CHINOOK DOWN & OPERATION NIGHTMARE

sounds	good to me ALAN.

and learning from mistakes is something that ought to be written  on the
back of every soldier's hands!

aside from the sour grapes, sound,  since this was from an ally, it made
me curious about WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT - OSCAR!

the thing about no entrenching tool really struck me-ESPECIALLY FROM AN
ELITE!

in the RVN, the only time  AFTER the first time i went on ops  without
an E-tool was on OP/LP outside the NDP, or on  ambush patrol! nothing
like digging a hasty hole  with your steel pot while the AKs, and RPDs
chatter away, and those 7.62s zip by to make a GI love that E-tool!

after our first bit of E-tool idiocy, that thing went everywhere we
went on ops  except for the  above specified duties.

NOW here is a scenario for OPERATION NIGHTMARE!

high tech, first string grunt platoon conducting a sweep of  Injun
Country reaches the designated	area and  sets up a temperary patrol
base perimeter.  

since the LT is a stupid jerk, the PSG is walking sick with malaria, and
the other NCOs/troops dragging/ beat doan give a shit from boredom and
lack of acclimitization, the platoon (against all common sense and
tactical doctrine!) just sets up in a rough circle in the  jungle.
besides, E-tools are hevy, so they were left behind . . . .

the plan is after a breather and chow, to  run some half-assed patrols
out of this  base on  various azimuths then head back to the NDP and a
"good nights" sleep . . .

ENTER MURPHY!

the Injuns have been trailing  the platoon  for most of the  day,
avoiding  contact and waiting for  a chance to lay into the off
worlders. now, the  idiots have halted, set up a half-assed perimeter,
and are eating lunch!

time to rock . . . . 

and  this is just another  real life  example of how soldiers can SCREW
UP!