Mr Kelly you presume wrong.

I am proud of my military service.

Third generation of my family to do so.

Not a conscript a volunteer.

Unusual to me that a soldier would mock another combat troop. Calling a soldier a war monger is a bit much. Generals or politicians maybe but a grunt who was drafted or in for a few years and mostly types or cooks food a war monger? Hard to believe anyone who was in the military would do that.

I was a little taken back by that myself ,,,,, but after thinking about it I understood what he meant. The part I didn't find very Veteran was the part that was slamming all of them for losing a war ...... He was calling the people still clinging to the war the mongers not everyone ..... but the part about the 3rd world country says something about him ..... not exactly sure what

I assume you have never worked in a NATO environment? The views expressed above, be they correct or not are held by most NATO nations armed forces with regards US forces, ethos and doctrine.......Quantity before Quality. I am not looking for an argument just telling you why he wrote what he did.

Edited January 17, 201313 yr by RabC

Mr Kelly you presume wrong.

I am proud of my military service.

Third generation of my family to do so.

Not a conscript a volunteer.

Unusual to me that a soldier would mock another combat troop. Calling a soldier a war monger is a bit much. Generals or politicians maybe but a grunt who was drafted or in for a few years and mostly types or cooks food a war monger? Hard to believe anyone who was in the military would do that.

I was a little taken back by that myself ,,,,, but after thinking about it I understood what he meant. The part I didn't find very Veteran was the part that was slamming all of them for losing a war ...... He was calling the people still clinging to the war the mongers not everyone ..... but the part about the 3rd world country says something about him ..... not exactly sure what

I assume you have never worked in a NATO environment? The views expressed above, be they correct or not are held by most NATO nations armed forces with regards US forces, ethos and doctrine.......Quantity before Quality. I am not looking for an argument just telling you why he wrote what he did.

I have ..... and the idea that the US somehow is lacking in quality Arm's or personell is absurd. The idea that other countries have equally good but different Arm's or personell I can agree with.

Over the years I've worked with an electrician who went on to become SAS, been taught ways to avoid kidnap by an ex SAS, spent years working with a guy who had/still has a son in the SAS, currently have ex SAS security consultants taking care of my accomodation security plus shared a few beers with them.

The only legit if you could call Air America legit guy I know in Thailand lives in Pattaya.

Of all these guys you wouldn't know what they do or did. They live the life of the grey man .

There are a few around still. I know one that still flies in Mindinao for the US. I have three other ex Air America friends that visit occasionally and we have a few fellow pilots down in the Rawai area. Usually quiet and don't say much unless telling stories among fellow pilots. We lost my good buddy Dustoff (Ken Chapman) from the Chiang mai forum a few years ago. He flew "dustoffs" and was shot down seven times. I miss him. He did a lot of work with the VFW up there and especially helped all US veterans wives when they faced the death of their spouses. Although only foreign war vets can be members of the VFW, anyone can visit them. They help any ex veteran however they can. Always there to lend a hand when needed ....

Unusual to me that a soldier would mock another combat troop. Calling a soldier a war monger is a bit much. Generals or politicians maybe but a grunt who was drafted or in for a few years and mostly types or cooks food a war monger? Hard to believe anyone who was in the military would do that.

I was a little taken back by that myself ,,,,, but after thinking about it I understood what he meant. The part I didn't find very Veteran was the part that was slamming all of them for losing a war ...... He was calling the people still clinging to the war the mongers not everyone ..... but the part about the 3rd world country says something about him ..... not exactly sure what

I assume you have never worked in a NATO environment? The views expressed above, be they correct or not are held by most NATO nations armed forces with regards US forces, ethos and doctrine.......Quantity before Quality. I am not looking for an argument just telling you why he wrote what he did.

I have ..... and the idea that the US somehow is lacking in quality Arm's or personell is absurd. The idea that other countries have equally good but different Arm's or personell I can agree with.

Anyone who thinks that most NATO troops would classify American soldiers who fought in Vietnam as war mongers has no experience with NATO troops.

Funny, I have never met a British ex-special forces who would talk about it in public. Ask questions on an internet forum as to the identity of others?

The majority of people who claim to be ex are in fact "special" in a different sort of way, IMHO of course.................

And yes, I used to know lots!

Sounds like a Crap Hat to me,if you never met one that'd talk about it in public how do you know that you know lots?

