Quote:
Originally Posted by Ashikabi
I'm certain he is every bit the hero people think he is. That doesn't change my opinion. The fact may be that the military is set up in such a way that above average physical capabilities aren't necessary. Just as the 86 is set up in a way that it doesn't need above average speed capabilities to be fun. But people still have the OPINION that it should be faster. I have the OPINION that soldiers should have physical capabilities beyond that of the average citizen. I'm sure it's not much of a problem anymore with the way wars are fought but I'll bet quite a few good soldiers were lost to a bigger stronger opponent in the trenches or house to house fighting. You are taught hand to hand combat right? If both sides are equally trained then it will be who's lucky or whose stronger.
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It was my experience, as an infantry company commander (of 181 soldiers), that the average soldier was more physically fit than his (yes,
his .. at the time) civilian counterpart. Now, that was back in the draft days when a large percentage of the soldiers were drafted.
So, we had men that were all sizes and shapes. The idea was to train them to be the most effective fighting force they could be. Then there was teamwork. I'll site a couple of examples.
When I would select a point soldier for a foot patrol, I'd find out who had been a squirrel hunter back in usually KY or TN. Why? Because they were good at detecting the slightest movement.
The ideal APL (assistant patrol leader) would have been a rabbit or pheasant hunter from the Midwest. Why? Because, they were quick and accurate to point and shoot.
Neither one had to be a big, strong soldier.
Another comment about teamwork, one night on patrol in the swamps, this short soldier was carrying a M-60 machine gun. When the depth of the water was about up to his chin, the big, strong soldier behind him, took his MG and the soldier in front of him lifted him up by his ruck sack, so his head was out of the water.
So, what did "short round" bring to the fight..?? He had the capability to lay down a wall of firepower with the accuracy of a 50 cal MG. Also, he always carried
two spare barrels (only one authorized) because he had the guts to fire fully automatic mode until the barrel melted down.
Ahhhh........yes, hand to hand combat. Again, teamwork. During my officer basic training, we had this "game". Put a platoon (about 40 men) in a large circle (maybe 30 yards across) ringed with sandbags about 3' high.
The last man left in the circle .... was the winner. Now, ol humfrz, at the time weighed in at about 150 pounds (including combat boots) ....... so, I teamed up with this big guy. I watched his back, as he threw the others out of the circle. Then there was just two of us ....... yep, I just jumped out of the circle before the big guy threw me out.
Being big and strong in close combat ...... not necessarily. As they say "there are two kinds of bayonet fighters ....... the
quick and the dead".
humfrz