173rd Drop into Bashur, N. IZ
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ken White
We didn't drive to Afghanistan... Sometimes you want to go places that other people don't want you to go and the driving then becomes sort of a problem but if you can overfly them and get behind them their advantage disappears and a long drive isn't necessary.
Ken, just out of curiosity, do you think the 173rd's Drop was necessary?
Do you even consider it a real "combat jump"?
How 'bout flying in those M1s???
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jkm_101_fso
Ken, just out of curiosity, do you think the 173rd's Drop was necessary?
Nope -- but we gotta keep Jump Pay going...;)
Quote:
Do you even consider it a real "combat jump"?
I don't, DA probably will -- as many medals as they kick out nowadays, they'll probably tell the Herd to put a wreath around their combat jump star... :(
The M1s were of little benefit -- other than to demonstrate a capability (which no one questioned that we had in any event...).
Seriously, not militarily necessary, both the drop and the tanks were pure PR -- I don't know when the Army's going to realize that kind of stuff, like poor PFC Lynch, is totally counterproductive -- not least because it cheapens the actuality for those who participate.
FWIW, the biggest US combat jump in Viet Nam by 2-503 of the then 173d was also militarily unnecessary as was the second jump in Korea by the 187 and Operation Varsity by three divisions in WW II. All IMO, of course.
Something I'd like to point out:
We often talk about this airborne operation or that one as being unnecessary. Okay, doubtless that's true. Yet, consider this: might some of history's unnecessary airborne operations still have been the best way to achieve the objecitves?
We might find many things that are unnecessary for the success of a particular operation; yet, said things are still the best option for success.
And how come it's usually the unnecessary airborne operation that seems to receive the most criticism? Have we never conducted an operation involving an air assault, amphibious operation, armored thrust, artillery barrage, air strike, convoy, etc., when the operation stood a good chance of success with out it?
Heh. It's an envy thing --
it's all about jump pay... :D
I joke. Well, sort of. That's part of it. It's just that the drops generally -- all of them, necessary or not -- do get truly excessive publicity (that always annoys those who get less) and add in the generally high casualty rate (which is why there is jump pay) plus the likelihood of a partial success and there's plenty of things for picking. Still sort of irrelevant, parachute troopies are for Armies like a gun is for a civilian here in the States, you don't usually need one but when you do you need it really bad.
For example, consider reinforcing Georgia (the Republic, not the State).
NOTE: I am NOT suggesting we do that, merely saying look at the map and consider what you can get there and how. Oh -- and add in the complication that the airfield for any airland would become an immediate target for Frogfoots (Frogfeet?) or worse... ;)
Either that or they were exceedingly happy
to be leaving a VNAF C-123.
Not that I'd blame them for that...:D
Friend of mine made that 173d jump in VN as JM, Catherine Leroy LINK was on his bird. He always smiled when he said she was short and he had to hook her up...