Tag Archives: Vietnam War

Allen West : The Lessons of History – National Review Online

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AWHannity

by Allen West via National Review Online

Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
— George Santayana

We should study history not just to memorize dates and places but to analyze trends. I see our country once again following a particular disturbing trend at a critical time when we should be more prudent.

Now, I will be one of the first to say that we can find savings of taxpayer dollars in the Department of Defense budget. Before I was sworn in as a member of Congress, I stated on Meet the Press in the waning months of 2010 that we could find fraud, waste, and abuse in that budget.

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I backed up that assertion in April 2011 when my first piece of legislation, which identified and eliminated funding for several wasteful programs in the DOD budget, made it to the House floor. It passed 393–0, and the savings to the American taxpayer was $35 million per year.

However, what I see occurring now is not judicious cost-cutting but the degradation of our military capability. We are once again forgetting that the preeminent responsibility of the federal government is to “provide for the common defense.” Some people have confused this with providing welfare and guaranteeing happiness on the notion of limitless rights.

Since World War I, we as a nation have viewed any end of major combat operations as an opportunity to achieve fiscal responsibility through cutting the military budget. When World War II ended, we ramped down, and then we had to ramp back up for the Korean War. After the Vietnam War and the Cold War, we once again gutted our military capability.

I was commissioned as a second lieutenant on July 31, 1982, and the following year, after graduating from the University of Tennessee, I went on active duty. I witnessed the transformation of the U.S. military in my early years: Humvees, Bradleys, Abrams tanks, Apache attack helicopters, Blackhawk transport helicopters, and Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) artillery, the A-10 close-air support platform — all this new technology and equipment was instrumental in my first combat tour, Operation Desert Shield/Storm.

We were highly trained and ready for action thanks to our soldiers’ preparation at places like the National Training Center in the California desert. But after the victory came the reduction in forces, and defense cuts became the source of funds for government spending on other programs, such as midnight basketball.

In those days, we did not have enough small-arms ammunition for rifle qualification. We had to carefully budget our annual allocation of artillery rounds, so we did more dry-fire operations. The shortage of spare parts and tools made maintenance operations very intense. But the one thing we could not control was that the world was growing yet more dangerous. The enemy pays attention to our weakness, and they have a vote.

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Allen West “Today, we remember and salute all those who selflessly risked their lives – or lost their lives”

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vietnam

by Allen West via Facebook

Many across our nation are commemorating today as the 50th anniversary of the start of the Vietnam War. It was a protracted conflict, with US involvement spanning 1950 to 1973. Over 2 million US warriors served in uniform in Vietnam – including my older brother, who was wounded at Khe Sanh. The conflict took the lives of 58,148 American troops.

But it was a war our government did not have as a goal to win.

Today, we remember and salute all those who selflessly risked their lives – or lost their lives, “all gave some, some gave all.” And we must ensure we never commit our American warriors into harm’s way without the full support of our nation, clear objectives from the government that sends them, and a resolute Commander-in-Chief who will stand by them, not political interests.

May I recommend to all reading this post to read the book, “We were Soldiers Once and Young” or watch the movie this weekend, and remember while those young men and women went into the jungles, there were some who never allowed them back into their hearts.

Op-Ed Allen West Has the Courage and Backbone to Stand Behind His Beliefs – Digital Journal

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By Burton Wiborg  Nov 22, 2012 for Digital Journal

Though straight-forward and rough around the edges, Lt. Col. and Congressman Allen West lives for patriotism and defending the Constitution of the United States.

Allen West has fought the good fight. He has dedicated his life for the good of this country and deserves some recognition for it.

Born February 7, 1961, Allen Bernard West was born in Atlanta, Georgia to Herman and Elizabeth West. His father and older brother were both military officers, his father serving in World War ll and his brother in the Vietnam War, while his mother was a civilian employee of the United States Marine Corps.

Although West’s parents were registered Democrats, they raised him to be conservative-minded, and to ‘scorn the thought of a handout’ he claims. His upbringing would be the result of his life long devotion to the preservation of liberty and freedom.

Throughout his life West has been actively engaged in military service for his country. On November 1, 1983, he entered active duty in the U.S. Army at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he attended Field Artillery Officer Basic Course. He then went to Fort Benning, Georgia for airborne training. His first assignment was an airborne infantry company fire support team leader and battalion training officer in the 325 Airborne Battalion Combat Team. He was promoted to Captain in 1987 and attended the Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course.

After his training, West commanded Bravo Battery in the 1st Infantry Division, 6th Field Artillery Regiment and was a Battalion Task Force fire support officer for 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment. During his 1st Infantry assignment he was deployed to Kuwait for Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.

After West’s tour in the Middle East, he served as an ROTC instructor at Kansas State University from 1991 to 1994. West was assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division Support Command in January 1995 as the Assistant Operations/Combat Plans Officer. He was promoted to Major during that time and selected for attendance to the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College where he graduated in 1997. Later he became the Operations Officer of the 18th Field Artillery Brigade, then an assignment as the Executive Officer of the 1st Battalion, 377th Field Artillery Regiment. After completing these assignments, West was assigned to the II Marine Expeditionary Force in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, chosen to serve as an Army exchange officer to this headquarters from 1999 to 2002.

