To the Gentleman who has just posted the above,
Firstly Sir, may I say that having read your profile, it has given me the best laugh I have had on a trully stressful day.
Secondly, my christian name is Gordon Angus, not Angus, which, I did not give you permission to use, especially in a insulting manner.
Thirdly, I have never watched any American war movies on South Viet Nam. My war experience in SVN was totally different to that of the United States.
Fourth, after having this year completed 41 years continuous military service (Regular/Reserve/Full Time Duty Reservist) after joining as an apprentice, the majority of which being in Senior NCO/WO and commissioned rank, and just over twelve years of which has been spent on active service in either a operational situation or a peacekeeping one, I believe I do have a certain degree of credence.
Fifth, may I suggest to you that you read some of the back issues of the past five years or so of the USMC excellent magazine, The Marine Corps Gazette. In it you will find many articles and letters responding to such by USMC officers criticising the "bullet catcher" mentality of the Corps.
In 1999 evidence was presented to a US Congressional Committee on officer retention in the regular US military; part of that presented to committee being from ex-serving officers of the Corps. In this one of the major factors of the failure of the Corps to retain officers, was the inability of the Corps to change it‘s concepts of military operation, the sticking to traditional "shores of Iwo Jima" assault and the lack of lateral and logical thinking which existed at all levels of the Corps, this combined with the unthinking obedience of the non-commissioned ranks, left many well educated competent young officers with no option but to leave the service.
Finally, Sir, may I thank you for pointing out to me my typographical error of leaving the ‘y‘ out of beyond.
With my thanks for such an insightful message, and once again my appreciation of the laugh your profile gave me.
Yours,
G.A.Mackinlay
PS My last contact with the USMC was during Exercise Tandem Thrust held in Queensland, Australia in May-June 2001, as a umpire.