32 Responses to:
YOU CAN STICK YOUR HAT, GENERAL

# 1. 10/23/00 6:12 AM by paul - rochester
Sure, soldiers ought to be better paid, housed, and equipped. But "...the Army is wildly under strength"...for what hypothetical situation?

Editor's Note: For its stated purpose of sustaining action in two major conflicts and one regional one.

# 2. 10/23/00 6:14 AM by JK Bell - Harrisville Utah
It's been awhile but I agree with you on this one. The military is in desperate need of a presidential leader they can respect.

Algore is not that leader.

When he bragged in the debate that he had eliminated 300,000 government positions, he failed to mention 250,000 came from the defense department.

I'm not an expert on defense spending so I am not sure how much or where we need to increase military-spending, but I do know it’s imperative we give our fighting men and woman a hefty pay increase.

# 3. 10/23/00 6:35 AM by Tom Dey - Springwater, NY
Bob, Maybe there is something pragmatic about the black beret - but I sure can't come up with one. When I was in the navy, the white hats actually had specific utility: we could fold them up like a non-legal letter - three folds and slip in the back pocket. This reduced the instances of stollen wallets in foreign ports by 50%. Hence, cash to spend on wine, women and song. The hats therefore boosted morale, and we worked harder and longer.

# 4. 10/23/00 6:59 AM by joe h - irondequoit
Bob,

Just shows the depths to which our military has sunk under the moronic leadership of Clinton/Gore.

And another good reason to rid our country of these corrupt and stupid officials that think symbolism is more important than substance.

# 5. 10/23/00 7:10 AM by Marilyn Berwind - Webster, NY
Bob--Nail on the head! Right to the point. Right on. Thanks. Marilyn B.

# 6. 10/23/00 8:02 AM
You mean I will have to wear a black beret now...just when I am trying to grow my hair longer. How am I going to stick all of my thick, long hair under that little, constricting cap? Now I will have the worse case of hat hair. Well, I am french and hats do look good on me. How trivial, huh, just as the military is about it's appearance. (I will miss the garrison cap: my hair always stayed in place).

# 7. 10/23/00 8:08 AM by Margaret Watson - South Windsor, CT
Bob, you always have interesting columns. About this hat thing, I could give my black baret to the army and they wouldn't have to dip into their meagre coffers to supply them to the services. Also I have some ear rings that I could donate too. Now that women wear men's clothes, why not men wearing women's clothing?. I think the Commander in Chief should wear a baret and rings in his ears too. May as well go right to the top! I hope and pray that we get a worthy President this coming November that will restore the morale of our armed services and yes, restore them to financial security. I know that Algore cannot fill the "Bill" - So, you know how I'll vote.

# 8. 10/23/00 8:35 AM by MS - Georgia
The beret is a distinctive headgear for not only the Rangers, but Special Forces and Airborne. I am none of the above. I am an aviator who has the utmost respect for the infantry soldier and what he does for a living. I do not feel we should "give a beret" to everybody. The Army is full of traditions and symbols. The beret is a symbol of excellence and identifies those who belong to an elite organization. We insult every Ranger who has served by giving this symbol of excellence to all soldiers. We have more pressing problems in the Army that require the attention of the leadership. Which hat we wear is not one of them. The black beret was earned by the Rangers who stormed the cliffs of France on D-Day. How many of us who currently serve can say with a straight face that "we" earned that same right?

Editor's Note: Excellent point, sir. I appreciate your wisdom and service.

# 9. 10/23/00 8:50 AM by Greg - Rochester, NY
This is so stupid. This is the same logic that decided all students should get Regents diplomas instead of just the excellent students who worked harder.

It's not the hat, General Stupid!

# 10. 10/23/00 9:40 AM by Ross - Leesburg, Fl
I got a great "Belly laugh" from your near description of the Garrison cap and how the new Beret may be called a "Lewenski"by the troops. I really enjoyed your article, Bob. Thanks from an old retired Army Sergeant.

Editor's Note: I was wondering, sergeant, about how close I could come to calling it what we called it. I'm glad it gave you a chuckle. And thanks for serving our country.

# 11. 10/23/00 9:52 AM by observer
There is a standing joke that military intellignce is an oxymoron but another one is "military mind" especially when survival at the top is more a political than a military matter.

