Category: Soldiering
Louis Cukela earned the Medal of Honor—as well as a chestfull of other awards for heroism—on World War I’s Western Front. But the ethnic-Serbian Leatherneck is best remembered for his unconventional and humorous behavior, which included a knack for butchering the English language.
The smaller of the naval services enjoys a reputation for attracting eccentrics to its muster rolls. The historical literature of the early 20th-century Marine Corps is rich with names like Hikin’ Hiram (Hiram Bearss), Johnny the Hard (John Hughes), Diamond Lou (Lou Diamond), and Old Gimlet Eye (Smedley Butler). None of the sea stories surrounding these characters, however, matches the exploits of Louie Cukela during the World War I era and interwar years. Much of what has been written about him fails to survive the close scrutiny of official records, but enough remains to support the contention that he was one of the most unusual characters to wear forest green during those eras.
Official documents that record his birthplace remain confusing. Although always referring to his ethnicity as Serbian, Louis Cukela (pronounced coo-KAY-la) was born on 1 May 1888 in Split, or Spalato, in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea’s Dalmatian coast. Cukela’s ethnicity sometimes appeared on muster rolls and other official documents as Austrian or Croatian, but more often he was listed as Serbian. After completing two-year courses at both the Merchants Academy and the Royal Gymnasium, he immigrated to the United States in 1913 and settled in Minneapolis with his brother. Cukela’s mother had died in 1900, and he left his father and three sisters in Split. Claims that he studied for the priesthood and then served as a warrant officer in the Serbian Army before being cashiered as a result of a duel with a fellow officer cannot be supported by any records extant. Like so much of the Cukela legend, they are probably sea stories copied faithfully by a succession of journalists and historians.
From Soldier to Marine
On 21 September 1914, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served with Company H, 13th Infantry at Camp McGrath near Batangas in the Philippines. Informed that his father had been taken prisoner by the Austrian Army and the rest of the family had fled to the hills, he obtained his discharge by purchase on 12 June 1916. Supposedly, Cukela intended to join the Canadian Army to get into the conflagration sweeping Europe. For some reason, however, he enlisted in the Marine Corps on 31 January 1917. He reportedly asked a bemused recruiting sergeant if the sign in the window, which trumpeted “First to Fight,” was true.
Cukela claimed the rank of corporal in the Army and told the recruiter that he spoke and read six languages; fortunately, he did not include English among them. The butchery of his adopted tongue grew increasingly worse as the years passed; he seemed to enjoy the befuddlement it produced among his following of admirers. Decades later, veterans could still recall Cukela’s unique version of the command “squads right about,” in the eight-man squads drill of the day: “Squads rightdo it two times, unt dunt foul it up. Ho-o-ooo!”
After recruit training, Cukela joined the 5th Marines at Quantico. In anticipation of a deployment to France, Major General Commandant George Barnett transferred eight companies of veteran Marines home from the Caribbean to provide backbone and grit to the regiment as it filled out rapidly with high-spirited volunteers possessing little or no military experience. Cukela took no back seat to his grizzled brothers-in-arms, and he sewed on the stripes of a corporal before the 5th Marines sailed to France in June 1917 to join the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF).
While the recruiting sergeant who signed up Cukela might have spoken the truth when assuring him that the Marine Corps was always the “first to fight,” General John J. Pershing, the commander in chief of the AEF, and other senior Army officers took steps to limit participation by the Leathernecks in the fighting in France. Shortly after reviewing the Marines for the first time, Pershing acknowledged their military smartness and lauded their appearance. Nonetheless, he fired off a secret cablegram to the adjutant general of the Army requesting that no more Marines be sent to France; just as forthrightly, he was informed that President Woodrow Wilson had directed the deployment of the remaining elements of an entire brigade of Leathernecks to the AEF. Furthermore, that brigade would be assigned to the 2d Division.
Heroism on French Battlefields
During their first year in France, Cukela and the 5th Marines performed duties behind the lines before deploying to the Verdun sector. Within a month in a combat zone, Cukela had earned a citation from the commanding general of the 2d Division and a Croix de Guerre from the French. On 27 May 1918, the Germans launched their third offensive of that spring. This time, it sent the French forces north of the Aisne River reeling back toward Paris, and by the 31st, the Germans had reached Chteau-Thierry. The 4th Brigade (Marine), AEF, took up a position on 1 June near the southern edge of Belleau Wood—an obscure forest just north of the Paris-Metz highway—with orders to dig in and hold at all costs. On the 5th, the Marines received orders to clear the wood of Germans. Between then and 26 June when commanders declared Belleau Wood secure, the Marines suffered a total of 4,710 killed or wounded—a casualty rate of almost 50 percent.
Cukela, newly promoted to gunnery sergeant of the 66th Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines led his platoon through the tangled underbrush as they used mostly bayonets, rifle butts, and grenades to wipe out machine-gun nests. Cukela was recommended for the Medal of Honor, but “Black Jack” Pershing and the staff of the AEF turned down the citation. Incredibly, they failed to award Cukela a lesser decoration, such as the Distinguished Service Cross or Silver Star.
Even as the Germans abandoned their offensive, the Allies planned to counterattack in hopes of cutting the main highway from Soissons to Chteau-Thierry. The Leathernecks moved into a pocket south of Soissons in preparation for clearing the Foret de Retz and the fields around Vierzy. In two days of bitter fighting the Marine brigade wiped out rifle pits and machine-gun nests to clear the contested terrain.
Louie Cukela was in the forefront of the fighting. Just as a friendly barrage of artillery fire lifted early on 18 July, murderous machine-gun fire tore into the ranks of the Leathernecks deployed in the Fort de Retz. Cukela struck out alone in front of his platoon, ignoring warnings from his comrades. Advancing from the flank, he used his bayonet to wipe out the crew of one machine-gun emplacement. Then, Cukela threw captured grenades to drive terrified Germans from a second strongpoint. Singlehandedly, he captured four Germans and two machine-gun nests. This time, AEF headquarters concurred in the recommendation for the award of the Medal of Honor, but inexplicably gave him both the Army Medal of Honor and the Navy Medal of Honor for the same act of heroism.
Cukela later fought in the St. Mihiel offensive, the epic assault on Blanc Mont, and the Meuse-Argonne offensive. He suffered wounds at St. Mihiel and Blanc Mont, but his regimental surgeon considered them so minor that they were never entered in either his medical record or officer’s qualification jacket.
The Marine Corps, meanwhile, offered the fearless Leatherneck a battlefield commission, effective 26 September 1918. The brigade surgeon noted at Cukela’s precommissioning physical that the intrepid Marine, continuing to march to his own drummer, was infected with gonorrhea. Somewhere he obtained a smartly tailored officer’s uniform, and he then trimmed his Central Europeanstyle mustache to a square brush cut that became a fixture for the rest of his life.
At about that time, he coined a phrase that became famous throughout the AEF. Upset with the performance of a subordinate, Cukela was apt to mutter, “When I vant to send a damn fool, I send myself.” The phrase caught fire with the American forces in France, and before long everyone was using it; supposedly, Pershing himself was overheard rebuking a subordinate with it.
Cukela continued to serve with the 5th Marines for the rest of the war and occupation duties in Germany. On 15 July 1920, he embarked on a troopship for home. Besides the Medal of Honor, he wore the Army’s Silver Star. France awarded him the Legion of Honor, two Croix de Guerre with Palms, another Croix de Guerre with Silver Star, and the Military Medal. Italy presented Cukela the War Merit Cross, and Yugoslavia awarded him the Commander’s Cross of the Royal Order of the Crown of Yugoslavia. Cukela would soon obtain unique and flashy ribbons for his medals. When asked, he coyly refused to divulge his source for the unauthorized materials, and no one demonstrated the temerity to question his blatant disregard for the uniform regulations.
From Demotion to Promotion in the Regular Marines
Back home, Cukela almost immediately fell victim to a draconian plan to trim the lineal list of officers from its wartime high of more than 2,400 (at the beginning of the war, the Corps counted only 341 commissioned officers). Named after its chairman, Colonel John Russell, the Russell Board recommended discharge for some reserve officers and a return to the enlisted ranks for others among the meritorious noncommissioned officers who had been elevated to officer rank during the war.
The results precipitated shock and outrage throughout the Marine Corps, especially when it was learned that Russell had advised the board to “bear in mind that they would be selecting the young officers that they would be inviting into their quarters and whom their daughters might marry.” Disappointed officers and outraged critics contended that the Russell Board had used its power to maintain the dominance of the Marine Corps by the effete intellectuals from Annapolis.
While recommending that Cukela retain his reserve commission, the Russell Board demoted him from first lieutenant to second lieutenant. A second board, convened in 1921 to address the controversy surrounding the Russell Board, restored the ranks of veteran tropical campaigners and those who had distinguished themselves under fire in France.
The panel recommended Cukela for promotion to first lieutenant in the regular Marine Corps, thus shielding him from further attempts to “pluck” the lineal list. Brigadier General Smedley D. Butler, the most vociferous critic of the Russell Board, cited the case of Louie Cukela to support his contention that veteran campaigners should lead the Marine Corps: “To be sure his table manners are not good, but it was my impression that we were not running a knitting society.”
