PFC Guy Gabaldon USMC WW2

I love writing about and posting info about real american heros especially those unsung men from the WW2 era. I just heard about Guy today. just wanted to post this info to help spread the word about this Hero. I sure hope he finally gets his Congressional Medal of Honor.

Semper Fi!

Tomahawk - Scouts out!

PFC Guy Louis Gabaldon ( March 22, 1926–August 31, 2006) was a United States Marine who was credited with capturing (or persuading to surrender) about 1,500 Japanese soldiers and civilians during the Battle of Saipan (1944) in World War II. He was nominated for the Medal of Honor but was instead awarded the Silver Star which was later upgraded to the Navy Cross Medal for these actions. His exploits were turned into the film Hell to Eternity.

Gabaldon was born in Los Angeles, California into a Mexican-American family, he was one of seven children. He was raised in East Los Angeles where as a ten year old he would earn a living by shining shoes on Skid Row. Gabaldon who was a member of a multiethnic gang referred to as the "Moe gang," moved out of his house at the age of 12 and moved in with the Nakanos, a family of Japanese-American heritage whom he considered his extended family. He attended language school every day with their children and learned to speak Japanese. He also learned about their customs and culture.

At the outbreak of World War II the Nakanos, his "adopted" family, were sent to a relocation camp in Arizona. He went to Alaska to work in a cannery. On March 22, 1943, Gabaldon's 17th birthday, he joined the United States Marine Corps. After receiving his basic training at Camp Pendleton he was assigned to Headquarters & Service Company, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division.

The Pied Piper of Saipan
The United States considered the possibility of a full scale invasion of the Japanese mainland but decided that such a feat would be costly with an estimated one million American casualties. The capture of Saipan was considered essential for the establishment of airfields which would accommodate the B-29 Superfortress bombers to be used for the planned invasion. On June 15, 1944, an armada of 535 ships carrying 127,570 U. S. military personnel which included Marines from the 2nd and 4th Divisions began the invasion of Saipan. Japanese soldiers seldom surrendered during World War II and, as the invasion went badly for the Japanese, they were ordered by their superiors on Saipan to kill seven U.S. Marine and Army troops for every man they lost, or commit suicide.

Gabaldon began bringing in prisoners the very first day that he arrived on Saipan. According to Gabaldon:

"The first night I was on Saipan, I went out on my own," said Gabaldon, "I always worked on my own, and brought back two prisoners using my backstreet Japanese".

He was reprimanded by his superior officers and threatened with a court-martial for leaving his post. However, the next night he went out and repeated once more his actions. He carefully approached a cave, shot the guards outside, moved off to one side of the cave, and yelled in Japanese, "You're surrounded and have no choice but to surrender. Come out, and you will not be killed! I assure you will be well-treated. We do not want to kill you!"

The next morning he returned with 50 Japanese prisoners. As a result Gabaldon was permitted by his commanding officer to act as a "lone wolf" operator.

This was the situation when on July 7, 1944, after spending a night near Saipan's northern cliffs, Gabaldon heard and listened to thousands of Japanese troops and civilians preparing for a large "banzai charge." The attack was unsuccessful and the surviving Japanese returned to their positions. The next day, Gabaldon captured two guards and convinced one of them to return to the cave with an offering of surrender. Shortly after, a Japanese officer showed up and after speaking to Gabaldon accepted the conditions of surrender. Over eight hundred soldiers and civilians surrendered to Gabaldon and were turned over to the United States military authorities. For his exploits, Gabaldon became known as the "Pied Piper of Saipan".

Gabaldon continued to capture more Japanese soldiers until he was wounded in a machine gun ambush. He was credited with the capture of 1,500 enemy personnel and was recommended for the Medal of Honor by his commanding officer, Capt. John Schwabe, on the justification that he singlehandedly captured more than ten times the number of prisoners taken by Sgt. Alvin C. York in World War I, Gabaldon however, was awarded a Silver Star instead.

Post World War II
Gabaldon received an Honorable Discharge from the Marine Corps as a result of his combat wounds. After he returned to civilian life, he moved to Mexico and ventured into various businesses such as a furniture store, fishing, and the import-export of Mexican goods. Gabaldon, whose first marriage to June Gabaldon ended in divorce, met the person who was to became his second wife, Ohana Suzuki while working in Mexico.

Gabaldon's World War II exploits became public when in 1957, he was the invited guest of This is Your Life, a popular television program aired by NBC in the 1950s, hosted by Ralph Edwards, which presented the life stories of entertainment personalities and "ordinary" people who had contributed in some way to society.The fact that he captured at least 1,500 Japanese prisoners was verified on the national program by Marines Corps intelligence officers Colonel Walter Layer, Colonel John Schwabe, Major James High and several enlisted men from military intelligence.

Hollywood producers became interested in Gabaldon's story and in 1960 released the film Hell to Eternity where his actions on Saipan were memorialized. He was portrayed by Jeffrey Hunter as an adult and by Richard Eyer as a boy. Gabaldon himself served as an adviser in the filming of the movie.

On November 23, 1960, after his exploits became widely known through the television program and the movie, the United States Government upgraded his Silver Star Medal to a Navy Cross Medal which is the Marine Corps second highest military decoration to the Medal of Honor.

Tomahawks gear for the road - Maine to Arizona

When I took off out of Maine and headed to Arizona I knew it was around 3,400 miles or so according to google maps. Keeping this in mind I wanted to keep my gear as light as possible for this trip.

I had limited gear to pick from because I simple don't like to pack around a lot of equipment. Ill break this down into 5 sections. 1. SHELTER (to include clothing). 2. WATER. 3. FIRE. 4. FOOD. 5. Miscellaneous.

SHELTER : Hennessey Hammock, 8x8 tarp, poncho liner(Wiggies), plastic sheet, Crazy creek chair. (Clothing) Hitech hiking shoes, 3 pair smart wool socks, 1 pair canvas high tops, flip flops, 2 sets boxer shorts, 2 pair carharrt shorts, 1 pair long pants, I belt, 2 T shirts, one heavy cotton shirt by Blackhawk gear, I hooded sweatshirt, one light short sleeved shirt,1 light fleece sweater, baseball cap, one wool cap. 1 set of light gloves, 3 extra bandannas.

WATER: 4 1 quart water bottles, 1 lard pail cooking pot, one travel mug.

FIRE: some water proof matches in a water proof container. And the knowledge of several other types of fire making techniques.

FOOD: 1 small jar of instant coffee, one Summer sausage and one large Hershey bar.

MISCELLANEOUS: Reading glasses, Sunglasses, shaving kit and tooth bush, swiss army knife, green river knife, some cordage in a cotton sack, small head lamp, extra batteries, sewing kit, camera, laptop, external hard drive, some fishing line and a single hook. 2 pens and a sharpie marker. ID,plastic spoon, chap stick, umbrella.

My pack was a Jansport “Big Bear pack”

That's about it. I have never liked to carry a lot of gear. I simply cannot enjoy myself if im humping a 60 or 70 pound pack.

