I loved it. A much better approach would be/have been: of all the combat-casualties, what was their Great reading. The soldier spent a majority of his time in camp drilling, with . In the 1st Cav medics were right behind the rto making them a very easy find also. We were expecting, an attack. Joe Medicine Crow escaped the law of . It began just as, it was getting dark. Some wounded received convalescent leave far behind the lines. It was just part of the job. I was a 2LT on Hamburger Hill and had 4 RTOs over a 7 day period (excluding the times I ended up carrying my own radio). So I guess I defied the odds. Lt lost a finger, same time. The course is intended to provide an intermediate step between the buddy aid -style basic life support taught to every soldier and the advanced life support skills that are taught to US Army Combat Medics and to US Army . Where do we find this stuff? Education: Army members can earn full-tuition, merit-based scholarships, allowances for books and fees, plus annual stipend for living expenses. Infantrymen used undisturbed snow as the source for the water to brush their teeth, as well as for drinking water and for mixing the powdered drinks from their rations. I flew Dustoff and our unit did not have M60s for protection, nor did any other Dustoff unit that Im aware of. So was the need to stay nourished, and despite the idea of eating unappetizing rations cold, due to the necessity of avoiding using cooking fires, it was better than nothing. His comparison to a FB was that if we were fired on we returned fire and requested assistance when needed. National Archives. The fact is that most machine gunners, RTOs, junior officers and other extremely dangerous jobs survived the war. Besides being painful blisters could easily lead to infections. Learned a lot from him. All members of an infantry rifle squad carried a first aid kit for the immediate treatment of wounds or injuries received in the field. Certainly got my attention. Land navigation is also a point of emphasis for U.S. Army Infantrymen. Most of us have memories of these kind of experiences. Comfortable with the results of his inspection, the soldier sits on a nearby log, powders his feet and inserts them into his damp boots, making sure to tuck his fatigue pants into the tops before tying the laces - a preventive measure to keep leeches and ticks from crawling up the legs. The system made the success of American infantry operations almost wholly dependent on the ability of the squad leaders to direct their men in the field. As I carried a PRC25 radio for over seven-months in the > Nam, I was curious to find out what I did RIGHT to surv >, One MOS I figured was a sure short timer was POL{Fuel} Truck Driver. As they approached and entered the Alsace region this welcome became less enthusiastic. When the reserves moved up the troops which had been in combat were withdrawn, and what luxuries the Army could offer were enjoyed. The infantrymen would have just enough time to wet down, lather up using GI soap, and rinse off. (and yes, you cant ask them, so it would have to be derived from the AA-reports and survivors). Ambulances are not supposed to be armed (either) though in training, medics are told they and their vehicles will be a prime target. They endured the monotonous rations, lack of hygiene, bombardment by the enemy, accidental bombardment by their own artillery, constant tension, and the constant loss of friends because they were there to protect themselves and their fellow squad members, finish the job and go home. All they learned from their officers was that it was time to travel on foot. Anyway I was wondering about the RTOs in a grunt platoon, was that their MOS or were they 11B that carried a PRC ? Thanks for posting! !We dont abuse prisoners Now, if he reaches for his weapon to continue the fight BLOW HIS ASS AWAY THIS AINT SUNDAY SCHOOL!!! Rules may have changed, I was in the Delta region. The liners had been gutted and great rows of tiered bunks filled their hulls. The lowest rated category on Indeed for Army Infantryman is work-life balance which makes sense as having a family while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces is far from easy. All of the next day, we could see SMOKE from the fire caused by the explosions of the AMMO at, the AMMO DUMP. Infantry soldiers are trained at Fort Benning, Georgia. Boot camp for an Army Infantryman consists of two sections: Basic Combat Training (BCT) and Advanced Individual Training. . Really? Different strokes for different folks in war fer sure. The Browning Automatic Rifle, of which each infantry rifle squad had one (and which was incidentally a favored weapon of Clyde Barrow of Bonnie and Clyde fame) was also a .30 caliber weapon. In my humble