There have been numerous military fashion statements over the years and most of them were as illogical and unnecessary as this. During WW II MacArthur designed his own hat cornering the market on gold braid. A long time ago the "Ike jacket" had the same elan.

When the Air Force became a separate service, much of its uniform was adapted from the Army with the insignia and rank changed. There have been several changes over the years such as going from one-piece to two piece fatigues and changing the shade but up until McPeak became AF Chief of Staff, there had been no major changes. He instituted what I call the "busboy" look;officers have sleeve braid a la Navy and there are other fashion accoutrements.

What it boils down to is that Chiefs of Staff call the shots when it comes to uniforms. Some have been soldiers with a real military background and honored tradition and others are polititians with stars on their shoulders. In today's military, the soldiers don't stand a chance - so we end up with decisions like this.

# 12. 10/23/00 11:24 AM by Joe - Lindon, Utah
Shinseki is a pc commander. He was that way as the commander of US forces in Bosnia, while I was there. To think that a beret will instill pride and raise the morale of the troops is inane. The black beret means one thing and one thing only...Ranger! So we take one of the elite symbols and give it to everyone. What a joke. If I were still on active duty, I would refuse to wear it out of respect to those who earned it. I hope that he hasn't made it totally mandatory and will still leave it up to commanders to determine appropriateness of wear. Seems like another decision made at the top without any input from the people on the ground. Sounds like the same decision process that went into the wearing of awards and decorations on the Class B shirt. The people who complained about it were those in joint command assignments since the USAF personnel wore ribbons on their shirts, the Army clerks and jerks wanted to show off their ribbons, so a decision was mandated that everyone could wear ribbons...and they looked horrible because they caused the shirt to sag, so soldiers started "starching" their shirts (a no-no) and then backing them with cardboard...all for the sake of a few who are more interested in appearance than duty performance. Now we have the hat. If he wanted a beret, he should have gone with a different color; but green, black, maroon, bluberry (UN) is already taken. How about the tam of the Scottish highlanders? What a joke our Army has become and it starts to stink at the head.

# 13. 10/23/00 12:08 PM by Rob - South Jordan, UT
Bob,

May I ask that you not give any more ideas to our "commander and chief" See, the Ike braid will be traded in for a cigar looking pin-on. Al Gore, who incidently invented the hat, will have the cigar prominently pinned to the hat, and as long as the cigar link is attached, Washington will continue to poorly arm, poorly supply, and poorly pay the military. (The cigar is a secret weapon - it makes the wearer impervious to all that would come against them. -- It worked for the impeached President!)

It really would be nice to have the draft dodging President, and his Press Corresponding Vice-President (did he ever learn how to fire a weapon other than his mouth) down in a foxhole, being fired on, to help them see what really would better equip them.

I really hope to get the Stench out of the Oval Office come November. I also hope plans proceed to "Provide for the Common Defense", to make the United States the respected country it was in the Reagan era.

Here's to hoping someone who might be accountable, credible, and a true leader get's into the White House.

# 14. 10/23/00 12:13 PM by Warren Price - Provo, UT
Bob,

You've hit this one right on the head! No pun intended.

My uncle was a Ranger from 1970-73. Because of what he's done, I enlisted. Actually joined so I could become a Green Beret. I didn't make it, It's tough, I have a healthy respect for the men who wear those berets, and believe they should remain an exclusive thing.

But, then again, therein lies the problem with this administration, They respect nothing-especially personal acomplishment, infact they resent those who have striven for excellence, and seek to tear them down-look at Microsoft.

AND

They have handed out symbols of acomplishment to those who do not deserve it-look at the public education system-they hope they can make people feel better about themselves by handing out recognition for doing nothing.

Recognition should be reserved for those who have acomplished something.

Here's hoping for a change in 15 Days!!!

# 15. 10/23/00 12:26 PM by steve simonetti - Rochester NY
Bob, Thank you for this article. I served with the 75th Infantry Airborne Rangers from 1984-1988. You are exactly correct. The Black Beret is a symbol of the sacrifice and committment that is required to belong to the Rangers. It is a symbol of the heroism and accomplishments of the men that have carved the history of the American Ranger. To give everyone in the army the black beret would dilude that symbolism. This administrations lack of understanding was clearly exemplified by its unclear policy in Somolia when it got 18 Rangers killed trying to capture Adid in a daytime raid. When the Rangers called for tank support, they were denied and told they didnt need tank support. The result, 18 elite commandos killed, Adid still in power, and Les Aspen resigns a week later. Nothing that this administration does suprises me. Maybe they should issue everyone in the Navy the SEAL Trident. Then watch the TEAMS overthrow the government. Or issue everyone in the Air Force a licence to fly an F-14. Im sure there will be some Army commanders that would be embarrased to issue their outfits the Black Beret. I hope.

