger. A German named Freddy something, Nietzsche I think, said that. The choice is yours. Know that the choice is yours. Do what you can to make sure you know the choice is yours.
90% of what I remember from Vietnam is crumbling temples, walking thru elephant grass and being on an unending camping trip with the best friends I would ever have. There is alot I don’t remember. Frankly, I can’t usually find my car in a parking lot.
Alot of us back here, most of us I think by now, want you back home and believe we have asked too much already. I think asking you to fix Afghanistan is too much. Do not die in the process.
You have walked into the middle of a 500 year old war made complex by tons of geopolitical game playing, corruption and dumb American politics. I can’t figure it out and I am supposed to know about this stuff. If someone else tries to tell you, just nod, say “yes sir” and think to yourself, “another arrogant dumb shit.”
Do work to hold back one of those patriotic military cheer things that is supposed to build camaraderie. It is only a con to make you obedient. It is all about social pressure. Start reading about feudalism and you will understand the military very well.
If those of us back here were better people, you would be coming home to a rich country, good jobs and a people united. Instead, you are likely to find alot of whining, finger pointing and moaning. If you find yourself feeling superior, you may be right. Ouch.
As almost everyone of you knows, coming home is hard and after each deployment it gets harder. Why do I know that? Simple, I saw it on television. That tells you how much we know. We know nothing, or most of us don’t anyway.
The only message that matters is the simple one. Keep yourself whole. It is possible to shoot at people when you have to and still be human, caring and normal. This “warrior” crap is just that, crap. You are going to be spending the rest of your life raising kids, working at a job of some kind and cruising around on a motorcycle. The “warrior” routine is another con, meant to build damaged self esteem.
A Harley does the job alot better.
Very fine article!!
Duffy spoken like a good friend with a healthy dose of wisdom…not a bag of antiquated methane!good stuff brother.
I have discovered by asking a number of the new combat wounded returnees I’ve met at the VAMC how thet felt about Vietnam Veterans. They’re response has been, “they respected us.” Our deal was real, much of thiers has been guard duty and computer simulations. I was surprised to hear that many got promoted based on how well they do in these computer simulations. Just an observation.
And our father’s army had less technology than did our’s, and his father’s army had even less than his, and so on……….. We all die just as dead as our forefathers did. War always sucks!
Huh….Sometimes when i visit some cities I used to live in I cant get my ‘bearings’ to save my life and other times it’s like I never left, don’t know why. Nice to know it’s normal? Still have a problem when people leave their bags by a front door of the hotels and go off and leave them. Still have a problem with them what hasn’t ever smelled gunpowder, trying to tell me how the US should rule the world. No blood on their hands, heck they don’t even know how to use a lawnmower so manual labor is too much. They do know how to use a computer though but that’s it. Had a tremendous ice storm here about a month ago and the whole town lost power for a week. Nothing was open or working. For me it was no problem for staying warm and eating though, already had the gear needed at hand. Now 95% of the town was not so well off and I had to help out. Hope i don’t make a habit of that cause my laundry was piling up and some things were getting stolen on the other side of town.
The word “warrior” has a deeper meaning than “fighter” or “trooper”. Let’s not discount the ancient Way of the Warrior simply because the word has been abused and exploited by the oligarchy in their efforts to recruit fighters and troopers into their service. See below.
What is a Warrior?
An excerpt from “War and the Soul” By Edward Tick, Ph.D.
A Warrior is not just one who has been to war and returned. Warrior has been recognized as a social role that has occurred since the beginning of time. Becoming a warrior is an achievement of character. Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can use the ideal of warriorhood as a guide for healing.
What are the characteristics of the Warrior? The ideal Warrior is assertive, active and energized. He or she is clear-minded, strategic, and alert. A warrior uses both body and mind in harmony and cooperation. A warrior is disciplined. A warrior assesses both his own skills and resources and those of his opponent. A warrior is a servant of civilization and its future – guiding, protecting, and passing on information and wisdom. A warrior is devoted to causes he judges to be more important than himself or any personal relationships or gain. Having confronted death, a warrior knows how precious life is and does not abuse or profane it.
Each of these traits has shadow dimensions as well, which can emerge when the warrior is imbalanced, inadequately trained, or traumatized. Shadow traits may include aggression, vengefulness, or cruelty. Instead of exercising discipline and control, the warrior may show wildness, emotional explosiveness, and impulsivity. He may be hypersexual and compulsive. At his shadowy worst, the warrior becomes masochistic or sadistic. These traits they are commonly unleashed during warfare. But they do not embody the ideal Warrior’s virtue.