Very strange post!

Actually his post has a lot of credebility and your responce none ...... The reason people don't talk about it in public is it's against the confedentality agreement they signed ....... you would know that if you had signed one.

And as the other poster also points out not only are you breaking your agreement but are asking others to do the same in public ...... sorry but he does have a valid point

Edited January 17, 201313 yr by MrRealDeal

I did three tours of 'nam.

Cheltenam, Beckenham and Chippenam.

I assume you have never worked in a NATO environment? The views expressed above, be they correct or not are held by most NATO nations armed forces with regards US forces, ethos and doctrine.......Quantity before Quality. I am not looking for an argument just telling you why he wrote what he did.

I have ..... and the idea that the US somehow is lacking in quality Arm's or personell is absurd. The idea that other countries have equally good but different Arm's or personell I can agree with.

I never mentioned hardware. Remember everyone likes to pick on the Big Kid on the Block

Edited January 17, 201313 yr by RabC

Chicog.

Just love it.

not from special forces or anything but I served my reluctant conscription in singapore, does it count?

was field signaller and was about to be completed my basic recon course when my ligaments finally caught up with me and had a surgery. then i became the don r of my company

This is great...getting a list of bars to avoid. Cheers.

This is great...getting a list of bars to avoid. Cheers.

I guess you don't like veterans ......... that would make you a wanke_r today , yesterday , 100 years ago , tomorrow , and 100 years from now.

The reason is because veterans are people who defended the country you live in while you did ............ nothing

Edited January 17, 201313 yr by MrRealDeal

I am not ex-services, all I have is an Uncle who was RNE and I have a nephew who is serving in Afghanistan (comms on base though, Blandford boy...something tells me that he wants Hereford though!). What occurs to me every time I hear one of these "glory boys" telling people their war stories is how much I would like to have my Uncle or Nephew with me just to hear them out them publicly.

OP, you seem like a straight up guy. Please, whilst you are here, enjoy a moment or two to rib a couple of b**lsh***rs on behalf of us straight up types....just wish I could be there.

Don't understand "Blandford Boy" ? thats my hometown its also home of British Army School of signals.

He's based at Blandford in signals (though in Afghanistan right now). I have known the little lad (laughable me saying that, he's 6'4") since he was 3 (he is the youngest son of my step-sister) so he'll always be a boy.

British and American forces routinely operate side-by-side across a wide range of operations. Task Force Leatherneck and the UK-led Task Force Helmand are working together to deliver stability.

For example, British air transport pilots flew with the U.S Air Force in Haiti earthquake relief operations, and British F-18 pilots are currently flying operational missions from the USS Stennis. U.S. Marine Corp exchange officers have deployed on operational tours to Afghanistan with their host British units, in some cases in a command position, and the U.S. Air Force has a long tradition of exchanging pilots on transport, aerial refueling, and combat aircraft with Royal Air Force units.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/03/14/joint-fact-sheet-us-and-uk-defense-cooperation

Real British and American soldiers don't mock one another that kind of behavior is reserved for wanna be warriors whose battlefield experience is limited to a bar stool.

I can go so far as to say Ive only ever met special forces personell in SE aisa, Ive never met a normal infantryman or sailor, only commandos, green berets and SAS

The British press used to think along those lines prior to GW1, which was effectively a 'hat war:)

US Navy SEALS are strongly discouraged about talking about their service history. Years ago, one night in a Pattaya bar I was sitting beside clean cut young guy and in the course of our conversation, he asked if I had been in the US Navy. (Navy tattoo on my forearm), I had and he got quite emotional and went on to tell me he was burned out and was going to quit. That was when I found out that he was a Navy SEAL. He didn't really elaborate too much other than to say that during Desert Storm, he fell apart and couldn't do his job. He said it was just too much for him. At that point we were joined by two other young guys. The one who sat beside me excused himself for interrupting us and told me that the guy wasn't supposed to be talking about his service. I told that polite young man that the guy really hadn't said anything other than that he was a SEAL and he wanted to quit. I was told that he would get over it and that he was just going through a bad time. They all thanked me and took the guy out with them.

I can go so far as to say Ive only ever met special forces personell in SE aisa, Ive never met a normal infantryman or sailor, only commandos, green berets and SAS

The British press used to think along those lines prior to GW1, which was effectively a 'hat war:)

And if you don't know a Green Lid IS a Commando then your talking out of your hat.

