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Service

Professionals Playbook: Listen to F-35 pilot Justin Lee’s Memorial Day speech

This is not a typical episode, but I felt it was worth sharing. It’s a speech I gave for Memorial Day. The audio quality isn’t great, but it’s meaningful to me. If I can use this podcast and platform to help keep the memory of the fallen alive, then it will have all been worth it.

—————————————

Freedom isn’t free. I had the chance to take a history class with the man who coined that phrase, Col. Walter Hitchcock. His point was that living in a free democracy costs money, effort, and more than anything young men and women willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice.

Though I didn’t quite understand it at the time, I do now. These young people traded in their lives and dreams so that we can live ours. Honoring their memory and sacrifice, along with their family’s sacrifice, is a small way we can begin to repay our tremendous debt to them.

What Veterans Day Means to the Loadout Room

Veterans Day at the Loadout Room

Many workplaces throughout the United States, and abroad, employ Veterans. If you’re a Veteran, then this is the day that we recognize, and thank you for your service. The Loadout Room is lucky in that it is completely made up of Veterans and a few Active Duty Patriots. We cover all branches of service, and represent a variety of different military occupations. Often on Veterans Day, Veterans are asked what their service meant to them. This Veterans day we decided to share what Military service meant (and still means) for some of us. To all the Veterans out there, we raise our glasses and offer our sincere thanks to you, and your family for your sacrifices and your service. Happy Veterans Day.

Scott Witner 

Beginning with bootcamp at Parris Island and through all subsequent training you develop a strong bond, a brotherhood with those that you train, and serve with. In some cases, it’s a stronger bond than that of your own family. When you bleed along side one another and trust each other with your life, you develop an unbreakable bond. When something happens that takes the life of one of your brothers it will shake your foundation as it did with me, but it will also make that bond you have with the others much stronger. To those that have served and sacrificed you know exactly what I’m talking about.

The Veteran's of the Loadout Room
I (right) perpared to leave after finishing a field exercise

During my years of active duty in the Marine Corps I learned some valuable lessons. One of those lessons was just how frail human life is. During the early morning hours (0200) of 10 May 1996, we were conducting a training mission (Operation Purple Star) prior to our deployment to the Mediterranean for 6 months. This was to simulate an amphibious assault which included Cobra Attack Helicopters, and three CH-46 troop carriers. We lifted off the USS Saipan around 0200 headed for the coast. As we approached the coast the Cobra Attack Helicopter cleared the LZ prior to the CH-46 helos landing. As the Cobra finished its gun run and headed back out to the sea it collided with the first CH-46 helo approaching the LZ. Our helo made an abrupt steep left bank to avoid the mid-air collision. As it did, I noticed outside the small window the fireball in the sky – we just lost a helo full of our brothers.

The following day myself and several others from my unit were tasked with recovering the remaining bodies and gear from the crash site. I still remember trying to organize the gear as we found it, trying to identify who it belonged to. Up until that point, like many others, I took a lot of things in life for granted. After witnessing that horrific accident I realized just how valuable life is, and how quick life can be taken from us. I gained a different perspective on life from that point forward. While in the military, and now as a Veteran when I call someone ‘brother’ it means a hell of a lot more than just a name. It means I’ve got your back. It means I’m here for anything even if it’s a phone call at 2am. I will continue to honor that brotherhood until the day I die.


Erik Meisner 

I joined the Army in 1993 after attending Colorado State University with the sole purpose of doing something exciting. My initial enlistment was for 4 years was with 3rd plt. Aco. 2nd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, but extended for a couple additional years to explore the possibility of attending the Warrant Officer Flight Course. Looking back, my time at 2nd Ranger Battalion was spent with some of the best men I’ll ever have the honor of associating with. Now that I’ve been living in the civilian world, I realize that more than ever.

The Veterans of the Loadout Room
I (left) was the Alpha team leader for 1st Squad 3rd Platoon, Aco. Tim Adcock (right) and we were training in Yakima here.

What I miss the most is the “brotherhood”. When I refer to them as my brothers, that word holds a meaning only we can understand.  My brothers will always be there for me, they will always have my back on, and off the battlefield, and will never ask “why?” Once you’ve trained as hard and as long as Rangers do, an unbreakable bond is formed called the brotherhood.  Once you’ve endured the emotional highs and lows that an elite fighting force will experience, your brothers are always there for you. My time in the service has long since passed, but when I run into my brothers at a Ranger function, or chat with them on the phone, we pick up right were we left off. Like time stood still. Rangers Lead the Way.


