"My Last War" Wins "Richard Boes Memorial Award" from Reader Views Literary Awards

I am pleased to report that "My Last War" has won the Richard Boes Award from Reader Views Literary Awards. The award is sponsored by Modern History Press and the awards criteria is "Best debut book by a veteran (fiction or memoir)."

The award is named for Richard Boes who enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam in 1969 - 1970 with the First Air Cav. He was the author of two books, The Last Dead Soldier Left Alive (2007), a firsthand inquiry into why thousands of Vietnam veterans have committed suicide, and Last Train Out (2008). Right up to his death, he was writing a third, In the Valley of Dry Bones. He passed away on February 21, 2009 at the VA Hospital in Albany, N.Y.

This is an exceptional honor, especially since I also served with the First Air Cav (1970 - 1971).

Charles M. Grist
www.MyLastWar.com

"Lone Wolf" Attack Strikes Fort Hood

We have talked about the dangers of the Lone Wolf terrorist before in "American Ranger". We had another post (link here) following a previous such incident.

Scattered throughout America, in our small towns and in the big cities, are Islamic extremists plotting to attack Americans. Some of these self-described "holy warriors" may be acting on behalf of Al Qaeda. Others are Al Qaeda "wannabees" who have created their own little terrorist "clubs". A few are individuals who believe they are creating plots inspired by God. When they are ready, or when some type of emotional crisis sets them off, they execute their attacks on innocent men, women, or children.

The incident at Fort Hood will be investigated, and we will eventually learn whether or not there were signs or warnings that this Army officer was preparing his own "jihad". So far, it sounds like he had expressed his fundamentalist feelings in arguments with his military peers. Such sympathies with our enemies should have triggered some type of investigation, but we do not yet know if that happened.

All of us must remember that the war on terror has no front lines. The fanatics who want to destroy us are the ultimate guerrillas. They are not only in Iraq and Afghanistan; they live and work among us here in the United States and within the borders of our allies around the world.

Their agenda is not a pretty one, so we must use our eyes, ears, and common sense when we see, hear, or learn about something that doesn't seem right. Then we must contact authorities. Every police agency in this country has someone who is designated to handle such complaints.

Whether it is a burglary in progress, a suspicious person, a questionable package, or some other unusual event, Americans have done a good job with their "neighborhood watch" programs. Community oriented policing has enhanced the communication between citizens and law enforcement.

We must extend this cooperation to the prevention of terrorist attacks. The American spirit will not permit these Islamic thugs to destroy our way of life. We will work together to protect our homes, families, and businesses.

If by chance YOU are a "Lone Wolf", or the member of a terrorist cell, or part of a group of "wannabees", understand this - we are looking for you, and we will hunt you down like the animals you are.....

Charles M. Grist
www.MyLastWar.com

America Loses A Great General

Today I received the following notice from the Florida Chapter of the First Cavalry Division Association regarding the passing of one of America’s greatest warrior leaders:

* * * *

Troopers,

Yesterday our Division and nation lost a great patriot and leader. LTG Harry W.O. Kinnard passed away at his home peacefully under hospice care on 5 January, 2009. The family's notice that is being sent to the papers is provided below:

Lt Gen. HARRY W. O. KINNARD (Ret.)

Harry William Osborn Kinnard, Lieutenant General U.S. Army (retired) died peacefully at his home in Arlington, Virginia on January 5, 2009, at the age of 93. A soldier, leader and statesman, he epitomized the motto of his Alma Mater, West Point, “Duty, Honor, Country”. He was born into an Army family on 7 May 1915 in Dallas, Texas. He lived an Army life of service to his country beginning with witnessing the attack on Pearl Harbor and defense of the island, then later parachuting into France on D-Day, commanding airborne soldiers in Holland and directing operations during the Battle of the Bulge with the 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne.