Thanks again, Rangers Lead The Way.

# 16. 10/23/00 1:18 PM by Pete - Poughkeepsie, NY
I believe the idea of dressing our soldiers up in beret's is merely an effort to integrate our armed forces with those of other nations, ie: the United Nations.

Don't U.N. troops wear beret's?

Isn't this just another step toward surrendering our sovereignty to the "One Worlder's".........................

# 17. 10/23/00 2:54 PM by Dan - just outside the Pentagon
It is a joke. The government's focus is on the wrong things when the Prez, or congressperson or senateperson is worried about anything, everyone has to jump. But what gets done? Look at it this way: Pythagorean theorem: 24 words. The Lord's prayer: 66 words. Archimedes' Principle: 67 words. The 10 Commandments: 179 words. The Gettysburg address: 286 words. The Declaration of Independence: 1,300 words. The US Government regulations on the sale of cabbage: 26,911 words.

When ADM Nimitz gave operations orders to ADM Halsey they were: "Find enemy, sink same"

They understood what was important in the military.

# 18. 10/23/00 3:41 PM by Linda - Orem, UT
Bob, I agree with your comments today. I have a son in the army - Infantry Airborne - who wears his maroon beret with pride. He has the deepest respect for those who wear the black, for he knows what they had to do to earn it. My son-in-law is in the Utah National Guard - Engineers and he, too, respects those who wear the black beret. To make it universal is assinine, as others have said. To give everyone a symbol of respect when it isn't earned diminishes all. I think all our servicemen and women deserve the symbols which indicate their accomplishments at a glance. And, by the way, I happen to think that those class A uniforms with the garrison caps look really cool - or is it because I am a proud mother who would admire her son in any uniform?

# 19. 10/23/00 4:36 PM by Robert - Harrisburg
Everyone of us who wore a garrison cap know exactly what you were trying to say and getting more frustrated by the minute. It's really tough to explain it when a couple of words would make the difference.

My son was a black beret for 10 years and is now a disabled veteran. I can't wait to talk with him about this (if he's able to talk and not sputter in rage).

Editor's Note: Thanks, sir, to you and your son for your service to our Republic.

# 20. 10/23/00 10:39 PM by A Patriot - Lockport, NY
Your sons and daughters, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers have served, some with their last full measure, to keep you safe and secure in a free republic. This Nov. 7, show your graditude. Do your duty.

# 21. 10/24/00 6:43 PM by Bill Mrkvicka - Rochester, NY
Bob,

Your commentary normally gets my ire up (for or agin' your point). This one particularly so.

I served with the LRRPs/75th Rangers in Vietnam in the late 60's. There are few symbols of our service that the guys display with pride, but, the beret is one of them.

I really feel for today's Rangers. They have gone through years of testing and training. Only those who were good enough and lucky enough survived to graduation. When you meet one of them, the first thing that strikes you is their physique. When they speak, their intelligence and respect for others is very apparent. They are so much better than we ever thought of being.

However, they are saddled with a problem that we also had - Military leaders at the highest level who are only concerned about politics. The troops, the mission, defeat of the enemy - all take second place to their own egos and political sway.

Maybe I should have just gone to a foreign country.... or invented the Internet.

# 22. 10/25/00 8:01 PM
It is not the clothes on your back that make you elite. Its not the color of your skin or your age,religion or the style of your hair. Its not the branch of the armed services that you are in. And, mostly, its not what you wear on your head . It is made up of the who you are, the what you have done and the what you have gone thru. Its not what you wear on your head. I, like everyone else who knows what I,m talking about, earned their beret the hard way. While many failed,a handful passed and they were given the honor and the right to wear what rightfully they earned. To give this to everyone is a shame. A mockery of what we had to go thru to earn. This will be another sad day for those that serve and for those whose time has passed. Its not what you wear on your head, its what is in it and obviously there isnt much in the Chief of Staffs.

