U.S. Marines take down possible Terrorist Gunman on train

"(CNN)A massacre on a high-speed train in Belgium was prevented Friday when two members of the U.S. military in civilian clothing surprised an Islamist militant, authorities said.

The suspect was loading his automatic Kalashnikov rifle in a toilet, apparently preparing to attack, when the service members confronted him, said a European counterterrorism official.

The gunman fired on them with a handgun, the official said, wounding at least one. Three people were injured aboard the Thalys train traveling from Amsterdam to Paris, authorities said.

The service members overpowered the suspect, who was placed under arrest when the train was rerouted to the French town of Arras, about 115 miles (185 kilometers) north of Paris."

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"(U.K. Daily Mail) One of the hero Marines who foiled a planned terror attack on a French train was shot in the neck while disarming the crazed gunman on Friday.

The two unarmed servicemen spotted the 26-year-old Moroccan acting suspiciously and heard him trying to arm his weapon in the toilet of the high speed train between Amsterdam and Paris.

The gunman got on the train in Brussels and attempted his attack soon after crossing the French border.

The 26-year-old Moroccan national, who was known to security services, came out of the toilet brandishing the gun and opened fire. Fortunately, two US Marines were nearby and overpowered him before he could massacre passengers.

The suspected terrorist had at least nine full magazines of ammunition holding almost 300 rounds. He was also carrying a knife.

Unfortunately, one of the Marines was shot although his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening."


Me personally, I am thanking our Creator that our Servicemen/Marines were on that train and the total injuries sustained were minor. I pray for their quick recovery and return to duty. And if they are awarded medals, how much do you want to bet they try to refuse them? They would probably say, "That is our job" or something like that.  Other articles make mention of a possible National Guard member, but I haven't seen any type of official confirmation.

Semper Fi Gentlemen

This is why the Air Force wants to get rid of the A-10

and other Aircraft and their associated systems.

"From what I have gathered over the years on the topic via talking to pilots directly and seeing mentions of the decision in publications from time to time, the USAF justifies not procuring CFTs because it already has so many tanker aircraft. Additionally, in a major air battle they don’t need the extra weapons stations freed up by the inclusion of CFTs as a great advantage because they can simply assign more F-16s to target set. For longer-range strike missions they can use the F-15E or even a bomber."

That article is about why the US Air Force does not use Conformal Fuel Tanks (CFT) on the F-16 Viper. Can you read between the lines and figure out the reason?

It's simple. They have all these OTHER aircraft, that they "Need" to have in inventory, to do the job.

Those Aircraft, are jobs in Congressional districts. Those Aircraft are kick backs and jobs after retirement for Procurement Officers and Generals who make recommendations.

They don't WANT to buy the less expensive option which allows the mission to get completed with fewer aircraft.

And it is not just the Air Force. It is also the Army, the Marine Corps, the Navy, and there have even been a few cases of the Coast Guard only getting a system because of certain deal sweeteners.

The US Military, heck the US Government's entire Procurement apparatus, is broken.

Needed materials unless under certain conditions can ONLY be procured under bidding conditions that stretch out and add additional costs to the total cost. Keeping hundreds if not thousands of unnecessary Government employees on the payroll, jacking up the expenditures.

The whole Procurement process needs an enema.

MISSION FIRST should be the mantra, NOT whatever it currently is.

For more on the boondoggle that is the US Air Force Procurement programs read this article about the KC 46.

Broken Booms: Why Is It So Hard To Develop & Procure A New USAF Tanker?

Riot Training and the SCA - From Book of Face

********* I remember being told stories back in 1980 by some of the SCA vets that had lived in Texas....apparently the Dallas Police were taught shield and stick by some Scadians in the early 70s. This apparently started when a police recruit kept getting past the riot shield of the instructor with his baton during his first training session.

Like · Reply · 3 · 10 hrs
***************Saw the same sort of thing in the Army in the early 1980's. The Army instructors had no idea that one could throw a blow at a rioter that came UNDER the bottom edge of a shield. Damned few people think to wear shinguards to a riot...
Like · Reply · 3 · 10 hrs

**************** I was never a fighter, but I picked up a few things.....and I had the opportunity to try them out on a Marine wearing a Red Man suit who was instructing me on baton during ship defense force training. I was using a fiberglass training baton. As he stripped off the suit, "You put that bruise on me, that bruise....how the hell did you get me there...?" When I told him about the SCA and heavy fighting... he was ecstatic.
Like · 1 · 9 hrs

************* There's a probably apocryphal story about SCA members and the military that supposedly comes from MCRD San Diego.