The right answer is.....

I am not telling you!

Nearest i've got is when i went commando on a beach in Scotland?!

ps Mr Stirling has a great statue near Callander in Scotland

The right answer is.....

I am not telling you!

Nearest i've got is when i went commando on a beach in Scotland?!

ps Mr Stirling has a great statue near Callander in Scotland

If I went Commando in Scotland, the evidence would disappear, round about my tonsils.

Funny, I have never met a British ex-special forces who would talk about it in public. Ask questions on an internet forum as to the identity of others?

The majority of people who claim to be ex are in fact "special" in a different sort of way, IMHO of course.................

And yes, I used to know lots!

Sounds like a Crap Hat to me,if you never met one that'd talk about it in public how do you know that you know lots?

Very strange post!

The uniform usually gave them away! How on earth is it a strange post? Did you not wear uniform in your day, all undercover?

August lasy year I finally gave up my obligation to the crown. That was after 23 years active service, and the next 15 on percentage pension. Did a lot of things in a lot of countries with a lot of people during that time.

What did I do? Watch this space and I might start a thread about it...........................

Or not.............

Funny, I have never met a British ex-special forces who would talk about it in public. Ask questions on an internet forum as to the identity of others?

The majority of people who claim to be ex are in fact "special" in a different sort of way, IMHO of course.................

And yes, I used to know lots!

Sounds like a Crap Hat to me,if you never met one that'd talk about it in public how do you know that you know lots?

Very strange post!

The uniform usually gave them away! How on earth is it a strange post? Did you not wear uniform in your day, all undercover?

August lasy year I finally gave up my obligation to the crown. That was after 23 years active service, and the next 15 on percentage pension. Did a lot of things in a lot of countries with a lot of people during that time.

What did I do? Watch this space and I might start a thread about it...........................

Or not.............

I can't think of anything funnier than a smart arse who knows nothing!Are you honestly telling me that you've never heard of Chris Ryan,Andy McNab or even the most obvious,General Sir Peter Edgar de la Cour de la Billière's and his famous book,Storm Command?

I can't speak for the OP but his genuine - friendly attempt to reach out - get to know others who have served in a Special Ops Group in his own country or in other countries - has taken a strange and unwarranted turn.

In my own personal experience with the U.S. Military and with my fellow Veterans there is no hard and fast rule about what one can talk about except for classified missions of a more recent vintage where release of operational details could be harmful to others. Of course active military and recent veterans should not reveal actions involved in war zones whether Special Ops or just other critical information that could bring harm to those currently in the battle areas. This is a no brainer. Otherwise it is the individual's free choice - PC speech police not withstanding.

Some here on this TV topic thread try to impose Politically Correct rules of discussion relative to what Vets can or should talk about. But from my experience most Vets pay no attention to know it all rule makers. We Vets talk among ourselves in any way we please.

Recently I just watched a long documentary of the reunion of a Company of soldiers who served with the U.S. 4th. Infantry Division in Vietnam. In one battle one half of their comrades were killed in just a few short hours. These scarred men had no reluctance about telling their stories - there was even film of the battle and of the wounded and dead. Some of the men were pretty choked up - but they talked anyway and told their stories. None were braggarts extolling their heroics. I have watched a half dozen similar stories on the Military Channel and History Channel. So for people to say that the real heroes never talk of their war experiences - well such opinion is just plain baloney.

There is nothing about the Vietnam War that any U.S. military veteran is prohibited from talking about. There is no order or directive from the U.S. Military relative to Vietnam Veterans and what they can talk about. In the USA as veterans - as civilians we have Freedom of Speech and we use it. As time marches on - American vets of more recent wars will be free to talk about any detail.

If some want to believe that any veteran who talks of his war experiences is automatically a liar - then they are totally mistaken. This is just a silly stereotype. Some of you seem to believe that the strong silent types are always the 'real' soldier who had the 'real' experiences. There is no way to know this for sure about any particular individual. It is just another silly assumption. I know a guy who came to Vietnam Veteran events for years - he wore a cap with Veteran - WWII, Korea - Vietnam. This guy rarely spoke about any of his war experiences - in fact he didn't talk much at all. I checked his age via PublicData.com -- he would have been about age 12 at the end of WWII... So guys - have all the stereotypes you want - believe what you want. You should know that such pretender guys realize that if they don't talk much they don't have to remember which lies they told ... They can just imply honorable service and heroism - by just wearing the cap... or by some implied sad story.