The Warrior ideal needs specific conditions to be realized successfully. Initiates need to experience a complete process from training through proving. The process begins early with children listening to warrior stories from their families and culture and then playing warrior games. Later, through formal and informal means, elders guide young people in developing the skills and awareness of warriorhood. Initiates are tested in numerous ways. Their ultimate test traditionally comes in battle. If they survive, the test must be repeated as long as they are required or able to serve. Through that survival and successful service, they prove themselves worthy of being deemed one of their culture’s warriors.
The proper training of a warrior must be not just the physical and intellectual dimensions of military performance but also the values and traditions of warriorhood. This education must be achieved in an environment that fosters dignity and honor. In addition, guidance must be highly personal. The initiate must feel that his or her survival matters to concerned elders and that the transformation he or she is undergoing is critical to the culture’s preservation.
A warrior knows what he is fighting to preserve. Like a bull buffalo flanking his herd to protect it from predators, a warrior knows he is essential to his people’s survival. He knows he belongs. He receives honor from his community for the service he willingly provides and he in turn gives his community his devotion and willingness to sacrifice his life, if necessary, for its well-being.
Sitting Bull and his Warriors, and other bands from innumerable traditional cultures, were never plagued with self-doubt about the value of their mission, as many of our soldiers are today. Sitting Bull sang:
Young men, help me, do help me!
I love my country so;
That is why I am fighting.
In order to do battle with a whole heart, the danger to one’s home must be real, and the people must experience it as immediate and threatening their existence. They and their warriors must be in unity. Their cause and need to fight must be absolute – in the sense that there is really nothing else they can do to preserve their food, families, and culture.
Ideally, the testing and proving of a warrior is limited in its destructiveness. Rites of passage often present the possibility of death, and in some cultures they are not considered a warrior until the initiate takes another life. But not numbers of lives, and never the slaughter or the destruction of an entire people. Threats and losses must not be arbitrary, impersonal, or overwhelming.
Warriors are meant to play major roles in the lives of their communities. They provide help in times of need and also restrain rather than encourage violence. They need guidance from others who have been through similar experiences, and they need to pass their values, wisdom, and experiences on to younger initiates.
We need warriors. A society cannot be healthy without its warriors. And societies with a class of mature warriors to remind the leadership and the people of the realities of war are healthier, stronger, and less prone to violence. The call to veterans, and a way to heal post-traumatic stress disorder, is to follow the path of the honorable returned Warrior.
Subvet
We seem to be getting hundreds of thousands of sick kids who need help, jobs and a future and no so many “warriors.” Check the VA budget on this one.
g
Greetings.
The “Modern” military does not want warriors. They merely need a body that is willing to unquestioningly follow orders. The ability to think for one’s self is not a quality that the military is looking for (I can only speak for the Army, that is where my experience lies).
Maybe 12 years ago, I had a master sergeant that taught me how to make a command decision just before I became a sergeant. When no one else is around, you take the facts at hand, and make a rational decision that you believe to be correct. That master sergeant ALWAYS backed up my decisions, even if they were wrong. He would then show me why the decision was wrong, and how to correct it.
Go ahead a couple of years. I have a CW3 (Chief Warrant Officer 3) that has not used me the entire day. I ask at 10am if I can head out to a movie that night (we were in the “field” without really being in the field), then I asked every hour until 4:30pm. I was going to be late for the bus if I didn’t leave then, so I made a command decision to go to the movie. At 8:30pm the Chief finally asked where I was. Upon my return, I was punished for leaving without permission. My punishment you ask? To write a 500 word essay on the meaning of “An Army of One.”
He liked it so much he submitted it to Stars and Stripes. The only thing he couldn’t see? The essay defended my command decision to leave. The powers that be just don’t want those under their command to think for themselves.
As for me, I would like it if more Vietnam Vets would come out and help us new vets. I’m in the VFW, post commander, and I have not one Vietnam Vet. My guys are getting old, and they can’t keep it going forever.
Duff, thanks for the post. My uncle (Vietnam Vet) said the same thing to me before I shipped out, “Watch your back, and DON’T TRUST ANYONE, EVEN YOUR OWN GUYS.”