When USMC recruits go down to the pits for pugil-stick training, what usually happens is that the DI picks some likely looking kid, gets him all kitted out, and then uses him for a tackling dummy to demonstrate the approved technique. All went well until the other DI serving as the referee/safety shouted "GO," whereupon there was a quick flurry and the DI found himself lying in the dirt. As the other DI helped him to his feet, the loudspeaker from the safety tower came on: " Instructor in Pit #3, ask that recruit if he's in something called the SCA."

"He says he is. What does that mean?"

" It means that you aren't going to be able to hit him. Ask the recruit if he's a Knight in the SCA."

"He says he is. What's that mean?"

" It means that they couldn't hit him either."

ATTENTION!!!! Jarhead, Leathernecks, DevilDogs

and all you navy infantry.  :) (I KNOW I'm gonna get a nastygram about THAT definition)

I have added a new Blog to Ye Olde Blogroll that may be of particular interest to you.

SNAFU - A Marine Corps centric blog, with a view on all things military...


You may thank me later.  

(Or try to send me nasties in the Mail, but the Postal Inspectors frown on that)

Very discouraging

Peter has two you shoul read.

The first deals with the military budget and the sequester.  Peter tells it straight including his misgivings about the report, but if he says it's important to read, you really should read it.

Overhead costs are "sinking the military"

The second deals with a Marine Corps whistle blower and retaliations being taken against him. And some of the reactions Peter has heard about the issue.

Has the Marine Corps lost its soul?

Seriously, please go read those.

Marine Corps cleaning house?

Behind the scenes.

Just how much can be attributed to the wishful thinking of conspiracy theorists, and how much can be attributed to actual behind the scenes what ever you wish to call it.

Resolution and Fidelity

An Injured Marine shows it.

Marine Six Days after IED

I'd like to buy that Marine a drink.

Thank you for you and your fellow Warriors Service.

Wounded Marine Hero treated like a Terrorist by TSA and California Security

TSA agents allow Muslims in burqas to sail through security, but harass a wounded Marine war veteran

Some people need to be FIRED.  There is NO reason for that type of security screening for one of our Wounded Heros.

Did he have his Military ID?  Did he have his regular State Issued ID?  Then why is he getting the FIFTH Degree in security screening?  Don't those idiots have someone in a Burka to check out?

Return to Makin Island - Dust Warning

"True story of the recovery of 19 US Marines Killed in Action on Makin Island in WWII and their return home to Arlington National Cemetery 58 years later. Story: Pat Mendoza. Music arranged by Pat Mendoza Trumpet: Steve Wiest. Singers: the Islanders and Pat Mendoza"

I give my thanks to those fallen Marines and all their brethren in all of our armed forces.  I give thanks to the islanders who gave their respect and honored our nation's sons who fell in her service.

I give thanks that our military will do it's best to try to bring everyone home.

Thank you and God Bless you each and every one of you and your families for your Duty, and your Sacrifice.

Part Four - Last Part of my interview with MPVA Member Bill Bauer

If you are interested in restored military vehicles please go to:

Military Vehicle Preservation Association - www.mvpa.org

Part one of this interview is at: Part One

Part Two is available at: Part Two

Part Three is available at: Part Three

Part Three of my Interview with Bill Bauer

If you are interested in restored military vehicles please go to:

Military Vehicle Preservation Association - www.mvpa.org

Part one of this interview is at: Part One

Part Two is available at: Part Two

Part Four is available at: Part Four 

Part Two of my interview with Bill Bauer

Part Three and Four will be uploaded in the next day or so.

Part One can be found HERE

If you are interested in restored military vehicles please go to: 

 Military Vehicle Preservation Association - www.mvpa.org

Interview with Bill Bauer, who owns a M24 Chaffee Tank

Part two, three and four will be uploaded soon, and posted in their own posts.

If you are interested in restored military vehicles please go to:

Military Vehicle Preservation Association - www.mvpa.org

Part Two of this interview is Part Two

Part Three is here: Part Three

Part Four is here: Part Four

Just how much does Obama distrust our servicemen and women?

This much:


Dishonoring the Corps; Marines in inaugural parade had bolts removed from their rifles

That is such an insult to those Marines that it is sickening.

The Marine Corps motto is "Semper Fidelis" which is Latin for "Always Faithful".  And the Marines in Particular take their Oath very seriously.  Another Marine Corps motto is "Death Before Dishonor".  And the USMC means it.

For the Secret Service to require those Marines to remove the bolts from their rifles is a grave insult to the Honor of not just those Marines, but each and EVERY Marine.  Past an Present.

That is worse than spitting in someones eye, that is spitting in their eye, kicking them in the privates and stompin on them followed by urinating on them.

THAT is how bad this insult is.

And the Secret Service, KNOWS this.

So why did they do it?

That is what "I" want to know.