Caribbean Adventures and Misadventures
Meanwhile, on 1 November 1919, Cukela joined the 1st Brigade in Haiti. Soon after arriving, he shared a pithy opinion with a promising second lieutenant. Cukela thought the custom of garrisoning the towns with Marines an utter waste of time; instead, they should take to the hills in a large force to aggressively pursue the Cacos, or Haitian insurgents. To the aggressive young officer, Cukela’s logic made sense; Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller never forgot the advice.
Shortly after arriving in Haiti, Cukela underwent his physical examination for promotion to first lieutenant, and the results indicated he was still marching to his own drummer. The brigade medical officer noted that while Cukela had been cured of gonorrhea he had meanwhile contracted syphilis.
While Cukela was deployed in the Caribbean, an incident far more serious than any lapses of judgment while in the quest for horizontal refreshment almost resulted in the end of his career. The lieutenant’s brigade commander charged that Cukela had personally executed three Haitian detainees. A medical officer, who examined Cukela just after the alleged incident, reported him highly agitated and smelling strongly of alcohol. Furthermore, he was well known for his predilection to personally execute captured Cacos. While the ensuing investigation cleared him of any wrongdoing, the Major General Commandant simply removed Cukela from the potentially damaging scene by transferring him to the 2d Brigade in the Dominican Republic.
The investigation did provide an amusing postscript, however. Cukela underwent two mental examinations during the inquiry, and the doctors who conducted them pronounced him sane. For the remainder of his career, he would respond to anyone who muttered, “Cukela, you’re crazy!” with “I’m crazy? I have proof that I’m sane; do you have such proof?” Then, the unabashed Cukela would produce the medical documents attesting to his sanity.
The Corps’ Eccentric Captain
In October 1923, Cukela left the Dominican Republic for duty at Quantico; he had earned a promotion to captain on 1 July 1921 on a lineal list that only moved when another officer senior to you was promoted, dismissed, retired, or died. Cukela took command of a company in the 5th Marines and quickly earned a reputation for his capable, if not bizarre, style of leadership. Marines of the era recalled with wry amusement Cukela’s unique response to a parade held in honor of the Secretary of the Navy.
Just as the troops assembled on the parade ground, the regiment’s fussy adjutant conducted a walk-by inspection. Spotting Cukela not wearing a single medal, he rebuked him for failing to comply with the order prescribing the parade uniform. Cukela turned the formation over to a lieutenant and returned to his quarters to appear in accordance with the adjutant’s instructions. Shortly thereafter, Cukela returned, and on-lookers that day at Quantico recalled with relish the scene for a generation. Cukela wore only one medal around his neck, the Commander’s Cross of the Royal Order of the Crown of Yugoslavia (supposedly the size of a salad plate). He had pinned the rest of his medals on the saddle blanket of the horse he was leading. Cukela took a position in front of his company and then, poker-faced, led it past the reviewing stand.
On the domestic front, Cukela finally met his match, marrying Minnie Myrtle Strayer after his return to Quantico. Reportedly, she was the only person capable of taming his wild impulses. Marines of the era recalled that the Cukelas would always be the last to leave the numerous parties or receptions, command performances for officers of the time. Then, Minnie and Louie would load all of the leftover party foods into their car. Stopping at the guard house, they would unload the booty for the pleasure of the Marines on duty. While Minnie arranged for the buffet, Louie would entertain the members of the guard with his endless number of sea stories.
Other legends survive from the long period Cukela commanded a company based at Quantico. During a field exercise with Army troops in Panama, he led his company behind the lines to infiltrate the local garrison of the opposition force. Once inside, he banged on the door of the commanding general’s quarters with the butt of his .45 pistol. Rousted from his slumber by the aggressive Leatherneck, the pajama-clad general was advised politely but firmly that he and his command were prisoners; Cukela wanted a breakfast of ham and eggs for his men.
Assigned to attend the Army Infantry Officers School at Fort Benning, Cukela was asked to provide a solution to a tactics problem. “Charge,” he roared. When the perplexed major teaching the class tried patiently to explain the “school solution” to the complicated maneuver, Cukela shouted: “I Cukela! Charge!” Pointing to his decorations, he added, “How do you think I get these?”
Even though the school emphasized infantry tactics, its instructors expected every student officer to know how to ride a horse. Reportedly, Cukela did not take well to riding. One day, his mount took off on a gallop toward Alabama and nothing Cukela attempted seemed to deter it. Shouts of “Stop horse!” accomplished nothing. Cukela resorted to force. Striking the horse on the head with a balled-up fist, it sank to its knees. Dismounting, Cukela eyed the dazed horse at eye-level: “I am Cukela; you are horse. I tell you to stop, you stop. You not stop, I give you hit break your head.”
During the period in which he deployed from San Diego to China with the 3d Brigade, he found himself in command of the rifle-range detail for a batch of recruits. Disappointed in their performance, Cukela instructed them to clear their weapons and turn in all of the unused ammunition. Then he ordered “fix bayonets.” The stunned drill instructors and confused recruits heard an angry Cukela shout, “So you can’t shoot straight; now we will do it another way.” He then led them in a wild charge straight for the targets.
During the Great Depression, Cukela commanded one of the Civilian Conservation Corps’ camps. His service record notes only an assignment to Fort Knox, so the posting must have been somewhere in Kentucky. After a two-year stint, he returned to the Marine Corps. During his final years on active duty, Cukela served at both the barracks at the Washington Navy Yard and Norfolk. By 1939, just as World War II erupted in Europe, he had advanced to number 3 on the list of captains. A year later, the Major General Commandant ordered him retired with the rank of major. By then, the indefatigable Cukela had served a total of 25 years, 1 month, and 25 days as a Marine.
Comical to the End
As the war threatened to draw in America, however, Cukela was brought back for active duty. Although the old warrior asked for field duty, his age precluded any such assignment; instead, he served as a quartermaster at the Navy yards in Norfolk and Philadelphia during the war and then accepted retirement again on 17 May 1945. He served just a few days shy of 32 years of combined service in the Army and Marine Corps.
Cukela’s eccentric behavior during World War II survived a telling and retelling. Encountering a pair of Marines as he mounted the stairs to his office, he asked one of them, “Do you know who I am?”
“No, sir,” came the reply.
“Dumb; don’t know nothin’,” Cukela growled.
Asking the second Marine the same question, Cukela received the correct answer: “Sir, you’re Major Cukela,” to which he replied, “Wise guy; think you know everythin’.”
Because of the rationing of gasoline, Cukela took to riding a bicycle around the post. But he never learned to ride it very well and could not manage to return a salute while controlling his bicycle with just one hand. Marines relished the result when they would walk blocks out of their way to watch Cukela tumble off his bicycle while returning their salutes. Thus he promulgated an order directing that no one was to salute him while he was on his bicycle.
After he suffered a stroke in 1955, one event occurred just as if the eccentric warrior had planned it himself. As he lay dying at the Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, no less an icon than Lieutenant General Chesty Puller paid him a visit. Even in his weakened condition, Cukela recognized Puller but addressed his distinguished visitor as “lieutenant.”
Cukela complained to Puller that he thought he was dying. Puller replied, “It’s all right, old man. You’re going to Valhalla, where all good Marines go.” Cukela lingered on before dying on 19 March 1956.
I’m biased so shut up
Strangling a taliban leader by sneaking into their compound at night alone
Narrowly avoiding death 4 times
Exposing yourself in a Taliban ambush to draw attention away from your boys
Running directly into enemy fire, neutralizing the enemy for your team to escape, being killed while doing so
With many more honorable actions to mention, I present to you
The Australian SASR
Categories
The Battle of Rorke’s Drift
It was the greatest stand in British military history.
Frederic Augustus Thesiger, Second Baron Chelmsford, was promoted to major general in March 1877, and appointed to command British forces in South Africa with the temporary rank of lieutenant general in February 1878.
In January of 1889, Henry Bartle Frere [1], a personal friend of Thesiger, engineered a war against the Zulu nation, then led by King Cetshwayo, previously a associate of the British Empire by treaty. Consequently, Lord Chelmsford initiated a military expedition against the Zulu nation. On 22 January 1879, a large Zulu army attacked Chelmsford’s force at Isandlwana, overwhelming the British and destroying Chelmsford’s central (albeit separated) military column. The attack was unexpected and the worst defeat of the British Army by native forces in the entire history of the British Empire.
On 11 January 1879, Company B, 2ndBattalion, 24th(2ndWarwickshire) Regiment of foot, under the command of Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead was detailed to garrison a post along the Buffalo River abutting the Zulu borderland. The post had been turned into a supply depot and hospital under the overall command of Brevet Major Henry Spalding of the 104thFoot, a member of Chelmsford’s staff.
On 20 January, Chelmsford’s central (Number 3) column marched six miles further east, leaving Company B in charge of the garrison at Rorke’s Drift (in the local language, known as Jim’s land), a Christian mission station and the trading post of James Rorke, an Irish merchant. A company of the 2ndNatal Native Contingent (NCC) under Captain William Stevenson was detailed to remain at the post to reinforce Company B. The NCC company numbered about 100 locally recruited militia. Later that evening, a contingent of Number 2 Colum under Brevet Colonel Anthony Dumford (Royal Engineers) arrived and camped along the river bank, where it remained through the next day.
