Comments | supplyship: As I scan this wasted land

supplyship

As I scan this wasted land

Mar 04, 2009 12:22

A possible reference for your next Stargate fic: Anatomy of an Improved Outer Tactical Vest, via The Sandbox.

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Book reviews! (Music reviews coming soon to an LJ near you.) More from my quest to read Iraq and Afghanistan combat narratives.

( On Call In Hell: A Doctor's Iraq War Story by Cdr. Richard Jadick )

book report, central asia, iraq, military

Comments 9

ziparumpazoo March 4 2009, 22:07:33 UTC

Have you read Jarhead by Anthony Swafford? Skip the movie though because the producers really missed the point of the novel. I found it very sad and disturbing the amount of self-respect that gets beaten out of these marines during training, as well as the lack of value the officers seem to place on the lives and well being of the people under their command. It's insightful and disturbing at the same time.

supplyship March 4 2009, 22:23:56 UTC

I have read it! (And have seen the movie.) It's *very* insightful about the sort of "brainwashing" the enlisted are subjected to - that whole "break you down to build you back up" philosophy, though I think they are seriously falling down on the "build you back up" part. The apathy in Jarhead, and many of the narratives coming from the current Iraq war, are what gets under my skin the most. I'm trying, very hard, to understand how you get to the point of not caring about basic morality any longer.

ziparumpazoo March 4 2009, 22:29:01 UTC

*nods* It makes me very sad. Another one I really liked was Blackhawk Down (again, I read the book first). The sheer terror those, well basically, kids underwent in the space of 24 hours. *shivers*

a_loquita March 4 2009, 22:14:59 UTC

Awesome reference! And this: otal weight is just north of 60lbs, but the vest is so well designed that it really only feels like 55lbs when you have it on.
Totally cracked me up. I'm such a wimp that my immediate thought was OMFG 55 or 60, what the hell does it matter?! That's friggin' heavy!

(And how does one know instinctively the difference between 55 or 60 pounds on their back???)

supplyship March 4 2009, 22:27:51 UTC

Haha, that was my *exact* reaction too! Then I thought, well, maybe in those kinds of conditions, that kind of heat, a 5 lb. difference is like night and day.

But still, fraking HEAVY! :D

nandamai March 4 2009, 22:15:39 UTC

Haha. I posted the poem from Here, Bullet via the blog before I clicked on your cut tag, and realized you'd posted poems, too.

The vest link is awesome, thank you.

supplyship March 4 2009, 22:31:15 UTC

Hee! Great minds think alike. ;)

Yw - I thought that the visual aspect of what goes where was very helpful!

mrspollifax March 4 2009, 22:44:08 UTC

The blog and the poems are both just ... wow. Thanks for the links.

Also, I think that vest weighs about what my children do *put together*. Eep.

supplyship March 4 2009, 23:38:52 UTC

You are welcome!

And can you imagine hauling your girls around at the same time? That is *heavy*! Plus, add the weight of his rifle, helmet, any other body armor...

One of the books I read (I think Generation Kill or One Bullet Away) talked about the initial invasion Marines schlepping 150-200 lbs packs and gear. In the Iraqi heat. Sometimes with their chemical warfare suits on. o_0