Combat Psychology and the "Duty to Retreat"

[Deanimator]

Not only wrong, but arguably racist in some instances, especially his comments regarding minority youths and influences from media, etc. I stopped reading part way through the introduction.

????? I just went back an reread the introductions to both books and, while Grossman makes no pretense of being "politically correct", I see no racism in any of his writing. What gives you that impression?

In the introduction, doesn't he refer to guns and or media as "influences" on minority youth, as though they're some cursed "Stormbringer" that takes over otherwise independent actors? I recall stopping reading at that point.

I've got a copy of the book, but I have no idea where.

 

[Glock Glockler]

Wasn't George Washington spared from a sharpshooter's bullet because he turned his back?

The whole world would have been radically different is the shot was fired.

Yep, it seems the Brits would have done better if they were more practical and less concerned about niceties.

 

[wideym]

When in close combat(close enough to see their eyes) you don't have time to "look into their eyes". They are trying to kill you and you are trying to stay alive, that usually means killing them first. I would say most of our engagements resulted from them or us getting the drop on the other. One of the best feeling I've ever had was catching an insurgent mortar team unaware from behind. It meant we had control of the engagement from the begining to end with little risk of injury to ourselves. I guess you could call it Pride in a job well done and see hard training paying off.

 

[Scanr]

The premise that attacking from the rear is cowerdly is false. Look back at some of the greatest battles in history and you will see a small force draws out the enemy and a larger force attacks from the flanks and rear.

 

[KC&97TA]

On shooting armed men in the back:

When we entered Iraq again in March 2004 it was clearly said, "bad men must die, you won't shoot into crowds of women and children, you will have to run them down and shoot them in the back"... this was said by one of the greatest USMC Generals I have had the pleasure to have faught under, a true man's man.

There ain't no difference in war, between shooting a man in the chest or shooting him in the back, there ain't no difference weather you run them over with a Hummer or call for air support to drop a 500lb bomb on them... bad men or a better term "the men that oppose you", must die, or they will kill you. So weather you shoot them in the face, the chest, the side or the back, it is all the same in the end; bad men must die.

So when the man that was shooting at you with his PKM runs out of ammo and runs away, you shoot him in the back... or he'll got rearm and bring back friends to help him kill you.

On the book

It's a 'decent' book, most of it is a crock of brown warm stuff, that should just be flushed. As a Warrior and As a man who trains men for war... Killing is easy, flash sight picture and press the trigger, follow through and assess. Can't seem to reach them with a rifle, get a belt feed weapon, if that doesn't work call for fire. Keep the mind set, "it's either him or me", which will become "it was either them or me" or "it's either thier men or mine".

The mind set will quickly be engrained, once an IED blows up or a bullet travels by you... the will to live and the training evolve into killing.

Compareing this book to life in America... I hope America never comes to that point, but this book was written for the leaders of men and for men who wish to become warriors, it wasn't ment to help deal with punk kids... it is about "killing".

 

[sacp81170a]

There ain't no difference in war, between shooting a man in the chest or shooting him in the back, there ain't no difference weather you run them over with a Hummer or call for air support to drop a 500lb bomb on them... bad men or a better term "the men that oppose you", must die, or they will kill you.

I had a buddy who was a Marine Platoon Sergeant in Desert Storm. He had the misfortune to get out afterwards and go to school. In his poli sci class he had to endure the derision of the snot noses when he described bulldozers filling in bunkers with Iraqi soldiers in them. Took several beers and a long talk to calm him down after that. Bottom line: whatever it takes to bring your guys home alive. I don't care what happens to the other guys. War is war, welcome to the real world, kiddies.

 

[MostlyGenius]

Grossman? Hasn't he been debunked already?

Grossman
SLA Marshall