ghost squire
member
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2005
- Messages
- 339
WAUGH, ROBERT T.
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 339th Infantry, 85th Infantry Division... For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy. In the course of an attack upon an enemy-held hill on 11 May, 1st Lt. Waugh personally reconnoitered a heavily mined area before entering it with his platoon. Directing his men to deliver fire on 6 bunkers guarding this hill, 1st Lt. Waugh advanced alone against them, reached the first bunker, threw phosphorus grenades into it and as the defenders emerged, killed them with a burst from his tommygun. He repeated this process on the 5 remaining bunkers, killing or capturing the occupants...
HARMON, ROY W.
Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company C, 362d Infantry, 91st Infantry Division... Sgt. Harmon ordered his squad to hold their position and voluntarily began a 1-man assault. Carrying white phosphorus grenades and a submachine gun, he skillfully took advantage of what little cover the terrain afforded and crept to within 25 yards of the first position. He set the haystack afire with a grenade, and when 2 of the enemy attempted to flee from the inferno, he killed them with his submachine gun...
JACKSON, ARTHUR J.
Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division... Boldly taking the initiative when his platoon's left flank advance was held up by the fire of Japanese troops concealed in strongly fortified positions, Pfc. Jackson unhesitatingly proceeded forward of our lines and, courageously defying the heavy barrages, charged a large pillbox housing approximately 35 enemy soldiers. Pouring his automatic fire into the opening of the fixed installation to trap the occupying troops, he hurled white phosphorus grenades and explosive charges brought up by a fellow marine, demolishing the pillbox and killing all of the enemy. Advancing alone under the continuous fire from other hostile emplacements, he employed similar means to smash 2 smaller positions in the immediate vicinity...
JULIAN, JOSEPH RODOLPH
Platoon Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve... Determined to force a breakthrough when Japanese troops occupying trenches and fortified positions on the left front laid down a terrific machinegun and mortar barrage in a desperate effort to halt his company's advance, P/Sgt. Julian quickly established his platoon's guns in strategic supporting positions, and then, acting on his own initiative, fearlessly moved forward to execute a 1-man assault on the nearest pillbox. Advancing alone, he hurled deadly demolition and white phosphorus grenades into the emplacement, killing 2 of the enemy and driving the remaining 5 out into the adjoining trench system. Seizing a discarded rifle, he jumped into the trench and dispatched the 5 before they could make an escape...
RUDOLPH, DONALD E.
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company E, 20th Infantry, 6th Infantry Division. ... when his platoon was attacked by an enemy tank, he advanced under covering fire, climbed to the top of the tank and dropped a white phosphorus grenade through the turret, destroying the crew...
http://www.army.mil/cmh/Moh1.htm
These are the names of some Medal of Honor recipients that I found on an unrelated website. And these are only the ones who used willy petes, not even counting the ones who used regular grenades.
A list for October 03 casualties that I randomly selected:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraq_casualties_oct03.htm
You can clearly see the majority of casualties are caused by explosives, whether they be RPGs, mines, mortars or IEDs.
Artillery, King/Queen of the battlefield, accounts for the majority of casualties in most conventional wars. Thats not even counting air support.
Incendiaries such as white phos/napalm/flamethrowers are extremely demoralizing. An enemy with otherwise excellent morale (such as the Japanese during certain stages in the war), or even a well entrenched enemy, will almost always cut and run at the sight of a flamethrower, especially a flamethrower tank. When nothing else can draw a rat out of its hole, incendiaries can.
I think grenades are left out of the discussion far too often. Although this is a gunboard, guns are often used to fight. And doesn't everybody want to win a fight?
Grenades are deceptively simple to make. High explosives are simple (though risky) to make, and can often be made with household ingredients. The hard part is the detonator but even that can be made at home. Incendiary devices are no brainers, anyone can make these at home or in the field.
Most soldiers in Iraq would give their Beretta and a left nut for more direct fire explosives...
Why aren't we issuing all of our troops with small-medium sized rifle fragmentation grenades?
Thoughts? Suggestions?