# 23. 10/26/00 5:19 AM by E.G - Kapolei Hawaii
To

Mr Lonsberry

I am a SFC in the us army i want to thank you for supporting us i started to think everyone was believing the lies i watch on c-span with all these brifeings on how great the military is and how great the life is ,well after 12 years i have had enough the military both officer and enlisted have become the biggest yes men and lie to the public like there is no tomorrow and it will come out when we have a next real war the proof will be in the pudding. we are treated like idiots and they try to make it som politcally correct that everyone is scared to make a decision.

i Remember 2 years ago i was stationed in korea as the NCOIC of a bridge we guard on the DMZ. this one incident will let you know hoe they will put us in harms way and do not carewhen we bombed afghanistan in 1998 in kore we went to Threatcon A the highest terrorist threat in fear of retaliation well on the bridge we were guarding we carried pistols but the ammo was inside a building inside a locked box . The high ranking officers rather have unarmed guards then trust the soldiers to have loaded weapons. At the gates to our camp the guards , this is at the same time the gate guards had weaspons with helmet and load bearing vest with their bayonets on their weapons but still no ammuniton was issued at all . So whn i saw what happened to the USS Cole i was not surprised because this is how the senior leadership will set you up for failure while in harms way. Well i sorta went on a roll but i want to thank you again for sticking up for us and letting us know that the american people are not as stupid as some people think they are.

Editor's Note: Thanks, sergeant, you've got in a dozen more years of genuine service to the Republic than most of the ninnies in Congress or the White House.

# 24. 10/26/00 11:59 PM by Erin N. - Fort Benning GA
Bob, I can't thank you enough for your colorful commentary. I, unlike my Ranger husband, am not under a gag order, so I will feel free to speak my mind, and I have already drafted up my letter to anyone and everyone who will listen and hopefully put their boot you-know-where to Gen. S. Personally, I don't see how making a soldier go spend $10 on new headgear will raise morale. Money always raises morale, or did they think all us military families are independently wealthy? In speaking to non-Rangers lately, I have not heard one say "I can't wait to wear a black beret." They are smart enough to known they did not earn it, surprisingly. Anyway, thank you for people like you who can speak their minds and know a dumb thing when they see it.

Editor's Note: And thank you to you and your husband for, as an Army family, serving our nation.

# 25. 10/27/00 1:31 PM by John Eder - Amarillo, Texas
Great piece of information, Mr. Lonsberry! I and thousands of former, present, and future Rangers agree with your comments wholeheartedly! The black beret should be earned by those willing to endure the hardships and training Rangers are subjected to as America's battle leaders.

Thank you for your public stand on this issue that is so very important to veterans like me. Let General Shinseki pick some other color like tan, red, white, or blue if he's intent on making berets a part of the everyday soldier's uniform. Or let's stay with those lids that can't be named.

# 26. 10/28/00 11:23 AM by Mark Turner - Annapolis, MD
I just found out about this insane change to take place next June when I visited the Ranger Association website. There is a link there to your site. Having served with the Rangers from 83-87, I feel hurt, disgraced and VERY pissed! And in the missed of my outrage, your article and discription of the garrison cap got me rolling with laughter and brought me back to normal. I'm delighted with your view on the matter and may we all hope that this doesn't become a reality. No doubt that it will be dubbed a "Lewy" by the press and military alike. This is one voter who just fell off the fence to "Bush"y side!

# 27. 10/31/00 2:34 PM by Ranger D.W. Schneff - Orlando, FL
Dear Bob,

Thankyou for your commnetary! It was refreshing to read that common sense still holds it's place.

I wrote to the General of the Army. I expressed my viewpoint quite bluntly. The RANGER'S BERET is a visual DISTINCTION to remind all that WE are a professional soldier who earned the right to wear that DISTINCTIVE piece of headgear.

I served within the Ranger Regiment and I hold those memories with fondness. The Honor, Pride, and high Espirit De Corps cannot be issued!

Our unit's motto is, "Sua Sponte" which to the uninitiated means, "Of our own accord." We all volunteered for the specialized mission of the Ranger Regiment and WE all proved the right to wear this "magical" piece of headgear. It is worn in DISTINCTIVE DEDICATION OF ALL PAST,PRESENT, AND HOPEFULLY FUTURE "SCROLL BEARERS" and RANGER TRAINING BRIGADE CADRE MEMBERS.

