I see on here that everyone is writing and telling of their experiences. Now it is my turn to tell my story that I have spoken very little of because there is so much of this I try to forget. I have lost too many good friends, and I think my time in service I was treated badly .<\/p>\n
When I first went in I went in to the Louisiana Guard they had a good college program I wanted to take advantage of so after Basic and AIT I returned home. A few days later was my first drill weekend with them and my Platoon Sergeant came to me and said that the enlistment bonus I was going to get I was not going to get for some stupid reason, and if I didn’t like it I could get out on breach of contract so after a few weeks I did . I wanted to serve my country so I went to the Army recruiter and went to active Army in the Infantry. I didn’t have to go to basic but had to go to Infantry school at Fort Benning. The guys I went through school with we stayed together we all went to Central America to the 199th Inf. Brig. Light which was only a detachment there that was supporting the SF and DEA in operations down there against the Drug Cartels . <\/p>\n
Our job was to go out and get the SF or DEA when they got in trouble, and it happened. A lot of things got real bad. Sometimes people got hurt and killed. I was wounded several times myself. The 199th were the last guys to leave Saigon, Vietnam when it fell. Some of those guys had medical reasons why they were not allowed to return to the states so I got a lot of good training from some guys with some really good combat experience.<\/p>\n
Panama Operation Just Cause came along so they sent a detachment there to support the SF that was working there. Our job was very simple if they called for help we went to help them. I got there the day before invasion so on my second day there I think it was the SEALs that was at the airport was calling for help so we jumped into the trucks, crossed the Panama Canal as soon as we hit the streets we started taking fire from everywhere. The truck motor got hit it died we were sitting still. Bad thing. <\/p>\n
I jumped out the back and my big ass feet got all tangled up in the troop strap and I fell to the street on my belly. Then something hit me in the back and took my breath away. I thought I got blown into by a mortar or something. The next guy out of the truck fell on top of me and then him and the next guy grabbed me by the arms a dragged me in to a building where we took cover. As I caught my breath they told me that the guy behind me kicked out a battery for the PRC 77 radios . I couldn’t move or hardly move for all the pain so the Medics kept giving me Morphine until I was evacuated to a hospital ship. <\/p>\n
They told me that they couldn’t find anything wrong except for swollen muscles that was pinching nerves and after the swelling went down I would be all right. So a few months later I was better but I still have problems today . I went back to my Detachment and we were training with the SF here at Fort Polk getting familiar with some new equipment.<\/p>\n
While we were in the school we heard of the Iraq invasion of Kuwait. We were told to get our shit together and we were getting on a plane and going over as Scouts and the unit was re-designated as the 199th Co. A Det. 3 Inf . Motorized. We would have Dune Buggies and M113s for transportation. So after getting over to Saudi Arabia we went to a briefing and was told to take out bunkers, missile sites and anything that was a threat so we did for 93 days. In the Desert all resupply came from air drops and I stayed out so long my uniform rotted off. The invasion started and we went to the front lines to call fire on enemy bunkers and trenches. From the Iraq side their defenses there were weak and it took no time for the thing to be over. Then one day I don’t remember how many days later we were called to a grid to go and check out that Village had to be secured for peace talks. We went everything looked good and then the tanks moved in to take the Village and it was over .<\/p>\n
We were then ordered back to Saudi Arabia. We had been out a while and was tired sleepy and didn’t care anymore. We just wanted to go home everything was over so we started traveling the roads to go back. I was in the commanders cupola and decided to light a cigarette. My lighter wouldn’t work so I popped down inside of my 113 and dig through my Ruck to find a lighter and the other guys in the track were asleep. So I popped back up and we were off the road. <\/p>\n
My driver went to sleep I bumped him on the head to wake him he came to and realized he was off the road so I told him to turn around and follow our tracks back to the road. We did driving just off our tracks , over there there is like a sand berm along the roads the dirt stays blowed off to the sides by the traffic and maybe after a big storm they may clean it off. We seen the berm so we knew we were not far off. Just before we hit the road we ran over a mine. The track blew up and was on fire. I fell down inside from the blast. I jumped up and pulled the ramp lever behind the driver and the ramp fell. I grabbed the driver and the Lieutenant dragged them out and away. I went back in and grabbed the other two guys in our team. <\/p>\n