See you on the trail.

Tomahawk – Scouts out!

Pictures from the road

Tomahawk heading south
Tomahawk in the White Mountains of Arizona

The view from the back of a pick up in Arizona
Takin a break on the road
The Historic Witch Well Tavern
Tomahawks first sunset back in Arizona
Just wanted to share the last pics of mt hitch hiking trip from Maine to Arizona.

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hitch3 031

Just thought you all might like to see the view from the back of the pick up I caught a ride in.

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Hitch hiking in Arizona - white mountains day 15

In the white mountains of arizona.

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Stealth camp on the Navajo reservation in Arizona

Tomahawk talking about his stealth camp on the Navajo Rez.

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Tomahawks arrival in Arizona - day 14

Tomahawk talking about his arrival in Arizona after a 14 day hitch hiking trip from Maine.

see you on the trail.

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Tomahawks "Stealth Camp" in East Texas

Tomahawks camp in East Texas near the town of Clarksville, TX.

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Tomahawks "Stealth Camp" in Arkansas

Tomahawk drinking beer and talking about his stealth camp near the winding stair mountains of Arkansas.

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UPDATE - Arkansas 2

Tomahawk talking about the road in Arkansas.

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hitch 2 015

Tomahawk talking about his first day in Arkansas. Day 11 of this Journey from Maine to Arizona.

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UPDATE - Tomahawk in eastern Kentucky

Update from Tomahawk on the road in Eastern Kentucky. This is pretty country so far. Rides are difficult to get and road side camping spots are getting fewer as the miles go by.

I hope to get into lexington,KY tomorrow and take I65 SW.

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Tomahawks pictures from the road

Just wanted to post a few picks from the road while I have a decent internet connection.The first picture is of Me and my new friend Durbin from Charleston, WV. He is a USMC Vet,Blog follower and all around good guy.

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Hitch hiking trip day 4

Tomahawk day 4 - self explanatory.

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Update from Inside my hammock

Tomahawk updating his status from inside his hennessey hammock at his Camp along the delaware river and wyoming trail in Pa.

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hitch 014

Tomahawk talking about the fierceness of the Delaware state forest skeeters.

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Camp- 1st night NY/CN state line

Tomahawks camp the first night on the Connecticut/ NY state line.

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Hitching trip from NH to AZ day 1

Tomahawk , Day 1 hitch hiking trip from New Hampshire/Maine .

More to follow soon.

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Sgt. Mickey Free - Apache Scout

I love stories about my Home state of Arizona and the real characters who resided there. Mickey free is no exception. He is a wonderful character to study and think about. I invite you to do some research into the interesting and colorful member of Americas history.

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Mickey Free:
Birth: 1847
Sonora, Mexico
Death: Dec., 1915
Navajo County
Arizona, USA

Apache Army Scout. At 12 years old Free was abducted from his stepfather's (John Ward) Arizona ranch by whom many believe were members of the Pinal Apache Band. Free's abduction led to a deadly encounter between the Chiricahua Chief Cochise and Army Lieutenant George Bascom, which ignited a 20 year war between the U.S. and Chiricahuas. Free's birth name was Felix Martinez and for many years he was thought to be either dead or beyond rescue.

Approximately 20 years after his abduction Free's brother, Santiago Ward, heard that his brother was living on the San Carlos Reservation. When Santiago visited the reservation, he discovered his brother had been fully integrated into the Apaches and was using the name of Mickey Free. Though Free had no Apache lineage, he was mistakenly thought by many to be at least half Apache. On December 2, 1872, Free enlisted as an Apache scout at Ft. Verde AZ. Though the well known chief of scouts, Al Sieber, distrusted Free's honesty, he did respect his abilities as a scout. Free, who could speak English, Apache & Spanish, was a valuable asset in the pursuit of hostile Apaches, including Geronimo.

Free's reputation for killing those he pursued made him a feared adversary. In addition to being a scout for the Army, Free was also a member of the reservation police and a spy.

Free ended his scouting career with the rank of sergeant. In his later years Free settled with the White Mountain Apaches and raised a family. Free died of old age near White river. He was buried near where his wickiup once stood. Free's descendents still reside on reservation.

Hawaiian Paniolos

Paniolo pictures by Randy Jay Braun

I have read about but have never seen or been around a Hawaiian Paniolo, the Islands version of the American cow boy. In fact, Hawaiian Paniolos maybe the oldest cow boys in America. I believe that cattle were introduced to the Hawaiian Islands in the 1700s, the men who worked those cattle were called "Espaniolos" by the locals, I guess the word degenerated into what it is today. Dunno, what I do know - at least to me - is that it is a great piece of American history which few people know about.

Tomahawk - Scouts out!

Hawaiian Paniolo
The Hawaiian cowboy, the paniolo, is also a direct descendant of the vaquero of California and Mexico. Experts in Hawaiian etymology believe "Paniolo" is a Hawaiianized pronunciation of español. (The Hawaiian language has no /s/ sound, and all syllables and words must end in a vowel.) Paniolo, like cowboys on the mainland of North America, learned their skills from Mexican vaqueros.

By the early 19th century, Capt. George Vancouver's gift of cattle to Pai`ea Kamehameha, monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom, had multiplied astonishingly, and were wreaking havoc throughout the countryside. About 1812, John Parker, a sailor who had jumped ship and settled in the islands, received permission from Kamehameha to capture the wild cattle and develop a beef industry.

The Hawaiian style of ranching originally included capturing wild cattle by driving them into pits dug in the forest floor. Once tamed somewhat by hunger and thirst, they were hauled out up a steep ramp, and tied by their horns to the horns of a tame, older steer (or ox) that knew where the paddock with food and water was located. The industry grew slowly under the reign of Kamehameha's son Liholiho (Kamehameha II).

Later, Liholiho's brother, Kauikeaouli (Kamehameha III), visited California, then still a part of Mexico. He was impressed with the skill of the Mexican vaqueros, and invited several to Hawai`i in 1832 to teach the Hawaiian people how to work cattle.

Even today, traditional paniolo dress, as well as certain styles of Hawaiian formal attire, reflect the Spanish heritage of the vaquero. The traditional Hawaiian saddle, the noho lio, and many other tools of the cowboy's trade have a distinctly Mexican/Spanish look and many Hawaiian ranching families still carry the names of the vaqueros who married Hawaiian women and made Hawai`i their home.

The Gaucho

I have always been enamored to the South American Gaucho, the Mexican Vaquero, The Hawaiian Paniolo and the good old American Cowboy. having worked cattle and horses in the American west I can appreciate their skill with rope reins and in the saddle.

When i traveled in South America I had the honor of sharing a fire and some Mate and roast mutton with some real Gauchos. Great guys as are all real outdoor types. I admired their yarning and singing ability and their knife, rope and horsemanship skills. I walked away with that encounter with a real Gaucho Facon that had a Rea toe as the handle. that knife is now lost to history but I still have the memories.

