Post: #26

(11-05-2013 04:01 PM)renotime Wrote:  I think Rangers take guys up to the age of 34. You might be able to get a waiver if you are older than that.

It's presumptuous to say that even in my prime I'd get through RIP (now RASP).

Rangers are basically elite athletes at the level of D1 college atheletes.

Even if you have the mental fortitude and physical conditioning, you can always take a wrong jump or trip and get injured.

Now, though….way too many miles on my body.

I can't even imagine doing a 12 mile road march in full gear in under 3 hours.

Post: #27

(11-05-2013 05:01 PM)Fisto Wrote:  MikeCF - yes I was. 2nd Batt

Damn bro. My respect to you went up that much higher.

My boy from high school was in 2nd Batt from 94-96.

Tough life, based on what he's said and everything I've read, though you'd know better than I.

Respect.

Post: #28

(11-07-2013 02:07 PM)MikeCF Wrote:  

(11-06-2013 08:43 PM)Magyarphile Wrote:  Behold, whenever someone espouses libertarian sentiments they are met with snide remarks that with enough life experience they will leave behind such childish ideas. I would venture to say that with age, principle becomes compromised. I do read Ayn Rand, but she is just one of a multitude of individualist writers and not the best one, imho. Many of her ideas are appealing though.

Except my comments weren't snide, they were insightful.

I basically nailed it, right? You're a Rand guy, probably still in college or a recent grad.

I could tell by the language you used as well as the diatribe/ranting style. The only people who use language like you use are college kids who read too much Rand or academics who have Aspergers.

I was president of the Objectivist Society in college. I went to talks and met other Objectivists. Then I got out in the real world and realized that shared experience and culture matters and that most people who read too much Rand later in life have serious emotional issues and high incidences of Asperger's.

So it's not hate. I was there.

It's kinda funny, actually, you're typing the same shit I typed as a 22 year old.

Some things don't change.

Lovely presumptuous tone you have there. I said I have read Ayn Rand. I have also read the Bible, it doesn't make me a believer. Truth be told, I find her ideology too dogmatic and her writing style way too wordy. You are taking this off track though...

Only thing worse than parroting a philosophy, is clicking your heels together when you see the red, white and blue. I went through a vary patriotic phase when I was around 19-20. I outgrew it. I traveled the world and realized human beings are pretty much the same everywhere. Hopefully this will begin to dawn upon you sometime before middle age.

Post: #29

Just wanted to second the book recommendation for Lone Survivor. Read it a few years ago and it was fucking insane what he went through. He killed so.many.Taliban.

One part I remember for some reason is how all the SEALs were at the vigil at one of the family's house, hanging out and paying respects/offering support to the family. All day they stay there but still make time to get changed and for for 5 mile runs or some shit like that and come back to stay with the family.

Post: #30

Lot of excellent posts in this thread. I read it, was awed, and irritated that such an amazing story would be told with such a primitive and uneloquent language. At the same time, at some level I appreciate it, because it offends all my snobbish sensibilities. Mind fuck!

Fisto, if you liked Lone Survivor, you will like, if not love, Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes.

Post: #31

I'll second Matterhorn. That was a great story, and although it was technically fiction, it closely parallels Karl Marlantes's actual tour of duty in Vietnam. In that one tour, Marlantes was awarded a Navy Cross, a Bronze Star, a couple Purple Hearts, and a handful of other decorations. I couldn't put that book down.

Post: #32

Thanks for the recommendation, it will be good to read an American account of afghan operations.

I have recently read zero six bravo which is about 60 British SBS blokes who were sent to take the surrender of 100k Iraqis in 2003.. quite a battle.

In a similar vein is 'bloody heroes' about the prisoner uprising at qala-I-jhangi fort involving British SBS, US rangers and SEALS. it also features a near identical situation to what the OP describes. Both books are by Damien Lewis.

Post: #33

The book was fantastic, thanks for the recommendation.

The firefight chapter had my heart rate up and my palms sweating a bit, intense.

Can't wait for the movie.

Post: #34

HBO is running a 30 min documentary/film promotion piece for the movie called "Will of the Warrior."

If you believe strongly in brotherhood and that your friend's well being is more important than yours and your friends feel the same about you - I'd be bringing some tissues.

Much respect to those that serve or have served.

Post: #35

Interview with Marcus Luttrell on 60 minutes.

Post: #36

It is saddening. To those interested, here is the movie(in putlocker, beware of pop ups.)