Rex Nanorum 

Author on the Afghan/Paki border
Author on the Afghan/Paki border

For me, Veterans day is the day to reflect on my time serving our country and what that service has meant.  Serving in the Ranger regiment gave me the opportunity to fight alongside some of the very best warriors our country has produced.  It gave me the opportunity to blast past a thousand notions of the limits of human endurance and the ability to drive on.  I was afforded the opportunity to attend jump school with my brother (despite him being in a different branch) as well as Ranger school.  I was able to be a part of history, deploying 5 times to combat zones and was on the Jessica Lynch rescue mission.  Veterans day is a time for me to reflect on how profoundly that 4 years changed the course of the rest of my life, my identity and my path.

I am forever grateful to my brothers in arms.  Though so few of us keep in touch with regularity, any of us would step up to bat for one another at a moments notice.  There is NO camaraderie like that between men who have fought together.  As time goes on I have come to realize there is more of a bond between the Veterans of all generations than I had thought.  Having interacted with “big army” types so little while I was serving, for a long time I failed to identify as being part of the bigger Armed Forces picture.  I enjoy spending time with the veterans of previous conflicts whenever possible.  To be able to hang out with vets from WW2 and ‘Nam is a treasure.  Some day, we’ll be as salty as they are and we can only hope for the ability to look at the war-fighters in future generations with the same pride in our eyes as the older vets have when looking at us.


Travis Pike

meafghan

We have two holidays in the States for Veterans, Memorial Day and Veterans Day. I celebrate both in completely separate ways. Memorial day is for quiet reflection, Veteran’s day is for celebration. On Veterans day I celebrate being alive and celebrate where I’ve been and and what I’ve done, and the Marines I did it with. Veteran’s to me is a day to be loud, a day to shoot guns, fireworks, it’s a day to climb mountains, kick life in the nuts, and enjoy some good ole fashioned adult beverages.

In a way it’s like a second birthday, but one I largely celebrate by myself. Not out of self-imposed exile, but because I don’t feel non veterans celebrate the same way. Heck, most veterans probably don’t celebrate the same way, but I feel other vets would understand it. This year I plan on watching Range 15 first thing in the morning, as I load magazines and drink Black Rifle coffee. Then hit the range and get some trigger time in. Followed by hunting in the evening, and cold Guinness and maybe Blackhawk Down, or Patton since both are on Netflix. Veteran’s day is a celebration of life, liberty, and the fact I got to walk among giants for a short time.


Seth Lewis

Veterans day for me, personally, is a day of celebration. A celebration that America had and still has citizens willing to sign up to suffer in the name of the republic. A celebration that I got to live out my childhood dreams of jumping out of planes, blowing shit up, and shooting machine guns. Celebration for all those who earned citizenship along with veteran status. A celebration that I found “my tribe”. But also it’s a day of quiet reflection. Reflection on what it means to be a veteran because it is people who make titles worthwhile not the other way around. And reflection on what it means to have a republic, a “tribe” you’re willing to fight to the death in the mud for. I guess, after all, is said, it’s just a day for me to be grateful that such men and women lived. Thanks for showing up to the rodeo, ya’ll.


Nick Betts

Veterans Day at the Loadout Room

Veterans Day to many is a trip to as many fast food restaurants boasting about free meals for vets. I was never tempted by Chili’s dangling Jack Daniels ribs in front of my face. I never changed my Facebook profile picture looking for words of acknowledgment from my friends. I celebrated at home, with my wife and fellow veterans. I loved the time spent together cooking on the grill, playing corn-hole and drinking fine spirits with those I fought alongside. Save the accolades for those young and dumb basic training graduates. Give them the encouragement they need to be the best soldier’s this country has to offer. I stand proud of my service and the commitment I made, but I don’t need to be told how thankful people are. I’ll stand in the shadows and tip my hat to the boys still doing the dirty work.