West’s high point in his career was as Battalion Commander of the 2nd Battalion 20th Field Artillery, 4th Infantry Division starting on June 6, 2002.

COMPLETE THIS ARTICLE BY CLICKING HERE: DIGITAL JOURNAL

Congressman Allen West – Weekly Wrap Up 5/29/12

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Dear Patriot,

Greetings to our Constituents, fellow Floridians, and all Americans. As I sit and write this, I am reflecting on Memorial Day 2012, which also happens to be the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Vietnam War, where my older brother served and was wounded at Khe Sahn.

The weather has been so nice here in South Florida and my concern is that many Americans did not stop to reflect upon what makes our nation such a free and exceptional Constitutional Republic during their holiday festivities. Many citizens have the day off, but the question is whether they remember those who gave “the last full measure of devotion?”

In memoriam:

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us? Then I said, Here am I. Send Me!”- Isaiah 6:8

“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends”. – John 15:13

When I reflect on all of the men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice for America since the battle at Lexington and Concord all the way up until today, those two Bible verses come to mind. What manner of person answers the call to service and leaves behind the comforts of their loved ones and homes to protect our beloved America?

Those who serve their country represent the best among us. They are the brothers and sisters with whom I, and many others, have had the privilege and honor to stand beside. They are our true heroes for whom we find a sense of impeccable pride when we remember their faithful sacrifice.

Two hundred years ago, America fought her second War of Independence, the War of 1812. In that war, we were blessed to have written the words which every American should know by heart, “The Star Spangled Banner:”

Oh say can you see, by the dawn’s early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilights last gleaming
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming
And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there
Oh say does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Let us remember the men at Fort McHenry. During that bombardment,  these brave men ensured that our flag, the standard of liberty, freedom, and democracy, continued to stand. Let us remember that we are indeed the “Land of the Free” because we have always been and shall forever be the “Home of the Brave.”

Before I go, I want to leave with you a special video, “Here’s to the Heroes, a Military Tribute” as sung by the Ten Tenors, view it here.

It is no surprise this video has already received more than 1.8 million views!

Requiem en pace, Frater et Soror.

Steadfast and Loyal,

WATCH THE VIDEO OF REP ALLEN WEST RECOGNIZE FALLEN SOLDIERS IN NON COMBAT SITUATIONS:

CLICK HERE

READ MORE AT west.house.gov 

Rep Allen West “Never Forgotten:1,366 Photos of Florida’s Vietnam War Heroes Still Needed”

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The people of the state of Florida suffered among the greatest number of losses in the Vietnam War, sacrificing 1,954 service-men and women in combat. The Vietnam Memorial Fund’s (VVMF) mission to honor these heroes continues with the National Call for Photos, a movement to collect photos of the more than 58,000 service-members inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) in Washington, DC. When collected, all photos will be displayed for generations to come at The Education Center at The Wall, a place on our National Mall where our military heroes’ stories and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

With the support of schools, volunteers, friends, and family from around the country, VVMF has collected more than 25,000 pictures to date, including 588 from the state of Florida.

With a groundbreaking planned for November 2012, The Education Center at The Wall is a multi-million dollar, state-of- the-art visitor’s center and learning facility to be built on the grounds of the Vietnam Veterans and the Lincoln Memorials. Visitors will better understand the profound impact the Vietnam War had their friends and family members, their home towns, and the Nation. The Education Center will feature the faces of the 58,272 men and women on “The Wall,” and will forever honor those who fell in Vietnam. Those who fought and returned, as well as the friends and families of all who served and perished will have their stories shared. For more information, visit www.buildthecenter.org

How to Submit a Photo

If you have a picture of a loved one or fellow veteran whose name is on The Wall, please help the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund honor these individuals by putting a face with their name.  You may use either of the following methods to submit your photograph:

Submit Online

If you have a digital copy of the photograph, you can upload the photograph at http://vvmf.org/submit_other.

Mail a copy of your photograph

Make a copy of your photo.  VVMF does not want original photos and cannot be responsible for returning photos.  When having the photo copied, ask the photo professional to make it the highest quality possible, use a glossy finish and reproduce the photo at an 8 x 10 size, if possible. Be sure to include the photo submission form, and please indicate on the front of the envelope that a photo is enclosed.  Mail to:

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund 

 Attn: Call for Photos

 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 104

 Washington, D.C. 20037

For more information about how to add a photograph to the collection, please contact VVMF at (202) 393-0090 or via email at mjohnson@vvmf.org.

Vietnam Veteran Edward Ayers 3 purple hearts as well as the Republic of Vietnam Service Medal

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Uploaded by on Jan 12, 2012  Produced by Shark Tank Media, LLC

By Javier Manjarres

Prior to the beginning of Congressman Allen West’s monthly townhall meeting in Fort Lauderdale FL, West presented to Vietnam veteran Edward Ayers all of the service medals that he had originally received while serving in Vietnam but then lost.  The medals included three purple hearts as well as the Republic of Vietnam Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.