View Full Version : 7th Group Little People
NousDefionsDoc
07-19-2005, 20:07
Got to love them all.
El Salvador May Commit More Iraq Troops
The Associated Press
Tuesday, July 19, 2005; 6:26 PM
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador -- Salvadoran President Tony Saca said Tuesday he would be willing to send more humanitarian troops to Iraq despite the ongoing threat of terror attacks against U.S. allies there.
El Salvador is the only Latin American country with troops in Iraq following the withdrawal of Honduran, Nicaraguan and Dominican soldiers who had served under the Ultra-Plus Brigade formerly led by Spain.
Spain withdrew troops after terrorist attacks on March 11, 2004, in Madrid. The attacks killed 191 people on four commuter trains, prompting voters to elect a new prime minister who opposed the war in Iraq.
El Salvador has been sending humanitarian troops to Iraq since August 2003. The fourth contingent is scheduled to return home next month.
"With or without troops" in Iraq, the terrorism danger "for the country and for the world is enormous," Saca said. "We cannot bow down in the face of terrorism, or be afraid."
Saca said if he does send a fifth contingent, it would be with the understanding that they would continue to serve in a humanitarian fashion, helping with postwar reconstruction.
Despite the peaceful nature of their work, Salvadorans have been drawn involuntarily into combat situations. One soldier died and 12 others were wounded during an attack by Iraqi insurgents in April 2004.
A second soldier died last month after a car hit him while he was changing a tire.
Ambush Master
07-19-2005, 20:20
Just like the "Yards", they have suffered from the oppression and know the stakes. Good on them !!! I will wager that they do themselves very proud !!!
Mix them with the Indig there and get out of the way !! Those Folks would do more than any ID could ever dream of !!!!
What kind of dumbass name is "Saca"? LMAOPalestinian...
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Antonio-Saca
born on the right day of the year, if i do say so myself...
Bill Harsey
07-19-2005, 21:37
What kind of dumbass name is "Saca"? :munchin LMAO
Careful, he's got a cousin in the United States who likes running around in swamps at night.
Got to love them all. is there a battalion's worth of NDD protegees? :munchin
Ambush Master
07-19-2005, 22:05
A Frontsight Thread, or one that is based on a Much, Lighter note, is a field for joking !!!
Talk of "Little People" and their dedication to doing the "DEEDS", that many are not either prepared for, nor dedicated to enough, to follow through and ENGAGE the enemy, will not be taken lightly in my presence !!!
The Indig, ARE, the sharpest edge, of the Pointy End of the Spear !!!!
De Opresso Liber !!
Martin
Roguish Lawyer
07-19-2005, 22:17
Careful, he's got a cousin in the United States who likes running around in swamps at night.
I'll try to remember to steer clear of swamps. ;)
A Frontsight Thread, or one that is based on a Much, Lighter note, is a field for joking !!!point taken...
Airbornelawyer
07-20-2005, 11:07
El Salvador is the only Latin American country with troops in Iraq following the withdrawal of Honduran, Nicaraguan and Dominican soldiers who had served under the Ultra-Plus Brigade formerly led by Spain."Ne Plus Ultra" not "Ultra Plus" :rolleyes:
Technically, the Nicaraguans didn't withdraw. After their first contingent returned, they made a lot of noise about the costs of deployment and their second contingent stood idle in Nicaragua awaiting a resolution of the money issue. After the Spanish announcement and follow-on Honduran and DomRep pullouts, which led to the brigade being abolished, they cancelled the deployment.
Despite the peaceful nature of their work, Salvadorans have been drawn involuntarily into combat situations. One soldier died and 12 others were wounded during an attack by Iraqi insurgents in April 2004.This paragraph is rather insulting to the valor displayed by these soldiers.
In April 2004, Spain accelerated the withdrawal of its forces from Iraq, breaking an earlier promise by Zapatero. Muqtada al-Sadr decided to capitalize on the power vacuum by trying to seize power in Najaf and other Shi'ite cities where Spanish and other Ne Plus Ultra Brigade soldiers were deployed.
On April 4, as the attacks on coalition bases began, a 17-man element of the Batallón Cuscatlán was sent to a nearby Iraqi Civil Defense Corps base, where they found the Iraqis had abandoned their posts.
They were quickly surrounded by Sadr's "Mahdi Army" militiamen. They held their fire for a half-hour for fear of inflicting civilian casualties and in hopes of relief from nearby Spanish troops. Ten soldiers were wounded and Private Natividad Méndez Ramos was killed.
When fighting began in earnest, they held their own, even though each had only a basic load of ammo. They held off the Sadrists for several hours, and two more were wounded. Out of ammo, they loaded Méndez's body and the wounded on a truck and the four unwounded soldiers moved out on foot to protect the truck and their comrades as they tried to make their way back to base.
They were again confronted by Sadrists, and 10 of them surrounded one of the Salvadorans. Corporal Samuel Toloza, having run out of ammo, attacked the Sadrists with his combat knife, stabbing several and saving his comrade. His act stunned the Sadrists, who backed off, buying a little time when a relief force arrived.
Just like a Salvadoran, bringing a knife to a gunfight. ;)
Airbornelawyer
07-20-2005, 11:14
Sorry, not a combat knife, just a regular one:
"With or without troops" in Iraq, the terrorism danger "for the country and for the world is enormous," Saca said. "We cannot bow down in the face of terrorism, or be afraid."
I wish that more Americans understood this concept.
They were again confronted by Sadrists, and 10 of them surrounded one of the Salvadorans. Corporal Samuel Toloza, having run out of ammo, attacked the Sadrists with his combat knife, stabbing several and saving his comrade. His act stunned the Sadrists, who backed off, buying a little time when a relief force arrived.
It gives me a warm fuzzy whenever I encounter that kind of dedication, bravery and discipline. He deserves a medal.
NousDefionsDoc
07-20-2005, 17:43
I didn't write the article AL... :p
Airbornelawyer
07-20-2005, 18:37
I didn't write the article AL... :pI know. Take a look at my post again. ;)
NousDefionsDoc
07-20-2005, 18:53
I know. Take a look at my post again. ;)
LOL
Roguish Lawyer
07-20-2005, 18:58
I know. Take a look at my post again. ;)
LOL
Peregrino
07-20-2005, 20:08
I spent two tours (13 months) in El Sal during their difficulties. I feel about the soldados in the ESAF the way the "real" FOGs feel about their indig from RVN. I would not hesitate to go anywhere or do anything in their company - and be proud to serve with them. Some of the other 3/7 guys who were further East than I (in the "hot" areas) really feel strongly about them. The character and courage of the individual soldado (in my personal experience) was always above reproach. Yes, we had occasional problems but we usually found ways to overcome them. Personally, I would like to see them be a part of efforts in Afganistan. I think they would/could really make a difference there. It's more their style (unconventional) and they would make a hell of a Reaction Force. (You could count on them to be there when the lead started flying.) My .02 - Peregrino
NousDefionsDoc
07-20-2005, 20:22
+1. The units I worked with there are soldiers in any man's Army.