Late in the evening of the next day (21 January), Dumford was ordered to Isandlwana, along with a small detachment of British Engineers under the command of Lieutenant John Chard. Chard’s mission was to repair the pontoon bridge over the Buffalo River. Chard rode ahead of his detachment to Isandlwana to clarify his orders, but was sent back to Rorke’s Drift with only a wagon and its driver to construct a defense for the expected reinforcement of a company of infantry. En route, he passed Dumford’s column going in the opposite direction.
Sometime around noon on 22 January, Major Spalding departed the station for Helpmekaar to ascertain the whereabouts of Company G, which was overdue in its arrival. He left Chard in command. Not long after, two members of the NCC arrived at Rorke’s Drift with news of the defeat at Isandlwana. Chard and Bromhead were informed that a large force of Zulu warriors was not far behind. Together with Acting Assistant Commissary James Dalton, Chard and Bromhead decided that given their few wagons and the number of hospital patients at the mission, it would be best to stand and defend rather than to attempt a cross country withdrawal.
Chard, as senior officer with Bromhead serving as second in command, ordered preparations to defend the station. Working quickly, a defensive perimeter was constructed out of sacks of maize and wooden biscuit boxes. The perimeter included the storehouse, the hospital, and a stout stone cattle enclosure. The buildings were fortified with firing holes; external doors were barricaded with furniture.
Around 1530 on 22 January, a mixed troops of Natal Native Horse (NNH) arrived under Lieutenant Alfred Henderson, having withdrawn from Isandlwana in good order. Henderson volunteered to picket the far side of Rorke’s Drift, a large hill that overlooked the station and from the expected avenue of approach of Zulu forces. Chard was now in charge of around 400 men: Bromhead’s 104-man company, Stevenson’s NNC, and Henderson’s NNH troop, with a mixed bag of others (most of whom were hospitalized patients but regarded as walking-wounded). A trooper of horse was sent to warn the garrison at Helpmekaar.
Chard believing that his force was sufficient to defend Rorke’s Drift, posted British soldiers around the perimeter, adding among them, hospitalized casuals and available civilians. The NCC, armed mostly with spears, were posted outside the perimeter but within the stone-walled corral. When the Zulu finally appeared, Chard must have been aghast at their numbers: between 4 to 6,000 men, none of whom had been involved in the assault at Isandlwana. It was a reserve force commanded by King Cetshwayo’s brother, Prince Dabulamanzl kaMpande. By the time Dabulamanzl reached Rorke’s Drift, at around 1630, they had quick-marched some 20 miles in eight hours.
The Zulu were armed with a short spear and shield made from cowhide. As a force, they were tactically proficient and strategically efficient. Some of the Zulus had antiquated muskets, but they were ill-trained in the use of this weapon and the quality and supply of powder and shot was inadequate. Most warriors preferred the spear, since the use of firearms was regarded as cowardly. Nevertheless, Dabulamanzl was a rash and overly aggressive commander. He disregarded Cetshwayo’s directive to act “in defense of Zululand” against the British. He was specifically told not to carry the war across the border of Zululand, which would have included Rorke’s Drift on the opposite side of the Buffalo River.
The follow sequence of events then transpired, this according to author Jonathon Mayo [2].
- The Zulu were formidable, well-disciplined, and adept in hand to hand fighting. Their main weapon is the short spear, called “Iklwa” because that’s the sound it makes when pulled from an opponent’s body. As the first Zulu arrive at the Buffalo River, they are fired on by British pickets serving under Lieutenant Henderson. Henderson’s force, intimidated by the large force, make a rapid withdrawal. Henderson shouts his apologies to Chard. When the remaining NNC soldiers at the mission observe their fellows retreating, they leap over the barricades and join them. The men of Company B fire upon the cowards, killing a British corporal.
- Zulu scouts report that the station is weakly defended and full of stores of weapons and food. Dabulamanzl believes that such rich stores will be easy for the taking.
- Chard realizes that the well-prepared perimeter was designed for a force of around 200 men; 100 of these have just ran away, leaving him with a force of only one-hundred. He orders Company B to construct a new barricade behind the previous structure; this will allow him a secondary position, if needed. Private Fred Hitch is sent to the roof of the storehouse as a lookout. At 1630, Hitch announces the arrival of the Zulu force. Lieutenant Chard asks, “How many.” Hitch’s answer, “Between 4,000 and 6,000 sar.” Lieutenant Bromhead answers, “Is that all? We can manage that.”
- 28-year-old Private Henry Hook observes the Zulu speed of approach. It is as if they expect little resistance. He announces their approach to the hospitalized men. Although sick or injured, some of these men ask for weapons so that they can defend themselves. Hook and five casuals are assigned to defend areas so small that “…you could hardly swing a rifle within them.” When the enemy is within 500 yards, Hook and others begin to fire their rifles. The Zulus continue the speed of march (a running trot). They remain completely silent. Within 300 yards, the Zulu force takes shelter behind large boulders on the rise across the Buffalo.
- By 1700, Zulus mass in front and behind the Mission Station. They begin their assault by leaping over a garden wall and charging British positions. Dozens of Zulus in front of the perimeter are killed but are quickly replaced by second and tertiary ranks. The attack continues; Zulus continue to fall, either killed or mortally wounded. Private James Dunbar shoots one of the Zulu leader’s dead; Prince Dabulamanzl takes cover behind a tree only one-hundred yards from the perimeter and directs the ongoing attack from this near-in position.
- By 1715, wave after wave of Zulu were hurtling themselves at the barricades. The length of the British bayonetted rifles provides them with a distinct advantage. Private Hicks descended from the roof of the storehouse to join the fray.
- At 1730, rifled Zulus took up positions to fire upon the British; their weapons were inaccurate at that range and there were no casualties. Commissary James Dalton begins pacing behind the front rank offering calm-voiced encouragement to his men. A Zulu warrior rushed the front rank; Dalton directed fire at the fellow and he was killed. Second later, Dalton was wounded in his shoulder. Calmly handing his rifle to Lieutenant Chard, Dalton is led to the rear for medical attention before Chard is even aware that he’d been injured. Within moments, however, Dalton is back at his post —his calm voice giving confidence to the riflemen. Private Hook later wrote of Dalton, “…the bravest man I ever knew.”
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Artist unknown, discovered via internet search engine By 1800, two British soldiers had been killed with four others wounded. Still, Company B was in grave danger of being overwhelmed by the onslaught of Zulu warriors. Lieutenant Chard ordered his men to take up their secondary positions as the Zulu surround the hospital. At 1820, Privates Hook and Thomas Cole were defending a corner room in the hospital. Hook described the ordeal as being like “trapped rats in a hole.” One of the patients begs hook to remove the bandages from his hands so he can use a rifle. Cole, who is claustrophobic, forces open a door and is immediately killed. The Zulu begin throwing torches on the thatched roof. Hook, with no wish to be burned alive, slips through a door into the next room. His situation has not improved.
- At 1830, chaos reigns within the hospital as the Zulu break down the barricaded doors. Private Joseph Williams and four patients are killed. In the next room, Hook is fighting like a cornered tiger, bayoneting and shooting any Zulu he sees. Private John Williams soon joined Hook, bringing with him a pickaxe. Williams begins to punch a hole in the wall furthest from the attackers. The last patient left alive is Sergeant John Connolly, a large man who suffered a broken leg. Hook crawls through the small hole made by Williams, grabbed Williams by his coat, and pulled him through the small opening. Connolly’s leg is re-broken in the process, but he’s alive. As Hook and Connolly exited the room, Zulus broke into the room and in a fit of rage, attempt to spear Hook through the opening. Hook kills as many as show their faces in the aperture. Again, Williams begins to axe his way through the furthest wall.
- By 1915, Hook, Williams, and the rest of the survivors have reached a room at the far end of the hospital building, closest to their fellows defending the storehouse. The room has a window barely big enough to get a man through. The flames atop the building allow the men to see that they are fifty yards from the storehouse, but the yard is being raked by British and Zulu rifles. The first man out of the window is Private Hunter, promptly killed by a Zulu spear. Lieutenant Chard called for two volunteers to help rescue the Hook party. Private Fred Hitch and Corporal William Allen leap over the barrier and rush to the aid of their comrades; British soldiers provide covering fire. One by one, Hitch and Allen pull the men through the window as Private Hook remained inside killing Zulus with their bayonets. They have run out of ammunition.
- By 2000, all remaining redcoats have escaped from the hospital building and joined their fellows behind the barricades.Zulus butcher what remain of the hospital patients who didn’t get away.
- By 2030, Prince Dabulamanzl’s force is assured of victory. He orders an assault of the storehouse, which is furthest away from the burning building, allowing his men to fight under the cover of darkness. Lieutenant Chard realizes that his position is getting worse by the minute. Company B will not be able to survive if the storehouse falls. He orders his troopers to construct an 8-foot high redoubt from available sacks of maize. The redoubt is constructed within ten minutes and the wounded are carried inside. Now the British soldiers form a protective circle within the redoubt and they begin to deliver accurate fire over the heads of the soldiers firing from the barricade.
- At 2100, the Zulu attack comes to a halt as a force of British appear in the distance from Natal. Reinforcements never arrive, however. The British force can see the burning buildings and, assuming that Company B has been destroyed, retreat back to Natal.
- At midnight on 23 January, the British have been without water for more than eight hours. To relieve their suffering, Chard orders a small detail to retrieve the water cart situated halfway between the ruins of the hospital and the storehouse. Private Henry Block and two others attack the Zulu who remain inside the yard and pull the wagon toward the redoubt and the men are promptly watered.
