66 is not 59
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17 February 2012
The Army campaign around the MEDEVAC continues to unravel. They’ve tried just about everything short of assassination and witchcraft to freeze the growing stampede. In the beginning, they claimed that my accounts of the failed MEDEVAC were completely wrong. And then I produced the inconvenient high definition video and audio.
Undeterred, the Army has continued with a pattern of repetitive deception, knowing that if they repeat something enough it becomes “true.” For instance, media accounts continue to parrot that Chazray Clark made it to the hospital one minute under the “Golden Hour” standard. They say he reached the hospital in 59 minutes. My video shows that it took about 66 minutes.
But the Army doesn’t let simple proof get in the way of the command narrative.
My unedited video of the attack and aftermath has been offered to the Pentagon and to the White House. Neither accepted. CBS and the Associated Press took it and produced stories. Neither questioned my timeline. FOX, nor any other media source, has questioned my timeline.
Yet outlets continue to parrot 59 minutes. All reports that accept this narrative in the face of video are faulty.
Importantly, the unit in question, 4-4 Cav, has never dissented with the timeline I provided, and was highly supportive of these efforts. A story about a fine Soldier in 4-4 Cav was published just yesterday, with these kind and generous words:
“Penton said if you really want to know what’s going on in Afghanistan, go to Michael Yon’s “Online Magazine.” He said all the American troops in Afghanistan trust and read Yon. Yon is what is called a combat journalist and the “New York Times” said he has spent more time imbedded with U.S. troops than any other living journalist. ”
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Comments
It's time to ask each and every candidate for Federal office what their stance is on this ridiculous policy.
On another note, Mike, another check is on the way. Thanks for what you do!
To sum it up: We have two armies: The last time Army S went to war was in the 60's, in a small scale UN mission. They had bolt action rifles and submachine guns, and its first choppers (painted in UN white though). Today Army S is preparing its first ever Medical evacuation helicopters that it will use in a real war. They will be armed and without Red Crosses.
Now let me introduce Army U. Army U has been in both world wars, it equipps its troops with technology many countries only issue to their SF, and it has been fighting two wars non-stop for more than ten years now. Army U still paint its MEDEVACs with Red Crosses, even though they have recognized that this makes them so vulnerable that they always need an escort.
Large organizations by their very nature are self protective and CYA is the order of the day. If not for individuals like Mike Yon and many others, inside and outside, they would get away with it every time. Courage on the battlefield is a given most cowardness takes place well off the battlefield. Always has always will.
Mike, keep telling the truth! God Bless.
Michael, keep up the good work. I continue to ping my federal officials.
The military budget is been cut to the bone, so it is time to reduce the ratio of officers to enlisted. My son, as a sergeant did the work of an officer in Iraq since they were short handed. Time to cut the dang fat! Too many ticket punchers.
As for those in the Combat Arms:
We know you're days of combat are over but let's pretend that you're "days of glory" are here again and you're on patrol as a platoon Leader and you or someone in your platoon detonates an IED and gets their leg blown off. How long would YOU want to be sitting out there?
It's your jobs to change the policy and get our wounded off the battlefield and onto the operating table ASAP.
This really goes beyond Congressmen and Senators. When is the Commander-in-Chief going to be held to account for allowing his Secretary and Generals to keep policies in effect that postpone the treatment of his/their soldiers? We can see that decimating our military is high on his list. Perhaps he can do the same to archaic policies. If a soldier on the front lines deviates from the always evolving ROE's they are held to account. Why shouldn't the Desk Jockey's?
It's time we start chronicling all this as to who said what and when for the future military history books.
With the logic of The Pentagon, Chazray and his fellow soldiers would have been riding horses because "that's the tradition". My son served in the Cav. His Platoon Leader was killed by friendly fire. In hindsight all involved say there were ways that tragedy didn't have to occur. But in war horrible things happen. We know this. Mistakes happen. But on this policy the Army is on notice. Each incident that a "marked" MEDIVAC helicopter is fired upon or delayed is squarely the result of poor leadership. Eventually (hopefully not long) someone, somewhere, will decide that this is simply gross negligence and something will be done. If this were the civilian world lawyers would be making a lot of money on the lawsuits.
I asked him if the 'medics' were allowed to throw balls as well as rescue the wounded, and he replied "of course they are... this is war. Only an idiot wouldn't let everybody fight who could fight!"
Now, my stepson is pretty smart (he's already chosen his college and has written to numerous aerospace companies asking for advice on college courses!), so I decided to tell him about the MEDEVAC chopper situation.
I don't think he really believes me though... he can't comprehend the Army being that stupid!
The timly response of US Army MedeVac to get our troops to a well equipped Trauma Center and their survival can be counted in minutes if not seconds.
The delay's being created by requiring that the decision be made at the BN level and higher to launch are costing precious time and the lives of our troops.
Enough of the political rhetoric and hyperbole General Dempsey! Change the policey NOW!
If you ever do get to talk to GEN Dempsey for real could you ask him about his stated intention while he was CSA to devote significant $$$$, thought and time to improving the Army squad: he saw the squad as the only Army unit that was in danger of being overmatched and he intended to fix that. Who identified this problem? Now that GEN Dempsey is no longer CSA who will pick that ball up and run with it? Anybody? Regatds, Terry
If you ever do get to talk to The Great Man could you ask him if anyone picked up the ball and is running with it to prevent the Army squad from being overmatched in combat? That was one of the big 3-4 problems he had identified to work on as CSA and who in the Army will be working on it to fix it now that he is no longer there to provide the drive needed since there are so many other people who will be concerned only with protecting their own equitirs? Regards, Terry
Before anyone says anything I realize waiting for an armed escort and stopping for coffee are way apart, but think about the media backlash on the EMS service for allowing something like that to happen.
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