New HBO TV show: Generation Kill

[Daniel_Junglist]

yes but you dont want to be without it regardless.

 

[Freelance Tax Collector]

I was a SAW gunner last deployment, and we had the 4 pos collapsable stock, and shortened barrel. Most didn't realize it, but the short barrel was much thicker than the long one, and the collapsable stock was also heavier. We also had the Elcan M145 sight (which is a total POS and completely unnecessary on a SAW), and that tri rail that you see in DSA ads. So our SAWs, with all their "compactness" upgrades ended up weighing a good 3 or 4 pounds more than a plain jane SAW.

It became company SOP to put PEQ-2s on that rail too. This was a completely idiotic move since they never worked right, nobody paid attention to them even when they did, and we have tracers anyway. They weren't a good fit to the rail, and the significantly added to the bulk of the weapon. I could turn mine on, but it was so hopelessly off sight that I paid no attention to it and just point shot using tracers. There was still a lot of play after I screwed it onto the rail, so it would never be consistent.

I would rather have had a plain ol' SAW. Nothing on it whatsoever. No "upgrades", no extras.

 

[bogie]

I'd rather have good sights (that work). Tracers work both ways, you know... It's easier for Abduhl to follow the tracers home than to locate muzzle flash on a bright day... Of course, most of my military MG experience was with a pig... I've shot the new .223 LMGs, and they're wonderful...

 

[Freelance Tax Collector]

Situations a little different. If you're in an ambush, Achmed already knows where you are so it won't matter. There's a huge disadvantage to having magnified optics with critical eye relief that you can't get a good cheek weld to on a SAW. It seems that for all practical purposes, the M60 GPMG and SAW are used in somewhat the same roles. We carry 3 per squad. We only have 3 M240B GPMGs per platoon now, but they carry the tripod and T&E mechanisms and stuff.

 

[Daniel_Junglist]

i liked the shortened saw with m145 although we didnt have the 4 position stock we just had the one that twists and retracts.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

I haven't shot one, but I think that the original-ish stock of the SAW, the plastic one or whatever, would be the most comfortable, but I could be wrong.

 

[gregormeister]

Well I ain't seen the show yet..but as a former Iraqi Freedom vet Marine I can say that crap jokes, crap humor and basically anything foul we could come apon to make a good laugh out of a horrible place was worth it...
If you ain't been there or any other active combat zone you'll never know or understand.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Well I'm not gonna say I've been there, but some of that is some funny stuff.

 

[anythingshiny]

agreed. immature potty humor becomes the standard when in-country. EVERY other word must be foul and nothing is sacred. race, education and your mom are all fair targets...but under it all is the fact that you trust and love the man on either side of ya when the rounds are inbound.

i just picked up the book last night...

the guy next to me one day blurts out " dude..i gotta go" mind you we are in MOPP...i couldnt help but laugh...the thought of pooping in your MOPP made the situation HILARIOUS...he didnt by the way.

 

[Bill2e]

I just watched episod 4. The show is garbage. Anti-American, Anti-war Liberal BS.

The took at 5 shots at the current administration. HBO makes me sick.

 

[highorder]

I am also outraged!

The conduct of the current administration is beyond reproach.

 

[Sam1911]

I just watched episod 4. The show is garbage. Anti-American, Anti-war Liberal BS.

The took at 5 shots at the current administration. HBO makes me sick.

Has anyone watching this show actually read the book and would be able to compare the content of the two?

In the book, the author offers pretty much zero personal opinion into the larger issues. He does record the words of the soldiers he was with, and no, they don't always agree with the President, the war, etc. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing.

I mean, if you want to hear an editorial applauding the President, I'm sure there are outlets for that. Likewise, if you wanted to hear editorials ripping him apart, there are outlets for that as well. The book (again, can't really speak for the series) simply recorded what the soldiers did and said.

I'm sure you're not shocked that a bunch of Marines have opinions about things?

-Sam

 

[Funderb]

book was good.

 

[RobMoore]

I think to leave out any "shots" at the administration would be unrealistic. Marines complain about everything under the sun, including our leadership...from bottom to top.