- By 0100, both sides are exhausted. Zulu attacks are becoming less ferocious—they have had nothing to eat or drink for over 17 hours. Lieutenants Chard and Bromhead have no idea what is going on outside the barricades. It is pitch black. The din of battle has subsided. In turn, the officers climb to the highest part of the redoubt to watch and listen. Chard later reported, “It was an anxious watch.”
- By 0330, excepting an occasional gunshot and a cry from the suffering, the battle area is completely quiet.
- Sunrise came at 0520. As the sun lights the surrounding area, Chard and Bromhead observe that the Zulu have gone. All that remained were pools of blood, dead bodies, broken spears, spent cartridges, and damaged shields. A cloud of smoke hangs over Rorke’s Drift.
- At 0600, Private Hook approached a sentry who stood near the barricade looking across the river. Hook asked, “What are you looking at?” The soldier didn’t respond, so Hook tilted his helmet back. The man has been shot through the head and died at his post.
- At 0700, Chard set his men back to work repairing barricades. Suddenly, a thousand Zulus appear from the southwest and perch themselves on the grass hill overlooking Rorke’s Drift. Chard and Bromhead call their men back behind the barrier, but they are aware that ammunition is perilously short. Another attack will be fatal to Company B.
- 0800 arrived and there had been no activity among the Zulu. After an intense hour, the Zulu arise and begin walking away. Chard and Bromhead are baffled until they observe a column of men approaching in the distance. Private Hook wondered aloud: “Are they friends to relieve us, or more Zulus to destroy us?” They were British mounted rifles. Surgeon Reynolds surmised that the weary Zulu had no desire to clash with fresh troops.
It had been a long day. Lieutenant Chard was refreshing himself with the water from the Buffalo River when Lord Chelmsford [3] approached him. The general was emotional in thanking Company B for their heroic service under insufferable circumstances. The biscuit boxes that saved Company B were opened and the men finally fed. A barrel of rum is shared among the men. Private Hook, who doesn’t drink … changed his mind on this one occasion.
The Zulu situation was equally dire: they had been on the move for six days; had not eaten for two. Within their ranks were hundreds of wounded and they were several days away from any supply. Of killed in action were 351 confirmed deaths, but this number may have increased to 500. The British relief force did not spare the wounded Zulu; additional deaths may have resulted from among the wounded carried away by the main body of Zulu warriors.
British losses were 17 killed, 15 wounded.
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the most prestigious award in the British honors system. Created on 29 January 1856, its recipients are cited for gallantry in the presence of the enemy. Since established, only 1,358 brave men have received this award. Eleven of these men distinguished themselves in this one battle.
The names of these men are:
Lieutenant John Rouse Merriott Chard, 5thField Company, Royal Engineers
Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead, Company B, 2nd/24thFoot
Corporal William Wilson Allen, Company B, 2nd/24thFoot
Private Frederick Hitch, Company B, 2nd/24thFoot
Private Alfred Henry Hook, Company B, 2nd/24thFoot
Private Robert Jones, Company B, 2nd/24thFoot
Private William Jones, Company B, 2nd/24thFoot
Private John Williams, Company B, 2nd/24thFoot
Surgeon Major James Henry Reynolds, Army Medical Department
Acting Assistant Commissary James Langley Dalton, Commissariat and Transport Department
Corporal Christian Ferdinand Schiess, 2ndNatal Native Contingent
Endnotes:
[1] 1815-1884, British colonial administrator, who enjoyed a successful career in India, became the governor of Bombay. As high commissioner for Southern Africa, Frere, he implemented a policy which attempted to impose a British confederation in the region that led to a series of regional wars, culminating in the invasion of Zululand and the First Boar War (1879-1881). British Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone recalled Frere to London to face charges of misconduct. He was eventually censured for his reckless behavior while in the service of Queen Victoria.
[2] Author of Titanic Minute by Minute, this section obtained from the Daily Mail, 15 January 2019.
[3] The British Government was not happy with Chelmsford’s performance as a field commander. The foreign office issued orders for his relief but the delay in securing his replacement left him in command, which in turn led to the Zulu War. Chelmsford finally handed over command to Wolseley on 15 July at the fort at St. Paul’s, leaving South Africa by ship for England two days later. Despite of his incompetence, Chelmsford was honored as a Knight Grand Cross of Bath —even though he was severely criticized by a subsequent inquiry initiated by the British Army into the events that had led to the Isandlwana debacle. Lord Chelmsford would not again serve in the field.
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Some Red Hot Gospel there!
Practically every soldier I have written about, I have made them airborne, and sent them to the 82nd Airborne Division. I have said that they are a cut above – elite, and they are. I will continue to recommend to anyone, man or woman, considering enlisting in the Army to take the “airborne option”. Some may say that the 82nd is simply a Light Infantry Division that jumps out of airplanes, once on the ground they work the same way as any other light infantry division.
The 82nd is just better trained because they are always on alert. No, once on the ground, they work differently. I have previously written about the trust and confidence the US Army has in individual soldiers. Nowhere is that more prominent than in the airborne units. The Airborne community has a sacred term – LGOPS (Little Groups of Paratroopers).
One the first things a Paratrooper is taught is the Rule of LGOPs. The story goes something like this: On the drop zone there is chaos; collections of around ten Paratroopers form. They are well trained, highly motivated 18-25 year-olds who are armed to the teeth, lack effective adult supervision, and remember the Commander’s intent as, “March towards the sound of the guns and kill anyone not dressed like you,” or something close to that. Happily they go about their work.
In July 1943, the first night mass parachute jump was conducted in Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily. Then Colonel James M Gavin led the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, with the 3rd Battalion, 504th attached. Winds increased to 35 to 45 miles per hour just before the jump, but it was too late to cancel. They were already in the air approaching their drop zones. Planes were blown wildly off course and some gliders crashed.
Less than half of the paratroopers reached their rally points. The troops knew not only their unit mission, they knew the overall mission. When a small group of paratroopers got together they went into action. They cut every telephone line they found, they conducted ambushes and raids, and they accomplished every objective. That is where the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment got their name “Devils in Baggy Pants”. The passage in a German Majors’ diary read; “American parachutists … devils in baggy pants … are less than 100 meters from my outpost line, I can’t sleep at night, they pop up from nowhere and we never know when or how they will strike next. Seems like the black hearted devils are everywhere …”.
In England, in 1944, training for the D-day invasion, the 18th Airborne Corps Commander, Major General Matthew Ridgeway, with the experience of the Italian operations, directed that the 82nd and the 101st Airborne Divisions conduct night jumps, which they did until injuries became too numerous.
Then they trucked the troops out into the training area, at night, and mixed them up. They also had intramural athletics, baseball, basketball, soccer, and flag football, but they couldn’t play unit against unit. They had to be mixed up, such as four players from B Company, 2nd Battalion, four from A Company, 1st Battalion, and four from D Company, 3rd Battalion. The idea was not only to get know troops from other units, but so they would learn to trust each other, because they knew there was a good possibility that the troops would be scattered in the jump.
The D-day invasion was led by the 82nd and the 101st Airborne Divisions, during the night of June 5th, 1944. Drop zones were missed; aircraft full of Troops were shot out of the sky; the fog of war that the US Army Air Corps faced over France directly contributed to creating LGOPs on the ground. These Paratroopers banded together, often creating teams of men from different companies, brigades, or even divisions.
In route to their rally points, these little groups of Paratroopers caused havoc behind the German lines by setting roadblocks and impromptu ambushes with the effect that many German commanders thought that they were facing a much larger force than what was actually there.
The mentality of a typical Airborne Soldier lends itself to an attitude of doing whatever it takes to accomplish the mission, facing any obstacle, and, most importantly, bravery because they have experience in overcoming a natural human fear: acrophobia, or the fear of heights.
For this reason, most paratroopers consider themselves better than others, because they have come face to face with their own mortality. The air is less forgiving than the sea, and if you find yourself in a situation where your main and reserve parachutes have failed, then you have the rest of your life to figure out how to deploy one of them.
They are a restless group who don’t take well to ambiguous direction or wasted time. This can be seen with the Operations tempo of airborne units. Often it feels as if the command is trying to force 36 hours of duties and responsibilities into a 24 hour day. And, as much as they complain and bitch, paratroopers love it. When they walk down the street, there is a swagger; that maroon beret looks better on their heads than a black beret looks on a leg’s because they have a sense that they earned it. In paratrooper language a “leg” is a sub-human soldier who is not Airborne. There is an intensity about how they carry out even simple tasks because, let’s face it, after you have jumped out of an aircraft while in flight, life is a little different and doing things half-assed just doesn’t make sense.
In training, with no enemy shooting at you, night jumps are, for some, less stressful than day jumps, because you can’t see anything, no ground or horizon. Inside the big jets you can hear, but in the C-130, which will forever be used to drop paratroopers, because it will carry 60 jumpers, and it will fly like a fighter, you can barely hear the person sitting next to you.
The C-130 is a four engine turbo prop – noisy. Jumpers are seated on red canvas seats along the wall of the fuselage and two rows, back to back, in the center. Parachute on your back, reserve on your chest, rucksack in a bag under your reserve, and your rifle in a canvas bag strapped to your side. Constant smell of exhausted jet fuel. Barf bags are issued. I never threw up on a plane, don’t know why, sat next to several who did.