After WWII, he continued to have a distinguished military career. In the early 1960’s, he formed and tested a new type of Army division and after 2 ½ years transformed and led it into combat in Vietnam as the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). This new Division set the standard for future U.S. Army airmobile operations. He ended his Army career as the Commander of Combat Developments Command at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia in 1969. He received many high military honors, including the Distinguished Service Cross, and being knighted by the Queen of Holland for his actions in Holland in 1944. After his retirement he remained very active as a consultant and advisor. He was president of the Army Aviation Association of America and was inducted into the Army Aviation Hall of Fame. He was president of both the 1st Cavalry Division and 101st Airborne Division Associations. He represented the President of the United States during the 50th Anniversary Commemorative events of WWII in “Market-Garden” ceremonies in the Netherlands.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Kinnard; three daughters, Susan C. Payson, of Prescott, AZ, Kathleen L. Coursey of Stockton, CA and Cynthia L. Harman of Lexington, SC; two sons, Robert H. Kinnard of Prescott, AZ and Harry W. O. Kinnard III of Gainesville, FL; two stepdaughters, Libby Nicholson of San Clemente, CA and Janmarie Hall of Hamilton, VA and one step-son, COL (R) Tom M. Nicholson Jr. of Augusta, GA; sixteen grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. His son, Bruce Kinnard, preceded him in death.

A viewing and visitation will be on Sunday January 11th 2009 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the DEMAINE FUNERAL HOME, 520 S. Washington Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. Gravesite service and interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors on Thursday March 19th at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Calvary United Methodist Church, Memorial Fund, 2315 S. Grant St. Arlington, VA 22202.

LTG Kinnard commanded the First Team from July 1965 to May 1966 and served as the President of our Association from 1976 – 1978.

* * * *

We extend our sympathies to the general’s family and to his fellow soldiers.

Charles M. Grist
www.TheCobraTeam.com
www.AmericanRanger.blogspot.com

North Vietnamese General Giap Admits Near-Defeat

A friend from the great state of Kentucky sent me the following:

* * * *

General Giap was a brilliant, highly respected leader of the North Vietnam military. The following quote is from his memoirs currently found in the Vietnam war memorial in Hanoi:

"What we still don't understand is why you Americans stopped the bombing of Hanoi. You had us on the ropes. If you had pressed us a little harder, just for another day or two, we were ready to surrender! It was the same at the battles of TET. You defeated us! We knew it, and we thought you knew it.

But we were elated to notice your media was definitely helping us. They were causing more disruption in America than we could in the battlefields. We were ready to surrender. You had won!"

General Giap has published his memoirs and confirmed what most Americans knew. The Vietnam war was not lost in Vietnam -- it was lost at home. The exact same slippery slope, sponsored by the US media, is currently well underway. It exposes the enormous power of a biased media to cut out the heart and will of the American public.

A truism worthy of note: Do not fear the enemy, for they can take only your life. Fear the media far more, for they will destroy your honor.

* * * *

My thanks to my friend for sending me the above article.

For anyone who believed that the Vietnam war was lost militarily, now you know the truth from the enemy's point of view.

SFC Chuck Grist
www.AmericanRanger.blogspot.com

First Cavalry Division News

I will always be proud of my service with the First Cav in Vietnam. My pride grew when I served alongside a new generation of First Cav troopers in Iraq.

Many years ago I was part of a small group of men who founded the Florida Chapter of the First Cavalry Division Association. Although the hectic pace and disjointed hours of my law enforcement career have not permitted me to remain an active member, these outstanding men from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and the War on Terror are some of the finest men to walk the earth.

The following is from an email I recently received. It is a combination of sadness, memories and pride, but it provides up-to-date information about one of America’s finest fighting forces and the First Cav veterans who have served:

“Troopers,

Let me start this with some sad news.

Robert P. “Bob” Cooper who was the President of the Association from 1978-1980 and has served continuously on the Board of Governors since 1982 died at the Amarillo Veterans Hospital on 21 September. Bob served with B Troop, 8th Cavalry at Fort Bliss and during World War II. Bob was instrumental in forming the Horse Cavalry Platoon (now the Horse Cavalry Detachment) and has been a mentor to many of the Troopers that served in the HCD over the years.

We all sometimes wonder what impact we have on the world and I can think of only a few that had as great an impact on preserving the heritage and traditions of the Cavalry as Bob Cooper. Every time I see the Horse Cavalry Detachment do a demonstration or perform a Cavalry charge I will remember Bob and his love for the Troopers and their mounts. Please keep his family in your prayers. Bob’s funeral is scheduled for 1600 hours on Tuesday, 25 September at the Cox Funeral Home in Amarillo, Texas.

