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Angry Staff Officer

@pptsapper

19 Mar

Always good to remember that the US Army "broke the Klan's back" in the early 1870s. But the compromise to end Reconstruction 1876-77 and begin "Reconciliation" allowed them right back in, and the terror and intimidation began again

When we say "institutionalized racism" we mean a world where a traitor can become Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court in the 20th century and use that position to ensure the continuation of segregation. He was 1 of 3 ex-Confederates to serve on SCOTUS after the war

Until you realize and accept that 1865-1964 was a continuation of the Civil War via an insurgency from outside the political system (KKK, paramilitary violence, lynching) and inside it, you cannot hope to understand the United States of today

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Angry Staff Officer

@pptsapper

4 Mar

Realizing I haven't gotten out into the woods for a while, which is probably why I feel this pent-up stress. Life builds up and crashes on like a wave rolling up the beach. If you try to take it on, it will just knock you down. If you flow with it, it's easier. Nature is my flow

I've come to love hiking because it allows me to center on the minimums: food, water, footing. In a world where I'm constantly surrounded by people, to be responsible only for myself is a rare blessing.

Army command time and staff life are battles of give & take, protect & defend. They shouldn't be, but some leaders only know micromanaging. So, you fight for your people. But fighting saps the kindness. Makes you, well, an angry staff officer

The trail helps restore my kindness

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Angry Staff Officer

@pptsapper

22 Feb

There's a large segment of men on Twitter who should have their Twitter rights revoked until they can learn what not being an asshole to women means

My experience on Twitter as a man is so dramatically different than that of military women - so much harassment directed at them

@16thSMA

There's a reason that @16thSMA is calling out harmful shit he sees on social media - because he understands that even the surface of our culture is infected with this toxic BS that demeans, harasses, & attempts to intimidate our sisters in arms. We should ALL care about this

If you're tired of hearing about it, how the fuck do you think women in uniform feel, having to endure this CONSTANTLY? After Marines United, after SPC Vanessa Guillen, after the Fort Hood Report and STILL harassment continues as a routine matter

These are attacks on US troops

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Angry Staff Officer

@pptsapper

21 Feb

https://twitter.com/PaulFunk2/status/1363552315555340294

One reason I love being an engineer is because of the great examples we have of foreign officers - especially French - shaping our corps in the American Revolution

There's a reason that we've got a French motto and that no one can pronounce the name of our medal

https://twitter.com/PaulFunk2/status/1363552315555340294

At the outset of the Revolution, we only had a few people with experience as military engineers. Richard Gridley, for one, but he was old and got wounded at Bunker Hill. Then there was Jeduthan Baldwin, but his name was Jeduthan, which is just weird

The Continental Army was pretty desperate, and so accepted all kinds of foreign officers who boasted of the technical acumen to build fortifications, bridges, and roads. Some of them were frauds. Some, however, were unlikely heroes, like Andrzej Tadeusz Bonawentura Kosciuszko

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Angry Staff Officer

@pptsapper

19 Feb

Historians of the American Revolution, has anyone done a comprehensive study of Continental Army demographics since Selesky's 1987 review of the Main Army at Valley Forge?

#twitterstorians

I'm interested because of Nathaniel Philbrick's assertion in "Valiant Ambition" that after 1777, the Continental Army was majority foreign-born. Selesky's work shows that for some states, like PA, this was true (75-80%) but New England & VA had lower numbers (25-30%)

Generally, however, there is definitely a climb in foreign-born enlistments post-1777 as more native-born men decided to hire substitutes to satisfy the state quotas, rather than serve themselves. Generally poorer men, as well

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Angry Staff Officer

@pptsapper

18 Feb

TIL that in 1847, Congress authorized the War Department to raise a regiment of Voltigeurs and Foot Riflemen, with a "rocket and mountain howitzer battery"

French influence on the US Army was strong as hell

Damn. Joseph E Johnston was the regimental XO. James J Archer - captured on day 1 of Gettysburg - and Charles J Biddle - commander of the PA Bucktails in the Civil War - were company commanders. Jesse Reno - KIA in 1862 - was the rocket detachment commander

Holy tactical development, batman! this is a fascinating use of light infantry/Riflemen during the 1847 war with Mexico that I hadn't ever heard of. The regt used actual rifle tactics, fighting in companies & in open skirmish order. Often supported by their howitzers and rockets

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