JOINT SERVICE HONORS COMMAND Monthly Newsletter February 2015 Volume 0215

If you would like to submit a column for this newsletter, please contact the editor: SSG Susan Planas at: jshcplanas@gmail.com

SOLDIER By: Ed Coet, Major, USA-Retired

I saw a burial with a bugler playing taps; I turned to my father, “what happened?” I asked. He clutched my hand and with a quiver in his voice, he began to explain and his eyes became moist.

“My son,” he said, “this is rather difficult for me; for an old veteran like myself this is tough to see. In that coffin lies a genuine patriotic warrior, an honest-to-God hero, an American soldier. I appreciate that soldier and the service he gave, and I honor his sacrifice as he’s laid in his grave. He was honorable, selfless, courageous, and bold; please remember him son, as you grow old. The value of his service, I must explain, if not remembered, will be lost in vain. As a nation we’re nothing without soldiers like him; and failing to remember would be a terrible sin.” I listened in awe as my father spoke, it seemed as if his heart were broke.

I suddenly remembered when he went to war, and when he returned I thought nothing more. I never asked why he walked with a limp, and I didn’t care about why he was sick. I was to busy enjoying the life that I had, to realize that I had it because of dad. I finally understood what my dad was about, and it hurt so bad I cried out loud. He sacrificed so much so I could be free, and his battle scares were suffered for me. It was my father’s spirit that spoke to me that day; thank God I finally understood what he had to say. I saluted his coffin as they laid him to rest, and I thought about the medals pinned on his chest. That I didn’t honor him sooner, I will always regret; and I pledged that day to never again forget. I’m proud that my dad was a patriotic warrior; I’m honored to be the son of an American soldier.

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What Does a Sniper Really Do?

A sniper is a highly trained soldier who specializes in shooting targets with modified rifles from incredibly long distances. They're also adept in stealth, camouflage, infiltration, and observation techniques. Military snipers are used in a variety of missions on the battlefield, and the sniper's primary mission has nothing to do with pulling a trigger. The main battlefield role of the sniper is reconnaissance. Because snipers are masters of stealth, they are perfectly suited to sneak behind enemy lines to provide command with information about the enemy's size, strength and location. When the mission calls for it, snipers can also dismantle and dishearten the enemy with a few well-placed rifle shots. Instead of engaging the entire enemy force like traditional infantry, snipers concentrate their efforts on hunting key people -- officers, pilots, armor drivers, technicians, and communications operators. With deadly shots that kill without warning, military snipers break both the enemy's will and ability to fight. When there is no specific objective, a sniper will look for targets of opportunity. By tracking enemy movements, snipers wait patiently for the unsuspecting soldiers to present the opportunity for a perfect shot. An officer taking a break to smoke a cigarette, a pilot flight-checking his helicopter, an armed guard on patrol -- these are all targets of opportunity. "You want to take out what's going to help your buddies the most." This is what Army Ranger Sniper had to say on selecting targets of opportunity. He continues: ... When you're in the military, you have experience knowing how a commander acts. You know a private -- a private Joe Nobody is generally going to be sitting behind a mound or sitting in a hole with his weapon. You can tell who's who by looking -- 'Okay, this guy's in charge and that guy's a nobody' -- just because of the way they act. That's one of the reasons in the field you're not supposed to salute officers.

Say, in the field, you're sitting there looking and some guy walks by and salutes somebody and then, 'BAM' -- you know he's an officer. That's one of those things you pick up on. Snipers are also utilized in support roles. These support roles can be an over-watch position or a blocking action. When a sniper is in an over-watch position, he sets himself up in a concealed place that gives him a clear view of the battlefield. There he can support the assault force by taking out enemy forces that are endangering the advancing platoon. In a blocking action, snipers set up to help secure a position that is controlled by their platoon. They may set up on a roof and help ground forces defend their position. Snipers don't just shoot people. They are often ordered to destroy material targets. A sniper may shoot generators, radios, transmitters, or fuel and water supplies. Putting a .50 caliber round in the engine block of a helicopter or transport is just as effective as putting one in the man who drives them. Snipers are what military strategists refer to as force multipliers. Simply put, a force multiplier is an individual or small team that, through the use of special tactics, can do the damage of a much larger force. What's amazing about snipers is that they are capable of force multiplication without ever directly engaging the enemy. Because of the nature of their missions, snipers travel with very little gear, patiently moving under the cover of brush or night. But they never travel alone. Sniper teams often have to stay completely still for hours or days at a time to avoid detection, waiting for the right moment to take the shot.

