Pass The Ammo

A PTA reader sent me this letter that was sent to him. It’s a good read, and it’s been edited for language.

I’ve spent 27 months in combat..a LRRP .. (a lie… it was 18 months in combat and nine months doing nothing, but it was all in Nam)

… worked in four-man teams (three GIs and a Yard) … we kicked ass… we ran, we shot, we made it out.

Spent a week in Bosnia with an armored cav unit during the Bosnian elections. Nobody messed with them.

Spent a week with an old bunch (60-70 year olds) of UDT/ NCDU guys. The SEALs sucked compared to them.

Spent some time with British EOD in the Falklands (I’ll show you a rough on a golf course. The sign says “MINED”).

Spent some time with these weird guys in Belize …Gurkha trained and able to do it all.

Here’s the story. If you don’t like being in combat don’t join the military. If you’re doing it to get an education, that’s an admirable reason (not a reason I would choose, but fine nonetheless), but be prepared to fight. Don’t talk to reporters except when you’re holding a gun (I’m a reporter now), don’t expect ANYONE to appreciate what you do for a living (and what you do for a living is be a soldier/grunt/airman/swab), don’t rat on your buddies unless they kill civilians (and back them when they screw with the bad guys.. what do you think will happen if YOU get snagged?), shoot anything that moves, believe that anything you do is righteous, back your buddy, and know that … you are right and “they” (no matter who the hell “they” is) are so wrong …. There really are a bunch of us who have been there/done that who are too old to do it again, but would trade places with you in a minute…. if you’re fighting now, you’re a hero …and if you think being a hero means anything, you’re wrong. But it beats not being a hero. Kick ass, take names, ignore the media, stick to your buddy’s back, and kill anything that looks remotely threatening. Better a dead them than a dead you.

I pray for you guys every day

If you can … get one for me …

Gary P. Joyce
RVN 8/68-1/71
E58 LRRP/K75 Ranger