reply to post by KSPigpen
KS, I can honestly say that of all our conflicts, close support was never, ever a problem in Vietnam.
We were always under an umbrella of artillery, and it was spot on and very quick. (those arty boys knew we'd be coming back, and they BETTER be spot
on)
The other thing we had was a large contingent of helicopters that were always nearby, and usually had some in the air supporting our moves.
This is one area that I don't understand in the ME.
This is not the first time that support has been lacking. Off the top of my head, I recall three patrols of Marines who couldn't get support all day
long during a running gunfight.
Rangers at (I believe was Takr Fahr) couldn't get support either, and a number were killed and one bled out. The bit of support they DID get were
fast movers, who tried, but are distinctly unsuited for ground support.
If the damned Air Force can't provide air support reliably and ON TIME, then for God's sake, give the C-130 gunships and the A-10's to the Army and
Marines - the guys who NEED and USE close support.
And any dumbass commander who sends his men out without SOMETHING on call, should be shot.
In civilian life, this would be called reckless homicide. HOW can a commander do such a thing?
How can you not have covering fire? How can no support be available in a timely manner?
This drives me absolutely NUTS!
I guarantee you, had a general been on site, there'd have been half the air support circling the entire time he had his boots on the ground.
[edit on 14-10-2009 by dooper]