LONE SURVIVOR: http://www.putlocker.com/file/41FF68EBDA6404E0# (if that gets deleted, you can always find a couple of other links here.)

I still remember it as clearly as yesterday the very first time i really learn about the Navy Seals: It was through a discovery channel documentary about the Class of 234.

They were the 234th group of young men to go through Basic Underwater Demolition/Seal Training. I was so impressed by that documentary, that for a couple of months, whenever i see the beach all i could think of were the images of bone shattering cold and shivering pain....

Fast forward... a couple of years afterward, some of the young men in that video lost their lives in operation Red Wings(which Lone Survivor try to do justice to).

Here is the documentary of the class of 234 from discovery channel:

Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , Part 4 , Part 5 , Part 6.

It makes you think: What is my excuse? It takes such an extra-ordinary amount of willpower to survive the training.

If you love stuff like this, you may want to take a look at a now cancelled tv show called "The Unit". produced by Eric Hanley(inside the delta force).

Here is a link to all 4 seasons of The Unit.

regards,

Nemencine

Post: #37

(12-30-2013 11:35 PM)Nemencine Wrote:  It is saddening. To those interested, here is the movie(in putlocker, beware of pop ups.)

LONE SURVIVOR: http://www.putlocker.com/file/41FF68EBDA6404E0# (if that gets deleted, you can always find a couple of other links here.)

I still remember it as clearly as yesterday the very first time i really learn about the Navy Seals: It was through a discovery channel documentary about the Class of 234.

They were the 234th group of young men to go through Basic Underwater Demolition/Seal Training. I was so impressed by that documentary, that for a couple of months, whenever i see the beach all i could think of were the images of bone shattering cold and shivering pain....

Fast forward... a couple of years afterward, some of the young men in that video lost their lives in operation Red Wings(which Lone Survivor try to do justice to).

Here is the documentary of the class of 234 from discovery channel:

Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , Part 4 , Part 5 , Part 6.

It makes you think: What is my excuse? It takes such an extra-ordinary amount of willpower to survive the training.

If you love stuff like this, you may want to take a look at a now cancelled tv show called "The Unit". produced by Eric Hanley(inside the delta force).

Here is a link to all 4 seasons of The Unit.

regards,

Nemencine

Unit was awesome, does it have any more tv shows like it?

Post: #38

(12-31-2013 12:01 AM)pheonix500000 Wrote:  Unit was awesome, does it have any more tv shows like it?

Yes. If you like The Unit, you will like the british show by the name: Ultimate Force.

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

Season 4

It focused around the elite of the 22nd S.A.S regiment(british version of delta force) ... i like season #1 the best (for a reason that will become obvious if you watch all 4 seasons...there were some changes that were made to subsequent seasons that make the show loses its... vigour. But season #1 was a bloody arse kicker.)

regards,

Nemencine

Post: #39

Just saw the movie. Really well done, up there with Black Hawk Down as one of the best recent war films. Those SEALS were some tough mother fuckers.

Wahlberg seemed a little out of place as Luttrell, but the rest of the cast was great. I really enjoyed the opening montage about Hell Week.

I think the biggest lesson from the movie is that you can be a great shot, or have the best equipment, etc. but the greatest quality someone could have is the determination not to quit or give up, regardless of what happens.

Post: #40

The movie was great.

Those mountain fall scenes were brutal. I wonder if it was actually like that? It seems if it was that way they would have surely broken several vertebrae and lost motor function. I'm not sure if it was done like that for the movie effect, but in the book he also stressed how brutal the falls were.

Post: #41

(11-04-2013 12:53 PM)renotime Wrote:  Also, in an after action report given by Marcus, he reported there were 50 enemy combatants, not 250 like he detailed in the book. Not sure why he would change his story there.

I haven't read the book, but a friend who has read it mentioned that ML says that the book is his story, written from his perspective.

I don't doubt that 50 battle hardened men who know the terrain, are on higher ground and are armed with AK-47s, might seem like a lot more to the 4 guys on lower ground getting shot at.

Post: #42

I learned about this story when my buddy came back from Iraq. It was probably 2006 and he had me do this work out with him. Y'all should try it.

""Murph"

For time:
1 mile Run
100 Pull-ups
200 Push-ups
300 Squats
1 mile Run

In memory of Navy Lieutenant Michael Murphy, 29, of Patchogue, N.Y., who was killed in Afghanistan June 28th, 2005.

