Fight-to-Win

Seeing A Lady Warrior Off to Iraq

When Tanna Bia came to Aztec VFW Post 614 to celebrate a birthday and going away party she had no idea what else was going to become a part of our Post History.

Tanna is being shipped out to Iraq and her family and friends were there in the Post Dining Room to see her off. She was surprised beyond words when the VFW Officers and some Army Personnel walked to the podium and asked her to please come forward.

Commander Abe Saiz then made a few opening remarks and presented her with a New Mexico State Flag. The New Mexico State Flag has a yellow field with a red Zia Sun Symbol in the center. It seems appropriate that a state with so many Native American Warriors should have such a flag.

As a Life Member of Post 614 and the proponent for Mount KIA/MIA it was my pleasure to present a Mount KIA/MIA Challenge Coin to her.

While there are already a few of these challenge coins in circulation, we expect them to become very popular. They will be sold for fifteen dollars each and a part of the proceeds will go toward continuing efforts toward a Mount KIA/MIA Memorial, and we are hoping that there will be a memorial built in the city of Saguache. We are also searching to find a place where people can bring, or send, dog tags honoring killed or missing military personnel. Since these stainless steel tags are almost indestructible it is hoped that there will be a perpetual place of honor for them. We really don’t think they should be on the mountain, but more likely at a “memorial” to be built for this special purpose in Saguache.

New Mexico is proud of all its warriors and I was honored to present the Challenge Coin to one of our Lady Warriors. We wish her a safe journey and look forward to seeing her again when she returns home.

A sunny day and a clear blue sky greeted us as we memorialized Army Cpl. John Spruell. As I stood there I could not help but feel the warmth of this December day and compare it to the cold of the Korean War. The people of Cortez can be proud of the event.

On Saturday, December 06, 2008 more than 100 family members, classmates and friends gathered at the Cortez Cemetery to see the memorial for Army Cpl. John A. Spruell dedicated. It was 58 years to the day since Spruell went missing West of Chosin Reservoir while fighting the Communist Chinese Forces in North Korea.

I traveled to Cortez because of my interest in honoring our heroes, because I was invited, and because Cpl. Spruell was part of a military unit that I had been researching for over six years. He was a member of Btry. B 57th FA Battalion, 7th Infantry Division.

When I read the data on Cpl. Spruell I realized that he had been in the same unit as Sgt. Jimmie Jumbo who I have often written about. Jimmie was from Toadlena, New Mexico and he and Spruell went missing on the same day at Hagaru-Ri North Korea, at the Chosin Reservoir. Spruell and Jumbo were from the Four-Corners Area and being soldiers I believe they would have talked about home. They may have discussed Fry Bread, Mutton Stew, Home Fries and Tacos, and probably family and girlfriends were discussed.

A funeral for my friend of many years, Glen Gabehart, was being carried out in Aztec, New Mexico on the same day as Spruell’s memorial and I thought of Glen as I stood there watching the dedication. Glen and I are members of Farmington High School Class of 1949 and the last time we visited we were looking forward to our upcoming 60th Class Reunion.

As we stood beneath a bright sun viewing a clear blue sky I gave thanks for the weather. This man deserved good weather on the day his memorial was dedicated. As I watched the wonderfully performed ceremony my eyes focused beyond the Speakers and the Honor Guard and the crowd as I looked toward Sleeping Ute Mountain behind them. Surely John Spruell saw this mountain every day he lived in Cortez, and it is fitting that his memorial be within view of this famous landmark

When I visit Cortez I will always stop for a moment at the Southwest corner of the Cortez Cemetery and stand at Cpl. Spruell’s memorial stone to say a prayer for him and his buddy Sgt. Jimmie Jumbo and gaze to the West to enjoy that same Sleeping Ute Mountain that I first viewed as a five year old boy when my family moved to Cortez in 1935

I have a younger brother who lives in Cortez now and who is also a Korean War Veteran, and I am sure that George will be pleased to place a fresh red rose on John Spruell’s memorial stone now and then.

A donor who asked not to be identified provided seed-money to the Cortez cemetery to establish a Memorial Fund in Cpl. John A. Spruell’s name. The fund will be used for maintaining the Veteran’s Section of this cemetery. The fund will repair older headstones and provide a buffer if a family cannot afford the hundred and forty dollar cost of stone-setting. Should you desire to contribute to this fund please contact Dennis Spruell, The Cortez Cemetery, or the Cortez Journal Newspaper.

Even after 58 years, it was evident that John Spruell was a favorite with his high school friends and the younger family members who had never met him. Now they will learn about the events of late November and early December 1950 when a small American Force held off the Chinese Army “East of Chosin” just long enough that the Marines and the few surviving Army personnel were able to fight their way out to the sea, and live to fight another day.

When I arrived at home I could not help but think of the love these “Chosin Few” have for each other, so I telephoned my friend Sgt. Carson Gentry who lives in Johnson City Tennessee. Gentry was a part of that unit and had survived having been a prisoner of the Communist Chinese for years. He was the one who first contacted me with a photo and information about Jimmie Jumbo and has put me in contact with others of these brave men who survived the battle West of Chosin. When you look at the photo of Gentry and Jumbo please remember that Gentry still had this photo over 50 years after the event, and that he has fond memories of Jimmie and his other buddies.