And I leave you with this, a fuel air explosive bomb vaporising a building. Click on the refresh button in that window to watch it again and again and again... http://www.danshistory.com/fae.gif
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 339th Infantry, 85th Infantry Division... For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy. In the course of an attack upon an enemy-held hill on 11 May, 1st Lt. Waugh personally reconnoitered a heavily mined area before entering it with his platoon. Directing his men to deliver fire on 6 bunkers guarding this hill, 1st Lt. Waugh advanced alone against them, reached the first bunker, threw phosphorus grenades into it and as the defenders emerged, killed them with a burst from his tommygun. He repeated this process on the 5 remaining bunkers, killing or capturing the occupants...
HARMON, ROY W.
Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company C, 362d Infantry, 91st Infantry Division... Sgt. Harmon ordered his squad to hold their position and voluntarily began a 1-man assault. Carrying white phosphorus grenades and a submachine gun, he skillfully took advantage of what little cover the terrain afforded and crept to within 25 yards of the first position. He set the haystack afire with a grenade, and when 2 of the enemy attempted to flee from the inferno, he killed them with his submachine gun...
JACKSON, ARTHUR J.
Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division... Boldly taking the initiative when his platoon's left flank advance was held up by the fire of Japanese troops concealed in strongly fortified positions, Pfc. Jackson unhesitatingly proceeded forward of our lines and, courageously defying the heavy barrages, charged a large pillbox housing approximately 35 enemy soldiers. Pouring his automatic fire into the opening of the fixed installation to trap the occupying troops, he hurled white phosphorus grenades and explosive charges brought up by a fellow marine, demolishing the pillbox and killing all of the enemy. Advancing alone under the continuous fire from other hostile emplacements, he employed similar means to smash 2 smaller positions in the immediate vicinity...
JULIAN, JOSEPH RODOLPH
Platoon Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve... Determined to force a breakthrough when Japanese troops occupying trenches and fortified positions on the left front laid down a terrific machinegun and mortar barrage in a desperate effort to halt his company's advance, P/Sgt. Julian quickly established his platoon's guns in strategic supporting positions, and then, acting on his own initiative, fearlessly moved forward to execute a 1-man assault on the nearest pillbox. Advancing alone, he hurled deadly demolition and white phosphorus grenades into the emplacement, killing 2 of the enemy and driving the remaining 5 out into the adjoining trench system. Seizing a discarded rifle, he jumped into the trench and dispatched the 5 before they could make an escape...
RUDOLPH, DONALD E.
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Company E, 20th Infantry, 6th Infantry Division. ... when his platoon was attacked by an enemy tank, he advanced under covering fire, climbed to the top of the tank and dropped a white phosphorus grenade through the turret, destroying the crew...
http://www.army.mil/cmh/Moh1.htm
These are the names of some Medal of Honor recipients that I found on an unrelated website. And these are only the ones who used willy petes, not even counting the ones who used regular grenades.
A list for October 03 casualties that I randomly selected:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraq_casualties_oct03.htm
You can clearly see the majority of casualties are caused by explosives, whether they be RPGs, mines, mortars or IEDs.
Artillery, King/Queen of the battlefield, accounts for the majority of casualties in most conventional wars. Thats not even counting air support.
Incendiaries such as white phos/napalm/flamethrowers are extremely demoralizing. An enemy with otherwise excellent morale (such as the Japanese during certain stages in the war), or even a well entrenched enemy, will almost always cut and run at the sight of a flamethrower, especially a flamethrower tank. When nothing else can draw a rat out of its hole, incendiaries can.
I think grenades are left out of the discussion far too often. Although this is a gunboard, guns are often used to fight. And doesn't everybody want to win a fight?
Grenades are deceptively simple to make. High explosives are simple (though risky) to make, and can often be made with household ingredients. The hard part is the detonator but even that can be made at home. Incendiary devices are no brainers, anyone can make these at home or in the field.
Most soldiers in Iraq would give their Beretta and a left nut for more direct fire explosives...
Why aren't we issuing all of our troops with small-medium sized rifle fragmentation grenades?
Thoughts? Suggestions?
And I leave you with this, a fuel air explosive bomb vaporising a building. Click on the refresh button in that window to watch it again and again and again... http://www.danshistory.com/fae.gif