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Gaucho (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈɡautʃo]) is a term commonly used to describe residents of the South American pampas, chacos, or Patagonian grasslands, found principally in parts of Argentina, Uruguay, Southern Chile, and Southern Brazil. In Brazil, Gaúcho (Portuguese pronunciation: [ɡaˈuʃu]) is also used to designate people from the state of Rio Grande do Sul in general.

The word gaucho could be described as a loose equivalent to the North American "cowboy" (vaquero, in Spanish). Like the North American word cowboy, Venezuelan or Colombian llanero, or Chilean huaso, or the Mexican charro, the term often connotes the 19th century more than the present day; then gauchos made up the majority of the rural population, herding cattle on the vast estancias, and practising hunting as their main economic activities. The word "gaucho" is sometimes used to refer to chimichurri, a steak sauce common to Argentina.

There are several conflicting hypotheses concerning the origin of the term. It may derive from the Mapuche cauchu ("vagabond") or from the Quechua huachu ("orphan"), which gives also a different word in Spanish "guacho". The first recorded uses of the term date from around the time of Argentine independence in 1816.

Cattle were brought to the Pampas from Paraguay in 1580, by the colonial expedition of Juan de Garay. In the 18th century, the gauderios, who lived by hunting wild cattle, were recorded, most famously by the travel writer Alonso Carrió de la Vandera, when he passed through what is now northern Argentina. Commercial cattle ranching began in the second half of the 18th century.

Gauchos were generally nomadic, and lived in the Pampas, the plain that extends north from Patagonia, bounded on the west by the Andes and extending on the east to Uruguay and the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. These nomadic riders lived by hunting wild cattle. Most gauchos were of Spanish and/or Portuguese and/or Amerindian (native American) ancestry. There are also gauchos of largely African or part African ancestry as well.
A Brazilian Gaúcho. Laçador Statue, Porto Alegre, Brazil.

An inconclusive genetic study conducted by FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo) in 2007 detected an Amerindian with a, perhaps, stronger Spanish than Portuguese admixture in Brazilian gaúchos. A small African admixture was also found. The area that is Rio Grande do Sul belonged to the Spanish Crown for over two centuries before it became a Portuguese possession in 1750 (Treaty of Madrid). The results of the study were not conclusive, and raised questions that will require further attention. The study clearly showed that their MtDNA has much stronger affinities with Amerindian MtDNA in Argentina and Uruguay than with Amerindian MtDNA from other parts of Brazil and suggests that this is probably due to genetic ancestry from the now extinct Pampean Indians (Charrúa, Minuano).

Some gauchos were recorded as being in the Falkland Islands, and have left a few Spanish words in the local dialect e.g. camp from campo.

The gaucho plays an important symbolic role in the nationalist feelings of this region, especially that of Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The epic poem Martín Fierro by José Hernández (considered by some the national epic of Argentina) used the gaucho as a symbol against corruption and of Argentine national tradition, pitted against Europeanising tendencies. Martín Fierro, the hero of the poem, is drafted into the Argentine military for a border war, deserts, and becomes an outlaw and fugitive. The image of the free gaucho is often contrasted to the slaves who worked the northern Brazilian lands. Further literary descriptions are found in Ricardo Güiraldes' Don Segundo Sombra.
Modern typical party of Gaúchos in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Like the North American cowboys, as discussed in Richard W. Slatta, Cowboys of the Americas, gauchos were generally reputed to be strong, honest, silent types, but proud and capable of violence when provoked. The gaucho tendency to violence over petty matters is also recognized as a typical trait. Gauchos' use of the famous "facón" (large knife generally tucked into the rear of the gaucho sash) is legendary, often associated with considerable bloodletting. Historically, the facón was typically the only eating instrument that a gaucho carried.

Also like the cowboy, as shown in Richard W. Slatta, Cowboys of the Americas, gauchos were and remain proud and great horseriders. Typically, a gaucho's horse constituted most of what he owned in the world. During the wars of the 19th century in the Southern Cone, the cavalries on all sides were composed almost entirely of gauchos. In Argentina, gaucho armies such as that of Martín Miguel de Güemes, slowed Spanish advances. Furthermore, many caudillos relied on gaucho armies to control the Argentine provinces.
Brazilian gaucho with typical clothing on 2006 Farroupilha Parade, in Rio Grande do Sul.

The gaucho diet was composed almost entirely of beef while on the range, supplemented by yerba mate, an herbal tea-like drink rich in caffeine and nutrients. Argentine cooking draws influence from the simple but delicious recipes used in gaucho meals.

Gauchos dressed quite distinctly from North American cowboys, and used bolas or boleadoras - in Portuguese boleadeiras - (three leather bound rocks tied together with approximately three feet long leather straps) in addition to the familiar "North American" lariat or riata. The typical gaucho outfit would include a poncho (which doubled as a saddle blanket and as sleeping gear), a facón (large knife), a rebenque (leather whip), and loose-fitting trousers called bombachas, belted with a tirador, or a chiripá, a piece of cloth used in the fashion—but not the function—of a diaper. In the wintertime, gauchos wore heavy wool ponchos to protect against cold. Nowadays, working gauchos are as likely to be found in overalls and wellington boots as in their traditional dress.

Just as the disappearance of the "Wild West" of the United States altered the character and employment of "cowboys" so too did the nature of gauchos become changed. Those with urban and academic orientations typically continue to cling to an image of gauchos that is no longer accurate or consistent with contemporary rural realities.

Colonel Pierre (Peter) Julien Ortiz

There is Nothing I can say about this amazing man. Ill let the info speak for him.

Tomahawk - Scouts Out!

Colonel Pierre (Peter) Julien Ortiz OBE (July 5, 1913-May 16, 1988) was one of the most decorated Marine officers of World War II. He served in both Africa and Europe throughout the war, as a member of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS).

Military career
Although born in New York City from a Spanish-American mother and French-American father, Ortiz was educated at the University of Grenoble in France. He spoke ten languages including French, German and Arabic.

On February 1, 1932, at the age of 19, he joined the French Foreign Legion for five years service in North Africa. He was sent first to the Legion's training camp at Sidi Bel-Abbes, Algeria. He later served in Morocco, where he was promoted to corporal in 1933 and sergeant in 1935. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre twice during a campaign against the Rif. When his contract expired, he went to Hollywood to serve as a technical adviser for war films.

With the outbreak of World War II and the United States still neutral, he re-enlisted in the Legion in 1939 as a sergeant. He was wounded in action and imprisoned by the Germans during the 1940 Battle of France. He escaped the following year and made his way to the United States.

He joined the Marines in June 1942. As a result of his training and experience, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant after only 40 days. He was promoted to captain in December and, with his knowledge of the region, sent to Tangier, Morocco. He conducted reconnaissance behind enemy lines in Tunisia for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). During a night mission, Ortiz was seriously wounded in an encounter with a German patrol and was sent back to the United States to recover.

