Thursday, March 12, 2009

A Greeting to my Distinguished Visitors

First, allow me to carry out a fine Army tradition of greeting my distinguished guests, the commanding general and command sergeant major of USAREUR. General Ham, Command Sergeant Major Beam, I am touched and honored that you have taken it upon yourselves to read my humble blog. I certainly never anticipated when I first began it that a four-star general would trouble himself with the thoughts of a buck sergeant. Command Sergeant Major Beam, the fact that you were moved enough by my thoughts and stories to pass them on to my own sergeant major means more than I can say. It has been made my understanding that your own thoughts differ from my own on the question of the Iraq War, and that you wish that my thoughts and actions were different. I would be very interested in speaking further with you on this subject. I've already had an intense and enlightening conversation with my own sergeant major, and I look forward to utilizing your own open door policy to have a similar conversation with you. I will of course be requesting this through the usual military channels, but it appears that you and others on General Ham's staff may read my blog frequently enough that this may reach you before that. Or at least, that's what my own NCO support channel has informed me. I am told you are also interested in my soldier's and veteran's organization, the 501c3 Iraq Veterans Against the War, or IVAW. I will be happy to explain more about this group and the many wonderful things it does to help soldiers when we have the opportunity to talk in more detail.

Hopefully we can all gain a better understanding of each other. I look forward to the experience.

106 comments:

Thus Spake Ortner said...

So I see you are going the circumspect route eh?

Take this one down bud. Seriously. They aren't going to martyr you, no matter how much you wish they might. But you are opening yourself up to other charges, and while I think you are 100% wrong on the war, and bat shit crazy to boot at times, this sort of thing doesn't help either side.

Hope you will rethink this approach.

vkfletch said...

Why should she take this down? She was informed they were reading the blog, so she welcomed them and invited further dialogue.

She wasn't hiding before, she has no reason too.

It is also entirely appropriate for her chain of command to moniter things like this blog and to seek additional information on the organization.

Sapper1 said...

Thank you for making my job so easy.

Army Sergeant said...

What's wrong with addressing them? I don't feel that I have anything to hide: if they're interested or have concerns, I really would love to start the conversation. CSM Beam is apparently interested in blogging and maintains an official blog, or at least that's what the website says.

I would be happy to talk to them about the organization: I think more open dialogue helps everyone.

13 Stoploss said...

Yes, this is an exciting opportunity. I'm sure they just want to find whether your personal thoughts affect your ability to perform your duties in uniform.

However, it also means you need to be perfect. Everywhere, and in everything you do. keep up the good work, don't get discouraged, and remember the army values, particularly honesty and personal courage, and that they uphold their own honesty and integrity.

Anonymous said...

Hi, I've actually been reading CSM Beam's blog. You can find it at http://www.hqusareur.army.mil/institution/Leaders/CSM/default.htm or you can send a post or question to askthecsm@eur.army.mil.

It may not be as controversial, but interesting...

Anonymous said...

Unfucking believable...i have seen a few wierd and wonderful things in my life....but your conduct (lack of it) beats hands down all the things i have seen in the military. Your scum, why don't you take of the uniform and take your face for a shit before you go to jail.
You volunteered, so get out, go AWOL...just do not contaminate or ridicule the brave service people around you.

Infantry Dad said...

Hello Ms. Sarge,
Here's a link to a petition I posted to find out if there was anyone interested in ending stop loss.
Online petition - End Stop Loss Of course blogger won't allow tag html in comments, so you'll have to copy it to your browser. While I understand that you might be reluctant to sign it, I hope that your readers will.
And I hope that the chain of command will have a gander at it.
I don't expect that I will have a lot of influence on Army policy, but it would be good for them to see that there are people who have an opinion on this matter.
It's unfortunate that when one joins the military they sign of on their rite to an opinion.
In closing I will say that there is no one more proud, or more supportive of our soldiers.
My opinion on stop loss does not change my opinion of our heroes.
I offer a huge thank you for what you do to all military personnel who read this.

Infantry Dad said...

I guess blogger changed their policy on tag.
Ha.

Sapper1 said...

You make real soldiers want to stick a fork in there eye......

13 Stoploss said...

Wow, judging by the responses of some of these "real soldiers," or their supporters, it appears that unreal soldiers are not allowed to have opinions.

Maybe we should all be white, male christians, too. Only then would we be allowed to die in support of the freedoms, like speech, that those replying to this post can enjoy, and are protected by those in uniform.

Funny how it is okay for people to come onto this website and reply with hateful messages of contempt and condemnation, but it isn't okay for one soldier to take an off duty stand against the principles for which they believe?

what a funny, mixed up world this is. it makes me sad.

christopherleemiles said...

Brit 27 needn't be so alarmed. The type of opposition Active Duty Patriot is displaying has been a historic constant by some of the bravest and best soldiers. Marine Corps General Smedley Butler comes to mind. The General wrote:

"War is a racket. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives."

And then there's Siegfried Sassoon, who fought at the Battle of Somme in July 1916 with such courage that he acquired the Military Cross and the nickname Mad Jack. When Sassoon was sent home after being shot in the chest he changed his mind about the war. He wrote:

"I a making this statement as an act of willful defiance of military authority, because I believe that the war is being deliberately prolonged by those who have the power to end it . . . I am a soldier, convinced that I am acting on behalf of soldiers. I believe that this war, upon which I entered as a war of defense and liberation, has now become a war of aggression and conquest . . ."