This workout was one of Mike's favorites and he'd named it "Body Armor". From here on it will be referred to as "Murph" in honor of the focused warrior and great American who wanted nothing more in life than to serve this great country and the beautiful people who make it what it is.

Partition the pull-ups, push-ups, and squats as needed. Start and finish with a mile run. If you've got a twenty pound vest or body armor, wear it."

Post: #43

I've heard the movie is heartbreaking. The book was. I hope I get to see it here in the theater.

Post: #44

(01-14-2014 01:35 PM)MidniteSpecial Wrote:  I learned about this story when my buddy came back from Iraq. It was probably 2006 and he had me do this work out with him. Y'all should try it.

""Murph"

For time:
1 mile Run
100 Pull-ups
200 Push-ups
300 Squats
1 mile Run

In memory of Navy Lieutenant Michael Murphy, 29, of Patchogue, N.Y., who was killed in Afghanistan June 28th, 2005.

This workout was one of Mike's favorites and he'd named it "Body Armor". From here on it will be referred to as "Murph" in honor of the focused warrior and great American who wanted nothing more in life than to serve this great country and the beautiful people who make it what it is.

Partition the pull-ups, push-ups, and squats as needed. Start and finish with a mile run. If you've got a twenty pound vest or body armor, wear it."

Really tough workout. When I see it on the board I think "damn..."

Post: #45

(01-12-2014 11:05 PM)Frontenac Wrote:  I think the biggest lesson from the movie is that you can be a great shot, or have the best equipment, etc. but the greatest quality someone could have is the determination not to quit or give up, regardless of what happens.

There is a great life lesson there, especially if you are ever in a self-defense situation.

For example, one of the central tenets of Krav Maga is developing a "fighting spirit." No matter your exhaustion level or the number of opponents, you fight on. That is drilled into you in every class. Even fellow class members will get on your case, if you are seen as slacking in that area. The military takes it to a whole other level, God bless 'em.

I look forward to seeing the movie.

Post: #46

(01-16-2014 10:39 AM)Fisto Wrote:  I've heard the movie is heartbreaking. The book was. I hope I get to see it here in the theater.

Yeah, the movie was really sad. The battle scene was really well done.

I have two criticisms:

1) They went a little too far with artistic license. There were two or three things that definitely did not happen, according to the book. I won't give them away though.

2) They didn't delve into who these guys were as people. The movie starts right out at Bagram and then 10 minutes later they are up in the Hindu Kush.

Overall I would give it 3 out of 4 stars.

Post: #47

(01-18-2014 06:46 AM)renotime Wrote:  

(01-16-2014 10:39 AM)Fisto Wrote:  I've heard the movie is heartbreaking. The book was. I hope I get to see it here in the theater.

Yeah, the movie was really sad. The battle scene was really well done.

I have two criticisms:

1) They went a little too far with artistic license. There were two or three things that definitely did not happen, according to the book. I won't give them away though.

2) They didn't delve into who these guys were as people. The movie starts right out at Bagram and then 10 minutes later they are up in the Hindu Kush.

Overall I would give it 3 out of 4 stars.

Yeah a couple things happened differently that in the book, but it didn't ruin the experience.

The fact you didn't go over the background of the characters is the reason why books will always be better than their movie counterparts.

Post: #48

My son returned from A-stan this morning at 03:00, and it is the first time I have heard his voice in 9 months. It was great to see him walking tall and with his unit. They were stationed at a small base and worked with SF for 9 months. In fact, I am still at a hotel on the military base, and everyone is catching a few winks.

One thing my son wanted to do today is go and see that movie. He had seen it a few months ago, and he wanted us to see it. So I went. I purposely WOULD NOT see the movie until he was out of country and back here in the states. Even so, I had a hard time watching it. That was a horrible spot, and it was a tough situation. You have to feel for Marcus Lattrell, those men and the villagers. What a world we live in....

Thank you, veterans here, for your service and your sacrifices. I am truly honored to be here with you.

Post: #49

Tell him welcome home!

Post: #50

Saw the movie this week, it was excellent. Think I'm gonna have to put the book on my list.

The thing I most take away from this story is that it shows that there are still strong masculine examples with lessons to incorporate even today.

The sheer determination and dedication these guys showed to each other- fighting hard while so grievously wounded, Gulab acting against all calculations of self-interest- it was all something straight out of Henry V.

There may not be a whole lot of contemporary masculine examples to attempt to live up to, but they are still out there.