In 1943, Ortiz became a member of the OSS. In January 1944, he was dropped by parachute into the Haute-Savoie region of German-occupied France as part of the three-man "Union" mission to evaluate the capabilities of the Resistance in the Alpine region. He drove four downed RAF pilots to the border of neutral Spain before leaving France with his team.

Promoted to major, Ortiz parachuted back into France on August 1, 1944, this time as the commander of the "Union II" mission. He was captured by the Germans on August 16 and spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner of war. He was the most highly decorated member of the OSS.

In April 1954, he volunteered to return to active duty to serve as a Marine observer in Indochina. The Marine Corps did not accept his request because "current military policies will not permit the assignment requested."

He rose to the rank of colonel in the Marine Reserve.
Later years

Upon returning to civilian life, Ortiz became an actor. Ortiz appeared in a number of films, several with director John Ford, including Rio Grande, in which he played "Captain St. Jacques". According to his son, Marine Lieutenant Colonel Peter J. Ortiz, Jr., "My father was an awful actor but he had great fun appearing in movies".At least two Hollywood films were based upon his personal exploits, 13 Rue Madeleine (1947) and Operation Secret (1952).

Ortiz died of cancer on May 16, 1988, at the age of 74, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He was survived by his wife Jean and their son Peter J. Ortiz, Jr.
Awards and honors

Ortiz's decorations included two Navy Crosses, the Legion of Merit, the Order of the British Empire, and five Croix de Guerre. He also was made a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur by the French.

In August 1994, Centron, France held a ceremony in which the town center was renamed "Place Colonel Peter Ortiz".

Navy Cross citations
ORTIZ, PIERRE (PETER) J.
(First Award)
Rank and organization:Major, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve)
Place:Office of Strategic Services (London)
Date of Action:January 8–20, 1944
Citation:
“ The Navy Cross is presented to Pierre (Peter) J. Ortiz, Major, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism while attached to the United States Naval Command, Office of Strategic Services, London, England, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy in enemy-occupied territory, from January 8, to May 20, 1944. Operating in civilian clothes and aware that he would be subject to execution in the event of his capture, Major Ortiz parachuted from an airplane with two other officers of an Inter-Allied mission to reorganize existing Maquis groups in the region of Rhone. By his tact, resourcefulness and leadership, he was largely instrumental in affecting the acceptance of the mission by local resistance leaders, and also in organizing parachute operations for the delivery of arms, ammunition and equipment for use by the Maquis in his region. Although his identity had become known to the Gestapo with the resultant increase in personal hazard, he voluntarily conducted to the Spanish border four Royal Air Force officers who had been shot down in his region, and later returned to resume his duties. Repeatedly leading successful raids during the period of this assignment, Major Ortiz inflicted heavy casualties on enemy forces greatly superior in number, with small losses to his own forces. By his heroic leadership and astuteness in planning and executing these hazardous forays, Major Ortiz served as an inspiration to his subordinates and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.[7] ”
ORTIZ, PIERRE (PETER) J.

(Second Award)
Rank and organization:Major, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve)
Place:Office of Strategic Services (France)
Date of Action:August 1, 1944 - April 27, 1945
Citation:
“ The Navy Cross is presented to Pierre (Peter) J. Ortiz, Major, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism while serving with the Office of Strategic Services during operations behind enemy Axis lines in the Savoie Department of France, from August 1, 1944, to April 27, 1945. After parachuting into a region where his activities had made him an object of intensive search by the Gestapo, Major Ortiz valiantly continued his work in coordinating and leading resistance groups in that section. When he and his team were attacked and surrounded during a special mission designed to immobilize enemy reinforcements stationed in that area, he disregarded the possibility of escape and, in an effort to spare villagers severe reprisals by the Gestapo, surrendered to this sadistic Geheim Staats Polizei. Subsequently imprisoned and subjected to numerous interrogations, he divulged nothing, and the story of this intrepid Marine Major and his team became a brilliant legend in that section of France where acts of bravery were considered commonplace. By his outstanding loyalty and self-sacrificing devotion to duty, Major Ortiz contributed materially to the success of operations against a relentless enemy, and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Movie Quote - from Inglorious Basterds

I watched the movie , "The inglorious Basterds" (I though it was Bastards but it appears that both spellings are correct). Got a kick out of it. I like Lt. Aldo Rains speech to his troops and found it kinda cool that he was wearing a 1st Special Service Force patch.

another part I liked was the things Lt. Archie Hickock said right before the shoot out scene in the Bar.

I call it "The Pickle"

“Well, if this is it old boy. I hope you don't mind if I go out speaking the Kings (English). There is a special rung in Hell reserved for people who waste good Scotch. Gosh!, it seems I may be rapping at the door momentarily. Mmm, I must say, damn good stuff sir! Now, about this pickle we find ourselves in. It would appear that there is only one thing left for you to do.”

Said with a very posh accent. Perfect.I hope you like it too.

Tomahawk - Scouts Out!

Inter Allied Commandos in WW2

Back in the Day when the Tomahawk was a young U.S. Army pathfinder running around Europe, I had the opportunity to work with Commando units from several NATO countries. These included Belgium, Lichtenstein,Holland and a few others. I started researching the information about these units back then and found it pretty interesting reading. I hope you do also. I have included as much info on these units as I could find.

see you on the trail.

Tomahawk - Scouts out!

No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando was a commando unit of the British Army during the Second World War. The first No. 10 Commando was proposed in August 1940, using volunteers from Northern Command, however there was such a poor response that No. 10 Commando was disbanded and the men that had volunteered were posted to other commando units.

In early 1942 the commando was raised again, this time as No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando. By the end of the war the commando had become the largest commando in the British Army and included volunteers from France, Belgium, Holland, Norway, Denmark, Poland and Yugoslavia. There was another group of volunteers in X Troop which contained enemy aliens, Germans and Austrians who had escaped from Nazi Germany. Men from the No. 10 Commando served in the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, Burma and Western Europe during the Second World War, mostly in small numbers attached to other formations, never as a complete unit.

Background;
The commandos were formed in 1940, by the order of Winston Churchill the British Prime Minister. He called for specially trained troops that would "develop a reign of terror down the enemy coast". At first they were a small force of volunteers who carried out small raids against enemy occupied territory, but by 1943 their role had changed into lightly equipped assault Infantry which specialised in spearheading amphibious landings.

The man selected as the overall commander of the force was Admiral Sir Roger Keyes himself a veteran of the landings at Galipoli and the Zeebrugge raid in the First World War. By March 1941 there were 11 battalion sized units now called commandos and each commando would consist of around 390 men in a small headquarters and six troops of three officers and 62 men each.

The idea for a foreign commando unit came from a junior French naval officer, Philippe Kieffer, after he heard of the successful Lofoten raid. The idea was eventually put to the then Chief of Combined Operations, Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten who could see the value of a foreign commando unit but insisted it should include volunteers from all the occupied territories.