The military authorities did not make a martyr of Sassoon. They claimed he had shell shock, which was supposed to undermine the authority of his words. You be the judge. Ironically, Sassoon was sent back to the trenches; and he willfully went, until wounded for the final time.

Anonymous said...

There comming to take her away, ha ha, there comming to take her away, he he........

Anonymous said...

This sort of behavior is standard from this soldier, but however she is so misinformed that she is so special that people are actually interested and paying a social visit goes along with her own misguided sense of self.

This soldier needs reassignment back stateside, writing B.S. Like that and overplaying your hand with such foolish nonsense.


Her actions remind me of someone who is transposing everything personally wrong with themselves, and blaiming everything on the Army.

Psychological attention might be in order, but its moreoften then not, a form of denial and not taking charge of issues in her own personal life. The only thing that can cure that is a case of growing up, facing the real issues and pulling up your own bootstraps.

"It wasn't MY fault! THEY did this to me!"

Now that she has all the attention, I hope its exactly what she wanted.

Lifes hard. Its harder if your stupid- John Wayne

Infantry Dad said...

How ironic that anonymous number 3 makes that particular quote from John Wayne.

I never put any credence in anonymous posters.

If you have something to say in a public forum, have the courage to identify yourself.

Even you aren't all that bright.

Pinball said...

We are not all of one opinion, and it amazes me that the words of a buck sergeant can make such senior people so nervous.

In previous wars we wrote letters home. Some of us still do. In later years those letters have been used to find out what the soldier thought, felt and did on a daily basis. The blog is an extension of that tradition.

We need a witness, a evidence of what we did, and what it did to us. War is to critical an endeavor to leave its record in official hands. So you don't like what big army does. So what, one more voice for the record, one more point of view.

In the end what we all fight for is the rights of the many, expression is first among those.

Keep posting.

Infantry Dad said...

Pinball
Right on.
The Army fears itself.
And as such doesn't want to hear criticism.
They don't want to acknowledge that some individuals may not like the policies.
Policies made by individuals who have dedicated their lives to waging war, and get quite bored with a peace time Army.
They don't seem to understand that they create a majority of their morale problems.
In ways far more reaching than the stop-loss policy.
And so rather than address issues, they find it easier to censor those who disagree.
Need evidence? Click on EMBRACE THE SUCK, in my side bar.
I fear that soon the same thing will happen when we try to come to Active Duty Patriot.

Anonymous said...

"Grandiose
Individuals with grandiose delusional disorder have an over-inflated sense of self-worth. Their delusions center on their own importance, such as believing that they have done or created something of extreme value or have a "special mission." "
http://www.answers.com/topic/delusion

Seems to fit anyway.

Thus Spake Ortner said...

Do you guys even make a pretense about giving a shit about AS?

You keep cheering her on, you give her all the "attagirls" you want, and when the army has had enough of this shit, revokes her clearance, and gets her out, I am sure each and every last one of you will stick around to support her, right?

Infantrydad will continue to push his cause of unilaterally not following contracts, 13 stoploss will continue to claim that everyone not agreeing with him is just some whitebread douche that wants to hurt brownpeople, etc. And not one of you will be around to help her.

I don't even agree with her, but I give a shit about what happens to her. It's called compassion, when you are done tooting your own horns for various causes, maybe you could give it a look.

Sapper1 said...

Whats wrong Coppa?
The 4 star & the CSM got your tongue?
Sure is quiet from you.

Anonymous said...

She is probably in jail after the way she ran her mouth......
I doubt anyone will see a new blog entry from her again.

13 Stoploss said...

Ortner,

You speak of compassion, but I was illustrating simple common courtesies. My own form of "attagirl" is an encouragement to stay strong in the face of pressure. In the blogosphere where we only know each other by the content of our posts, what else can we do? How else can I demonstrate the act of caring than by defending the right she has to her opinion (whether or not I even agree with her opinion)?

I'm not quite sure what your comment about me meant. My own comment refers to most of the trolls on here acting as if it's treacherous for a soldier to have an opinion that is different than red-state Bushery, as if THAT is the common ideal. It isn't, and neither is the Army comprised of white, male Christians. Maybe you misread my intent, or it didn't read as clear as it did in my own head.

I'm not here to toot my horn or my agenda. I am here to stand in agreement for anyone willing to defend what they believe, especially for a solider fighting to protect the freedoms granted to Americans but denied to soldiers. And it pisses me off to no end when fear or pressure or the brass shove their way in to muddle things up.

Infantry Dad said...

Yeah, me too. lol.
And Mr. Ortner, for your information,
my cause has nothing to do with not following contracts, unilaterally or other wise.
If that were my cause, I would be blogging instructions about how to get out of stop loss. Let me spell it out slowly so you'll understand.
I AM OPPOSED TO THE POLICY OF STOP-LOSS, AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT CHANGED. If you had taken the time to read any of my posts, you'd understand that.
I'm not whining about, I'm not suggesting that anyone should break their contract.
If you had read my posts you would have learned that I recommend a change in the wording in the contract, so that less than reputable recruiters couldn't make light of the terms of the contract.
It is my oppinion that soldiers ETS should not be facilitated while in a deployed unit, or from a unit that has orders to deploy.
Thus no last minute scurrying to keep short timers from leaving.
Voila, end of manpower issue.
No surprises...
And, I don't necessarily agree with Sgt Coppa. But I appreciate her excersising her constitutional right to freedom of speech.
Hell, when I was in the Army, first, there was no internet,and second, if any of us had spoken out as Sgt. Coppa is, we would have lost a lot of our pay for a long time, and if we didn't stop, we would have been treated to a summary court marshal, and other than honorable discharge.
Welcome to the new kinder gentler Army.
You write nice and pretty, like a man way more educated than I. And you are of course free to hold your own opinion, and speak out about it.
Just don't try to stifle me and others from our rites.

