Thursday Words

There has been a lot of discussion since the Terrorist strike at Ft. Hood about the Muslim Extremist who initiated the strike. Into the discussion comes 'combat stress syndrome'. As an ex Marine I would like to say that I agree with Generals Patton and Puller of the Second and Korean wars. There is no such thing as combat stress. There are people who don't belong in the military, there is a lack of training in combat situations and there is cowardice. I believe it was General Puller who said about Marine Corps. training, "If the first time a Marine faces live fire and a death experience is in combat then we have failed to train him for the experience." At Ft. Hood we see a good example of someone who should not have been allowed in the military much less trained as a doctor and promoted to a field grade officer. In the aftermath we have numerous examples of political correctness that has stifled the words of Generals Patton and Puller and many others who have followed and the common sense approach to war that made them among the elite combatants of our history. When one faces an enemy in combat it is essential that one is tougher, meaner and better trained than his adversary if he is to carry the day. I wonder where our Pattons and our Pullers have gone?