The story of the Korean War, which is called “the forgotten war”, is the story of men who still care about each other. Those who fought in this war will never forget!

Bruce L Salisbury

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Fight to Win!

by Rick Mowles, BS, DC, DICAK, DABCO

Vietnam Veteran 1968-1970. 1st Battalion 9th Marines, 3rd. Marine Division

Since the origin of time, man has been in conflict with man. Primitive man fought with rival clans over territory for hunting. Throughout time, entire civilizations have arisen centered around war and the warrior. A few examples are the ancient civilizations and individuals such as King Leonidas and Sparta, Attila the Hun, the Vikings, Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great, the Samurai of feudal Japan many native American cultures such as the Apache, Comanche and Sioux.

In the 6th century BC, a Chinese military treatise was written by Sun Tzu. This book, The Art of War, was composed of 13 chapters, each of which is devoted to one aspect of warfare. This text has been referred to as the definitive work of military strategies and tactics of its time. It has influenced military leaders such as Napoleon, Mao Zedong, General Vo Hguyen Giap, Ho Chi Minh and Douglas MacArthur. The Department of the Army directs all units to maintain libraries within their respective headquarters for the continuing education of personnel in the art of war. The Art of War, is listed on the Marine Corps Professional Reading Program. It is recommended reading for all United States Military Intelligence personnel and is required reading for all CIA officers.

War is a unique and horrible experience. It reveals the worse acts of carnage and devastation. War is unorganized. It is unpredictable. Civilians, including women and children will die in war. This is an inevitable fact. Soldiers will die in war. These are all unchallenged and true statements of every war ever fought. But the main objective of any war is victory. Diplomacy should be tried first and extensively before a declaration of war. But, once war is declared the main and focused objective is victory.

In the last fifty years, we have seen an element surface in the United States that objected to war. At first they were on the fringe of society. Such names as Jane Fonda and John Kerry emerged during the Vietnam war as outspoken critics of military involvement. The antiwar group has grown and has become more outspoken today. These people have infiltrated our government, the media and education to criticize war and even the brave courageous members of our military. It is not a coincidence that the most of them have never been in the military. Nobody can totally understand war unless they have been there.

Sun Tzu’s military text, covers many topics related to war. He mentions several important points. First, there is no instance of a country being successful in prolonged warfare. Let your great goal be that of swift victory. Second, it is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on. Third, all warfare is based on deception. Fourth, in order to kill the enemy, men must be roused to anger.

The legendary Marine Corps leader, Lt. General Lewis "Chesty" Puller, stated, "When you decide to fight, you hit the enemy hard, you hit them fast, and you lay such devastation on them that you break their spirit to fight." Remember that the goal in war is always victory.

In modern warfare, the key to victory is very simple. When war comes, it should be turned over to our military leaders and not politicians. Our military has been educated and trained to win. Most politicians today have never even been in the military and certainly not combat.

All journalist and media should not be present in areas of war. In recent times the news media has become corrupt and use their tools as political platforms to promote political propaganda. Military leaders can release information to the media. General H. Norman Schwarzkopf stated in the first Gulf War, "We will let you know what you need to know." You don’t win wars by being nice to the enemy. You don’t want to be friends with the enemy, you want to kill the enemy. You win wars by having the enemy respect you. Any submissiveness will be perceived as weakness. You initiate devastation on the enemy that will make them never forget. Overwhelming dominance will not only win the war but will save lives. This example will discourage future aggressions and strengthen the desire to resolve issues with diplomacy. Sun Tzu elaborated on these points throughout his treatise.

In the last forty years we have seen the political intervention in war as a deterrent to victory. Accusing Soldiers and Marines of "murder" in a war on insurgency is ridiculous. When the enemy blends in with the civilian populace, a Soldier or Marine has a split second to make a decision that could mean their life. The principle of shoot first and ask questions later is paramount with winning. The instilling of rules of engagement in a combat situation is something left for fantasy and not reality. The object is to kill the enemy period. Covert tactics and techniques are just that, covert. This information is not be put out to the public for evaluation on moral or judgmental grounds. All these things are not found in Sun Tzu’s "Art of War." What is found in this treatise is VICTORY.

Rick Mowles

Click on picture for bio.

"The greatest happiness is to vanquish your enemies, to chase them before you, to rob them of their wealth, to see those dear to them bathed in tears, to clasp to your bosom their wives and daughters." Genghis Khan

"Casualties many; Percentage of dead unknown; Combat efficiency; we are winning."-Colonel David M. Shoup, USMC, Tarawa, 21 November 1943.

"We are going to attack all day, we are going to attack all night. Let no man come back alive if we are not victorious." General George S. Patton, Jr.

" The warrior doesn’t care if he is called a beast or a dog; the main thing is winning."-Asakura

Norikage, Samurai

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