And as for you Sapper
I get the feeling that you are an NCO.
And probably the type of ego maniacle NCO that I had the misfortune of serving with as a Drill Sergeant back at Fort Jackson in the early 70s.
There was at least one in each company, each cycle.
While I honestly thank you from my heart for your service, .
You make it hard to not wish that you would indeed shove a fork in your eye...

Sapper1 said...

Infantry Dad,
Please stop your whining.
I was not talking to you.
IF you were even a Drill Sergeant, at Fort Jackson they never did know how to train real soldiers anyway so don’t shame yourself by telling people. Only the best could come to Fort “L” Wood. Do not even get me started on you. Leave it alone. She has enough problems with out you throwing fuel on the fire.

Army Sergeant said...

I'm sorry that some of you were wondering where I was. Sorry to disappoint some of you, but I am neither in jail, nor silent. I was enjoying a four day weekend. I'll probably be putting up another post later this week.

I, too, like 13 Stoploss, am curious as to what makes a "real" soldier. As far as I knew, everyone who raised their right hand and swore the oath to enlist in the US Army counted as a "real soldier".

Brit27-hopefully you're not a soldier, given that you're encouraging a soldier to go AWOL.

For one of the many anonymous commentators, I got this info from my chain of command. I certainly hope that they're mistaken, but somehow I doubt it.

TSO, I do appreciate your concern, really. I think I'll be okay, and if I'm not, I'll keep you all posted. I'm not planning to do anything stupid.

Sapper1 said...

I think she forgot this part:

I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

13 Stoploss said...

Wrong again Sapper. That's probably the most important part to remember when partaking in the activities for which she does, so as not to have conflict with it.

I can't imagine that you would find something to indict her that her chain of command hasn't.

Does it really hurt you to know that her off-duty actions are protected? Does it really bother you that much, that you'll actually patrol her blog just to tell her and others how little of a soldier she is compared to you because she doesn't believe as you do? There are words to describe this kind of activity, but I'm not here to attack or provoke, initially.

Gonna have to dig deeper, man.

Anonymous said...

Do you mean activities like this?
http://www.vvaw.org/veteran/article/?id=860&hilite=selena+coppa

Think before you speak.

Sapper1 said...

13 Stoploss
As I told some one else....
Please stop your whining.
I was not talking to you.
Do not even get me started on you. Leave it alone. She has enough problems with out you throwing fuel on the fire.

Army Sergeant said...

I am deleting one anonymous comment because it contained information about my family. Put up whatever filth you people want, but please leave my grandmother out of things. She has no connection to my political activities and does not deserve to be brought into this mudslinging.

Sapper1: I remember and believe in that oath. In fact, one of my reenlistments was on the actual Constitution itself in Washington, DC-a trip my commander, first sergeant, and some NCOs took with me because I love the Constitution so much. But the oath of enlistment and reenlistment does not require me to like the orders I'm given-it just requires me to execute them. It doesn't require me to believe the wars are justified-just to fight in them if asked.

13 Stoploss said...

Anon, and Sapper-

You throw out quotes and links to web pages and "activities" as if I am supposed to be horrified into agreeing with you. Your allusions are weak. They are weak because you still think that everyone does or should think like you. Or that it's a crime or treacherous to think differently than you.

Anon-I support her right to take part in those activities. So, when you ask "activities like this?" My answer is "yes." When a soldier gives up the right to his own mind, he is already dead. By this point, there is no difference between that soldier and a sheep. Fortunately, Bush never did get the power he wanted, else we would have had military law, enforced by our own soldiers, here in America. I'd have to wonder whether soldiers would even know the history of our constitution well enough to know the illegality of this motion, if it had happened. Blind obedience? Inability to think critically? Saved for now...

Sapper, do you know what whining is?

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/whining

Whining is when my 3 year old cries for candy instead of dinner. I am neither whining nor crying.

And please don't get started on me. This isn't about me, and my own character and activities have no bearing on the discussion at hand. That would be an "ad hominem" fallacy.

You say I am adding fuel to the fire, but you are the one using the constitution to weakly suggest the blogger is acting against it. THAT, to me, appears like you, not me, are adding fuel to the fire. Your support needs more evidence.

Anonymous said...

13 Stoploss
Read AR 600-20 all of it. Not just the parts they like.

Do you mean activities like this?
http://www.vvaw.org/veteran/article/?id=860&hilite=selena+coppa

Think before you speak.

13 Stoploss said...

Anon, please take this literally, and not as a snide remark. I hardly have time to read 139 pages of Army doctrine. Do you have some specifics in mind? Could you email me, maybe, some of the points you would like to make so that I can better examine it myself?

I agree with you--thinking before speaking is important, and too many are too quick or rash to speak. You may not agree with what I say, but I hope you will get the impression that I am not one of these.

Anonymous said...

13 Stoploss

From there own web site.

http://ivaw.org/youhavetheserights
You have these rights
You can join IVAW
Army Regulation 600 20 paragraph 5 2 b authorizes soldiers, including national guard and reserve, to participate in local nonpartisan political activities. IVAW is local and does not participate in partisan political activities. But soldiers are not authorized to: (1) Wear a military uniform or use any government property. (2) Allow participation in IVAW to interfere with, or prejudice, military duties.

13 Stoploss said...

Good point, Anon.