Shawn,
You are welcomed to write these things for us when you think of it. We reach a pretty good audience and too often don’t cover some of the important stuff….like this.
g
Yeah, in regards to that comment about the Army not wanting you to THINK. I have worked for all four services and two Government contractors and learned that sometimes things “ain’t in the book but needs to get done, like now”, (think the Air Force calls it ‘deviate from tech data’, Navy says ‘is anybody lookin?’, Marines say ‘hey, look over there for a second’). Cases in point: when I was civil service working for the Army, I was sent TDY overseas and got this job in which someone had decided to get ALL the parts off the shelves and without regard to any separation, just put them all together in a huge cardboard box… Then they changed their mind and decided to have someone else put them back on the shelves. Well, IF you took one part and went to the computer, found where on the shelf it went, then you went back, got another part…etc. It was basically Mind Numbing and took WAY too much time. So I got some smaller boxes, divided up the parts, wrote the part numbers on each section and separated the parts to each section. After that I went to the computer with the same 30 odd parts from a section and put them back in the proper shelves, sometimes they got crowded for room cause the parts were missing cause of what they did putting them in the Box, IE no parts in the bin so order some more parts, don’t look in the box. Finished the job in three weeks and ran out of things to do for awhile, which caused more problems but that’s another story. After that when I came back then they put me on tearing down missiles, wrapping them up and puting them away. Got to where I could pack a missile in 4 1/2 hours tops, which greatly exceeded the projected cost/ time/ work records and threw everybody else out of sync. They wanted me to slow way down and this is how they did it, except for one problem. I do things this way because if I just stand around doing nothing, my back hurts more and more but if I’m moving and doing something I can relieve the pain, so that’s the way it is. Got a reputation for a go-getter (even if a disabled Vet) and therefore I had to be expended, which eventually happened too. Guess like you say, “DON’T TRUST ANYONE, EVEN YOUR OWN GUYS”.
Hello Gordon,
I have been reading your articles for the past several months. I am a very fortunate Vietnam veteran.
I enjoyed reading this article very much.
Please keep printing the truth.
Semper Fi
Ben
All good advice generally goes unread especially when long. Your column was superb in detailing the truth about many issues. The one close to my heart is term limits and absolute zero tolerance on lobbyists paying our congressional members. The practice of lobbying is wrong and un-American. Being a Nam vet Air Force variety 1973-1976, and aware of the gung ho mental idiots out there telling their long and false stories and it is upsetting. While I cannot control the way others live and speak I do have the right to address them when I can, orally or written. Seeing the pigs gathering at Uncle Sam’s money pot is sickening and adding to that the lobbyists entering our congressional halls with briefcases full of money to buy our congress is too much for this vet! Add to this the fact that most Americans on Anystreet USA has no time for opinions or long written messages. I pray that I am wrong. People on the street appear more interested in putting something in their blood or noses than helping to cure what is wrong with America today. I pray God will intervene and wake up our fellow citizens before our country dies. Sadly, it may be too late.
Thank you!
March 8, 2010
Gordon,
You have written a FANTASTIC article…I wish it was mandatory reading for any one about to be deployed or anyone who IS deployed. You have given the same type of advice that I (a combat disabled Vietnam infantryman who spent almost two years in military hospitals) have given to young men who were being put into harms way. You have given the kind of advice that can only come from experience.
I find it kind of sad that “The Hurt Locker” a highly fictionalized, according to most active EOD members, which glorifies the actions of a “psycho bad boy” who thinks nothing of risking the lives of his buddies. What’s worse, and probably more true, is that he is applauded and congratulated by an incompetent and ignorant officer who seems to suffer from “the bravery of being out of range” (my thanks to Roger Waters of Pink Floyd for the quote.
Please keep up your information campaign…and your heartfelt advice to those who have chosen, or some likely forced by a bad economy, to participate in the greatest transfer of wealth to the corrupt military industrial complex we have ever seen. It is sad that our country now continues to feed on the death and damaging of our youth in order to be “profitable.” We live in sick fucking times!
Thanks & keep it up,
D. Tracy
Dick
The Roger Waters quote alone would have overwhelmed me. Depend on me using it constantly.
g
What a cogent, insightful essay on CYA in AfPak.
Leadership and being a true warrior capable of evaluating situational awareness before making catastrophic mistakes in judgement sometimes are at odds with the chain of command. Some things never change.
