NCOs are crucial to any unit, even more so in combat.
War is lonely only made lonelier if you don’t have any battle buddies.
I was reassigned to a unit during my deployment to serve in a new role.
There is a fine line with relationships between officers and Soldiers they are charged with leading.
It is impossible to spend every day with people and not find common ground and become friendly.
When you have no one to go home to, you lean on these men.
Easy Company didn’t have this issue as the men listened to and respected Buck.
Not to mention, he didn’t even fight in the battle himself!
He continues to show his true colors as the series progresses.
Looking dumb in front of Soldiers
Soldiers are always watching.
ESPECIALLY when it comes to the officers.
He doesn’t want to look like a newb in front of the men.
Nothing worse than becoming the guy the Soldiers make fun of behind your back.
No, I wasn’t that guy.
I knew that guy.
I wasn’t that guy.
Snipers want to take out the officers because in theory, taking out the leadership would cause chaos.
Shiny rank is a dead giveaway that you’re an officer and thus, a target.
We have subdued rank now and I have to imagine this changed due in part to snipers in combat.
Kids don’t grasp what is going on around them in war.
Don’t be dumb
A good rule of thumb in combat is, “Don’t be dumb.”
You would think this would be easy to adhere to but opportunities to be dumb are abundant.
It was no surprise he was shot.
Sometimes officers will do things to prove something to their men.
Other times they are dumb and don’t realize how dumb they are being.
I have two such examples from my time in Iraq.
One time, there was a dude digging to put a bomb in the side of the road.
I took off running after him with my dismount team.
My dismount team fell behind me about 25 yards but I kept charging for the dude.
The dumb part was running ahead of my men.
My adrenaline was pumping and when I looked back they seemed closer than they were.
But, it definitely earned me respect.
Another time I got moved to a remote outpost.
I went for a run one day and thought I was inside our perimeter.
So remember kids - don’t be dumb.
Bull Randelman
I’m not breaking any news here but Bull Randelman was an unreal Soldier.
How scary must it have been to be alone in that town at night?
Oh you have some shrapnel in your shoulder?
Why don’t I pour some vodka on it and scrape it out with a dirty bayonet.
They don’t make em like that any more.
Taking another man’s life after close quarters combat the way he did was both courageous and frightening.
Let me be clear, I’ve never done that.
I learned how to defend myself should it ever have come to that but it thankfully never did.
Truly a great Soldier.
As always, ICYMI
Episode 1 recap
Episode 2 recap
Episode 3 recap