I'm not going to argue with that. I probably would have worn jeans, and removed the US Army nametape and unit patch. Nevertheless, has the blogger explained her reason for wearing her uniform? It may show questionable judgement concerning a particularity, but...

....I do have two things else to say: she has achieved her rank by being good at her job. She seems adept at demonstrating that her duty to orders is not in question. She still performs and loves her job despite broadscale disagreeance with mission.

and secondly, I would hate to be characterized as she has because of one mistake. maybe there are others I am not familiar with. As you pointed out, it isn't wrong of her to participate, but that she neglected, forgot, didn't know, or willfully disobeyed one tenet of the rules. and this isn't an apology for her, she doesn't need that, and this isn't in defense of her. but, it is very possible that this has been brought to her attention already. I've made many mistakes in my career--I've done my best not to make them twice. We'll see where she goes from here.

Army Sergeant said...

The website doesn't tend to go into technicalities. Such as for example, that that incident was part of a ruck march, and the unit I was assigned to at the time had allowed other individuals to practice rucking in uniform off-post. The event was not a sign-waving protest march, but was a 25 mile ruck march that happened to be composed of IVAW members. No one had signs-the only lettering was on some people's jackets and/or t-shirts. I'm not sure what uniform could possibly be more appropriate for rucking than military uniform, or some semblance thereof.

Army Sergeant said...

Also, the lawyers say that uniforms are allowed as part of street theatre, such as for the Operations First Casualty and such, though I haven't participated in one other than as a police liason.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like some one is a little nervous…..
Strait to the lawyers…….
The sound of your voice: http://www.ardmediathek.de/ard/servlet/content/1675430

Words can haunt you……
As I allways say, "Think before you speak!"

Army Sergeant said...

Actually, I tend to consult lawyers before my actions, not after, and have consulted them many times throughout the course of my two-year stint with IVAW.

Also, seriously, you have a problem with that interview? What can you possibly have a problem with in that interview? I even quoted 360-1.

Anonymous said...

Do you realy want to know?

Anonymous said...

Then come to the Community Activity
Center 20th of May, 09 from 1700-1900
to attend the next Right Arm Night event. Don`t forget to put on your fancy T-shirt. I will be happy to explain your problem to you.

Anonymous said...

My mistake. This Friday, Not May.
See you there.

Infantry Dad said...

Sapper,
I will say that you are an example of what is wrong with society today.
No respect.
If you can't show even a modicum of respect for a fellow veteran, you need a lesson in respect.
If you can pass judgment on people
based on a couple of comments on the internet, you are ignorant.
The fact that you would question my service record, and make a moronic statement about Ft Jackson in a petty effort to start an online argument serves only to further prove your ignorance.
You belong in this, "new", Army.
You wouldn't have made it in the old one.
The one where we supported each other regardless of the patch.
FYI,
Ft. Jackson was an infantry training base in 1970, and Leonard Wood was artillery. Both installations were equally respected for the quality of soldier they turned out in their respective MOS.
If I were one of the superiors monitoring this blog, based on your written thoughts, or lack there of, I would have serious concerns about your mental stability.

Sapper1 said...

I am so glad you feel better now.
Climb down off your soap box.
I am actually not interested in anything any of you have to say.
I am only interested in making sure this cancer they like to call the “IVAW” does not spread.

As to “If I were one of the superiors monitoring this blog, based on your written thoughts, or lack there of, I would have serious concerns about your mental stability.”

Both of them got a good laugh out of your comments.

Like I tried to tell you, leave it alone. This is not about you.

Army Sergeant said...

Sapper:

The IVAW is not a cancer. It's a group of soldiers and veterans who are doing their civic duty and what they view to be an honorable thing.
Who are you to tell them otherwise?

Sapper1 said...

That you will find out soon enough.

Army Sergeant said...

Ominous words won't make your position right. Our founding fathers envisioned citizen-soldiers.

If you are in fact what you seem to claim to be, a soldier, then you must have sworn an oath to the Constitution at one time. Did it mean nothing to you? What about the Army values? I don't recall an eighth Army value being Stalin-like suppression of political ideas.

Sapper1 said...

You are destroying the motivation of soldiers.
That puts other soldiers at risk.
That is a danger to all.
Free speech is a given. This is crazy.

Sapper1 said...

If you want to talk about this face to face then be at CSM Prince`s office 09:00 tomorrow.
I will try & fit it in my schedule.

Army Sergeant said...

I'm not destroying the motivation of soldiers. The motivation of soldiers has always been to save other soldiers, not to take part in some inexplicable conflict with nebulous political ends. When I did my job (and did it well I might add, giving a hundred percent) I didn't do it because I believed that we were in Iraq to liberate the Iraqi people. I did it because American lives were in danger, and I would fight to protect and save them any day. That motivation is never going to be destroyed.

However, one thing that does destroy motivation is the feeling that the Army doesn't care about soldiers anymore, and doesn't believe in protecting their freedoms. The United States has always stood for a place which was so big, and so broad, and so beautiful and so /free/ that it would allow anyone to have their five minutes on their soapbox because somebody having a different opinion was not dangerous.

That's what I swore to defend. How about you?

Sapper1 said...

If you want to talk about this face to face then be at CSM Prince`s office 09:00 tomorrow.
I will try & fit it in my schedule.

Army Sergeant said...

Tomorrow is a mandatory training day, but I'll ask my chain of command-or if you are CSM Prince or someone who works with him, please /call/ my chain of command to facilitate.

I will say that if you are CSM Prince, you gave me a coin once for giving my whole heart to my Army duties, and should know that I don't let my IVAW work negatively affect my morale or that of other soldiers.