The lights are on inside the airplane, because the jumpmasters must conduct their safety checks. The pilots have slowed the plane to 120 knots, and leveled off at 1,200 feet, if it was an actual combat jump it would be 800 feet, or less. When 10 minutes out, the jumpmaster gives the warning “TEN MINUTES”. OK, wake up get ready. The next command from the jumpmaster is; “GET READY”, then, “OUTBOARD PERSONNEL STAND UP’. That takes a minute or two, you’ve got 150 pounds plus of stuff strapped onto your body, you have to get up, turn around, unlatch your seat from the floor, fold it up and hook it. Then “INBOARD PERSONNEL STAND UP”. Next, “HOOK UP’. At that time outboard and inboard personnel form single lines on each side of the aircraft, and hook their static lines to a cable running along the wall of the fuselage. Then, “CHECK STATIC LINES”. Make sure your static line and the one on the jumper in front of you is straight and where it should be. Then, “CHECK EQUIPMENT”. Make sure everything is secure – adjust crotch. There are two jumpmasters, a primary and an assistant, plus two jumpmaster qualified safeties, who are at that time checking everybody. Then, ‘SOUND OFF FOR EQUIPMENT CHECK”. The last jumper, on each side, slaps the butt of the jumper in front of them and sound off with OK, which goes up the line until the two jumpers standing in front of the jumpmasters yell OK. The jumpmaster then commands “STAND BY”. Around that time the Air Force Loadmasters raise both doors and fold out a step plate at each door. Then you really hear the engines and rush of the blast. There is a light, about an inch and a half in diameter, beside each door, they have been red all the time. A jumpmaster is at each door, they have checked the surfaces of the doors for any irregularities. Each jumpmaster has a grip on the first jumper at his door, and he is watching the light. GREEN LIGHT!! Each jumpmaster commands “GO!”, and releases his jumper.
Everyone quickly shuffles to the door, there is no hesitation, just get out the door. I have been on full combat equipment jumps into unknown drop zones, when everybody couldn’t get out. The pilot ran out of drop zone and turned on the red light, had to circle around and make another pass over the crop zone, you’re standing, hooked up, with one hand holding your static line. As the plane banks and turns, your load gets heavier, the thought crosses your mind “just let me out”.
You step out, elbows tucked into your sides, hands on your reserve, feet and knees together, head down, chin on chest, a good tight body position. You count, one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three, one thousand four, you feel that great comforting tug of your main canopy opening. You reach up and grab the risers, and you look up into your canopy to make sure it is OK. You check for jumpers around you, if there is no moon, you won’t see them until you are really close.
Clean air, the planes move on, silence. In a few seconds, you drop the bag with your rucksack, it hangs on a line about 20 feet below you. At night, you can sense the ground, but you can’t tell for sure, you take up a good “prepare to land attitude”, feet and knees together, relax, face the parachute into the wind, don’t look for the ground. Landings are not soft, like sky divers. You try for a good parachute landing fall (PLF), balls of the feet, calf of your leg, thigh, buttocks, and push up muscle.
Down, WOW, good jump, don’t waste time, get out of that harness, get your weapon bag off, get your weapon out, and get your ruck sack. This is not combat, so you’ve got to turn in all that stuff. You “S-roll” your parachute, stuff it in the kit bag, attach your weapon bag, throw them on your back on top of your ruck and double time (trot) off the drop zone, and look for the turn in point.
Another good one in your jump log. GO AIRBORNE! ALL THE WAY!
For several years, I was a soldier-medic in the U.S. Army. I saw countless military and family members. Now I am a veteran looking back.
Is the Army worth it for you?
Awful Things About the Army You Might Not Know
Before I begin listing and explaining my points, I want to make it clear that this article is not meant to be disrespectful or insulting to any branch of the military. I’m not bashing the Army or America by shedding light on the unsatisfactory aspects of service. Also, I don’t want to scare anybody or discourage serving in a branch of the military because the Army isn’t scary. If you sincerely want to serve, then that’s awesome!
So what’s this article actually about? Let’s put it this way: If you want to buy a car, you can go to a dealership and stare at a car endlessly. You can walk around it as many times as you want, maybe even kick the tires. But remember, tires can be changed. You have to look under the hood. If you want to make the right decision about purchasing a car or pursuing a military career, you have to do your homework. This article will help you do that.
I’ll focus on the Army in this article because it’s the only branch of the military that I served in. I can’t speak for the other branches. To be fair, I have another article on the awesome parts of the military. Take a look at it after you read this one.
Finally, throughout this article, I’ll refer to the soldier as a “he.” I’m only doing so to keep things simple. I know there are many female service members, and I am proud to have served alongside them. Thank you for understanding.
10. Identity Theft Is a Threat to Soldiers, and It’s Just as Bad for Veterans
You might think that if you work for the Army, you’d be safe from the threat of identity theft, but let’s get honest and clear about this risk. The truth is that identity theft is rampant for service members, veterans, and their families.
If you haven’t memorized your social security number (SSN) by now, you will within the first few days of in-processing. Throughout your entire military career, it will be used so often and on so much paperwork that you will get numb to it. Why? There are so many people in the military that the quickest, easiest way to identify each individual is to do so by number. You’ll notice a lot of private sector companies do this as well.
Almost every form you fill out provides another opportunity for a criminal to get your name, SSN, and date of birth. In minutes, you can become an identity theft casualty. If you’re deployed and fighting in the latest war, you might not find out that your personal information has been stolen until months after the fact! Instead of confetti in your ticker-tape parade, you’ll have bills and more paperwork to contend with, but this time the paperwork will be for all the credit bureaus and collection agencies you’ll have to communicate with to sort out your identity theft issues. Oh, and this doesn’t end after your time serving is complete. It’s just as easy to nab a veteran’s identity as it is to steal an active soldier’s identity.
This doesn’t just happen to individual military representatives. Sometimes, large numbers of soldiers are robbed of their personal information all at once. Why would criminals go for a single target when they can take advantage of millions of hardworking, taxpaying Americans all at once? Computers are stolen from the homes and cars of government officials so often that the media thinks it’s old news. Do any of these government employees get thrown in prison? Fired? Disciplined? No. Also, the government has never been shy about hiring contractors to handle office work that contains sensitive information, so it’s not hard to doubt their devotion to protecting the information they’re privy to.
To be fair, the Department of Defense has been working hard to phase out the use of social security numbers. For example, they are no longer used on dog tags! Instead, the Pentagon issues a 10-digit randomly generated number. Go Army! Hopefully, someday, social security numbers will no longer be required for any military paperwork.
But for now, a soldier must fight on two fronts: to protect his country and his identity.
What Does the Army Do to Prevent Identity Theft?
Apart from warning service members about the risks and instructing them to be careful about their documentation, there isn’t much that can be done to protect a person’s information or identity. Prevention and swift action in the event of identity theft are typically the only ways of addressing this issue. The Military Consumer has a lot of information available to specifically help servicemen and veterans navigate identity theft issues because this kind of violation is an unfortunate possibility for people in the military.
9. The Army Is Not Adult Daycare; This Misconception Gets People Killed
One of the things I despise most is the idea that the Army serves the soldier. The Army doesn’t serve you; you serve your country by joining the Army. Fortunately, there are very few people that believe this because Basic Combat Training (BCT) does an outstanding job of smoking that idea out of recruits’ heads. But still, people who think of the Army as an adult daycare facility are out there making life for other soldiers far worse and sometimes more dangerous. Immature people who misunderstand the purpose of the Army usually want access to the Army’s benefits without understanding the sacrifices and responsibilities associated with serving.
Even though the Army does have benefits that help soldiers and families throughout their lives, these benefits are not available anywhere else, so it makes sense for civilians to join the military to get them. But those benefits are not what I’m talking about. In fact, if you serve, I highly recommend that you get involved in all the beneficiary programs you can. Doing so will enable you to be a better soldier now and a better civilian afterwards.
What I am talking about is the idea that the Army is just a job that’s impossible to get fired from or a steady source of income for anyone who can twiddle his thumbs and stay out of sight. Usually, I don’t care what people think. However, this kind of attitude usually leads to a sub-par performance.
An irresponsible soldier might get out of shape, forget minute but important parts of certain procedures, not take inspections seriously, and so on. If one soldier is lax about his responsibilities, then everyone else on the team will have a larger load to bear as a result.
My friend, the days of Beetle Bailey are over. It’s funny to see that kind of behavior in a comic strip, but to see it in real life is disgusting. If you’re the kind of guy who thinks the Army is Club Med for slackers, then the rest of this article will scare the living you-know-what out of you.
8. It Will Destroy Your Soul
David Wong published an outstanding article on Cracked.com called 9 Types of Jobs that Will Destroy Your Soul that aptly describes the roles people play in the workplace. I must warn you that the language is rough, but every word of it is true. Every soldier has experienced at least seven of these roles at some point during his military career. I will not re-write what the article says, but I will tell you that every soldier can, at any moment, become:
- The punching bag: A person who bears the brunt of complaints, but can do nothing to help.
- The walking dead: A person who will face sleep deprivation and irregular hours.
- The laughingstock: A person who does a job that everyone makes fun of.