Formation;
No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando under command Lieutenant Colonel Dudley Lister was formed on 2 July 1942. The men of the new commando were all foreigners except for the British headquarters. Headquarters consisted of a British Commanding Officer, second in command, adjutant, intelligence officer and NCO, medical officer and medical orderlies, signals officer and signals section, training officer, quartermaster, administration officer and drivers. The formation of No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando meant that by the end of the war it was the largest commando unit in the British Army. Like all British Commandos the men of No. 10 (Inter Allied) Commando went through the six week intensive commando course at Achnacarry. The course in the Scottish Highlands concentrated on fitness, speed marches, weapons training, map reading, climbing, small boat operations and demolitions both by day and by night. In May 1943 the commando moved to Eastbourne on the Sussex coast where they carried out specialist training which unusually for a non parachute unit included parachute training at No.1 Parachute Training School RAF, Ringway near Manchester (over 80% of the Polish troop were parachute qualified) and they also trained in mountain climbing and Arctic warfare. At the same time as the move to Eastbourne the commando got a new commanding officer when Lieutenant Colonel Peter Laycock took over command on 15 May.

No. 1 French Troop
The No. 1 French Troop was formed in July 1942 By Kieffer, from an intake of 40 Frenchmen, who were initially called 1re Compagnie de Fusiliers Marins (1st Company of Naval Rifles). The unit retained its links with the French Navy wearing naval insignia and headgear.

No. 2 Dutch Troop

The No. 2 Dutch Troop consisted of 62 men under command of Captain Mulders. The troop formed in June 1942 was always below establishment and never deployed as a complete independent unit.But the men acted as liaison officers, guides and interpretors during operations Market Garden, Infatuate I and II.

No 3 (X) Troop
The No. 3 (X) Troop was possibly the strangest unit in the British Army, consisting of enemy aliens. Under the command of Captain Hylton-Jones the first men to arrive in July 1942 were eight men from Czechoslovakia. The troop was also known as the English, Jewish or British troop and was officially renamed the Miscellaneous Troop in 1944. Most of the troop had German, Austrian or Eastern European backgrounds, others were political or religious refugees from Nazi Germany,and at least one member had been imprisoned in Dachau and Buchenwald concentration camps. All members of the troop adopted British names and false personnel histories. A total of 130 men served in X Troop, but they never fought as a complete unit but provided valuable service to other formations as interpreters and interrogators. The troop lost 21 men killed and a further 22 wounded, among the highest casualty rate of any British military unit in the war.

No. 4 Belgian Troop
The No. 4 Belgian Troop was formed on 7 August 1942, by seven officers and 100 men from the 1st Independent Belgian Brigade under the command of Captain Danloy. As Belgium had surrendered in 1940, the Belgian forces serving with the Allies risked facing charges of treason on their return; the charges were only annulled in 1948.

No. 5 Norwegian Troop
The No. 5 Norwegian Troop was formed in August 1942 under command Captain Hauge, the men of the troop came from refugees brought back to Britain after commando raids and sailors stranded abroad after the German invasion of Norway.

No. 6 Polish Troop
The No. 6 Polish Troop was first formed in August 1942 as the 1st Independent Commando Company. It was integrated into No. 10 Commando in October 1942. Commanded by Captain Smrokowski is comprised seven officers and 84 men.

No. 7 Mediterranean Troop
The No 7 Troop was formed in May 1943 after a need was identified for Italian speakers. The commander was Captain Coates but difficulties finding Italian speakers in the British Army led to the Special Operations Executive offering Italian speaking Slovenes from the Royal Yugoslavian Army. The troop only numbered two officers and 20 men and it was renamed No. 7 Yugoslavian Troop.

No. 8 French Troop
The No 8 French Troop was formed in 1943 from 45 men of the disbanded 2nd Naval Infantry Battalion which had been stationed in the Lebanon and men who had been interned and released in Spain. The two French troops were combined under command of Kieffer and called the 1er Bn de Fusiliers Marins Commandos (1st Naval Rifles Commando Battalion).

Hultaforse Knife

if you follow this blog you are probably aware that I really dont like any other knives to use in the field except my Swiss Army and trusty Ol' Butch my green river knife.

The night before I left Maine one of the students at the JMBS year long program was interested in my sling shot so I traded his knife for it.

Aint got to use it yet but I like the handle and the thickness of the blade. here is a link to the Hultaforse site ;

http://www.hultafors.co.uk/www/live/tools/startsida.aspx?TreeID=22206

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"Call of the Wild" Tomahawks outlaw Bushcraft Movie

This picture video covers a lot of the people places and things I have encountered on my 3 year journey around the world.

I have traveled throughout North America to include Mexico, and have been all over North Africa, South East Asia, Central and South America, Parts of Europe. Nepal, The Middle east, Sri Lanka, Singapore, The Philippines and a few other places I have forgotten about.

I challenge anyone out there in cyber space to Accomplish what I have in the way of budget travel, with the same resources and equipment I have had at my disposal. I seriously doubt that anyone could Match my experiences.

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"Left for Dead" - In the Outback" - Ricky Megee

"Left for Dead" looks to be a great inspirational book for all those interested in "Survival".This story is proof positive the if you are in a "Survival situation" as all of the T.V Gurus like to say - YOU FUCKED UP.

Id like to meet Ricky and shake his hand for a job well done, and, with any luck, get a free copy of this book.

Cant wait to read the book from cover to cover.

http://www.rickymegee.com/index.php

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by Ricky Megee with Greg McLean

An extraordinary true story of abduction and survival, told vividly and with candour. Both shocking and inspiring, Left for Dead in the Outback is the true story of how one man endured a terrible ordeal and lived to tell the tale. A real-life man's own adventure which will appeal to anyone with an interest in inspirational tales of endurance in the face of terrible odds.
No shoes, no vehicle, no food, no water and no idea. I'd always been one of those blokes who ragged on people who found themselves lost in the desert. Now I was one of those people. It was hard, desolate country for a man all alone in bare feet. Nevertheless, I started to walk. And walk. The more I walked, I figured, the less distance I'd have to travel to get found. It was faulty logic, but it was the best I could come up with.

In April 2006 the news broke of an amazing feat of survival by a white man in one of the most inhospitable areas of Australia. Ricky Megee was found sheltering by a dam on a remote cattle property in the Northern Territory. After being abducted on the Buntine Highway, drugged, then left for dead, Ricky had walked for ten days in bare feet through unforgiving terrain in blistering heat.

Stumbling upon a dam, he set up camp there and survived for almost three months on leeches, grasshoppers, frogs and plants, losing 60 kg in the process. In Left for Dead in the Outback, Ricky Megee gives a full and frank account of his abduction and survival, for the first time since his extraordinary rescue.

Vividly told, its a gripping yet inspiring story of how one man endures a terrible ordeal and lives to tell the tale.

Bill Sewall & Wilmot Dow - Maine guides for Teddy Roosevelt

Teddy Roosevelt was a remarkable fellow and I really enjoy reading the books about his adventures around the world.

There is a new book out there called "Becoming Teddy Roosevelt" about his life in the Maine wilderness. Teddy used two trusted guide for his sojourns into the NE Maine wilderness Mr.Sewall and Mr. Dow.