opiniona maneven leaders should often recalculate their adversaries capabilities and limitations and his own limitations as wellwhen 10,000 miles from home against a determined worthy foein a strange landThe objective of Lam Son 719? American troops disembarked in ports in England and Scotland, Iceland, and North Africa, and as the war went on, directly on the continent in Marseille and Toulon in the Mediterranean, and Cherbourg and other Channel ports. As I made it back to the road I remember seeing the Even when out of combat their comforts were few. Some reported not having the ability to shower for as long as several weeks. Infantryman must know how to receive and implement combat orders, direct deployment of personnel in a number of different operation types (offensive, defensive, retrograde, etc). of what was usually 5 or 6 going in and many times the leads would find traps, punji pits or the VC waiting. Les Scates U.S. Army (Ret.) There are a few other skills that are not mandatory yet go a long way in proving what makes an excellent U.S. Army Infantryman 11B: Related Article Marine Corps Tow Gunner (MOS 0352): Career Details. The M1 rifle, which was the standard rifle for American infantry in 1944, weighed over ten pounds loaded, and the twelve eight-round clips in his cartridge belt added another six and a half pounds to his load. An infantry platoon commander in combat had an average of 6 weeks life. It was up to the squad leaders to keep them fighting in brutal weather, without asking why. 1st Cav, 101st, etc. Occasionally the men were transferred piecemeal. Yes, I made E4 at graduation, that was considered a NCO then. The needs of the Army will dictate which MOS youre assigned. There were two different groups that flew aeromedical evacuations. rice farmer who was still working with is ox like nothing ever An American infantryman inspects the body of a dead German in July 1944, near St. The Luftwaffe was still a potent threat during the summer of 1944 as the Allies pushed across France. The higher the score on the ASVAB, the better your odds at becoming MOS 11B. Related Article: Marine Machine Gunner (MOS 0331): Job Description And Summary. It was a lull before the storm, since more and more infantrymen were needed at the front. Again it fell to the squad leaders to decide when enough hazing had been conducted by the veterans of combat on the new arrivals. They were lazy, cowardly and of questionable loyalty, especially the RUFF/PUFFS, and they would steal your under ware if given half a chance. Ha Ha always enjoyed being a volunteer! In combat they treated the wounded in the field, wearing helmets which were clearly marked with a Red Cross. 2 tour Nam Vet, Free Sample first six chapters of Cherries both Written and Audiobook, Author interview War & Life: Discussions with a Veteran. One result of combat is dealing with prisoners of war, with Army Infantrymen being the first means to process POWs. Fellow members soon learned the strengths and weaknesses of each other, who could be relied on and who would shirk his duties. Before I became a team leader on ambush and recon I was in command of the scout jeep for the 25th ID resupply convoy from January 1968 to June 15, 1968 and I found the resupply convoys a lot more dangerous because the enemy always knew where it would be and when. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_losses_of Love this analysis. At times in Italy and later in France, infantrymen learned to sleep as they marched, stumbling forward as if they were sleepwalking, which in a way they were. Your article was quite interesting. Their war was a personal one, with the enemy when engaged in plain sight, and the casualties inflicted by themselves and their unit revealed before their eyes. Units which were depleted from battle casualties received replacements both while they were on the line and during periods of rest and recreation. Those who arrived during actual combat received a warmer welcome than those arriving while the squad was resting. This was both damaging to morale and weakened the reliability of the unit, and was avoided as much as possible, but became necessary during the rush to contain the German counteroffensive in the Ardennes in 1944. Very memorable comments. They were glad to see me as it had been a while for replacements with the unit. THE MAN I INHERITED THE GUN FROM WASNT SO LUCKY. For an infantryman, the Expert Infantry Badge is the gold-medal standard. While at the front he faced not only a determined enemy, but ice, snow, rain, mud, bitter cold and stifling heat. During the Second World War, the US military purchased about 1.9 million Colt .45 semiautomatic pistols, manufactured by Colt Firearms and under license by the Remington Rand Typewriter