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SGT Bilko says…

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit

to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Got that!

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A MOMENT IN TIME

Military  Machetes  

M-1942 machete and canvas duck sheath, with M1910 hook. World War II QMG photo.

Prior to World War II a 22 inch machete was in use by the Army, but trials in Panama showed that a shorter design was better. The machete adopted as the M-1942 was an 18-inch straight back modification of the Collins commercial type,

proved by extensive use in the tropics. This was the basic tool of jungle operations, permitting travel through the tangled vegetation away from the trails. The machete depended on velocity rather than weight for its cutting action, being allowed to pivot in the hand with the stroke, while held only with the thumb, index and middle fingers. A hole was drilled in the handle for a wrist cord, which kept the machete from being dropped or lost. The machete was also considered a decidedly useful weapon, especially for the silent disposition of sentries and in night ambushes. (Photo to the left shows 101st Airborne soldiers with a Nazi flag captured in a village assault near Utah Beach, St. Marcouf, France, 8 June 1944. Right paratrooper is holding a machete that seems to have a bright finish.) The sheath was made of heavy, water-repellent duck, which resisted the mildew and dampness that destroyed leather in the jungle. A brass top

and staples prevented the sheath from being cut by the blade. A hook (M-1910 type) was provided to attach the machete to a pack or to the pistol or cartridge belt. The machete dimensions were about 22 1/2" overall with a 17 7/8" blade that was 2" wide. Most World War II machetes had black plastic grips, but True Temper machetes stamped 1945 were made with olive green plastic handles. Other machetes were made for the U.S. military in the World War II period. A U.S. Navy Mk1 model had a 26 inch blade and some of the older, 28 inch or longer machetes remained in service. There was a paratrooper machete with a 16 inch parkerized blade, 22 inches overall. A folding machete was also issued to some units. On the Olive-Drab.com military bolo page there are other knives that are sometimes referred to as machetes. Vietnam War and Modern Machetes The machete itself has changed little since World War II, but the scabbard (or sheath) has evolved through several models. The earliest sheaths were a plain canvas sock with a belt loop. The M-1942 machete (photo, above) had a sturdy

canvas duck scabbard with the M-1910 belt hook. The last WW II model had a smooth, hard OD plastic case with a metal throat similar to a bayonet. That last style was in use until the Vietnam war, approximately 1966. In 1967 a new style carrier was issued that is very similar to today's machete

sheath, in olive drab hard plastic, FSN 8465-257-4321 (MIL-S-2329). It has the swivel attachment belt hook and built in sharpener that comes with a sharpening instruction sheet. The case has holes for drainage. (Photo to the left shows U.S. Special Forces at Base A-325 Duc Hue in Vietnam,

operated between November 1967 and October 1970. Photo to the right shows the markings on an M-1967 olive drab sheath with textured surface. Photo courtesy Jarkko Lahtinen.) The current version of the machete sheath (photo, below) differs only in color from the Vietnam era M-1967 issue scabbard. The NSN has changed to 8465-00-926-4932 but the specification remains MIL-S-2329.

"Sheath, Machete" (for 18 inch long, 2-1/4 inch wide blade) NSN: 8465-00-926-4932. The machete itself has this current nomenclature and specifications:

• Machete, Rigid Handle, Steel • NSN 5110-00-813-1286 • 18" Blade • 23 1/4" Overall • Blade - .125" Thick • 1095 Carbon Steel Blade • Black Oxide Finish • High Impact Shatterproof Polymer

Handles • Steel Compression Rivets • Vendor: Ontario Knife Company

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WHO IS THIS JSHC MEMBER?

Don’t know??? He will be revealed at Drill on February 18, 2015… Last month’s member: Capt Dennis Davenport.

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CHAPLAINS CORNER

Valentine’s Day is the day for love! “What does love mean?" is a question researchers posed to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds. The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined.