This article should get distributed to every squad leader that takes their fire team out of the FOB and into the thick of it.
Dear Jeremiah,
As I have only been back from Pakistan for a few days, excuse me if I stay in my office awhile. Tell me, Jeremiah, what war are you a combat veteran of? If you, as you alude, have some serious “combat grunt” credentials, bring em’ out.
waiting
g
I thik I posted this before, so if it comes across two times, I do appologise.
Sgt, USMC. Bosnia and Cosovo.
I happen to be an active and participating member of the VFW, American Legion, Marine Coprs League and several other Veteran groups across this great nation. In fact, I was Vice Commander of the Post, until I moved out of state.
I am also an unfortunate willing participant in the VAMC, which we both know is an utter failure in it’s own.
And recently, I have been given a medical clearance to re-enlist in order to go back in and fight more bloody battles!
I whole heartedly agree. I know many Veterans from WWII up until now and they are not all lumped into this train of thought, that the US Gov’t has been so terible to them.
Everyone that enters the US, or any other nations Armed Forces KNOWS full well that they are nothing more than a pawn in a World Wide game of Chess.
You had me at REMF, Gordon. Great points and solid “foot locker counseling!” You closed well, but I saw a T-shirt last month that summed it up perfectly…it said “you never see a Harley parked in front of a psychiatrist’s office.”
Got to be honest, though…you’re wrong about the “warrior ” tag. We can talk about that on the side, if you care to. But then again, what would you expect from a guy with my handle?
All the best,
WLC
Superb article. I second the motion againt this “warrior” BS… more fantasy mindfuck nonsense… going back to being soldiers would please me greatly. Seemed to work pretty well in WWII.
The warrior thing was just getting into gear toward the end of my service and I never imagined it would go so far. Seemed silly to me at the time, but a lot of people have really bought into it.
Writing like yours must run into some heavy resistance in our military-worshiping culture, but it is certainly needed. I think for many people the army can be compared to a heroin addiction…you know it’s bad for you and could get you killed but you keep going back for more. I certainly re-upped way more times than any sane person should have and now 9 years after retirement I am still in some ways in the grip of the “military mindset”.
I avoid all service organizations due to their blind support of endless warfare, and have recently got around to wondering what is so freaking noble about putting yourself in a position where any jackass in a position of authority can control your life almost down to the molecular level, and you are required to kill people just because someone tells you to.
Your comment is easily as good as my article. If i get any flac, i simply tell people to go screw themselves. If they don’t understand, i show them how.
g
YES! A very good read as an addition to the article. Both are very, very, good.
jeremiah…What am I missing here? You slam vets whose train of thought is ” that the US Govt has been so terrible to them” but later declare “the VAMC, which we both know is an utter failure in it’s own” and you are “an unfortunate willing participant” Are vets cry babys or unfortunate participants of a system in utter failure? I may just be an over the hill Nam vet fighting everyday for disabled vets of EVERY era, and I may be thick and senile, but did you just contradict yourself, or am I just old, stupid and clueless?
Like I said a few days ago; Gordon is on a roll! I just shared this with a young man about to deploy the the sandbox. Good work Bro, you almost always state exactly what I am thinking, but I lack the skill or platform to say it anywhere near as well, but that don’t stop me trying.
Gordon –
Thanks for your site here. I have been exploring this a bit. Not sure how I feel yet about some of the comments but taking it all in stride. Appreciated the RT of the Sean Hannity charity work article.
Wanted to let you know I am not sure where the following statement may be originating from, to wit “Now, the old guys who fought in Vietnam are told that today’s soldiers look down on us for being cowardly, unprofessional and uncommitted to the protection of Christian values and American honor. I don’t know this to be true, but veterans of Vietnam hear it alot, hear it constantly.”
I am a Guard officer with former enlisted service and several deployments over 21 yrs. I’ve led a lot of troops and volunteer helping our newest veterans find civilian employment. I’ve never encountered anything remotely similar to what was expressed. Ever. For those who may I would offer my heartfelt apologies.
The younger troops and vets today are so appreciative of those who’ve gone before us, the support of the public and mindful of the extreme contrast in treatment our Viet Nam vet brethren received. I come across many, many individuals in business and industry that are willing to help a young vet, partially I believe because there is a shame for what happened with your generation of veterans.
Thanks for your work here and your service. I’ll continue to follow along…
Respectfully,
Dan B