Company, Singer Sewing Machine Company, and other contractors. On the march, they saw first-hand the horrors of the war they were fighting, dead and maimed bodies of Allies and the enemy, many of them scarcely recognizable as human. Sorry,I was one of your Brothers in Arms that helped talk you out of enlisting for another year in Vietnam. They used the callsign MEDIVAC and were armed. National Archives. sweep team,then I heard the choppers and they were blowing the hell out in the tree line then it just got so quiet like nothing Army Infantrymen are the main land combat force and are considered a backbone of the U.S. Army. Staying alive was kinda of important. I was a grunt with c co. 4/31 196th it inf bade. It is an important role of MOS 11B and just one of their many responsibilities. The Life Expectancy of Roman Soldiers. Good article. They also learned to never forgo any opportunity to rest. My 31-months in-country was in three Direct Support US Army aviation units, 15TC BN, First Cav, 335TH, Americal and 17TH Cav 101ST ABD65-71In the last battle I was directly involved, LAM SON 719, into Laos, cost army aviation units over 600-helicopters shot down or battle damagedthe NVA were waiting for our SECRET mission in early 71I was glad to go home at battles end, in March 71 , almost unscathed, I was TDY for my absurd third tourTo the point, many ARVN Rangers, airborne and their other best died in Lam Son 719US Army Infantry were forbidden entry to Laos in 71.. the ARVN were massacredand many US Army pilots and crew mambers were KIA & WIAeven MIA. Others were encampments such as Camp Myles Standish, outside of Boston, Massachusetts. The job training for 11B requires 14 weeks of One Station Unit Training (OSUT) which is a combination of time spent in the classroom and in the field. I was over there twice serving as a Hospital Corpsman with a marine unit. That was supposed to be 58, 220. but wait, there are more numbers for the same story. Now, the wisdom of this soldier tough but humanly compassionate warrior ethos can be assessed through the 2d Bn recordNO complaints about mistreatment of prisonerswhile achieving the most combat SUCCESSES IN THE BRIGADE. We flew north, then made a stop, in Cam Rahn Bay. Boot camp for an Army Infantryman consists of two sections: Basic Combat Training (BCT) and Advanced Individual Training. Through it all, he carried all of the gear he needed to survive in the field, protect himself from the elements, and defend himself from the enemy. Stops on the march of more than a few minutes were to be used to grab any sleep they could. A Co, 1/5 Cav, 1 Cav Division. EIB - A day in the life of an infantryman. John Doever Gotta say I think you hit it on the nose. Id love to see the casualties listed by Corps ? The U.S. Army features the same base pay regardless of job within the military. I wasnt aware that they kept life expectancy statistics. By February 1944 the US Army discontinued purchasing the Thompson, after approximately 1.5 million units had been obtained by the Army and Marine Corps. The extra socks they needed to carry to protect their feet was one example. Replacement infantrymen were often treated as an outsider, and no doubt already somewhat fearful of what they were getting into, they bore an additional burden of being considered to be little more than a casualty waiting to happen. These men were first loaded onto railcars from the French rolling stock which was called 40 and 8s. The Army continues to build upon its training for fire team members with more time in the field, including tactical training that focuses more on squad formations. Some were constantly exposed to combat, some not so often. It doesnt make any sense statistically/mathematically it is impossible. It was mostly used by specialty units rather than infantry. For example, infantry units directed to disrupt German lines in Les Vosges in January 1945 had no idea they were preventing the reinforcement of troops involved in the Battle of the Bulge. But it was my jobso I tried not to think about it much. (tirotactico.net). They lived in the mud and snow, not in the deep trenches of the First World War but in foxholes they dug themselves, or in shell craters created by the artillery of both sides. 