Teddy said this about these men;
"They were tough, hardy, resolute fellows, quick as cats, strong as bears, and able to travel like bull moose."

This description of Dow and Sewall kinda reminds me of my good friend and Master Maine guide & fellow wilderness Bum Tim Smith of the Jackmountain Guide school in Maine.

Mr. Sewall said this about Teddy;
"We were very close in those days and he talked over about everything with me.”

It was a unique and interesting relationship between those three men I'm sure.Im really looking forward to tracking down and reading this book.

There is some more about Mr. Sewall and Mr. Dow below, it is from when they managed Teddys ranch in the Dakotas.

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William Wingate Sewall and Wilmot Dow first met Theodore Roosevelt in the 1870s, when they served as hunting guides for Roosevelt in Maine. Although they were skilled outdoorsmen, hunters, and woodsmen, that hardly qualified them for work as ranch hands; Sewall was more comfortable riding logs than he was riding horses. Nevertheless, when Roosevelt asked his two trusted companions to manage his new Elkhorn Ranch in 1884, they agreed.

Sewall designed the Elkhorn Ranch House, and he and Dow built up Roosevelt’s home ranch site in 1884-1885. Their contract, similar to that of Roosevelt’s other ranch hands, Sylvane Ferris and Bill Merrifield, allowed them to manage the ranch and sell cattle as they saw fit but not so as to reduce the herd below its size at the inception of the ranch. They were to keep 1/3 of the proceeds of any sales while Roosevelt kept the other 2/3, a slightly worse deal that Roosevelt had previously worked out with Ferris and Merrifield at a 50/50 split. Upon his arrival, Sewall was concerned that the badlands did not seem to be a good place for ranching cattle, but Roosevelt was optimistic.

Sewall and Dow were trustworthy companions for Roosevelt, and Roosevelt spent most of his time in the badlands with them at the Elkhorn Ranch. Their loyalty was undeniable. When it appeared for a brief time that Roosevelt might have to duel the Marquis de Morès, it was Sewall who offered to act as Roosevelt’s second. When thieves stole Roosevelt’s boat from the Elkhorn Ranch in early spring 1886, it was Sewall and Dow who built a new boat and accompanied Roosevelt downriver to capture the desperate men despite the dangers.

Elkhorn Ranch Site

Elkhorn Ranch site

In 1885, Sewall and Dow brought their wives to live at the Elkhorn Ranch. Mrs. Sewall was toting a toddler named Kitty, who was about the same age as Roosevelt’s daughter Alice. The women kept up the ranch house and did most of the cooking and cleaning. They also tended gardens in the inhospitable badlands soil. Both Mrs. Sewall and Mrs. Dow bore sons in August 1886. As the families grew, Roosevelt began to feel somewhat of a stranger in his own ranch home. He married Edith Kermit Carow later that year. While honeymooning in Europe, Roosevelt was unaware of the toll the deadly combination of overgrazing and a ferocious winter was taking on his cattle. By the time Roosevelt returned to the United States, he had lost over half his herd. He decided to close down the Elkhorn.

After the Elkhorn Ranch closed permanently in 1887, the historical record for Sewall and Dow runs thin. Wilmot Dow died from an unexplained, acute illness at a fairly young age in 1891. Bill Sewall returned to Island Falls, Maine and did not see Roosevelt again for sixteen years though they exchanged letters from time to time. In the interim, Roosevelt had written ten major literary works, fathered five children, fought with the Rough Riders in the Spanish-American War, served as New York Police Commissioner, U.S. Civil Service Commissioner, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Governor of New York, U.S. Vice President, and was inaugurated the 26th President of the United States following the assassination of William McKinley. Shortly after assuming the Presidency, TR invited Sewall to the White House. On seeing Theodore Roosevelt at the White House for the first time in sixteen remarkable and momentous years, Sewall wrote the following:

"[President Roosevelt] was not there when we arrived, for it was in the afternoon and he was out riding. By and by we heard a door open, then we heard his quick step in the hall, and it was for all the world like the way he used to come down the long hall at Elkhorn Ranch; and when he came into the room in his riding-clothes it seemed as though these sixteen years that lay between had never been and we were all back in the happy ranch days again."

Ranch clothing worn by Bill Sewall and a side saddle used by his wife are on display at the South Unit Visitor Center, as is a model of the Elkhorn Ranch House. The Elkhorn Ranch Site is protected within the park, and is accessible to visitors willing to take the time to travel to the remote location.

Colin Fletcher Dies (in 2007)

I just found out today that Colin Fletcher died in 2007. I don't pay attention to the news much so I tend to get my news a bit late.

My first recollection of Colin was when my sister Tina gave me a book he authored called "The thousand mile summer", then later on my oldest brother Russell gave he "The complete walker" - which I still have in Montana.

My personal favorite book by Colin Fletcher is "The man from the cave" or "Trunkman" about William Anthony Simon AKA "Chuckawalla Bill". who was described as a, Spanish-American War veteran, a prospector, a cook and a boozing, womanizing, cigarette-rolling, poker-playing yarn spinner."

Kinda reminds me of ME!

Anyhoo, here is a bit of info on one of my favorite authors who is making the big sleep.

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Colin Fletcher:
Colin Fletcher (March 14, 1922 – June 12, 2007) was a pioneering backpacker and writer.

In 1963, Fletcher became the first to walk the length of Grand Canyon entirely within the rim of the canyon "in one go" — only second to complete the entire journey — as chronicled in his bestselling 1968 memoir The Man Who Walked Through Time. Through his influential hiker's guide, The Complete Walker, published the same year, he became a kind of "spiritual godfather" of the wilderness backpacking movement. Through successive editions, this book became the definitive work on the topic, and was christened "the Hiker's Bible" by Field and Stream magazine.

Early life and career:
Born in Cardiff, Wales March 14, 1922, Fletcher was educated in England and served six years in the Royal Marines during World War II. After spending time farming in Kenya, surveying in Zimbabwe, and as a prospector in western Canada, he moved to the United States in 1956. Two years later, he walked the length of the state of California, a journey that was the basis for his first book The Thousand Mile Summer.


Writing career:
Fletcher published a total of 10 books between 1964 and 2001, which included 4 editions of the The Complete Walker. His first book was The Thousand Mile Summer (1964) recounting his 1958 hike along the entire eastern edge of California. His second book was The Man Who Walked Through Time (1968), in which Fletcher was the first person to walk a continuous route through Grand Canyon National Park in 1963. The book covered technique, the journey itself, and reflections which included the concept of, after weeks, of achieving a state of mentally "merging" with the place that one is visiting.

In 1968, Fletcher published the first edition of The Complete Walker, his most popular work including three new editions with the last in 2001, in total selling over 500,000 copies. Fletcher's book is distinguished by its encyclopedic treatment of the technique and equipment of wilderness travel, as well as by what critics and readers have praised as its rousing humor and elegant, vigorous prose. While certainly comprehensive in its discussion of all aspects of wilderness travel, it also devotes a generous amount of space to Fletcher's self-confessed idiosyncrasies, ranging from his affection for walking staffs and corduroy shorts to his loathing of wilderness trail guidebooks.