- The cog: A person who performs endless tasks with mindless repetition.
- The rat in a cage: A manager responsible for those he has no authority over.
- The assistant cromulationist: A highly-specialized job that is impossible to explain.
- The Bob: A person who makes everyone else’s job harder.
- The girl: A.K.A. the “lone representative of your gender in the workplace” (this applies to female soldiers).
The article is hilarious. If you are a civilian, you will appreciate it, but if you are a soldier, you’ll relate to it because you will live it every day.
What is military life really like?
7. You Are on Call 24/7, Even When You’re Not
Ever wonder why service members tell time differently? For example, it’s not 11 p.m., it’s 2300 hrs. This is because war never sleeps. Those who think otherwise have another thing coming. Battle is about maneuvering units and materials at a moment’s notice to secure a tactical advantage. This can easily happen at night, and it can easily make no sense to you.
No matter what your rank or specialization, the Army can wake you up at 0200 hrs and make you guard a port-o-potty in the middle of nowhere, thousands of miles from any national security threat. The only items you might have to protect yourself will be a broom and a canteen. You’ll have no say in the matter, and nobody is required to explain anything to you.
You’re not even safe when you’re on vacation. Oh, didn’t you know that the Army considers weekends and holidays to be vacation days? That fact came as a shock to me. When you go on vacation, you are expected to fill out a lot more paperwork than you would at a typical company in the private sector. The Army wants to know every detail regarding your whereabouts when you’re on vacation—including the hotel you’ll be staying in.
Why? In case of a national emergency, the Army has to know where you are so it can summon you if they need you. Even if you are far from your base, you may be contacted to report to a closer one. This is highly unlikely, but it is a soldier’s responsibility.
6. Your First Amendment Rights Will Be Limited While You’re Serving
Most service members easily accept this. I did. Even though I knew what I believed in, I also knew it wasn’t fair to use my uniform to push my personal beliefs on anyone else. The people who love to sell their beliefs wrapped in a flag with a pretty yellow ribbon on top will be annoyed to see that their rights to free speech are tossed right out the window.
Don’t get me wrong, you can always be an armchair activist; maybe even go to a few protests or demonstrations, however, the second you identify yourself as a service member, you’ll be in deep trouble. As a military member, you’ll fight for America, but you’re not authorized to speak for it.
Still, the Army seems to favor Christianity. There’s lots of “oh, lord” this and “praise Jesus” that. This shouldn’t surprise anyone because the United States is populated by many Christians. As a Christian myself, I never did take it personally. However, many other soldiers who identify as Jewish, Muslim, atheist, etc. are forced to put their beliefs in the back seat while fighting for a constitution that guarantees religious freedom.
There is even a non-profit Military Religious Freedom Foundation that fights for the religious equality of American soldiers in the U.S. military. But don’t bring it up at any of the “prayer breakfasts” you might find yourself at. Think that was a joke? Join and see. Just don’t spill the salt.
Joining the military directly impacts your family.
5. When You Join the Military, Your Family Joins With You
I was born into a military family. Later, when my mother was pregnant with my brother, my father decided not to re-enlist. By then, he had saved enough to start his own business. He did so and never looked back. Decisions like this are terrifying to make. Who do you turn your back on—your family or your country? Of course, it’s not always black and white, but it does make life tough for everyone—even for the parents of soldiers.
Although military marriages are no more likely to end in divorce than civilian marriages, they are faced with unique challenges that not every couple is prepared for. For example, a military spouse is not as likely to find a career. A potential employer has to face the possibility that the employee might leave with only a few days’ notice if their spouse is suddenly stationed elsewhere. An article called “How Military Marriage Screws Up Your Career” sheds light on many of the ways that military spouses can struggle professionally.
An Army wife understands that her soldier can be deployed at any time. During this time, she holds down the fort. I hate to say this, but it’s a lot like being a single mom. It takes a very special woman to be an Army wife.
Supportive resources on military bases are there to help spouses and families, but they are usually overwhelmed by the number of people they serve. It’s becoming so much of a problem that countless non-profit organizations are popping up to fill in the gap. There is no reason you can’t have a happy marriage and a great career in the military. Just remember that when you join, so does your family.
4. You Will Be Broke
In the service, nobody gets rich. A person may join for the bonus or to pay off student loans. These are definitely great benefits. Also, the military pays for housing, food, medical fees, and so on. Furthermore, bases have gyms and recreational facilities. So what causes soldiers to end up broke?
All the aforementioned benefits are real, but the actual take-home pay is low. Take a look at the military’s take-home pay rate and look at “Enlisted Military Pay” E-1 through E-4. That’s what the youngest of our troops have to subsist on per month. Most young, single soldiers survive, but it’s our military families that are getting burned. Unfortunately, there are many reasons why a military family may live in poverty.
Oddly enough, many people actually believe that poverty in the military is a myth. As a medic, I’ve seen military family members attempt suicide because they are living with and experiencing the reality of military impoverishment. I’ve seen countless programs such as Army Emergency Relief and Adopt a U.S. Soldier try to save our soldiers’ families. I’ve seen laws such as the FY 2007 Military Authorization Act passed that, among other things, clearly make it illegal for payday lenders to prey upon our soldiers.
Poverty in the military is very real, and the possibility of being broke after enlisting is something to heavily consider. You can always join the military and try to strike it rich if you want to try to prove me wrong about this.
3. You Will See the Government Waste Money
Okay, let’s take a break. Hungry? Make yourself a snack: two eggs, any style (I like mine scrambled). Once you’ve made these eggs, throw them away, right into the garbage. Then make some more. These eggs are actually for you. Enjoy!
It was heartbreaking, right? Throwing away those perfectly fine eggs? Well, that’s what happens in the military. And I’m not talking about war profiteering, I’m talking about regular, day-in-day-out procedures. I used eggs in my example because eggs must be tossed if they’re sitting around too long after being cooked. The military throws away a lot of food every day. When it comes to feeding the troops, it’s better to throw away food rather than eat something that’s not fresh enough.
Now that I think about it, the real reason KP (kitchen patrol) is so tough is not that they’re always scrubbing pots and pans in the steaming kitchen. The real punishment is that you will end up seeing a lot of food getting thrown out, and it will be hard to witness all the wastefulness. Perfectly good food that nobody has eaten must be thrown away to prevent food poisoning. Can you throw away a whole chocolate cake that no one has touched? How about a tub of ice cream? Can you do it again and again? You will if you sign up for the military!
In fairness, there’s a lot of waste in any organization. Even the most profitable companies on earth throw things away. Sometimes it takes too much time and effort to save little things like staples, paperclips, or attack helicopters. Sometimes it takes too much time and effort to bring home thousands of perfectly functioning assault rifles. It’s just easier to order new ones from the defense contractors. This practice gives people jobs to do, so technically, everyone wins! Well, except for the taxpayers.
This was one of the toughest parts of being in the Army for me. It was hard to throw things away when, on the other side of the base, the family of a junior enlisted soldier was living in poverty and could have used what we threw out.
2. You Might Get Seriously Hurt
Casualties happen in war. War is hell. People know the risks when they join. It comes with the territory, but I’m not talking about that.
What people don’t know is that this can happen at any time and in any place, even stateside. Even if there is no ammunition or other threat around, a soldier can get seriously and permanently injured.
After years of PT (physical training), a soldier may have problems with his knees and other joints. He can easily have the same problems pro basketball players have but without the same salary. Any civilian can get injured, but it is more likely in the military because you are more active and working longer hours with more dangerous equipment.
Medics are ready, safety policies are in place, and your buddies are usually looking out for you, but sometimes this isn’t enough. As a medic, I’ve seen twenty-year-old trainees walking with canes as a result of injuries they sustained during service.
1. You Will Be Held to a Higher Standard Forever
The number one awful thing about the Army that nobody tells you is that you will forever be held to a higher standard!
Lexington and Concord, Gettysburg, Normandy, and all the soldiers who fought before you in many historic battles have paved the way. It is now your turn. If you think this is an honor, then you are right. What you might not know is that this is also a huge responsibility, and it will last until the day you die.
Your friends will expect you to be in great shape even after you are discharged. Your family will expect you to be calm and patient. Your coworkers will expect you to lead the way and handle stress easily. Everyone you know will expect you to win. Nobody will expect you to complain. If you oversleep, get drunk, become poor, gain weight, etc., then you will disappoint the civilians who look up to you.
This responsibility brings out the best in soldiers and veterans, but it lasts forever—and it will never be easy to deal with.
More Important Facts About Military Service
Here are some other important things to know about the military.
ROTC Programs
The Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) are elective college and university-based training programs that prepare adults to become officers in the U.S. military. The ROTC can be used to pay for college tuition and enrolled participants are under no obligation to join the Army if they solely participate during their freshman and sophomore years of school. After graduating, participants will begin a period of obligatory military service. The United States ROTC education programs are a good option for students who want to learn more about serving in the military before they join. There are ROTC programs for every branch of the military except the coast guard.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Military Service
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder that can develop after a person has experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a violent act, warfare, or assault. Because military service may place soldiers in dangerous environments and situations, there is a risk of developing PTSD.
Before joining a branch of the military, it is a good idea to consider the dangerous aspects of service and whether or not you’re capable of facing potentially life-threatening situations. Developing PTSD, a serious injury, or dying are service-related realities of joining the military.