Tim Morgan

Veterans Day is here once again. The trove of changed profile pictures and long lines at restaurants are almost assured to remind you, but Veterans Day has a unique meaning to each and every one of us. For me, it is a day to remember the heroic men I served with and spend some time in the outdoors, in a state of peace. As veterans, the American people generally hold us in high regard, as we were/are the gatekeepers of this great country. Every generation has had their share of veterans, but I believe this current generation is particularly special in the sense that they volunteered in a time of war. In an era of instant gratification and self service, many young men and women raised their right hands and enlisted into the military during a time of war. That is an amazing thing, and Veterans Day is a time to remember that. Despite what any veterans reason was for joining the military, the byproduct was serving the nation. Serving is a privilege not known by many, and is something that I am grateful to have been a part of. And as veterans, it is our job to continue to do so.


Wes Nanny

Veterans Day at the Loadout Room

I spent a little over eight years in the Marine Corps Infantry before I left to spend more time with my family and pursue a career in law enforcement. When I think of Veteran’s day, it’s still hard for me to picture myself in that category, as a Veteran. To most people outside of the armed forces, it is a day to honor those who served but to me, and probably a lot of Veterans, it is a day to honor those who came before me. Those who fought in places like Vietnam and Korea. Those who set the standard and that I look up to as what we call the “old breed”. The people I think of on Veteran’s day are people like my neighbor. A retired Marine Colonel that served in Vietnam and has a Purple Heart, like so many from his generation. This year on Veteran’s day I’m going to set some time aside after work and have a nice whiskey with Mr. Holdaway.

4th of July: Tales from the Past

4th of July: Tales from the Past

This 4th of July I chose to remember the Veterans of past conflicts. The marker is from the grave of Cpl William A Smith, a World War One Veteran who served with the 2nd Brigade of the 26th Infantry Regiment during the Battle of the Soissons. On July 19th 1918 one day into the four-day offensive he became one of 12,000 estimated United States casualties, in that day he during the advance he not only got shot by an 8mm Mauser but received the bonus of six pieces of German shrapnel that he would carry inside himself till 1979. That man would survive the war, return home to Harbor Springs, Michigan, get married and raise a family on a farm with his hometown sweetheart and eventually become my great-grandfather. The story of his life from 1917-1920 is largely only remembered in scraps of newspaper articles and a bronze headstone marker.

On this July 4th, I would ask people in the name of the republic and the freedoms that we honor to remember our elderly Veterans. Reach out and talk to them, get them to tell you the stories of their lives and their military histories. Many people like to focus on the battles and conflicts of war, which only tell a part of the Veterans story. When you talk to these men and women get the story of their feelings, their friends and comrades they made during their time in the service. These are the stories that disappear when they pass away, these are the human elements of conflict that help define our times. In my lifetime I have seen the death of the last remaining Veterans from World War One, and by most estimates, there are less than 620,000 of the more than 16 million who served in World War II. Once these Veterans are gone, so is their oral history. Reach out and connect with your Veteran brothers and sisters this 4th of July, and learn the story of their lives.

 

The Spanish Star BM 9mm service pistol

The Spanish Star BM 9mm service pistol

The Star model BM Spanish service pistol was an excellent firearm for its time. The pistol saw service with the Spanish military and police but also was used by the South African Defense Forces and found its way into the Rhodesian bush war. Although it looks strikingly similar to the 1911, the Star BM is significantly different mechanically. The Star pistol has a shorter service life and has recently worked its way into the surplus market of the United States.

The Star BM was manufactured from 1972 to 1992 and in that time only 217,682 were produced. There were no variations made in terms of mechanical function during this time of production. Although, some varied grips and finishes, this was dependent on when they were made and to whom they were issued. Overall, the Star BM did not see much use outside of the routine and it’s not known as to what extent it was employed in Rhodesia. However, the Star BM is an excellent pistol despite being outdated by modern service pistol standards.

The Spanish Star BM 9mm service pistol

The Star BM pistol weighs 35 ounces, has a 4-inch barrel and utilizes 9x19mm caliber bullets. The magazine release is located in the standard location on the grip behind the trigger. The 8 round magazines do not drop free because of the magazine safety/disconnect, a bar that prevents the trigger from being pulled if a magazine is not in the weapon. The manual safety disengages the sear entirely while simultaneously lock the slide, it is very intuitive to manipulate though. The sights are small and bland; an out dated design and style like that of the original 1911’s. The trigger is probably one of the best ones of its time with a crisp break and limited travel, rather than being a straight pull it hinges rearward.

