<OT> Re: More about sidux

[Leon Goldstein]

Ben Duncan wrote:

> Actually, my son who is a newly minted MARINE (Graduated Paris Island 
> - May,
> completed his MOS A School Pensacola, FL last week ,and is now in 
> Cherry PT
> for his C School) told me about them using the HASTY sling, and how to do
> urban combat right. Obviously the MARINES still care about doing things
> the OLD way. ;-> ...
>
Yeah, if there is a tough job to do, you still send in the Marines.

Eons ago, while in college ROTC, my 3d year class spent spring break at 
Camp Pendleton for a pre-summer camp (read: basic training).  We got 
marksmanship training from Marine gunnies.  If you were right handed, 
you were taught to shoot left handed as well, and vice versa, so you 
could still shoot effectively if wounded.  We carried our M1 Garands at 
port arms, with hasty slings, so we could get off a quick, well 
supported aimed shot; there was no such thing as "suppressive fire" i.e. 
shooting like crazy in every direction at nothing in particular.  Every 
shot had to be purposeful.

I remember distinctly the words of a Marine gunnie who, when asked what 
to do if your weapon jams, replying, with a gleam in his eyes:

"Yo takes yo bayonet, and yo sticks it on the end of yo rifle 
(pronounced "rye-fool") and yo gits in there where the fightin' is good."

That is where I decided to get into artillery.

I shoot my M1A - civilian version of the M14 - with a buddy who is a 
medically retired Marine.  He shoots left handed and can group his M1A 
at 300 yards without really trying.  I read recently that the army is 
unpacking M14's from warehouses to ship to Iraq and has rediscovered the 
value of long-range aimed fire.

-- 
Leon A. Goldstein

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