In the early 1970s Fletcher returned to Kenya's Serengeti Plain, and Great Rift Valley for a year, an experience he recounted in "The Winds of Mara", published in 1973.

In 1981 he published The Man From the Cave, which tells how, after finding a trunk and a few belongings abandoned by someone in a desert cave in Nevada, he spent years piecing together the life story of "Trunkman". As he pieced together the mystery of the man's life, Fletcher saw in it a discovery and reflection of himself, "We both valued solitude and silence and square, smoothed-off granite boulders."

In 1989, Fletcher hiked and rafted the entire length of the Green/Colorado River from its source in the Wind River Range of Wyoming to the Gulf of California. He was evidently the first person ever to do this. He told the story of the journey in River (1997), adding to his customary description of the places through which he travelled a metaphor, comparing the course of the river and its emptying into the sea, to life itself and his own life in particular.

The last edition of The Complete Walker, The Complete Walker IV (2001), was written with Chip Rawlins.

Later years:
In his later years, Fletcher became a prolific writer on environmental issues. He was publicity-shy[citation needed], rarely responding to letters or interview requests, although always willing to incorporate reader feedback into revised editions of The Complete Walker.

In 2001, at the age of seventy-nine, Fletcher was struck and seriously injured by an SUV while walking to a town meeting near his home in Monterey County, California. His survival was attributed to his excellent physical condition. Within a year of the accident, he was back on his feet and walking daily.

According to published obituaries, Fletcher died on June 12, 2007 in Monterey, California, as a result of complications from a head injury sustained from being hit by the car six years earlier.

Influence and legacy:
Annette McGivney, editor of Backpacker Magazine, has written that "Colin was sort of the founding father of modern backpacking, the first person to write about going out for an extended period and being self-sufficient." Because many people started following Fletcher's advice in The Complete Walker, according to McGivney, "the book could be credited with starting the backpacking industry," including equipment makers and periodicals like Backpacker Magazine. Through his writings Fletcher "inspired a generation of young Americans to take up backpacking as means of filling a spiritual void," and to escape from the confusion of Vietnam-era America:

"After Vietnam, I was trying to figure out what to do with my life. So many of my friends had died from bullet holes," recalls Backpacker Magazine contributing editor Buck Tilton. "I read The Man Who Walked Through Time, and it was the only thing that made sense to me. Fletcher's words gave meaning to backpacking. I loaded my pack exactly the way Fletcher did and carried a walking stick like his. He was my hero."

Quotes:
God is light, we are told, and Hell is outer darkness. But look at a desert mountain stripped bare by the sun, and you learn only geography. Watch darkness claim it, and for a moment you may grasp why God had to create Satan—or man to create both. — The Thousand Mile Summer (1964)

Dedicated urbanites "know" beyond shadow of doubt - because doubt never raises its disturbing head - that civilization is the real world: you only "escape" to wilderness. When you're out and away and immersed, you "know" the obverse: the wilderness world is real, the human world a superimposed facade... The controversy is, of course, spurious. Neither view can stand alone. Both worlds are real. But the wilderness world is certainly older and will almost certainly last longer. Besides, the second view seems far healthier for a human to embrace. — River (1997)

Ltc.Anthony B. Herbert

After reading the book "Soldier" written by Herbert, I was inclined to do a little research about the man. What I found was interesting. Ltc. Herbert also wrote the Soldiers Handbook(see picture attached). Please find below a bit about one of Americas most decorated soldiers.

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Anthony B. Herbert
Born 1930
Place of birth Herminie, Pennsylvania
Allegiance United States United States of America
Service/branch United States Army United States Army seal
Years of service 1947 — 1972
Rank US-O5 insignia.svg Lieutenant Colonel
Unit 173Airborne Brigade Shoulder Patch.png173rd Airborne Brigade
Commands held 503 Inf Rgt DUI.gif 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry
Battles/wars Korean War
Vietnam War
Dominican Republic Incursion
Awards Silver Star
Legion of Merit
Soldiers Medal
Bronze Star
Air Medal
Purple Heart

Lieutenant Colonel Anthony B. Herbert (born 1930 in Herminie, Pennsylvania) was an officer in the United States Army, who served in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He is best known for his claims that he witnessed war crimes in Vietnam, which his commanding officer refused to investigate. He is the author of several books about his experiences, including Soldier and Making of A Soldier.

Military service
Herbert enlisted in the United States Army in May 1947 to be a paratrooper. He completed Basic Combat Training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and Basic Airborne School at Ft. Benning, Georgia. After a few years of service in the peacetime Army at Ft. Lewis, Washington, he accepted a discharge in 1948, returned home and graduated from high school. He then re-enlisted in the Army in February 1950 and became a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division.

Korean War
He deployed for Korea in October on the troopship Walker. It was here, in the Korean War, that he first built his reputation as a fighter, and was rapidly promoted to become one of the youngest Master Sergeants in the Army, and one of the most decorated.

He was awarded four Silver Stars, three Bronze Stars with a V, six battle stars, four Purple Hearts and, for his bravery fighting alongside Turkish soldiers, the Republic of Turkey's Osminieh Order. He was wounded 14 times—10 by bullets, 3 by bayonet, and once by white phosphorus.

He was selected by General Matthew Ridgeway in 1951 to represent the American Soldier in Korea and returned to the U.S., going to the White House to meet President Harry Truman, and traveling the country to promote the war.

It was during this time that he met former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and was persuaded by her to go to college and gain an education, for whatever he would do with the rest of his life. Herbert left the Army once again in 1952 to enter the University of Pittsburgh in order to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree, graduating in 1956 and re-entering the Army as a Second Lieutenant in the Pennsylvania National Guard.

At the same time he ascensioned for active duty and began the Infantry Officer's Basic Course (then called Basic Infantry Officer's Course, or BIOC) at Ft. Benning, GA. After graduating that course with high marks, he was assigned as an Instructor to the Mountain Ranger Training Camp at Dahlonega, Georgia. He followed this with assignments of increasing responsibility and was promoted quickly.

Vietnam War
He first deployed to the Vietnam War in 1968 with the Inspector General's Office assigned to the 173d Airborne Brigade, a unit with whom he would later make a dramatic mark, and one in which he would encounter many controversial roles later on.

He took command of the 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry, which become one of the most highly rated in the war. His battalion led its brigade in contacts with the enemy, captured weapons and enemy prisoners taken, as well as the highest reenlistment rate and fewest AWOLs.
[edit] "Herbert's War"

In the wake of the controversy surrounding the My Lai Massacre, LTC Herbert claimed to have witnessed a number of war crimes in Vietnam, which he reported to his superiors but which they allegedly refused to curb or discipline. Herbert pressed charges against his commanding officers for their intransigence.

Herbert had reported eight separate war crimes, including incidents of, looting, execution and murder.

