War turns more deadly for weekend warriors since May 1

http://www.knoxstudio.com/shns/story.cfm?pk=IRAQ-RESERVES-11-06-03&cat=WW

WASHINGTON - America's so-called weekend warriors have been dying in much higher numbers in Iraq since President Bush announced the end of major combat.

Members of the National Guard and units of the Army and Marine Reserves accounted for less than 9 percent of fatalities during the initial phase of the war, but more than 21 percent since May 1, according to a study of Pentagon reports by Scripps Howard News Service.

The reason, military officials say, is that reservists have been trained in critically needed post-combat skills like law enforcement, civil administration and transportation.

"I'm going to a funeral Friday for one of my military policeman and I have several more who are wounded," said Mark Bowen, adjutant general of the Alabama National Guard. "We are the combat services' support units who provide the beans and the bullets. And we also are the military police, and that's been a big deal."

Sgt. Aubrey Bell, 33, of Tuskegee, Ala., died Oct. 27 when the Al Bayra Police Station to which he was assigned was struck by an improvised explosive device. He was one of at least 24 military policemen who have died since major combat in Iraq officially ended.
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damn the squatter in the WH.

:kick:

Reserves and NG are never trained like active soldiers are.

Sending weekend warriors into a war zone. Brilliant.

especially the National Guard........ You do not need the super wize bang bullet proof vest to fight hurricanes and fires..........

got the hand-me-downs. Some have body armor dating back to the Vietnam war, they're driving the soft Humvees that lack body armor or the Kevlar blankets. Helicopter squadrons have the choppers that lack the anti-missle defenses and armor.

And of course the Repugs don't want to extend their families medical benefits while these guys and gals are away from their employers. And while many private employers are making up the difference in pay the congress refused to extend the same to those employed by the federal government. Then if they come home injured or sick they stick them in some crappy barracks and make them wait months to get medical care.

These soldiers and their families better damn well figure this out and vote Dem in '04. If they don't, they sure don't deserve any sympathy.

...is going in April. He's in Alabama National Guard Special Forces and has already been to Afghanistan. He's my Alabama Football watching buddy and the funniest guy in the world to watch games with.
I fear for his safety.

He hates Bush and Rumsfield. A lot of other members of his unit feel the same.

When Baghdad Bush speaks - terrorists listen