The 3 layers of sandbags I put in the track helped us but the other guys were pretty messed up. I realized my feet and legs below the knees were on fire as my Nomax started shrinking to me. I stumped around in the sand and put it out and took off my boots and Nomax. I had on BDU Pants and a T- Shirt I was trying to regain my senses and my hearing while checking my own injuries. I seemed to be messed up a little but could still help the other guys I had no weapons, medical supplies or anything. Everything was on fire then the next thing I know two Iraqi soldiers walked up on me and was kicking the other guys and pushing and kicking on me. I was still a little stunned. <\/p>\n
I got up and they put me on a truck. There was a guard in the back watching me. A driver and another one in front with a weapon on the passenger side looking around like he was riding shotgun. We were on this road and we were headed back into Iraq possibly to Bagdad. This guard that was watching me I noticed was bobbing his head and dozing of to sleep so I started yawning and acting like I was sleepy then his head bobs got longer. Then I decided if his head went down for more than 2 seconds I would take him. Finally his head went down. I counted 1-2-3 then I kicked him in the chest. <\/p>\n
His weapon was pointed toward the cab of the truck so I helped him pull the trigger and got to 2 guys in the cab. I kicked him one more time in the face and snatched his weapon and turned it toward him and gave him a burst in the chest. He had on a chest rig for mags and some of them had holes in them. I grabbed it anyway. The truck was still rolling. He had 4 grenades on his rig. I took one of them, pulled the pin throwed at the cab and jumped out the back. The truck blew up. I was laying in the road. I looked at the AK, threw down the bad mags and ammo I had, took the good stuff and 3 grenades and ran for a ways to get as far away as possible. I realized I would die if I didn’t calm down and get it together so I went over behind the berm looked at what I had. I took my t-shirt and made a head rag. <\/p>\n
I had enough ammo for a fight but would try to avoid one so I decided to lay down try to cover myself with sand in the day and walk at night. I had a canteen of water that smelled like camel piss. I took a little sip and it tasted like it too. So I just walked south for a few days and found our guys. I told some Medic my stories and don’t remember too much after that until waking up on a hospital ship again talking to some Captain. He was telling me I had some burns and would be all right after a few months of rest and being sent back to my unit.<\/p>\n
We were supposed to go home but got redirected to help some Delta Force in Mogadishu, Somalia. We flew in to the Mogadishu airport in the hot zone and operation was cooked up to get Aidid, and my unit was there as support. Something went wrong, and you all know the story. Well we went out in the trucks to pick up everyone and it was a SHIT STORM. I made it that time without a scratch but seen a lot of my friends and buddies killed and injured. I decided I wanted out of that stuff. Me and some buddies were talking. Our enlistment extension was ending and we could get out. A couple of the guys were Jewish and we were talking about the IDF. The rules were a little different then so all we needed was his Rabbi to sponsor us and we could get in as prior service soldiers. So 3 other guys and myself went over. <\/p>\n
We had already trained with the Israelis before and knew them. We went through some MOC training, went to church and our job which was very simple. We were given our choice of weapons and went out to buildings on a hill overlooking Gaza and were told if it wears a head rag and carries a weapon shoot it, very simple.<\/p>\n
After a year I went home and here I am. Since Sep 11, 2001 I have been saying we need to get ready and have been building this unit with some very simple rules. If the Bible doesn’t say it or the Constitution of the United States doesn’t say it we don’t do it. Anyone who likes my rules and can abide by them is welcome in my unit.<\/p>\n
I have been searching for people to fill the ranks and to use their talents the best way I can. As far as training goes I can show you what to do and how to act. I can write out what we need training in and I have people now that are good instructors and trainers. Now that everyone has written of their experience and I have told you my story that I have spoken very little of I hope you will come join us before it is too late.<\/p>\n
Commanding Officer Louisiana Home Guard
\nSteve Jones<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Yes, that’s right, the guys at Delta are always counting on some nasty legs from the Louisiana National Guard to pull their fat from the fire. Happens almost every day. <\/p>\n
Well, Jones’ story sounded real fishy, so 1stCavRVN11B sent it to me and asked me what I thought of it, and I agreed, so he asked our friends at POW Net to do a FOIA on Jones – and here’s the results;<\/p>\n
Yup, total bullshit. He was a National Guard turret mechanic from 1988-1991. The closest he got to combat was getting activated for Desert Storm and serving his time at Fort Polk, LA. A long and storied career. <\/p>\n So apparently, the militias don’t check on their membership very well either if a turret mechanic can pass himself off as a special forces operator. He’s probably kicking himself because he didn’t stay in another 10 years and qualify for the IVAW.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"jones-foia\"](\"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/jones-foia.jpg\" "\\"jones-foia\\"")
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