See what you think: "Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other." Karl - age 5 "Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss" Emily - age 8 "Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen." Bobby - age 7 (Wow!) "If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate," Nikka - age 6 "Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday." Noelle - age 7 "Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Brad Pitt." Chris - age 7 Funny…and insightful. But here is perhaps the best example of real love in action: A four-year old child had a neighbor who was an elderly gentleman. He had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry". Love in action is the best kind of love. John 3:16 is so popular that we’ve all seen the guy at the football games holding up that sign. That verse reads, “For God so loved the world that sent His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Even an 8

year old can appreciate that. May you know the love of God each and every day. Chaplain Steve

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JUST FOR FUN

Worse Punishment?

An Air Force cargo plane was preparing for departure from Thule Air Base in Greenland. They were waiting for the truck to arrive to pump out the aircraft's sewage holding tank. The Aircraft Commander was in a hurry, the truck was late in arriving, and the Airman performing the job was extremely slow in getting the tank pumped out. When the commander berated the Airman for his slowness and promised punishment, the Airman responded: "Sir, I have no stripes, it is 20 below zero, I'm stationed in Greenland, and I am pumping sewage out of airplanes. Just what are you going to do to punish me?"

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AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

The following awards or decorations were presented during the month of January 2015.

The JSHC Achievement Ribbon with Two Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for 100 services in calendar year

1SG Tommy Riccardo

The Department of Defense Honors Ribbon

with Two Silver Oak Leaf Clusters and Two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters

Completion of 275 Services LtCol Ron Estep

The Department of Defense Honors Ribbon

with One Silver Oak Leaf Cluster Completion of 100 Services

TSgt Pete Arredondo

The Department of Defense Honors Ribbon with Two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters

Completion of 75 Services MSgt Al Clark

The Department of Defense Honors Ribbon

with One Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster Completion of 50 Services

1LT Kevin Pendley

The Drill Attendance Ribbon With one Silver Oak Leaf Cluster

BG Dean Murphy

The Drill Attendance Ribbon With Four Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters

CCMSgt Dean Harley

The Drill Attendance Ribbon With Three Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters

Capt Joaquin Espinosa CSM Jim Pfeifer

The Drill Attendance Ribbon

With Two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters LTC Larry Branam LtCol Ron Estep

CPT Edward Planas CPT Stephen Bryant

1SG Tommy Riccardo SSgt Luis Burriel

The Drill Attendance Ribbon

With One Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster GySgt Brad Otto

SSG Susan Planas

The Drill Attendance Ribbon SCPO Chuck McGaugh

SFC John Lynch MSgt Al Clark

SSG Gene Lehnick TSgt Pete Arredondo

Cpl Tony Barraza

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PROMOTION

First Lieutenant Kevin Pendley has been promoted to Captain and is assigned as the Recruiting Officer effective immediately.

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STATISTICS

January 2015: During this month, we have completed 10 solo Honor Services.

***** NEXT DRILL

The next drill will be on Wednesday 18 February 2015 at 7 PM at the Clovis Veterans Memorial Building. Uniform is class B.

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FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS

1LT Kevin Pendley 3rd CDR Gordon Pickett 5th 1SG Tommy Riccardo 5th Sgt Tony Barraza 6th Capt Howard Cook 14th MAJ Jim Taylor 24th MSgt Al Clark 24th

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TO SUBMIT A STORY OR COLUMN Please email your story or photos to jshcplanas@gmail.com BEFORE the 20th day of the month to be considered for the next month’s newsletter.

WEBSITE Please visit the site at www.jshc.info.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Current Board of Directors are: Col Miller – Chairman of the Board, BG Murphy, Capt Espinosa, CSM Pfeifer, 1SG Riccardo, SSG Planas & SSG Lehnick. The Board of Directors meet on the 4th Tuesday of every month at 1025 ‘T’ Street, Fresno, CA.

FACE BOOK GROUP Joint Service Honors Command has a new Face Book Group, Joint Service Honors Command - Fresno. You must have a Face Book page to be added to our group. If you have a Face Book page, ‘friend’ SSG Planas to be added to the group.

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COMMAND STAFF Brigadier General Dean Murphy, Commander 559-448-6551  jshc.1.star@gmail.com   Captain Ken Bain, Chief of Staff, California Brigade 559-547-8550 klbain@sbcglobal.net Lieutenant Commander Conrad Bitters 1st Battalion Commander 559-974-1510 clbitter5@att.net CPT Kevin Pendley, Recruiting Officer 559-322-5057 klpendley@gmail.com Comments and Suggestions: If you wish to contact the editor, please call SSG Susan Planas at 559-240-1736 or email at jshcplanas@gmail.com