Sapper1 said...

CSM Prince`s office 09:00 tomorrow.
I will try & fit it in my schedule.
No I am not him.
Now go to your 14:00 meeting before you are late.

Army Sergeant said...

What 1400 meeting? Also, please feel free to email me at sgtivaw@gmail.com if you don't want to put your full identity out on the web, but I'd like to know who wants to meet me, and why at someone else's office.

Sapper1 said...

I never meet females or crazy people alone.
That is why some one else’s office.

I never meet females or crazy people alone.
That is why some one else’s office.

Or do you prefer the food court tonight……

Sapper1 said...

I just saw you 2 ½ weeks ago but did not know of your activities at the time.
I thought you seemed nice. Now you make me sick.

Army Sergeant said...

Well, whoever you are, you don't seem willing to tell me about who you are at all, which makes /me/ suspicious-or tell me why you're willing to blacken CSM Prince's name-does he know you plan to use his office to waylay people, anyway?

Why should I be willing to meet someone who's afraid to tell me his name, especially when I've received threats before?

Sapper1 said...

His office was just a suggestion.
It had nothing to do with him or his name.
I am not sure why you think I threatened you. I don’t recall having done any such thing.
That was a little paranoid.

Sapper1 said...

I can tell it would be pointless to meet you & try to have an adult conversation with you, so just forget it. You might want to go see a doctor to have your head examined.

Army Sergeant said...

I didn't say the threats came from you, Sapper1. It's not paranoia-in fact, I have a counseling in front of me from my squad leader advising me not to attend a certain event due to threats to my safety and health that he had seen other people make.

My squad leader also advised me not to meet anyone who wouldn't identify themself. Unless you want to meet me at the MP shack.

Also, thanks for the suggestion and concern-but as someone diagnosed with PTSD, I already see mental health regularly.

Anonymous said...

To Sapper1:

Upon reading your comments to Coppa I have to laugh and believe me I read everything. Now when I say I laugh it is at you because from what I can tell you don't have the balls, or guts to meet Coppa in public. But also upon reading this I was appalled at the fact you would threaten Coppa and again not have the balls to belly up to the bar and handle your business. Now since you want to run your mouth allow me to run mine. I am a civilian who served in the military as well. I do not support this war but I DO support the men and women who fight in it. Since you want to threaten and act like a bad ass I tell you what. I will be at CSM Prince's office tomorrow morning at about 10:00 if I can fit a blantant disrespectful person into my schedule. Oh and by the way since I am a civilian a couple things you best remember. 1. Since I am a civilian you will call me Sir, or Mr. if you don't I will be more than happy to go to your chain of command and make sure they teach your about respect to a civilian. 2. Since I am a civilian I technically out rank you.

Also, I will say this one more time. I support the men and women who wear the uniform that have no choice but to fight in the war because of orders, I DO NOT SUPPORT THIS WAR WHATSOEVER!

Sapper1 said...

Hi Dick,

I am not sure why you think you need to get In the middle of a conversation between two adults, but just don’t.
I will call you bobo if I so desire.
Dick… I mean bobo, please just go away. If you do I promise not to make you my new project.
I already have one, but I can put him on hold if you keep it up.
Enough from the cheap seats from him.

Coppa, I already said I have no more interest in meeting you if you cannot talk or act like an adult.
I am not sure why bobo thinks I am threatening you but I really don’t care. I am not.
You simply make me sick. I am sure losing your job at JAG was fun. It will not be the last thing you lose.

13 Stoploss said...

Argumentum ad Hominem
Translation:
"Argument against the man" (Latin)
The Fallacy of Personal Attack
Exposition:

A debater commits the Ad Hominem Fallacy when he introduces irrelevant personal premisses about his opponent. Such red herrings may successfully distract the opponent or the audience from the topic of the debate.

Army Sergeant said...

Sapper1:

I'm not sure why you think that hiding behind your anonymity makes you an adult, but pointing out that only people who have something to hide conceal themselves is somehow childish.

Do you think this behavior is becoming of a soldier? Do you think it upholds the Army values? One of them, you might remember, is Respect.

Sapper1 said...

Coppa,
The last thing I or anyone else needs is YOU to remind us of Army values.
You have no clue what that really means.

Respect?
I am not even going to compliment you by acknowledging the fact that you know what that means.

I am not hiding. I tried to meet you face to face but you proved yourself unworthy for such a meeting. “MP shack”…. Please. The CSM`s office or the food court are hardly a place that a rational person would be afraid to meet some one. I grow tired of this silly exchange of your pointless words. They mean nothing. Impress only the weak minded or crazy people.
Do yourself a favour. Just go away.

Army Sergeant said...

Right. I "proved myself unworthy of such a meeting" right after I started asking you what your name was, and who you were-a subject that for all your supposed bravery, you seem unwilling to answer. Maybe because you know you're in the wrong here?

As a former victim of domestic violence and assault, you can bet I'm not going anywhere alone to meet someone when I don't know who they are-especially when they use abusive language to me.

Again. You're hiding your name and rank, and if you're in the right, then what's your cause?

Sapper1 said...

“You're hiding your name and rank”.

No I am not. I see no point in putting it here on your blog.
I was trying to talk to you 1 on 1 to guide you from you psychotic ways.
My duty is to help lost sheep like you find there way back to there job.
That you will never be fit to serve in a combat zone is a sad fact. You would only put real soldiers at risk. Your MOS with out your clearance is not an option. Yes it is gone. Just as many civilian jobs will be a dead end. Make no mistake; I have made sure of that. Turning a TS into a ….. is a simple thing. There are to many agency’s out there that find your blog & actions very strange. Ideals as a young SGT are not a bad thing. They are good. It keeps us all on out toes. You just need to be right. Not blab la bal.
What you are trying to do… You cost lives. You can rationalize it however you like. You are killing American soldiers.