30 Apr 2023 00:05:29 by Jeffrey J. Clarke, Center for Military History, February 26, 1992, Citizen Soldiers, by Stephen Ambrose, 1998, Ardennes-Alsace, by Roger Cirillo, Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army, 2003, online, American Battle Casualties and Non-Battle Deaths in World War II, by the Combined Arms Research Library, Department of the Army, June 25, 1953. To the men, it appeared they were fighting for useless hills. Some embarkation ports were near major military installations, such as Norfolk, Virginia. As of July 2019, the Army had 19,820 11B Infantryman on active duty. Was I lucky ? Infantrymen learned to survive without any creature comforts for the simple reason that anything that they kept they had to carry. Welcome home. Sometimes walkie-talkie sets were substituted, they weighed far less but offered a more limited range. Every mission, I had the same thought. Im laying behind a rice paddie dike.I put my whole body as far down in the muck while the bullets were over my head. A typical United States infantry division contained about 15,000 officers and men, divided into three infantry regiments, with supporting companies and battalions. Since infantrymen spent a lot of time on or digging in the ground, most rotated out of combat for rest and recreation as a grimy, gritty, and unshaven lot, unconcerned with their non-parade ground appearance. LUCK pure LUCK. The overwhelming majority of the combat infantrymen deployed during the Second World War carried as their primary weapon the Garand M1 rifle. Thanks for the reply. 2 (January 1944) What the Soldier Thinks, no. The TOTAL number of CIB and CMB awarded would give you the answer !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! never happened,we lost two sweep team members and some In the last 5 years the symptoms of PTSD and AO are starting getting worse in me. Most infantrymen did not carry additional ammunition for the .45, which was considered a defensive weapon of last resort, and those that did typically carried only one or two preloaded magazines. The infantryman ate, slept, marched, fought, and died with his squad. Some gave all. Forget the statistics, we all had a job to do, we went where we were told. Appx: 6 months in, all of the 543d TC joined forces with the 572d TC. Quickly learned to control rate of fire. Fifteen percent of all American beer production was set aside for the American military, and it was brought near to the front for resting troops to consume. Results When comparing life spans of service veterans, there was no statistically significant reduction for the average life span of the 234 combat-exposed veterans in our sample from the 28th (Mori) Battalion (66.7 years), relative to the Mori veterans from two non-combat cohorts: the 132 personnel in the 15th Reinforcements (67.2 years) and the 147 personnel in Jayforce (66.9 years). AnswerIt depended on the position they had. We killed a lot of the enemy but we took few serious casualties. I remember hearing somewhere about an RTO who wasnt getting the info out correctly and the Lieutenant (Kennedy) grabbed the mic and said My RTO Is Foxtrot Uniform. Soldier,this is a wardont forget that, and anytime we are in a fight we will be toughest SOBs in the fight!! For the most part, when they went home after the war they regathered themselves and used their GI Bill rights to get educations, buy houses, and create the baby boom and the suburbs. The other group of aeromedical evacuation were divisional, i.e. In addition to handling and processing POWs, an Army Infantryman might also need to evaluate terrain and select weapon emplacement. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thank you for both articles: (1)Going up river to port and (2) the flight from Italy back to Nam. Each was an unknown quantity to the other. There is a demand to know how to operate in an NBC contaminated area as well as construct field expedient firing aids. It was rugged, reliable, and in the hands of a marksman deadly. The loading and unloading of supplies at the front was performed by infantry units, as was the moving it forward to the men engaged at the front lines. As an Infantryman, you may be listed as an MOS 11X. They were also in a circular formation. Ambushed on October 4th,1967. Cruz quite a lot. All Rights Reserved. It was just north of Saigon. Here are 10 of the most dangerous: 1. Marching through rain and mud, or in snow, soaked the feet, making them susceptible to blisters and trench foot. The theory is the longer you serve in the U.S. Army the more you will make. He said fighting was especially deadly in the war-torn city of Bakhmut, dubbed "the meat. We can all hold our heads high and be proud of our service. He also carried an equipment bag, ammunition bandolier, backpack, entrenching tool, grenades, rations, canteen, spare socks, a blanket, a half shelter (to sleep under), and whatever personal items he wished. I couldnt disagree. Not much different than his unit. An Rtos job was essential, tough,(Carrying the extra weight of the radio transmitter along with his rucksack), and dangerous. Theres 58,276. However, Infantrymen may be eligible for bonuses, including an enlistment incentive of up to $41,000.
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