Its no Band of Brothers, but I've been enjoying watching the different types of "leaders" portrayed, the same way I did watching Band of Brothers.

 

[Bill2e]

I couls care less about disagreement with the pres, it was the democrate talking points i could do with out.

 

[simmonsguns]

Rudy Reyes plays himself in this show, he is the nicest guy you will ever meet.
He is also just what he portrays in this show, i have seen him happy and i have watched him fight from the old days in matches here in town.
Yes the show is what it is, it's television,it's entertainment but it's better than cop rock was.

 

[Sam1911]

I couls care less about disagreement with the pres, it was the democrate talking points i could do with out.

Not to beat the point to death, but was this stuff the Marines said or was it editorializing on the part of the author/producer/whomever?

If there was left (or right) -wing ranting from outside sources, then the series should be 'canned. That's pointless and insulting.

However, if your plan is to go out with a bunch of soldiers, film their actions and record their words to show to the world, and then in the editing room you cut out what the guys really said and felt about things and show a version that is in essence a lie by omission, then the product is worse than useless.

There's a lot of folks who say things I disagree with. If I spend my time and money to read a book (or watch a program) about them, then I want to know what they thought and felt. Otherwise I didn't really get the full story. If they have opinions that are different from mine, I want to know about it, and, if possible, know why they feel that way.

Remember, (at least in book form) this is real life. What they said and how it all went down. It doesn't need to agree with our political opinions.


-S

 

[Bill2e]

No it was not live unedited footage.

I was "lines" like- This (dead guy) is from Syrira, he was in college last weak, he wasn't a Jihadist until we got here.

Sorry that wasn't said by Marines in Combat.

Another I remeber is complaining about blowing up a school, or destoying a village where morter blast came from.

I think what the marines have to say is great & love actual documentaries.

This show is hollywood & blame America first. That bothers me.

I watch HBO for entertainment not political commentary.

 

[Jeff White]

I was "lines" like- This (dead guy) is from Syrira, he was in college last weak, he wasn't a Jihadist until we got here.

Sorry that wasn't said by Marines in Combat.

Bill2e, how much time have you spent in a rifle platoon? Another thing you have to remember is that they are portraying an elite unit where the average grunt is going to be better educated then you might find in other units. I know from personal experience that policy and leadership from the White House down to the team leader is discussed by the troops. Especially the policies that landed them in the current situation and affect when they will get home.

Jeff

 

[Sergeant Sabre]

Nobody I know gets all enthusiastic about being a "blood crazed killing machine"

You aren't in the Marines, are you?

 

[Bill2e]

Bill2e, how much time have you spent in a rifle platoon?

Jeff, to answer your question: Zero, so I will have to take to the word of those that have and thank them or there service.

I just seemed to me that many lines came right from the democrate talking points menu, and I hate when that stuff comes up on TV.

I'm sure the Marines complain about the BS they are asked to do. There is not many jobs where people do not complain about leadership & crazy asignments.

I found this to be over the top, but apparently I am the only one. I'll check out the next episope and go from there.

 

[darkknight]

Rudy Reyes the spotter is playing himself on the show.

But I think both the book and the show are awesome. I also think the RTO Ray Persons really makes the show. His relationship with Brad is probably one of the best parts of the show and helps pass some of the slower parts of the show.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Agreed with Darkknight.

I had no idea Rudy "Fruity Rudy" Reyes played himself. That's pretty neat, you don't see a lot of that.

 

[hoosier8]

Good show, very interesting to watch. From the Marines I have talked to, the mix of political persuasion in the Marines has changed over the years. From a mix to more Republican. Again, that is what I have been told by Marines that were over there. The "potty humor" is great.

One marine I know that had to come home due to injuries from a firefight would go back over in a heartbeat.

I caught the lines that I thought might be more PC for the time, but all shows do that and I just ignore them if I like the rest of the program. The filming is amazing.

 

[Freelance Tax Collector]

You aren't in the Marines, are you?

To reitterate: that type of "oorah motivation blood makes the grass grow" stuff is kind of cliche to guys not in boot camp/SOI/mainside dwelling POGs/other REMFs. It's usually invoked only in sarcasm.