I find that most Vietnam Veterans whether they had a 'hard slog', came home with PTSD and other mental scars or just had an easy tour - they most often do not talk of the blood and gore that they may have seen or of their 'heroic exploits'. But rather they tell of the many funny stories - R&R experiences, or of other crazy things that buddies did, or the crappy food, or some good luck in finding some beer out in the boonies, or of the pooyings, etc.

I don't have any heroic exploits or tales of blood and gore to boast about but I did serve honorably as a volunteer in the U.S. Army Special Forces in the Vietnam War. And I reserve the right - should I want to - to talk with others about what went on back then should they want to listen. Mostly my stories are the funny and poignant ones. Take Note: I am not subject to the cliquish politically correct speech police who try to impose their beliefs on me. And - from what I read in the OP's posts - I'm guessing he feels much the same as I do.

Remember folks - there is only One difference between War Stories and Fairy Tales... Fairy Tales start out with 'Once Upon a Time... and War Stories start out with "No Shit Fellows - There I was" and that's the only difference!

Edited January 17, 201313 yr by JDGRUEN

British and American forces routinely operate side-by-side across a wide range of operations. Task Force Leatherneck and the UK-led Task Force Helmand are working together to deliver stability.

For example, British air transport pilots flew with the U.S Air Force in Haiti earthquake relief operations, and British F-18 pilots are currently flying operational missions from the USS Stennis. U.S. Marine Corp exchange officers have deployed on operational tours to Afghanistan with their host British units, in some cases in a command position, and the U.S. Air Force has a long tradition of exchanging pilots on transport, aerial refueling, and combat aircraft with Royal Air Force units.

http://www.whitehous...nse-cooperation

Real British and American soldiers don't mock one another that kind of behavior is reserved for wanna be warriors whose battlefield experience is limited to a bar stool.

Take no notice of the two clowns on here,obviously they've been Walting around here for some time and feel like I'm treading on their toes!

Just over 30 years ago I was in Goose Green,The main landings had taken place the day before at San Carlos and we'd been attacking Darwin and the Goose Green airstrip,about 60 of us with Jimpies,Mortars,LAWs and Milans.

Next morning we hooked up with the main landing force,we had the high ground on Mt Osbourne.We'd been given the job of covering the landing force's advance with some Stingers we'd been given from Delta Force,the US Special Ops Unit that actually has strong ties with The Regiment.

One of our Staff Sergeants,Paddy O'Connor,had been trained to use the Stingers and was supposed to teach the rest of us how to use them.Unfortunately Paddy was killed along with 20 others,when their Sea King crashed into the sea in a freak accident that is thought to have been a bird strike,as the remains of an Albatross were found floating on the surface next to the crash site.

We'd move ships using a technique called cross decking.This just meant chucking all our gear into a helicopter,sitting on it through the journey,then getting off at the landing site which would probably be another ship.We'd then throw all the gear into another helicopter and move off again to another ship or the next target.It was literally the last flight they were due to take to their next target,when one of the helicopters crashed.

He was carrying all the Stinger training manuals at the time.Mind you it didn't stop us putting the Stingers to good use as a couple of days later a senior NCO shot down an Argentinian Pucara using a US Stinger!

I was also in South Georgia to recapture it after the initial invasion with some Royal Marine Commandos defending it in a scene straight out of Rourke's Drift in the Michael Caine film Zulu!

We were under Major Guy Sheridan,with Four-Two Commando and the SBS,which is why I was sending my condolences to the guy at the start of the thread from Hua Hin!

not to worry mate, your are in the right place. about every bar you enter, there is at least a ex special forces sharing his past endeavour

Working for a Thai-American company in 2003 I was asked to manage a new recruit, a yank who claimed to be part of the invasion of Panama and he proudly boasted he had killed 15 people in battle "including women and children", and would tell this to everyone he met as a conversation starter. When he was finally fired, 9 months later his kill tally had risen to 26. Yet one more in the long line of buffoons that I have met in Thailand.

I worked on a massive project in Japan about 15 yrs ago (US Company with big production base in Japan). US CEO invited a very long retired specialist to join the project team.