I have also been informed by Bob Arbasetti of the death of Joe Capozzi, B Troop, 5th Cavalry, World War II on 19 September. Joe was a member of the Advisory Council and passed away from pneumonia and problems with residual scare tissue from numerous surgeries over the past 60 years. Joe lived in Lodi, New Jersey.

If you are planning on going to Washington, DC for Veterans Day we have updated information on events there on our web page at http://www.1cda.org/VeteransDay_2007.htm. The “All The Way Brigade Chapter” has done all of the coordination for this event and a Brotherhood of the Pleiku Banquet has been coordinated. A direct link to the information on their activities is http://allthewaybrigade.com/Reunion%20Pleiku%202007/Registration%202.html . A Hospitality Suite and small LZ Souvenir Shop will be set up in the Hyatt Arlington located at 1325 Wilson Blvd in Arlington, VA. The hotel is located close to the Key Bridge and is directly across the street from the Rosslyn stop on the Blue Line of the Metro system. If you live in the area or are visiting DC during that time, stop and visit with us.

The September/October SABER is at the printer and should be mailed out to those who have valid subscriptions sometime next week. We are working on the 2008 Calendar and plan on having it off to the printer by the middle of October.

The Division celebrated its 86th Birthday this month. As most of you know, the Division was organized at Fort Bliss, Texas on 13 September, 1921. Harry Boudreau has been updating his web page, http://www.first-team.us/ and is back on line and feeling much better than he was a few months ago. Harry serves as the Association Historian and has compiled some rather extensive unit histories which are linked from our Association web page. I’m sure that he would appreciate any updates from the units in Iraq concerning the newest historical facts for our units and the Division as a whole.

Many of you may be interested in knowing that the 1st Cavalry Division has reenlisted more Troopers during the past fiscal year than any other division in Forces Command. They have reenlisted more than 4,600 with a few days remaining in the fiscal year. Their nearest competitor is the 2nd Infantry Division and they are more than 2,500 behind. Interestingly, the majority of those reenlisting choose to stay with the First Team. Of course, some choose schooling and some ask for overseas assignment or another assignment in the states, but the majority of the Troopers chose to stay with the CAV. We congratulate the Division’s Career Counselors and the leadership of the Division from Squad Leader through Division Commander!

Last week I attended the monthly Memorial Service for seven of the First Team casualties. The Troopers of the 4th BCT are memorialized at ceremonies at Fort Bliss and those from attached units are also done elsewhere. We memorialized five men and two women this month. Their names are:

PV2 Michael Baloga, 6-9 CAV
SPC Charles Leonard, A 1-8 CAV
SGT Princess Samuels, HHC, 1st BDE
SSG Wilberto Sulliveras, C 2-8 CAV
PFC Omar Torres, A 2-5 CAV
SPC Zandra Walker, A 615 ASB
SPC Donald Young, B 1-5 CAV

A list of all of our Fallen Troopers is available at http://www.1cda.org/fallen_troopers.htm.

I have completed my trips to Jacksonville, Florida and Bloomington, Minnesota coordinating the 2008 Reunion and signing contracts for the 2010 Reunion. Information on the 2008 Reunion will come out in the calendars and be in the November/December SABER. You can reserve your rooms now if you wish. We will be staying at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront Hotel. The dates of the reunion are 18-22 June, 2008. The toll-free reservation number is (800) 233-1234. Make sure you identify yourself as part of the 1st Cavalry Division Association to reserve your room at the $92 rate. There is free self-parking for all registered hotel guests. If you stay at another hotel, you will have to pay to park at the hotel or in one of the cities parking areas.

The Division will begin returning from Iraq soon. Information on the redeployment and the holiday mailing deadlines is available on our web page at http://www.1cda.org/TSP.htm. I also recommend the Division’s web page at http://www.hood.army.mil/1stcavdiv/ for recent updates and news on the Division and its attached units.

Keep all who serve our nation in the Armed Services in your prayers but say a special prayer for the Troopers and families of the First Team!

First Team!

