Former Special Forces Officer: Gen. 'Mad Dog' Mattis Left 'My Men to Die'

[RandySF]

A former Army Special Forces officer is accusing retired Marine General James Mattis, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to be defense secretary, of "leaving my men to die" after they were hit by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2001.

Mattis has not commented publicly on the incident, which was chronicled in a 2011 New York Times bestselling book, "The Only Thing Worthy Dying For," by Eric Blehm, which portrays Mattis as stubbornly unwilling to help the Green Berets.

His actions, which were not formally investigated at the time, are now likely to get far more scrutiny during the retired general's Senate confirmation process.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/military/former-special-forces-officer-gen-mad-dog-mattis-left-my-n691211

[Achilleaze]

1. Comrade Casino & Republican Chickenhawks don't care about that

[Wellstone ruled]

2. Survey says-------------------------

this is going to leave a stain.

[NBachers]

3. But I heard a fauning NPR report this morning, that said Mattis is a "Marine's Marine."

The announcer seemed to have a big affectionate hard-on for him.

[madokie]

4. I graduated from the SERE school training of the Seals and UDT

spent a tour of duty there helping in training. I'm here to tell you these guys aren't to be fucked with. Highly trained and tough as nails and can be as mean as a junk yard dog at the same time as gentle as a new born

S. E. R. E. Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape

The toughest 6 weeks of my life. The two months in the class room leading up to that 6 weeks wasn't so bad but when we got to the beach for how to survive on our own in that environment and then to the mountains east of San Diego, Warner Springs to be exact it was no picnic. Culminated in being captured and spending a week in a prisoner of war camp that was as real by the time I was thrown in as if it was the real thing. I honestly believed it was real and if I hadn't been at that point in training I would have failed the course. I was Interrogated, tortured the whole works. Upon finishing the class and getting my certificate I stayed there for a tour in training new students
When I started the class in the classroom phase I weighted in at 168 lbs 6 ft 1 tall, when I graduated I weighted 140 pounds. To give you some idea as to what these guys/myself went though in training. I wasn't waterboarded but the Seals and UDT as well as captains to be of navy bases as well as of ships and pilots headed to Vietnam sure the hell were and it was hell. The few who broke never made it to their intended target duty stations as they were deemed unfit for that duty. In some cases they were discharged from the Navy if they fucked up too bad.

tRump wouldn't have made it though sign in, he's such a WUSS

Navy designation for the school was FAETUPAC DET. 6
It was HELL
Not sure if they still do the same training there now but the Base is still there and in use as a training base. We had from 95 to 105 people stationed there depending on rotation with two classes every two weeks of 125 students give or take a few. It was great duty once I got though the training. I actually worked 27 hours a week for the navy. I worked at the Warner Springs Resort as a bus boy in the restaurant. Served Glen Cambell and John Wayne meals while they were filming True Grit. I'd make more in one night in tips than what the navy paid me every two weeks

[yeoman6987]

5. I agree

After 24 years in the navy, I can say that special forces are the most amazing group. I could not make it through if I tried. You are right. Trump could not make it through sign in .

[blm]

7. your posts are always must reads for me, mad...

(( ))

[whathehell]

9. Great account, Madokie

[madokie]

12. When I left there I was debriefed

I had to have a top secret clearance btw. I was told that I was not to talk about anything I seen or heard while in the school or while stationed there. I figure that 47 years have passed so I should be in the clear to talk about it some now. Hope anyway

[whathehell]

13. Wow.

So intense.... Something like that has to change a person. I'm curious, do you feel, in hindsight, or overall, that it was a positive or negative experience for you, or is that "either/or" choice too simple?

I'm female, and wasn't in the war, but had friends & in Vietnam, one who died and another who suffered a nervous breakdown and was sent home.

I've always had the deepest respect and compassion for you guys. and yes, after 47 years, I'd say you have the right to talk about whatever the hell you want.

[madokie]

14. In hindsight the training was a positive experience

even though during the training I couldn't figure out why the hell they were doing this to me for. It was not a walk in the park by any means, toughest thing I ever went though in my life leading up to then and since. I wondered who I'd pissed off or what. Then when the training was finished and all the rest of the class got on the bus to return to San Diego and on to their duty stations, where ever that was. Here my friend and I was left standing and I asked what the hell is going on, are we going to have to go through this hell again or what. Thats when we were told that we were staying there and that we were one of them now. probably the happiest day in the navy for me to know that I passed the training and was going to be staying, One of the elite. I was neither a Seal nor a UDT member but I had a lot to do with their survival training, that made me feel good, knowing that I was making a difference.

When it was my time to leave after the tour of duty there and they asked me where I wanted to go as they'd pretty much send me where ever I asked, within reason, I said Vietnam. the Commander told me to take a week and give that some thought so I came to the conclusion that after all the training I had gone through that would be the right thing to do. After all at that point in time I thought what we were doing in 'Nam was right. I mean we were stopping the commies over there before they got over here, or so we were told. A few days after arriving in country I realized what we as a country was doing there was as wrong as wrong can be. I was stuck so I had to stick it out

I originally joined the Navy to stay out of 'Nam but circumstances such as this experience changed that thinking. I never seen a ship the whole time in the Navy.

I learned a lot about myself though it all

[whathehell]

15. Amazing

What an amazing experience. It sounds terrifying, but I'm glad you were able to look back positively on it,

Interesting that you joined the Navy and never saw a ship !

[Scruffy1]

6. This is why I turned off NPR a long time ago.

Their "reporting" is mainly ass kissing.

[Achilleaze]

8. NPR is a tragic case

...along with most of the corporately controlled so-called "news" media.

They no longer serve honestly the people of the United States of America.

[samir.g]

10. He'll fit right in with the trumpsters

[world wide wally]

11. Can Obama rescind his medals?