I NEVER sent a soldier to do a mission that I would not, regardless of what my CO said.
My men, My choice. No Officer decides for a real NCO.
I brought them all home alive & was the only one hurt.

I owed them that.

Sapper1 said...

You wouldn`t know anything about that.....

Sapper1 said...

You say you have PTSD...
I cry foul.
A real soldier does his job, what ever that may be. A real soldier with a combat MOS just does it in a way that is hard for America to except, but pretend not to know it happens. Never talk about it because it is not pretty. But deep down they know it is so.
They just don’t want to talk about it. This type of execution of orders in not on the menu
at McDonalds. With out it, we would have a BIG problem. The good of the many.

Anonymous said...

Sapper, you are a creepy guy. You know where this girl lives and works? Do you follow her around and sniff the seats that she sits on? Dude, you scare me.

P.S. That Sapper tab must weigh down your shoulder. Where is your CIB?

P. P. S. You probably aren't even in the military. You are probably just some military husband who lives on base. Do you like the cheap prices at the commissary? Honey, pick me up a six pack next time you go out.

Anonymous said...

Sapper, you are a creepy guy. You know where this girl lives and works? Do you follow her around and sniff the seats that she sits on? Dude, you scare me.

P.S. That Sapper tab must weigh down your shoulder. Where is your CIB?

P. P. S. You probably aren't even in the military. You are probably just some military husband who lives on base. Do you like the cheap prices at the commissary? Honey, pick me up a six pack next time you go out.

Anonymous said...

Sapper, you are a creepy guy. You know where this girl lives and works? Do you follow her around and sniff the seats that she sits on? Dude, you scare me.

P.S. That Sapper tab must weigh down your shoulder. Where is your CIB?

P. P. S. You probably aren't even in the military. You are probably just some military husband who lives on base. Do you like the cheap prices at the commissary? Honey, pick me up a six pack next time you go out.

Sapper1 said...

WOW,
3 comments the same.
Weird.

Not close to the truth, but I don’t expect anything different from the sort that runs there mouth here.

Anonymous said...

Fighting soldiers from the sky
Fearless men who jump and die
Men who mean just what they say
The brave men of the Green Beret.


Silver Wings upon their chest
These are men, America's best
One hundred men will test today
But only three win the Green Beret.


Trained to live off nature's land
Trained in combat, hand to hand
Men who fight by night and day
Courage picked from the Green Beret.


Silver Wings upon their chest
These are men, America's best
One hundred men will test today
But only three win the Green Beret.


Back at home a young wife waits
Her Green Beret has met his fate
He has died for those oppressed
Leaving her his last request.


Put Silver Wings on my son's chest
Make him one of America's best
He'll be a man they'll test one day
Have him win the Green Beret.

Army Sergeant said...

Oh, boy. Real soldiers never get PTSD, I take it, too? Boy, are you behind the times. The Army is starting to take that seriously, and it's about time. It's called strong enough to admit when you have a problem and go in and get help, like you're supposed to.

As for my clearance, it's still just what it's supposed to be-the clearance I earned. And yes, I admitted my IVAW membership to my re-investigating officer.

Also, I offered you my email if you want to tell me who you are, but not put it in my blog. Also, you have the option of scheduling a meeting through my chain of command if you are anyone of note.

You've chosen not to go by all of these. Maybe that guy is right and you're not military at all-maybe just some civilian who happens to work in an office pushing paper for the Army.

Anonymous said...

Sapper,

Hey, Sweet Cheeks, make sure that the house is clean before your wife comes home.

BTW, what kind of creepy shrines do you have built to this Active Duty Patriot at your place? Please, post pics.

What is your wife's MOS? Please, post pics of her too. I would bet that she is hot. I dig POuGe chicks.

Sapper1 said...

You are quiet a piece of work.
“Paper pusher” No.
You just don’t get it.
IF I choose to E-Mail you then I would use: selena.coppa@us.army.mil

Anonymous said...

Dude, Sapper, I just looked at your profile. Your favorite book is FM 23-10? That is cute. Did you buy yours at the Army Surplus Store? Hey, Sweet Cheeks, do you wish you were Infantry? I bet you do.

Hey, Army husbands have hiring preference at the child care centers. If you can suck it up and drive on you might be able to work with the kiddies. Being a civilian working at the child care center is a lot closer to being Infantry than being an Army husband.

P.S. I respect what you are doing. We need military spouses to clamp down on unpatriotic behavior. They are the first line of defense against lawlessness, anarchy and sedition. Keep up the good fight Babe.

Sapper1 said...

Anonymous: my wife was killed in the first Gulf war. She did not listen to my advice & training I tried to give her. My brother died trying to save her. Her last words were “Damn him, he was right.” I was not there to save them as I had a mission that was,,,,, in a different area. My father said it best. “I had time to train you. You could not teach them everything you learned in your life as a child in the short time you had with them.” Damn the bad luck.

Anonymous said...

I just realized who Sapper1 is!
He is a living legend in the U.S. Army. AD at that.
I salute you Sapper1. It would be my honor to meet you.
If you have time in your calendar I would be proud to have breakfast with you in the DEFAC at 07:30/08:00 how ever it fits into your schedule tomorrow. I will wait out front & hope to see you there.