Thankyou again, RANGER D.W. Schneff SSGT A CO 1st BN 75th INF REG

# 28. 11/2/00 8:44 PM by PL - Clarksville, TN
As a 2LT in the 101st Airborne (Air Assault), I've yet to meet one soldier, NCO, or Officer who thinks that this black beret idea is anything other than an absurdity. We do not want to wear Ranger headgear, because we are not in the 75th Ranger Regiment. It is an insult to those who have earned it, and it is horrifyingly demoralizing to have to accept the FACT that the top level of our leadership is this blind and out of touch with reality. If the Army wants to improve readiness and morale, make basic training harder. When the Army sends me fat and out of shape soldiers from Basic who have been told not much more than "you'll learn that at your unit", the problem won't be fixed by giving them a beret. I meant to keep this comment short but now I've got to ramble a bit. Under this plan, soldiers will "earn" their beret by passing basic and AIT?!? That is a joke. Soldiers (INFANTRY SOLDIERS) are coming out of their initial training soft, pudgy, undisciplined, and barely able to pass the APFT! And the standards for the APFT are a heck of a lot easier than they were when I was a private! I'm not belittling today's soldiers, some of them are hard charging, motivated, wonderful people. The others, the soft and pudgy ones, are not substandard because of a failure on their part, they are substandard because the Army has gone insane and failed them. Instead of making soldiers meet challenging standards, the Army has drifted onto the path of just lowering standards so that anyone can meet them, usually without any effort at all. If you give a soft, pudgy soldier a black beret, you will not magically transform him into a combat ready troop.

# 29. 11/20/00 3:38 PM by Kathy Kindle - Middleport,NY
Hu-Ah, Bob!!

It's S.O.S. for military. Same ole' S--! just a different day. The Army went through that years ago, and it has resurfaced. It's been headlines in the ARMY TIMES paper for the last few issues.

I can't believe they are doing this to the morale of our soldiers of today. If I was still in (21-year veteran-army enlisted) I'd be ticked off good. I think the firm of heart one just let it role off their backs(you get used to abuse by the administration) but they think it will draw those newer young folks or something. Why don't they offer better pay, improved on-post housing, tax-free pay or more support for families. I enlisted in 1972 and I saw just about everything. From drafting our men to the all-volunteer army to "Be all you can be" and it the same ole stuff from the democrats. They'd give us something small and trivial and then stuff it to us on assignments, benefits and anyway they could.

Sorry Bob, but they really like messing with the troops. But OH, Heaven forbid don't screw with the ballots. !! Give me a break!!! As for the black beret, yeah I've heard that Monica Lewinsky wore one, unfortunately, the women were issued black berets for years (we wore them differently and were made differently from the one the Special Forces had) but they were black berets just the same. Personally I liked the brimed hat better. Thanks for letting me speak. I think the least the government could do is give each and every one of them a nice FREE Thanksgiving meal, with all the trimmings. Forget the Hat!!

P.S. Keep up the good work. I listen as often as possible.

# 30. 1/11/01 4:31 PM by Reinaldo Rios - Caguas, PR
The elite headgear will never make or transform the soldier, it is the elite soldier who makes the elite headgear what it is today in the U.S. Army. Berets have to magical powers and you don't EARN one by kissing butt, but by KICKING butt. RLTW!

# 31. 3/6/01 1:52 PM by Mitch Hardin - Pontiac, MI.
HA HA HA HA. I loved this article! THis guy speakes the truth blended in with some good humor. Pulitzer Materiel.

# 32. 3/14/01 4:56 PM by Bruce Black - Colorado Springs, CO
The army now says soldiers will have to pass a "US Army History Test" in order to qualify to wear the Black Beret. Here's what I think the test should be:

US Army History Test

Block 1: Enter your name and rank: ________________________

Question # 1. In the history of the US Army, has the person named in Block 1 above, ever successfully completed US Army Ranger training? YES / NO (circle correct answer)

If you circled YES above, you have passed your history test and are qualified to wear the Black Beret. If you answered NO, sorry, you do NOT qualify.

Bruce Black, Maj, USAF, (ret)

Editor's Note: Brilliant, Major, I agree completely.

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