Dennis

Executive Director, 1st Cavalry Division Association
Phone (254) 547-6537 Fax (254) 547-8853
E-mail: firstcav@1cda.org
Web Page: http://www.1cda.org/

****

I echo the Executive Director: "First Team!"

SFC Chuck Grist
www.AmericanRanger.blogspot.com

And Then There Was One...

Although I am on active duty, I attended part of the monthly drill for our weekend reservists. I learned that Master Sergeant Harvey Warshawsky was retiring and it was his last drill.

“Ski” is also a Vietnam veteran and he first went into the Army in 1966. He retired as a corrections officer from the State of New York and now he will be putting away the Army uniform as well.

He was the only other remaining “old soldier” in our unit and he had a great time reminding me that I was now the last Vietnam veteran in our battalion. The term "Last of the Mohicans” was used in reference to me and a few chuckles were shared by the youngsters in the unit.

(The above picture is me in a small Vietnamese village as a young lieutenant - trying to have my morning coffee and cocoa with an audience.)

I read an article recently that only about 5,600 soldiers over the age of 50 had served in Iraq or Afghanistan. Certainly, only a small percentage of them are Vietnam veterans. Many of these old soldiers have given their lives.

I wish I knew how many Vietnam veterans were still serving in the military. If anyone has any of these statistics, I would love to know the details. I am fairly certain none of them are on active duty (except maybe the rare general or sergeant major), but I know there are some of us hanging on in the National Guard or Reserves.

My own military service will end on February 28, 2009 when I turn 60 years old. All good things must come to an end, right? For now, I will be satisfied to be the last “Nam” guy in my unit.

And then there was one….

SFC Chuck Grist
www.AmericanRanger.blogspot.com

Memorial Day, 2007: We Must Never Forget

I have fought a good fight,
I have finished my course,
I have kept the faith.

Timothy 2:4:7

I remember the 18-year-old kid from Tennessee who let me use his transistor radio, the baby-faced private from North Carolina with the big grin, Staff Sergeant James, Sergeant Brezinski and Sergeant Dowjotas. There are others whose names, God forgive me, I cannot recall. All of their names are on the Vietnam wall because they gave their lives for their country.

I also remember Lieutenant King.

Late in 1970, after several months as an infantry platoon leader with the First Cavalry Division (the First "Air" Cav), I got sick as a dog one morning after we returned to the firebase. At first the medics thought it was malaria, but it was some other jungle virus and I was laid up in the rear area for about a month. Unfortunately, another lieutenant was sent to take over my platoon.

When I recovered, I asked the battalion commander to re-assign me to another platoon. He said he would let me fill the next platoon leader vacancy. When the lieutenant for the second platoon of Bravo Company rotated back to the States, I politely reminded the battalion commander of his promise.

He was nice about it, but he said he was sending Lieutenant Thomas P. King to take over that platoon. I had gotten to know King from our chess games in a firebase bunker. King was a West Point graduate and a career officer who needed the field time, so the commander said I could have the next platoon.

Less than two weeks later, Lieutenant King and his men walked up on an NVA bunker complex. Along with several other soldiers, he was killed when a North Vietnamese soldier detonated a Chinese claymore mine. If I had been in command of that platoon as originally planned, I would have been the one killed.

Years later I stood in front of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. and stared at the engraving of King’s name. Only a quirk of fate put his name there instead of mine.

Now there are those from Iraq who don’t have their own place in Washington, D.C. yet, but whose names will one day appear on the Operation Iraqi Freedom monument. They have sacrificed everything in this new war just because their country needed them.

From Bunker Hill to Baghdad, America’s warriors have given their lives to defend America and its allies from those who would enslave them. On battlefields in Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries throughout the world, we continue to lose our sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers as they protect our way of life with honor and valor.

Those of us who have fought in America’s wars will never forget the faces of our comrades. We will remember them when they were laughing, sharing a meal or missing their families. They will always be in our hearts and souls.

We hope that, on this Memorial Day, all of you will remember them, too.

SFC Chuck Grist
www.AmericanRanger.blogspot.com

Vietnam Hero Gets the Medal of Honor

History will record the actions of the men of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment in 1965 as one of the most heroic efforts in American warfare. The story of their life and death struggle in the Ia Drang Valley was masterfully told by Lieutenant General Hal Moore and Joseph Galloway in the book “We Were Soldiers Once – And Young”. The book later became the Mel Gibson movie “We Were Soldiers”.

