Political Funny Pictures Thread, pt. 2

[Route 45]

 

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[Kutnupe14]

This is getting a bit off track for the thread, but I find the attitudes of the soldiers, media, etc. towards Patton very interesting. Patton was known as "Blood and Guts", while Bradley was known as a commander that cared for his soldiers. Yet, if you study the casualty rates, the units with the highest were all in Bradley's army. It is often a curious thing about history that the common perceptions of the time completely defy subsequent attempts of analysis to explain them.

My grandfather served in Bradley's army and I had always believed everything about Patton vs. Bradley. Then I saw the casualty rate for my grandfather's unit (9th ID, over 100%), and started digging.

I'm not sure looking at casualty rates necessarily relates to if a general is considered flippant with his soldiers lives, or not. This is especially noteworthy considering Bradley's roles in Overlord, Market Garden, and the Bulge... the 2 latter he opposed the plans, but was direct by Ike to proceed.

 

[Woobie]

I'm not sure looking at casualty rates necessarily relates to if a general is considered flippant with his soldiers lives, or not. This is especially noteworthy considering Bradley's roles in Overlord, Market Garden, and the Bulge... the 2 latter he opposed the plans, but was direct by Ike to proceed.

Yeah, you can be a butcher and get lucky or not get stuck with the crap missions. And you can be a soldier's soldier and wind up in a truly heinous battle that costs your men dearly.

The other explanation is that Bradley could have been much better with the press than Patton. And he didn't have a habit of stepping on his crank like George. Still, the soldiers usually know what's up, and they apparently thought he was genuine.

 

[d.kaufman]

 

[d.kaufman]

 

[sharkey]

 

[rob63]

How can you have a casulaty rate OVER 100%? And, if it was the MAXIMUM of 100%, how did your granfather survive?

Just to add to the replies previously made, my grandfather was wounded, but survived. Therefore he counted as a casualty despite coming home. (On a side note, I have the VA response letter to his pension application which awarded him $11.50 for neuritis due to shrapnel in his leg and then continues with this gem: "While your scar on end of penis, right thigh and left lower leg are held to be service incurred, it is rated at no percent disabling.")

I'm not sure looking at casualty rates necessarily relates to if a general is considered flippant with his soldiers lives, or not. This is especially noteworthy considering Bradley's roles in Overlord, Market Garden, and the Bulge... the 2 latter he opposed the plans, but was direct by Ike to proceed.

That's not the point I was trying to make. It is entirely possible/probable that the perceptions were accurately based on the respective attitudes of the generals. I'm merely pointing out that those perceptions are not reflected in the actual results of their campaigns. Perceptions vs. reality in history fascinate me, I think there are lessons to be learned there. In this case, Patton may well have been flippant with his soldiers lives, but his actual methods appear to have saved lives. I realize there are other factors such as you and Woobie point out, it's not cut in stone or anything. I just think it is interesting to compare the results with the perceptions.

 

[Woobie]

Just to add to the replies previously made, my grandfather was wounded, but survived. Therefore he counted as a casualty despite coming home. (On a side note, I have the VA response letter to his pension application which awarded him $11.50 for neuritis due to shrapnel in his leg and then continues with this gem: "While your scar on end of penis, right thigh and left lower leg are held to be service incurred, it is rated at no percent disabling.")




That's not the point I was trying to make. It is entirely possible/probable that the perceptions were accurately based on the respective attitudes of the generals. I'm merely pointing out that those perceptions are not reflected in the actual results of their campaigns. Perceptions vs. reality in history fascinate me, I think there are lessons to be learned there. In this case, Patton may well have been flippant with his soldiers lives, but his actual methods appear to have saved lives. I realize there are other factors such as you and Woobie point out, it's not cut in stone or anything. I just think it is interesting to compare the results with the perceptions.

I see what you're saying. It is fascinating how the perception by those who lived history is often contrary to the written history. Then you've got to figure out who is right about what. It can be awfully muddy. My grandpa didn't like Ike. Not sure, other than that grandpa was a democrat. Then again, maybe he didn't like something that happened while he was overseas. He went through 3 bombers, probably lost a few friends, and worked an insane schedule in June 1944.

 

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[Kirk Freeman]

Huey Freeman approved:

 

[indiucky]

 

[Thor]

He may have mellowed out after the drubbing he got for cowardice incident.

Nah, if you read his book "War as I Saw it" you'll find that in the chapter entitled "Earning my Pay". He had a war to fight, and was not suffering pansies to stand in the way.

 

[Thor]

I noticed the one's that served under him in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy tended to despise him but the guy's that served with him from D-Day on tend to love him.....It's weird....

It's easy. Soldiers like to win. I'd take a winning SOB any day over a losing kisser of booboos (that includes someone who 'wins' but kills more of his troops doing it slowly).

 

[HoughMade]

New Libertarian Convert Asks Ron Paul Into His Heart

“Please, Ron, forgive me of all my violations of the non-aggression principle and all the times I unwittingly supported a statist agenda.”

[FONT=&amp]“I swear here and now,taxation is theft!” he added.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]The new, remade Coats quickly threw away all his politically conservative reading material and purchased himself a leather-bound study edition of Ron Paul’s End the Fed and The Revolution, sources confirmed.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]At publishing time, the man had committed to tithe 10% of his cryptocurrency and precious metals to The Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity, and made a solemn vow never rest until every human being on earth had heard the good news of libertarianism.[/FONT]

 

[Kutnupe14]

It's easy. Soldiers like to win. I'd take a winning SOB any day over a losing kisser of booboos (that includes someone who 'wins' but kills more of his troops doing it slowly).

You sure? I thought they liked ties.