Anonymous said...

dude, you know her email, you are a creepy fuck. Selena? Do you have her utility bills, too.

I call bullshit. Your wife and brother? This could be a made-for-TV-movie. If you are for real you would post your ERB. There is a special place in hell for people who claim to be Infantry, Special Forces, and Sappers. Just like all the fucks who have SF stickers on their cars and are actually SF support.

Hey, good people died in these wars. It makes me sick when some son-of-a-bitch wants to capitalize on that to make a political point.

It sounds like you are in Germany and on what ever post that "Selena" is posted on. The fact is that you are probably some guy that saw her at an FRG meeting and thought that it was time to trade up.

Hey, Pumpkin, I would bet Mamma would be pissed if she knew that you were paying so much attention to her sister soldier.

Anonymous said...

Yo, Sapper is my hero, how dare you!

13 Stoploss said...

I get it.

Sapper is this guy:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Fh-AIr3Jwr4/SXaEvsfNksI/AAAAAAAABgs/SvWuUD5VUCU/s400/army+stupid.jpg

Sapper1 said...

To: Anonymous Anonymous said...

I just realized who Sapper1 is!

08:00 is fine with me. I will make time. See you there.

To: Anonymous said...

dude, you know her email, you are a creepy fuck. Selena? Do you have her utility bills, too.

You are also welcome if you can contian your mouth & act like an adult.
P.S. There are no utility bills in the WTU.

Anonymous said...

Are you saying that this "selena" lives at the WTU? Are you giving away the location of her place of residence? You better back off man. Are you some kind of stalker? Are you going to sexually assualt her or something?

Sapper1 said...

Anonymous said...
There is a special place in hell for people who claim to be Infantry, Special Forces, and Sappers.


On this point I must sadly agree with you.
You are correct. I am what I am.
No one can take that away from me.
Sappers lead the way!

Sapper1 said...

Anonymous said...
Are you saying that this "selena" lives at the WTU? Are you giving away the location of her place of residence? You better back off man. Are you some kind of stalker? Are you going to sexually assualt her or something?

#1 I didt say she lived anyware.
#2 No I am not a stalker.
#3 She is twice the "woman" she used to be so I doubt anyone would want to assualt her.
Please stop being rude.

Sapper1 said...

Good night children....

Anonymous said...

You like children, Sapper?

I am just saying that it sounds like you have a lot of info on this woman. You know when her appointments are. You know where she lives. You know her name and email. That either makes you a creepy stalker or someone she knows who is waiting to reveal himself in a sexually forceful way.

In either case, you are a POuGe and a coward who is guilty of harassment. Creeps like you are always afraid to show themselves.

Post a pic if you are for real. Or a pic of your military sponsor. I would bet that she is hot.

I don't know what you mean by "twice the woman", but it looks like you have an axe to grind against women. People like you are the reason that women carry Mace. Fucking sexual predators make me sick.

Thus Spake Ortner said...

Sorry about your loss Sapper. I know there were 5 females killed by hostile fire in DSI, but I didn't know of any that had family in theater.

(I tracked all coalition deaths in a former job)

My condolences.

Anonymous said...

To Sapper1:

Wow I got in the middle to two adults talking but you want to call me names. You really are not an adult at all. You act like you are doing the right thing here but you don't have the courage to meeting with Coppa in public. I know for fact you won't meet with me at CSM Prince's office. I think it is because if I show up you will see what a civilian and do to you and how much trouble I will get you in from threatening people here and stalking a female soldier. I believe that is called harassment. So Sapper1, I mean child grow up and show men what you got. Oh that is right you are scared. I know for fact you won't show up at CSM Prince's office. How about the food court today at lunch oh you won't do that either because you are all talk and no action.

No one here is afraid of you. No one here will ever be afraid of you. But from everything I read you are a stalker and you like to sexually harass people.

Anonymous said...

WOW…
Some of you people are very paranoid.
He doesn’t sound like a stalker or a rapist to me.

I had breakfast with him this morning.
He just has strong opinions about the harm IVAW is doing to the AD soldiers.
He cares more about soldiers then any of you would think.

This whole thing is just plain sad.

Army Sergeant said...

It has nothing to do with strong opinions against IVAW. TSO has strong opinions against IVAW. So does Jonn Lilyea of This Aint Hell, or 1SG Grisham over at Soldier's Perspective. They oppose IVAW pretty strongly. Yet amazingly, they manage to disagree with me without resorting to releasing personal information about the location, workplace and habits of the person who has already been posted to Germany to avoid one domestic abuser and stalker.

Also, aside from the personal insults, Sapper1 can't be a very caring NCO or he would know that sexual assault can happen to anyone, anytime-or maybe those "Not in Our Army" commercials just passed him up. Notice he didn't say "I would never sexually assault anyone, and anyone who does so is wrong". He said, "I doubt anyone would want to sexually assault /her/" as though it's okay to sexually assault, you just have to choose the ones who personally attract you.

How is he nobly defending the Army from IVAW by personally harassing me? There are about 1600 other members, is he going to seek out every one of them?

This is not okay. And I'll put it out there: Sapper1's behavior is contributing to a hostile work environment, and I do not appreciate it. Please consider this my attempt to handle it at the lowest level, Sapper1. Whoever you are.

Anonymous said...

Oh, so you had breakfast this morning with him. Oh he doesn't sound like those things but he has strong opinions the harm that IVAW is doing. Well great, but he still has proven he doesn't have the courage to face me or guts if you want to call it that.