The battle between Herbert and the military came to be dubbed "Herbert's War."

In one episode involving some Vietnamese girls Herbert stated, "The area was brilliantly lit by floodlights ... Each of them [the girls] was seated with their hands on a table, palms down." Herbert described the instruments used as a "long springy rod of bamboo split into dozens of tight, thin flails on one end. It was a murderous weapon," he said. "I'd seen it take the hide off a buffalo. When it was struck down hard, the flails splayed out like a fan, but an instant after impact they returned to their order, pinching whatever was beneath."

According to Herbert, "War crimes are infinitely easier to overlook than to explain to an investigating committee. Nor do they do much for promotion among the 'West Point Protection Society' of the Army's upper-echelon career men. So when I kept bringing up the matter, I kept on making enemies and getting answers such as, "'what the hell did you expect, Herbert? Candy and flowers?' I reported these things and nothing happened."

Some commentators have opined that Herbert's allegations were exaggerated or unsubstantiated.

Herbert was accused of exaggeration and outright lying in his filed reports. In April of 1969 he was relieved of his command of the Second Battalion, despite its outstanding record under his leadership.

"I know now it wasn't just the Army," Herbert says. "It was General Westmoreland in particular. He did everything he possibly could to keep my case covered up because of the heat being placed on the Army from the My Lai case."

The Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) produced several reports on Herbert's claims. A report dated Aug. 23, 1971 reviewing Herbert's allegations stated: " ... technique employed included the transmission of electrical shock by means of a field telephone [used to a Vietnamese girl] a water rag treatment which impaired breathing, hitting with sticks and boards, and beating of detainees with fists."

A CID report marked FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY: "Herbert's S-3 [non-commissioned officer] witnessed a field telephone in use during interrogation, but no objection was raised"

Dozens of official CID documents substantiated Herbert's statements, despite this the Army, claimed that Herbert had "a propensity to lie or exaggerate."

On March 15, 1971, Herbert reported 14 separate charges to his superior J. Ross Franklin, including corpse mutilation and the electrical torture of a Vietnamese girl by Army intelligence.

Herbert gave interviews to Life Magazine, the New York Times and on the Dick Cavett Show. He took voluntary polygraph tests and passed. "Army harassment increased until at last, my family began to show signs of stress from the ordeal.", Herbert said.

Retirement
Feeling pressured by the army, on Nov. 7, 1971 he set his own retirement in motion, retiring from the Army in February 1972.

A year later Herbert and New York Times correspondent James Wooten to wrote the best selling book Soldier, an autobiographical book documenting his efforts to expose both the incompetence and the atrocities he'd seen in Vietnam.

Some years after his retirement from the Army, he was asked in an interview how he felt about leaving about the Army after all that had come to pass. He remarked, "If you stick by your guns, if you stand by the truth, you win. I feel good about my time in Vietnam and my time in the Army. As my friend Sgt. Maj. John Bittorie once said, 'There are two kinds of military reputations. One is official and on paper in Washington DC. The other is the one that goes from bar to bar from the mouths of those who served with you there.' That is the only reputation I ever really cared about."

On Feb. 4, 1973, CBS's 60 Minutes aired a segment titled "The Selling of Colonel Herbert." CBS correspondent Mike Wallace and producer Barry Lando challenged his credibility, implying that Soldier was fictitious and that Herbert himself was guilty of war crimes.

Supporting the CBS allegations against Herbert on the show was Herbert's old nemesis, Lt. Col. J. Ross Franklin who had been relieved of his command. Franklin had been relieved from his command for throwing a Vietnamese body out of a helicopter. (In 1991 Franklin was convicted and sent to prison to serve a five-year sentence for his role in a securities scam.)

Herbert suspected that the Nixon administration put pressure on CBS, which led to the story. CBS president Frank Stanton was under subpoena for an earlier broadcast called The Selling of the Pentagon. About that time Stanton paid a visit to Nixon White House counsel Charles Colson, who later said in the New York Times that Stanton volunteered to help Nixon and was unusually accommodating.

Herbert sued CBS over the 60 Minutes segment that painted him as a liar. The charge stemmed from an appearance he made on the show, when host Mike Wallace surprised him by bringing one of his Army colleagues into the interview, who proceeded to deny the veracity of much of Herbert's story.

The case reached the United States Supreme Court (Herbert v. Lando, 441 U.S. 153 (1979)). The Court ruled that defendants have no privilege under the First Amendment which would bar a plaintiff from inquiring into the editorial process or states of mind of those involved in the alleged libel, if the inquiry was tailored to the production of evidence considered material to plaintiff's necessary burden of proof.

This ruling allowed Herbert to seek proof of the alleged libel.

In 2005 the U.S. Court of Appeals in New York dismissed the libel suit. Judge Irving R. Kaufman, a member of the three-judge panel, ruled that Herbert had no grounds to take his case to trial in a 43-page opinion. The opinion stated the CBS story was essentially accurate. To go to trial over some minor unresolved issues would be a "classic case of the tail wagging the dog."

Herbert was reported considering again appealing his case to the U.S. Supreme Court. It was Judge Kaufman who the Supreme Court reversed in the 1979 decision. Jonathan Lubell, Herbert's attorney, claimed that Kaufman has long been sympathetic to the press.

Outlaw Bushcraft page on Facebook

FYI, Tomahawk has started a new page on facebook called "Outlaw Bushcraft".It is dedicated to those of us who are tired of hearing about the so called survival "Experts" on T.V. and all of the "youtube commandos" out there Give 'er a look if you find the time. If you like honest,no bull shit opinions come and check it out. You might even like and or agree with what I put out.

if not, I dont care.....................

see you on the trail!

Tomahawk - Scouts Out!

Scouts out! book review by "The Mad wolf"

My good friend "The mad wolf" posted a great review of my teaser book "Scouts Out!"
Take a look, you might like it too.

see you on the trail.

Tomahawk - Scouts Out!

Finally I had the pleasure to read A to Z the Tomahawk’s “Scouts Out” book . The book I have spoke with Thomas so many times, materialized at last. Well, “the book” is not your ordinary book, because it’s complex as Tomahawk’s personality…I would say it’s more like an outdoor trivia with so many “ did you knew that” infos in it .



Between many adventure stories and wonderful pictures, you will find very interesting outdoor related information, with useful tips and tricks and well tested advices about equipment and gear you might use.



Reading it’s a pleasure that will be fulfilled traveling with Tomahawk around the World, in various environments, meeting interesting people and their customs and tools. You will find excellent descriptions of many implements that people from unforgiving zones of the globe are using day by day … their tools, hunting weapons along with their culinary habits and way of walking their lives …



The style of writing it’s very accessible, friendly and colloquial giving the impression that Tomahawk is sitting in front of you sipping a coffee and telling you the stories himself.



If you like outdoor stories or simply great adventures, if you are a kit-maniac or you really wanna see what can be done with a little more than nothing – READ IT.





Christian “MadWolf”



06.09.2011