Should I Join the Army?
Now that you know about the unpleasant aspects of serving in the Army, it is up to you to determine whether or not these realities are enough to discourage you from serving. Some people can accept that the Army will be one of the most challenging endeavors to undertake and some people cannot.
Why Join the Army?
If you’ve done plenty of research about the Army and what service entails and you’re not dissuaded by what you have learned, then you should also consider that joining the Army will test you as a person and soldier. You will learn a lot about your country, service, the world, and yourself if you join. You will also have the opportunity to serve and sacrifice to make your nation safer or to protect the rights that Americans have.
While there are definitely unpleasant aspects of service, there are also a lot of good things about joining the Army. Understanding the potential benefits and pitfalls of joining the Army will help potential soldiers make a good decision about whether or not to enlist.
If you think you can do it, if you want the chance, or if you feel that you are ready to join the Army after reading this article, then go for it! Good luck!
This content reflects the personal opinions of the author. It is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and should not be substituted for impartial fact or advice in legal, political, or personal matters.
Questions & Answers
Question: Can I still join the Army if my English isn’t that good and I don’t speak loudly?
Answer: If you can read this sentence, you’re good to go. That said, if a civilian’s English isn’t good enough the recruiter will tell him right away. Also don’t worry if you can’t speak loudly. I promise you, the Army will fix that in three seconds. 3… 2… 1… YES, DRILL SERGEANT!
Question: What are some of the reasons that make a soldier’s job hard?
Answer: Soldiers have unique challenges that most civilians don’t. Read this article for more information. Also, America has a taste for (undeclared) war. Regardless of a civilian’s political leanings, this is a reality that the soldier and his family faces every day. They must be ready for his possible deployment. This means lots of training on top of the regular duties of the soldier’s MOS. This is the price of national security and only the finest Americans are ready to step up and pay.
Question: My wife has a lot of medical problems. Exactly how good are the Army’s medical benefits? There are procedures that she will have to have later in her life that can’t wait a year and her Medicare can’t pay for certain procedures. Recruiters will tell me anything but I just want to know the actual truth. I’m currently being processed right now through the Army but I have to wait for a waiver that’s been in Washington for 2 months now.
Answer: I’m sorry to hear about your wife’s condition. Your dilemma sounds complicated. Although it is common to be skeptical of recruiters, I think they are your best option to get the information you need.
Question: I want to join the army. I am a little skinny, but I can do heavy jobs. Could I survive the training?
Answer: If I can do it, then anyone can! If your recruiter says you’re good to go, then you’re good to go. I have written a couple of articles about how to prepare for and make it through BCT. These are good places to start: https://hubpages.com/politics/basic-training-is-ea… and https://hubpages.com/politics/how-to-get-ready-for…
Question: Why don’t you mention the educational benefits?
Answer: Agreed. The GI Bill is probably the most successful and well-known government program to date.
However, this article is not about the good news. It’s about the bad news. Also, it’s not about the things everybody knows. It’s about the things most people don’t know.
The Army is an amazing experience but it’s not Disneyland. It’s not Club Med. That’s what I was hoping to show here.
Question: Do you get paid for being in the army?
Answer: Yes! All branches of the US military pay its service members. Pay is decided by a number of factors, including time in service and rank. Special skills (such as fluency in a foreign language) as well as serving in a combat zone also increases pay. Don’t forget the various bonuses for enlistment/re-enlistment. That money adds up! Talk to your local recruiter for more information.
Question: How does the Army decide when you go out to fight?
Answer: The Army decides which soldiers to send to which conflicts. Some units will be sent more frequently than others. Sometimes a specific soldier in a unit might be called up for deployment. In the end, it all depends on the “Needs of the Army.”
Question: If I don’t have a High School Diploma, and am planning on going into the Army, does the Army have resources so I can get my High School Diploma?
Answer: I’m not sure about a high school diploma, but I think a GED is more likely. It all depends on your duty station. Tell your first-line supervisor that you want to get your GED. Also, keep your eyes open for local base programs that will help.
Question: What is the worst thing about the Army?
Answer: Ask one hundred different soldiers and you’ll get one hundred different answers. But here’s one thing they all agree on: One day, the Army ends. Then, as a veteran, you realize that the Army was actually awesome. Sure, there were plenty of tough times but they pale compared to everything else.
Question: If I join the Army, will I absolutely go to war?
Answer: Not all soldiers go to war. In the end, it’s up to the Department of Defense which units are deployed and when. Also, remember that not all soldiers who are deployed to a combat zone will actually see combat.
Question: What is the best way to get into shape before enlisting in the army?
Answer: I’ll be blunt: Focus on cardio. More importantly, DON’T OVERDO IT! Too many civilians push themselves and end up with ankle or knee injuries. Nobody wants a bad ankle a week before shipping out. Also, whatever you do, don’t forget to hydrate.
Question: Can I go to Basic Training/Boot Camp and then be done with the military (unless I’m called)?
Answer: As far as I know, there is no “be done with the military” unless the service member is formally discharged. However, the Reserve and National Guard traditionally train several weeks a year after BCT and AIT. That is a popular option for many people but these units can get called up at any time. Talk to your local recruiter for more information.
Question: Can women go into combat in the Army? If so, do they get treated differently then men do?
Answer: In the Army, women get deployed all over the world. However, I’m not a woman nor have I ever been deployed so I cannot comment from personal experience. For more information, ask your recruiter.
Question: My friend was a navy engineer. He was so excited to join. Then he couldn’t wait to get out and has clinical depression. Is this common?
Answer: First of all, if anyone you know has clinical depression, it is important that he/she gets professional help. This is for everyone, whether active duty, veteran or civilian. It is all too common to feel like the system doesn’t work then turn to “self-medication” like alcohol. This usually turns to dependency.
I’ve never been in the US Navy but as far as the Army goes, depression is possible. However, this is because if a team member or supervisor notices symptoms in someone, he/she will recommend a visit to the mental health clinic. This often leads to a diagnosis and a treatment plan. But, it could save this person’s life.
This simply doesn’t happen as often in the civilian world. A civilian can live one hundred years and suffer without a diagnosis.
Question: Do you have to learn how to swim in the army?
Answer: Swimming is not a requirement in the Army. It is not part of BCT or any AIT I know of. However, some Army units or programs may require it (Special Forces or Ranger School, for example). Contact your local Army recruiter for more information.
Question: I’m a civilian, and I’ve read negative things from most soldiers about us, how we’re not good enough compared to them and that we’re held in contempt for our lackluster performance. They mock us, calling us cowards, sissies, buttercups, and so on. It’s made me feel bad. Why are they saying such things about us? What did we do to deserve such disrespect?
Answer: I’m very sorry you feel this way. I don’t know who is saying this so I cannot comment on why they are. Personally, I don’t feel this way about civilians. I don’t feel this way about anyone. As a medic, I worked alongside civilians, military and veterans. They were all brilliant, hardworking and put the mission first. So, try to ignore those comments.
I don’t know who you are, but I think that the best thing you can do for your country is to stay out of trouble, work hard and better yourself. Do your best to be an example to those around you. This won’t always be easy, but it will always be worthwhile. Also, no drunk driving! Seriously.
Question: I feel like I wouldn’t be in good enough shape or strong enough (physically and mentally) to join but I would really like to. Do you have any tips to improve my physical and mental fortitude before joining the Army?
Answer: I believe that, if you really want it, you should talk to a recruiter. Take it from there. Then, if you qualify AND decide that the military is right for you, join and give it your very best. Count on your drill sergeants to make you a soldier. Finishing BCT and AIT is a wonderful feeling.
Question: What if I really want to join the military, but I can’t do more than one push-up?
Answer: That depends on the reason why you can’t do more than one push-up. For example, if a person is permanently disabled then he won’t be allowed to sign. He will never be a soldier. If a person is temporarily injured, he will be told to hold off until he recovers. For more information, talk to your local recruiter… OK, now what if a person REFUSES to do more than one push-up? Unfortunately, I don’t know. I have never seen or heard of anyone who really wanted to join but refused to do push-ups. If anyone reading this has any insight, please share it in the Comment section. We’d love to hear it!
Question: My brother’s friend claimed that he signed up to be part of the army; I don’t exactly know which part, but they said the position he wanted was already filled and so he’s going to the front line. Can that really happen? I thought we got to choose where we wanted to be.
Answer: First, nobody is simply tossed into battle. Once a soldier is finished with BCT and AIT, he has to be assigned to a unit. From there he has to be deployed “to the front line” if the Army needs him there.
Now, can he be bumped from the MOS he was promised in his contract? It’s very rare but it’s happened before. It’s all about the “needs of the Army.” Hmm… Is there something else going on? Did your brother’s friend fail a test? Did a background search turn up some bad news? This kind of thing is more likely.
When civilians sign up, it’s true that they can choose their first duty station. The Army does its best to make it happen but sometimes it doesn’t work out. It sucks but, again, it’s about the needs of the Army.
If your brother’s friend believes he was royally screwed, he probably won’t reenlist. In the meantime, the soldier has to put national security first. That’s the whole point of having an Army.
Question: Can I join the Army with bipolar disorder on medication. If so, what jobs are open to me?
Answer: That’s a tough one. You have to ask your recruiter. He’ll give you a straight answer.