One of the many heroes of this battle was then-Major Bruce Crandall. Crandall was a pilot and the leader of a group of helicopters that re-supplied the beleaguered unit and extracted its casualties. Much of this effort took place under fire and many of the men in those helicopters were killed or wounded in their efforts to help the infantrymen.

When Hal Moore recommended Crandall for the Medal of Honor, he said the pilot’s efforts prevented a bloody massacre of the First Cavalry soldiers. Such a catastrophic defeat would have rivaled the deaths of George Armstrong Custer and his 7th Cavalry at the Little Big Horn.

Bruce Crandall will be presented with the Medal of Honor today in a ceremony in the White House. The military’s highest honor is a little late, but it is well-deserved by this great American warrior.

SFC Chuck Grist
www.AmericanRanger.blogspot.com

Still Leading by Example: Lt. Gen. Hal Moore

The following entry is a follow-up to the December 30th piece about Mike Harrington. In November of 2005 I had the opportunity to meet Lieutenant General Hal Moore of “We Were Soldiers” fame. I took Harrington along with me and we had a wonderful visit with a First Cav legend.

(From left to right in the above photo: SFC Chuck Grist, Lt. Gen. Hal Moore, SFC Michael Harrington)

This op-ed article resulted from that meeting:

STILL LEADING BY EXAMPLE
Special to the Orlando Sentinel
November 20, 2005

When the unassuming senior citizen walked up to me and held out his hand, I thought I was prepared to meet retired Lt. Gen. Hal Moore of “We Were Soldiers” fame. I’m an old Vietnam veteran, but I was still in awe of a man who had been one of my own personal heroes for more than 35 years.

Most average Americans are familiar with Moore because he was portrayed by Mel Gibson in the highly successful movie. What most people may not know is that his leadership qualities have inspired so many for so long, from a young West Point cadet named Norman Schwarzkopf to the terrified soldiers in Vietnam’s Ia Drang Valley to countless military, corporate and community leaders of today.

Moore came to Central Florida recently to lend his name and speaking prowess to a new scholarship fund in the name of Cpl. Andrew Bowling, a Casselberry Marine killed in the battle for Fallujah last year. The night before the general was to speak at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Oviedo, I was invited to meet him at a private dinner. There is no First Cavalry veteran alive who would not grab an opportunity to break bread with Hal Moore.

I also wanted the general to meet a friend of mine. Sgt. First Class Michael Harrington, who had been attached to the First Cavalry Division in Iraq and who had performed a gallant rescue mission for some of his own comrades. As I related the story of Harrington’s actions during that mission, Moore listened intently. It was a great feeling to see the general put his arm around Harrington in a personal acknowledgement of the sergeant as a fellow warrior.

My friend and I were enthralled as we listened to Moore recall his trip to Vietnam to research the book upon which the movie was based. As he talked about meeting Lt. Gen. An, who led the enemy forces in that long ago battle, it was easy to become drawn into the story. When Moore spoke about returning to the battlefield where so many had died, he was able to take us there with him because he is so gifted with the ability to describe sights, sounds and emotions.

During our evening with Moore, I watched as other guests met and spoke with him. Some of these people were elected officials, law enforcement professionals and others who would give anything to possess the inspirational abilities and leadership qualities of this retired general. It is to their credit that they would even try to follow the example of such a man.

Although he is in his mid-80s, Moore still travels frequently around the country. When he is not teaching leadership to military and civilian bosses, he is reminding Americans of a new generation of young warriors who are standing up to defend this country. Many of them, like Andrew Bowling, are making the ultimate sacrifice.

It is said that soldiers follow commanders because they have to; they follow leaders because they want to. Moore has always led by example. He never asked his soldiers to do anything that he was not willing to do himself, and he understood that rank is something you wear; respect is something you earn. Ultimately, he not only earned that respect himself, he discovered that he had the gift to teach others how to earn it as well.

We often say that young Americans need more real heroes. It is a shame that every one of them can’t spend just one hour with Hal Moore.

SFC Chuck Grist