September 12, 2008
Posted by Mr_Hooah
I’ve got’chur Big.Red.One riiiiight here!
This news came out, I dunno, maybe sometime in August. But I missed it. The news hit Military.com about Sept. 03. But I missed it. Then it hit again Sept. 09 & 10 in the MSM. My wife pointed it out to me on the 10th. I wanted to write something about it on the 11th. But. Well. It was the 11th and I did not want to distract from much more important matters. Albeit related.
What the heck am I talking about?
Why, the Big Red One. Of course. The First Infantry Division.
Turns out Army incorporated has decided to start a line of “authentic lifestyle reinterpretations” of the fit, design and performance of regulation uniforms and military-issued gear. And they’re starting with licensing the insignia of the First Infantry Division. So now, kiddies and militia losers, you don’t have to EARN your Big Red One. Oh no. Now you can get it on sale for 19.99 at SEARS.
Isn’t that special? I think my heart is about to launch my head into orbit! Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh.
Read about it here: Military.com/news and here: Chicago Business and uhm a discussion here: VaJoe.com
Do you know how bad this deal stinks? It stinks so bad that even John “Marine Witch Hunt” Murtha is aghast.
U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., chairman of the House appropriations subcommittee on defense, told online publication Poltico.com that he was “astounded” by the deal. And Charles Horner, a retired Army officer who now works for Mr. Murtha, told Poltico.com, “That patch is to be worn by only people who served in the 1st Division; what right does the Army have to sell our patch?”(source)
Does this tell you anything?
But don’t worry. It’s ok. After all. They’re doing it for the soldiers families.
All American Army Brand will pay a license fee, which will go toward supporting programs to benefit troops and their families, according to a spokeswoman.(source)
Who could be against that. Right? Except one might also note this little tid bit:
“Sears has been proud to show its support of members of the military and their families on a variety of levels,” a Sears spokeswoman says, adding that company is pleased that a portion of the fees will benefit the military troops and their families.(source)
A portion? Only a “portion”? Gee. I wonder how much a “portion” is?
If it’s anything like the Army’s “Family First” idea then the portion is sure to be less than what an FRG (Family Readiness Group) could make at a friggin BAKE SALE. So I have to wonder who this really benefits. Maybe some Generals retirement fund? You know the kind of General I’m talking about. The kind of pogue general that runs Stand-DownTo!
I love my Army but this is friendly fire. Worse. It’s fratricide. Men bled and died for that Unit patch. What’s next? Purple Heart candy ear rings? My little pony congressional medals of honor? This belittles everything our Unit patches mean. And trust me. They mean much more to the men and women who wear them than simply a visual organizational codification. Oh no. It means history. Lineage. Honor. Strength. Courage.
There are ideals and stories attatched to our Army symbols that transcend pop culture 19.99$ sales racks.
I expect the Kos Kidz to trivialize the sacrifices of our fighting men and women. I DON’T EXPECT THE ARMY TO DO LIKEWISE.
My hope is that vetrans groups, congressmen, and bloggers like you will raise such a cry that a sane General somewhere in the DoD will put an end to this madness. Otherwise, next year for 9/11 you might be treated to the sight of some Muslim kid dancing in the street in celebration of the attack … wearing a BIG. RED. ONE.
And won’t that be lovely?
Mr.Hooah!, out!!!
5 Comments
September 12, 2008
Oh {{{{{{{{{Mr Hooah!}}}}}}}}
First, I’m gonna rush my bp meds over to share with you – after I have taken a *few*. Next, I am going to figure out WHO to write to about this (any ideas????), LAST, I am going to splash this all over the places I post on.
NOT ON MY WATCH…not when – as you say – those who have earned the right to wear this have bled, and in some cases died, for the honour…
Oh no, no, no. This will not do.. NOT ON MY WATCH…..
Brat on the job.
September 12, 2008
Brat!!!
You go girl. Go!!!!
September 12, 2008
That badge doesn’t belong to the Army to sell… it belongs to the Vets who have earned the right to wear it, fought wearing it, bled wearing it and died wearing it. Please don’t use “helping families” as an excuse to disrespect multiple generations of the 1st Infantry Division. There are many other ways the Army can support and help families.
September 12, 2008
Oh dear. My son is a member of the Big Red One and proud of it. When he learned he was assigned to the Big Red, he was thrilled. I can’t wait to ask him about this.
Take this one step further, he does not appreciate all the civilians wearing variations of camo. So far, it has not been the digi camo, but sounds like that will change.
Why was excited to be a part of Big Red? The long history, of course!
September 12, 2008
As the wife of a former member of 1ID who proudly wears his combat patch from his rotation to Iraq…..I really think I might be sick.
When I think of all the lives lost under those patches…..not just the Big Red One, but all those that will follow, it saddens my heart to think that they are being cheapened the way they are….it’s hard enough to see the old BDU’s in places like Goodwill with the patches still on them….but to blatantly sell for profit something a sacred as the talismans that soldiers fight under, well….again, it really makes my heart hurt.
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