Disassembly is like a 1911 as the slide is pulled to the rear and once the correlating slot lines up, the slide release lever can be removed allowing the slide to come off the front. From there the recoil spring and guide rod can be extracted. The barrel is removed out the front once the barrel bushing is rotated and removed. That brings the weapon into a state of being field stripped. The Star BM 9mm is an exceptional design and functions incredibly well with a high degree of accuracy, it has been replaced by more modern firearms but is still a more than effective sidearm.

Photos courtesy of Author


*Originally published on SOFREP

The Colt 1903 service pistol

The Colt 1903 service pistol

The Colt 1903 was the predecessor to the famous Colt 1911 that is still in use today in some small capacities. The 1903 was carried primarily by officers but also favored for concealed carry because of its small size and “hammerless” design; something that is not entirely accurate because it does have a hammer contained within the frame/slide assembly. Military generals and officers were often presented the Colt 1903 with their name engraved on the side. However, being of sleek and rounded shape made it extremely comfortable for low profile carry. The gun saw use in both World Wars with the United States military and, not surprisingly, in criminal organizations of the era because it could be hidden so easily.

The Colt 1903 is chambered in .32 ACP with a single stack 8-round magazine fed capacity. While rather underpowered by modern military ammunition standards it is still very effective with a muzzle velocity around 1,000 feet per second. Weighing 24 ounces, it has a barrel length of 4 inches and a total length of 7 inches depending on the generation. Grips were typically made of wood but later variants had plastic. The small G.I. style sights are unobtrusive but difficult to acquire quickly. The gun was also produced in .380 ACP with a 7-round capacity but was never as popular as the .32 ACP variant.

Basic field strip of the Colt 1903

The Colt 1903 was designed by John Browning and features a contained hammer that actuates through the rear of the slide, essentially it is a contained action like the 1911’s on a smaller more vertical frame. It features a slide lock but will not actuate unless employed manually, this means the gun will go “click” when empty and a fresh round must be hand cycled after a magazine swap. The gun also features a grip safety on the back strap that must be depressed for the pistol to be fired, a magazine disconnect/safety was added to later variants. The magazine release is typical of the style found in that era, being a lever located on the butt of the pistol grip behind the magwell.

The barrel features 6 locking lugs near the chamber that mate with the slide during battery. To disassemble the pistol, the slide must be pushed back and the barrel rotated 180 degrees which allows the slide to separate from the frame. While it can be a little tricky to take apart, cleaning and routine maintenance is quick and easy. Overall, the Colt 1903 is an exceptional firearm and revolutionary gun that has paved the way for the pistols of the modern era.

All photos courtesy of the author


*Originally published on SOFREP

The Polish P-64 service pistol

The Polish P-64 service pistol

The Polish P-64 is a unique pistol in that it probably draws more inspiration from the Walther PPK than other Eastern Bloc designs but the influence of the Makarov remains obvious — it even uses the Russian 9x18mm round for the military variant. Developed in the late 1950s at Poland‘s Institute for Artillery Research, the P-64 was designed by a team of engineers: W. Czepukajtis, H. Adamczyk, R. Zimny, S. Kaczmarski, M. Adamczyk, and J. Pyzel. The acronym CZAK was bestowed on the gun in honor of its creators.

The P-64 weighs in at around 22 ounces and with a 3.3-inch barrel, the gun is small in stature. Its fixed sights are small and difficult to acquire but lend themselves to surprisingly good accuracy. Recoil is snappy via the pistol’s direct blowback design, though reliable. It suffers from a painfully small capacity in that it uses a 6-round magazine and in my honest opinion is a real challenge to reload quickly due to its recessed magazine release found on the underside of the grip, behind the magwell. Magazines will drop free depending on how tight the grips are. Its other shortcoming is an insanely heavy double action as the trigger pull weight in the configuration is nearly 25 pounds, the single action pull is light and crisp though. All around an excellent defensive weapon that conceals very easily with the correct combination of holster and clothing.

The P-64 can be purchased in the U.S. as an imported firearm and is a relatively affordable collector’s piece at around $200. The P-64 disassembles the same as a Makarov in that the trigger guard is pulled down and the slide is then pulled back and lifted, allowing the slide to be removed from the barrel. The P-64 is an excellent low-profile service pistol but does not make the cut when held up to the modern standard due to its limited ammo capacity and fixed barrel; this does not mean it is ineffective though, just outdated.

The Polish P-64 service pistol

Images of the author


*Originally published on SOFREP

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