On the day the long retired guy arrived in Tokyo there was a welcome dinner, senior & mid level Japanese staff (90% of them spoke good English) and western project staff, in total about 20 people. The retired guy insisted that he make a speech.

- He strongly berated the Japanese for their activities in WWII.

- He spoke about how poorly trained Japanese soldiers were (WWII).

- He rubbished the samurai traditions.

- He spoke about how poor Japan was after WWII and mentioned at length how he and his buddies brought silk stockings for the Japanese girls they met in bars etc.

Gone the next day and CEO had to conduct a number of meetings to apologize.

Edited January 17, 201313 yr by scorecard

Funny, I have never met a British ex-special forces who would talk about it in public. Ask questions on an internet forum as to the identity of others?

The majority of people who claim to be ex are in fact "special" in a different sort of way, IMHO of course.................

And yes, I used to know lots!

In Afghanistan.To the irritation of the British government, and particularly the Ministry of Defence, General David Petraeus, former US commander in Iraq and Afghanistan, does not miss an opportunity to praise our special forces. Why has such praise not been welcomed by British officials? Because they stick to the policy that operations involving special forces can never be disclosed. Officially, at least. http://www.guardian....ct/27/sas-libya

So the Brits would talk if they could but they can't.

I think there is a big number difference also. How many American Special Forces since 1965 and how many UK. It has to be 100 to 1. There just aren't very many SAS guys are there? For example, "By the end of 1969, SOG was authorized 394 U.S. personnel, but it is useful to compare those numbers to the actual strengths of the operational elements. There were 1,041 Army, 476 Air Force, 17 Marine Corps, and seven CIA personnel assigned to those units. They were supported by 3,068 SCUs, and 5,402 South Vietnamese and third-country civilian employees, leading to a total of 10,210 military personnel and civilians either assigned to or working for MACSOG." So that means, technically, there were over 10,000 Special Forces.

In Addition to the above: Using some documents I have on my old unit - the 46th. Special Forces Company Airborne (Thailand) from 1966 into the early 1970s... I estimate that about 1250 to 1350 different 46th. SF troopers served in Thailand in that period. They were stationed in camps all over Thailand with Headquarters in Lopburi. Add to this an estimated 75-100 other SF troops on temporary duty to Thailand from the 5th. SFG in Vietnam and from the 1st. SFG out of Okinawa and it is easy to see that a certain percentage could have easily stayed in Thailand or came back at some stage in their life. So coupled with the info posted by CMKelly above - running into old soldiers in Thailand who say they were former U.S. Special Forces would not be very surprising.

Unfortunately Paddy was killed along with 20 others,when their Sea King crashed into the sea in a freak accident that is thought to have been a bird strike,as the remains of an Albatross were found floating on the surface next to the crash site.

I lost a good mate on that helicopter. Also named Paddy, he'd survived an earlier helicopter crash on South Georgia and made a name for his self during the attack on Pebble Island. Know him?

I did three tours of 'nam.

Cheltenam, Beckenham and Chippenam.

Cool.

For the last 15 months, I've been living here in Pattani. It's kind of like a war zone.

People get shot here every day. As far as I know, one guy (a driver) was shot yesterday.

Last Friday, two soldiers were killed by a bomb in the morning and a couple of cops were shot in the evening.

After having heard numerous explosions, I can now distinguish between "pickup bombs" and "motorcycle bombs". I can also recognize the sound of incendiary bombs which take out local power supplies.

My GF has been offered a firearms license from her (government) employer. I've no idea about guns, but she talks knowledgeably about rifles and machine guns. She knows the pros and cons, and she knows the prices. Many government employees here keep semi-automatic weapons.

My GF showed this thread to her friends. They all laughed.

They reckon you guys know jack shit about war and conflict. They reckon most of you guys wouldn't even know how to load a gun.

Thank you 'the regiment' for your service. I spent 25 years in R.E.M.E. and was in Cambridge during the Falklands war. The R.E. unit I was with spent the next few years building a new runway there.

I met an SBS guy called 'two combs' when i was on a scuba course at Bovisand. My best time in the service was with the Gurkhas. The only danger i came near was in N.I. We lost a few guys to a big car bomb at our barracks Sandes home.

May I request that true ex-servicemen stand down from this thread.

We didn't sign up to entertain trolls.

Agreed?

perhaps we find them entertaining too

Perhaps we do.

Although if that's what we are reduced to for entertainment than we're a sorry lot.