If you don’t get the answer you want, don’t take it personally. It’s not about you, it’s about national security.
Question: I’m slightly “fluffy” in the mid-range, do I have a chance in the Army?
Answer: Great question! Believe it or not, many, many trainees are in the same boat as you. But, they do the best they can and nearly all of them make it. It isn’t always pretty but they make it. Bottom line: If your recruiter says you qualify for enlistment, then you have a great chance!
Question: Are there any websites on how to pass the AFQT if I’m not good at math?
Answer: I’m sure there are but why stop there? Check out your local library. I’m sure they have plenty of books that will help you. Also, talk to your recruiter. I’m sure he’s helped countless civilians get the scores they need to enlist.
Question: I wanted to join the Army as a medic, but I’m unsure. Are there any units for medics that you would recommend?
Answer: I didn’t decide on my unit, the Army decided for me. If your recruiter offers you the option to pick your first duty station/unit, think hard about what you want from the Army before you make your decision. Tell your recruiter why you want to join, and he might have some good bases/units in mind.
Question: Will you always get hurt while in the Army?
Answer: You will not always get hurt but everyone does get hurt. Injury is part of life, civilian or military. However, in the Army, the risk is higher than most occupations. Will the injury always be permanent? No, not always. Also remember that the US military’s healthcare system is the best in the country.
Question: I have asthma and eczema. After a tiny patch of dry skin was spotted on my elbow at MEPS, it was recommended by my recruiter that I wait a year to see if they terminate my file and go again now that the patch is gone. What do I do if MEPS still deems me unfit? What jobs are similar to this? Who will take me with no prior training? CIA, NSA and FBI all require a much higher age than I am. I’m lost if this doesn’t pan out.
Answer: As far as the military goes, each branch has its own requirements. They might not seem fair, but they are in place for a reason. Whatever happens at MEPS will be what’s best for the nation. Do your best to accept it and drive on. OK. But what about you? If you haven’t already, ask your recruiter what happens in the worst case scenario. He might have some leads. Also, what is the closest military installation? There might be civilian jobs that you qualify for.
Question: Why not mention the massive amount of allowances that easily balloon those low pay scales into far better lifestyles when writing about the Army?
Answer: Agreed!
The military pay scale can be tricky for civilians who look at it for the first time. But extra pay such as BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) and BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence) make things sweeter. Any recruiter will be happy to sit down and patiently explain these benefits.
In the end, the Army is awesome but national security is not a joke. This article helps potential soldiers to look before jumping. Talk to your recruiter for more information!
Question: There is a job opportunity as a helicopter mechanic. I applied and met with a recruiter. If I pass the ASVAB and accept the position, what should I expect going into the Army?
Answer: First, you will be trained as a soldier. Next, you will be trained as a helicopter mechanic. Then, you will work on helicopters. Too easy.
But there’s more. You can expect to be part of a tradition and a part of history. Every day, you will meet the needs of the Army as it meets the needs of America. It won’t always be easy but it will always be worth it.
For more information, talk to your recruiter.
Question: I’m planning to join the Army Reserve while going to school. Will the Army get in the way of that?
Answer: The timing of your training components (BCT and AIT) can be flexible. It depends on your MOS. I’ve met plenty of trainees who were full time students. However, Army Reserve units can be called up to serve active duty at any time. For more information, contact your local recruiter.
Question: Is there respect among troops in the army? Why or why not?
Answer: Definitely! Respect is one of the Core Army Values. “Treat people as they should be treated.” It’s everywhere. Just take a look at the Comments section!
Question: I’m supposed to ship out in a month but I haven’t passed my OPAT because of the running part. What happens if you don’t pass before the ship-out date? Also, how’s the life and job of a 25B because that will be my MOS.
Answer: The OPAT (or Occupational Physical Assessment Test) was implemented only a few years ago. It is designed to make sure a recruit will be physically able to meet the demands of his future MOS. If you do not pass, your ship-out date might be delayed until you do. Or, worse, you might have to pick another MOS. Talk to your recruiter about your possible options.
I cannot comment on the life and job of the 25B (Information Technology Specialist). I was a medic. Moving forward, do your best every day. Stay out of trouble. Also, trust your buddies, your NCOs and COs. From there, no matter what happens, the Army will be awesome!
Question: Why do some civilians and soldiers say that the military doesn’t serve the country, while others say it does? Who’s right?
Answer: It’s a matter of perspective. People come from different backgrounds and see different things. So, it’s inevitable that they would have different views on everything, including the military. Also, don’t forget that the military does a lot of things. Some of them are more glamorous than others.
Question: Can I join the Army without going to war and shooting people, I want to be a mechanic on airplanes?
Answer: Every soldier has to put national security first. That’s the reason we have an Army.
If you sign as an airplane mechanic, you’ll be trained as a soldier in Basic Training (BCT) then as an airplane mechanic in Advanced Individual Training (AIT). Next, you’ll be assigned to a unit that needs an airplane mechanic.
From there, where you go and what you do will depend on the needs of the Army. You will most likely be an airplane mechanic but you cannot rule out the possibility of combat. There’s always a chance of it no matter what your MOS.
Question: What does an army recruit get paid a year?
Answer: There is no magic number because there are many variables. For example, even though two trainees started on the same day, their pay will be different if one of them has a family. Also, the government updates the pay every year to keep up with inflation. For more information, contact your local recruiter.
Bottom line: Military service is an amazing experience. It is meaningful work. Military benefits are unmatched and veterans benefits are almost as sweet. BUT, don’t join only for the money.
Question: If my ASVAB score is very low, will I get Infantry or is it possible to get something else?
Answer: First of all, there is nothing wrong with Infantry. Infantry is awesome. When people think “Army” they think “Infantry.”
Now, to answer your question, it is possible to get something else. Anything is possible. But what else would you qualify for? That’s something to ask your recruiter.
Listen to him. He’ll lay it out for you. Take a serious look at all the options available. Don’t toss any MOS because everybody sweats and everything is vital for national security. That’s what the military is about: national security.
Still don’t like your options? If you think you can do better, maybe you can. Study your *ss off! I’ve met people who studied for almost a year to get the score they needed and got the job they wanted.
In the end, military or civilian, life is what you make of it.
Question: Can a 16 year old kid join the Army?
Answer: I’ve never seen or heard of someone that young in the US military. Ask your local recruiter for more information. In the meantime, stay healthy, stay motivated, stay in school and–most important–stay out of trouble!
Question: Why don’t you be truthful about the character of the people going in? I was glad to serve but the Army needs to recruit better people.
Answer: Simply put: I try my best not to judge people–especially people I have never met.
However, I will say that I was (and still am) very proud of everyone I served with. People from all over the country, in every branch and every status (active duty, veteran and civilian).
You will probably give me a thousand stories of service members who do something wrong or just stupid. Fine. I will give you ten thousand right back of them saving our country from all enemies foreign and domestic.
We all take our oath and step up. We are inspired to do our best from our NCOs and COs. It’s not always pretty but it’s always worth it.
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank the military!
Question: Well, you have skillfully showed the bad however, there are also good outcomes and benefits from serving. How about you talk about the good things as well? Just saying…
Answer: Agreed! There are many great things! I DID write about them… in another article. Take a look! Your insight and optimism would greatly be appreciated there.
Question: How do you make it in Bootcamp, any tips?
Answer: Great question!
BCT (Basic Combat Training) is difficult but it isn’t impossible. Countless trainees finish it every year. I have written several articles about it. Take a look below!
https://discover.hubpages.com/politics/how-to-get-…
https://discover.hubpages.com/politics/basic-train…
https://discover.hubpages.com/politics/should-i-jo…
Question: Why do you always refer to soldiers as male (except when they are called “that girl”) and their spouses are always wives? As a female Army veteran of 16 years, I find that very disappointing and sexist. I’m not saying you are but that’s the way it came across.
Answer: Agreed! Women have served in all branches of the US military for decades. I have served proudly along side many of them.
I didn’t mean to offend anyone. I did this only to simplify my article. “He/she” or “She/he” didn’t work with the folksy and casual tone I was hoping for in this article. Thanks for understanding.
Question: My boyfriend wants to join the Army next year and I’m so afraid. I don’t want him to. I’m so scared that he’ll get hurt, die or he’ll come home broken. Am I wrong to feel this way?
Answer: That’s a tough one. If it helps any, you are not alone. Many, many loved ones and family members experience this because many, many civilians join the military every day. Why not? After all, the military is a big transition from civilian life. Also, unfortunately, civilians don’t think of the good, just the bad and the ugly.
So, are you “wrong to feel this way?” I cannot answer that. I cannot tell you how to feel. However, I ask that you trust your boyfriend and his decision. My guess is that his decision wasn’t on a whim. He thought long and hard on it. So why not trust him? While you’re at it, trust his future team and supervisors. They’ll look out for him and he’ll look out for them.
A lot of folks seem to be taking this article the wrong way. In other words, I didn’t write it to discourage or scare anyone. I didn’t write it to bash the military. I meant to celebrate it. It’s an amazing experience as long as you do your best and put your country first. Trust your boyfriend to do that.
Question: Why is being held to a higher standard a bad thing?
Answer: Agreed!
This “awful thing” was supposed to be my transition. I was hoping that it would explain that the Army has its ups and downs but the ups will shine in us forever.
Talk to your recruiter for more information!