Also, he made the comment that if I don't stop he will make me his personal project. That is a joke. I am not worried about him because he is a pathetic individual who can't face me. Oh, and another thing make me your personal project because I am not worried about him. Pathetic really you are going to side with him but everything that I read that he types basically states he is threatening towards Coppa but yet won't be seen in public. That is completely pathetic.

Oh, oh please make me your personal project because you are nothing but a joke and ridiculous excuse of a soldier to can't handle speaking directly face to face with an individual.

Unknown said...

Wow, I don't know where to start. Sapper1 just sounds crazy to me. I find it kind of odd that he just started blogging this month. I went back after reading all these comments and re-read all of the posts under Active Duty Patroit. Where are the problems here? She is just telling it like it is and doing it very well in my opinion. I was in the military from 76 to 82 and it was full of similar problems back then. The bottom line is everything she wrote is her opinion and her's alone. And you know what she is allowed to have one even while on active duty. I would miss her blog if it go shut down like Embrace the Suck, War on Big Tabacco and Pink's War did. As someone who rarely comments, I just had to say something after reading all the negative stuff.

Sapper1 said...

Hi Dick / bobo,
Put on your IVAW t-shirt & stop by the right arm night at the CAC Friday night at 17:00 & see how funny you are…… Big mouth. No nuts. Ups, you are nuts…….
I will defiantly introduce myself to you.

Infantry Dad said...

The bottom line is that Sapper1 is the very decay that is rotting the core of the Army.
He is a small, narrow minded paranoid, individual.
Why would the Army worry about IVAW?
Any more than they would worry about any other opposing organization?
It's all in Sapper1's mind. And we've seen ample evidence of just how sick that is.

Army Sergeant said...

Sapper1:

Your attempt to try to intimidate me into believing you have serious rank by referencing the Right Arm Night isn't going to play. Much like your ploy to convince me that you were part of garrison leadership won't work either. It's easy to see you just want me and others to show up at places that we are not invited to, places where you probably won't even be (like crashing a meeting at CSM Prince's office, for example) so that we can get into trouble. Nice try, but nobody is playing.

Seriously, why are you doing this? Why do you get your kicks out of trying to intimidate fellow soldiers, if you really are a soldier? Why throw discredit onto Sappers by picking their name and trying to befoul it?

Nobody forced you to come to this blog. Nobody forced you to try to do this to me, to violate Army values and every belief in brotherhood the service ever tried to instill.

You claim that I'm destroying cohesion and morale? The fact that someone like you exists and is trying to do what you are to someone like me just because of my beliefs, that destroys morale. If you really love the Army like you say, you would stop anonymously cyberstalking me, tell me who you are and what unit you're in, and come above board.

Sapper1 said...

Coppa,

“your ploy to convince me that you were part of garrison leadership”= Never said I was.

“Your attempt to try to intimidate me into believing you have serious rank by referencing the Right Arm Night isn't going to play.” = Never tried to intimidate you. I was talking to bobo not you. I will be there. You will not.

“anonymously cyberstalking”= Commenting on a blog is just that, commenting on a blog. The term “paranoid” fits you well……

“It's easy to see you just want me and others to show up at places that we are not invited to, places where you probably won't even be (like crashing a meeting at CSM Prince's office, for example) so that we can get into trouble. Nice try, but nobody is playing.”= You spend to much time at the movies…… Let me guess JFK was my fault also……. Back to that paranoid thing again….

I almost forgot. “Sapper1's behavior is contributing to a hostile work environment, and I do not appreciate it. Please consider this my attempt to handle it at the lowest level, Sapper1.”= Did you ever stop & think that maybe, just maybe the people you work for or with do not like you or your actions? I am not sure how that is my fault by commenting on your blog. Again, paranoid.

Just so you can sleep better at night & don’t start blaming me for global warming, I want you to know this is the last time I will be reading or commenting on your blog.
Have a nice day.

13 Stoploss said...

"mission accomplished!"

Anonymous said...

Hey, Army Sgt., I wouldn't worry to much about this guy. He is most likely not in the Army, and is certainly not a Sapper. In any case, he is too scared to let you know who he is. I will send you a $100 if that guy has a sapper tab. He is, most likely, an Army husband who digs his wife's co-workers.

This FM 23-10 reading mall ninja is just some armchair commando. I would bet he is the type who thinks he is on a mission from God or something.

Is that true, Sapper? Does Jesus want you to stalk this chick? Do you love the Lord and the American Flag so much that you have to defend them from people with ideas that are different from your own?

http://www.buzzfeed.com/expresident/raptor-jesus

Raptor-Jesus orders you to seek out malcontents and stalk them. Find out when their appointments are! Find out who is in her chain of command. Tell her about that time you saw her.

Hey, closet case, your hatred of women is telling of some deep seeded homosexual desires. You should seek help or just learn to be your self before your self hatred leads you to hurt someone.

Infantry Dad said...

Anybody wanna bet that's not the last of him?
But I guess we can hope.
Sorry we trashed your digs Sarge.
And thanks for your service.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
streetsweeper said...

Sarge? Has this sapper *critter* been reported to CID? Good moves not meeting him too and specifying the MP shack ;)

Take care and be safe Ok?

Wondering said...

Anonymous said...
WOW…
Some of you people are very paranoid.
He doesn’t sound like a stalker or a rapist to me.


Legally it doesn't matter what it sounds like to you. The legal standard does not defer to what you think, for the reason that what you think isn't a reasonable standard.

I'd say Sapper1 sounds like a stalker. Good thing we got people like that in the Army....

You sound like more of a problem than 10 AS's.

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