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Letters

Losing History

I can’t believe the Institute of Heraldry is involved in making all of the service medals a uniform size or removing the word “medal” from the actual award. Why is this being caught now, years after the implementation of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal and Armed Forces Service Medal awards?

My previous unit of assignment had been around for over 60 years. Four years ago, when I first arrived to the unit, I went to the Institute of Heraldry Web site to read the history of the unit crest. It was not posted, nor was any information on our sister units.

I e-mailed the institute asking for the unit crest history and whether it would be posted. Institute personnel responded by telling me they were working on Brigade Combat Team heraldry and didn’t have time for someone to draw my unit’s crest to post online.

So you’re telling me that in 60-plus years of my unit’s existence, no one at the institute has had time to record its history? Now that my unit is de-activated, what’s going to happen to its history, colors and guideons?

That’s the trouble with today’s Army: We forget about our history and we let tradition fall by the wayside.

Capt. John Green

Fort Bragg, N.C.

Guard will go

Covering an organization the size and scope of the Army is a Herculean task for Army Times. As does any reader, I agree with some articles and disagree with others. However, I take great exception to the June 30 cover of Army Times, touting, “Hell no, Guard can’t go: States balk at further call-ups.”

This is misleading and is supported by neither fact nor history. Army Times has a responsibility to be factually accurate. Moreover, the headline is offensive to the hundreds of thousands of National Guard soldiers and airmen, their families and their civilian employers, who have supported and enabled these patriots’ countless deployments.

The accompanying story on Page 18 of the June 30 edition is largely complimentary toward the National Guard, but readers may never get to that story, and will think instead that the National Guard isn’t able to meet our nation’s requirements.

The National Guard has always gone and will continue to go wherever and whenever this nation asks. We want to assure you and the rest of America that the citizen soldiers and airmen who serve this nation will always answer the call of every governor and the president. That’s indisputable.

Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum

Chief, National Guard Bureau

4 Fixes For The M4

I am writing about the article on the M4 carbine in the June 2 issue [“Small arms, big debate”]. I have served as a unit armorer and infantry team member and leader during my last eight years of service. During those eight years, I have served with this rifle and it has never let me down. This includes three tours, on the line, in Iraq. I am tired of all the negative publicity the M4 is receiving. Is the M4 perfect? No, but what is? Does that mean it should be replaced? No. Look at the problems and fix them:

1. Sometimes the M4 has issues feeding. The problem can be solved with a stronger buffer spring. The shorter barrel length causes this. Get one from an M16 or find a high-power carbine spring online.

2. Every now and then, the M4 will not extract a round. Sometimes this occurs from a dirty chamber. Just look at the rim of the brass once it’s removed. If the rim has a notch ripped out, something in the chamber caused it to seize. And yes, the all-powerful AK-47 suffers from this, as well. If nothing is on the rim, the extractor is weak. Check for the proper silicone insert. If it is there, then get a new one. I spend the $2 and get a silicone ring that goes around the spring assembly and adds a lot of pressure causing the extractor to pull everything out of the chamber.

3. Magazines need to be part of pre-combat inspections and pre-combat corrections. Are they dented on the body or lips? Does the base plate look bent or is it missing tabs? Get new ones. Sometimes, the front lips over which the rounds travel are a touch high. Take a flat jeweler file and bring it down a hair. The good Magpuls are around $15 each. HK brand are $30 or more. But remember, you will probably lose a few during your time in Iraq.

4. Why we still use [weapons lubricant] CLP is beyond me. It burns and cakes, causing lots of problems. It is the select-fire weapons’ worst enemy. It is true the M4 runs dirtier than other systems. But the use of proper lubricants gets you well past that. Try using a new synthetic like MiliTec, TW-25 and others.

These simple fixes greatly improve the M4. I have put my life on it. Maybe one day we can all be like the Special Operations Command and get our cool gas trap carbines and other whiz-bang toys. Until then, let’s focus on what we have and not what they have. I have the greatest respect for them and their role. But theirs is not mine. I am an infantryman. I have an M4 that is a great rifle and isn’t going anywhere soon. Before you get all worked up about the M4, why not learn about it and understand your weapon system. And instead of arguing over old technology replacing old technology, spend the money to find something truly new.

Sgt. Adam Fitzer

Fort Benning, Ga.

Unworthy Charities

Several months ago Army Times published stories pointing out that some organizations asking for charitable donations appear to be unworthy to say the least. Based on the information you provided I have ceased giving to three of these entities.

I would like to ask that you expand your effort and provide information on all veterans’ charities: the good and the not so good. I believe this would be a real benefit for most of your readers — many of whom, like me, have been “taken for a ride” for years.

Maj. Leon Davenport (ret.)

Blairsville, Ga.

Housing Incentives

As a senior noncommissioned officer, I’d like to know where my incentives went. Coming up through the ranks, I remember senior NCOs having the nicest housing available.

While stationed in Hawaii, they moved all E-4s and below into the new housing. The answer I got was, “It’s to boost the lower enlisted retention.”

Now I’m at Fort Polk and brand-new houses were built and they’re for lower enlisted soldiers only. The answer I got this time was, “Well, the lower enlisted housing contract went through first, you’ll get a chance when the senior housing units are built, but we’re letting recently re-deployed NCOs get first dibs.” So I guess my recent 15-month deployment with a Fort Polk unit didn’t count.

And lucky me, they just remodeled the two five-bedroom housing units next to me to accommodate E-4 and below with multiple children. They said I’m in a senior NCO housing area but there is more than one lower enlisted soldier paying a lot less per month for the same house I’m paying a lot more for.

So I ask again, what happened to the housing incentive?

Sgt. 1st Class Eric Easley

Fort Polk, La.

No Medal For PTSD

I read with interest and agreement the thoughts and concerns of Sgt. Rebecca Love Larson [“Purple Heart for PTSD,” Letters, June 9]. Post-traumatic stress disorder, while a serious ailment, is not what the Purple Heart award was meant to recognize. PTSD affects individuals differently, with different sources and reasons and results, for members on the same missions going through the same situations. PTSD is an illness and should be treated as such. I don’t think Purple Hearts have been awarded for being ill or catching a disease in a combat area.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Gilbert Holcomb (ret.)

Weston, Wis.

A Guiding Light

My compliments on the June 23 article, “Class act: The art of making better drill sergeants.”

Graduating from Fort Dix Leadership Academy Drill Sergeant School Class 5-67 was very rewarding and has always guided me through my life. I am fascinated how the Army has expanded weapons training and range certification, also mental health training.

The other training curriculum shows the Army is keeping up with the times. This not only makes for a better soldier but also will guide the soldier all through his or her life, as it has for me.

Students staying in the Fort Jackson’s Magruder Inn is an example of taking care of our soldiers’ morale. I am very proud of the drill sergeants and always interested in their training. It appears they are getting the best training the military has to offer.Command

Sgt. Maj. James H. Watson (ret.)

Farmington, N.H.