Honoring those who serve

By David A. Bramlett
Retired U.S. Army general

Our national anthem ends with the phrase, "the land of the free and the home of the brave."

Though I enjoy sports and sporting events, I deplore the all-too-frequent practice of the crowd to drown out these words with a crescendo of noise for the event to start.

Pvt. Bruce Schafer of 1st Platoon, A Co., 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry holds a position securing a perimeter with his M-4 Assault Rifle with M-203 Grenade Launcher during live-fire exercises at Schofield Barracks’ KR-6 training area. The Army is and must be under constant rigorous training, even though it usually comes under questioning following training accidents or loss. Advertiser library photo • Jan. 28, 2000

The words are the essence of our nation; indeed, we are the land of the free because we are the home of the brave. Last Monday we were reminded again of those who serve and sacrifice in the home of the brave.

That evening at approximately 7:40, two Army helicopters crashed in the Kahuku training area on O'ahu’s North Shore. Six soldiers died and 11 were injured.

Many of us watched the sad events unfold as television began coverage during commercial breaks with the promise of more details on the

10 o’clock news. We on the North Shore had become worried earlier as emergency vehicles in increasing numbers raced along Kamehameha Highway.

This newspaper has reported the details of the exercise, the names of those lost and the injured, a sense of the lives of some of those gone and the ongoing actions of the Army and its investigative procedures.

The Army will be far more diligent and more dedicated in its investigation than most realize; the institution owes as much to those gone, to their families and to those who follow.

Others will continue to climb into the cockpits, check the instruments, adjust the night-vision goggles, load the troops, crank the engine and lift off in similar dark, rainy and windy conditions to conduct a night air assault as part of their training readiness.

Some have questioned why the Army needs to train in such inclement weather and to take such risks in peacetime. This theme is often an undercurrent in the wake of peacetime training accidents and loss.

The answer is simple: Such training is designed to ensure the Army in Hawai'i and elsewhere is ready for any contingency or crisis. The requirements can range from disaster relief to a clash of arms with a determined enemy; we have those who do not wish us well.

Soldiers do not vote on where, why or when they go, and they could be in Korea, the Middle East, Africa, the Persian Gulf or wherever ordered, and on short notice.

We cheered with pride the stunning military achievements of our forces in Desert Storm, and we have more quietly applauded the outstanding success of these forces in Bosnia, Kosovo, the Sinai (continually, since 1982) and other difficult operational missions.

In fact, elements of the 25th Infantry Division (Light) just took the Sinai mission for the next six months, and a major portion of the division will deploy to Bosnia early next year to assume that crucial assignment.

The Army and the 25th have achieved an extraordinary level of proficiency and readiness through exacting training. Tasks and standards never change; the soldier knows what needs to be done and what the measures of satisfactory performance are.

What does change, and separates the routine from the non-routine and the mundane from the unexpected, are the conditions under which the task is accomplished .

There is no shortcut nor simulation to replicate the realistic conditions leaders and soldiers may face. Missions against a determined adversary can produce failure and death for those not trained or ready. Our own history reminds us of the terrible cost of our shortcomings in the past.

The night air assault is a demanding tactical mission. It is one that is needed in wartime and has wide applicability in other scenarios. It must be practiced. There are other missions equally exacting for every service.

The night air assault involves complex coordination and complete cooperation of aviation, infantry, artillery, signal, supply and the rest of the combat team; they train to function as one.

Each depends on the other and they train together to that end. Some of the media reporting to date reflects surprise at the complexity of the exercise: the number of aircraft in the air at one time, the slingloading of equipment and Humvees (vehicles) beneath helicopters and the large number of soldiers being lifted into the simulated battle area.

These activities are what you find in a planned, rehearsed, executed and evaluated air assault; the goal is to ensure the best training possible.

Tough training for tough missions can be dangerous. However, dangerous does not mean reckless. Leadership understands the risks and how to minimize such threats to safety.

Many of us have little appreciation or understanding of what our soldiers do, how they do it and how difficult it is. Their success may seem easy, but they know that rigorous and realistic training has been the key. Ask them.

The Army investigative team, the Army as an institution and we in Hawai'i will learn not only what happened but also the most probable reasons why it happened.

The Army will use this information to help further minimize risk and enhance the likelihood of safe and successful missions to follow. However, the lessons learned here are no guarantee against future accidents.

The Army community is rallying to the families who are left. These soldiers’ families have lived with the understanding that duty requires extraordinary service and the potential for sacrifice.

This knowledge has not made the loss any less horrific or devastating for them, but it should cause us to pause in respect and admiration for these wives, the children and the mothers and fathers who have given so much for their country.

Remember them.

We are blessed as a nation because we have those who continue to serve in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Gen. David A. Bramlett, U.S. Army, retired in 1998 with more than 34 years of service. He served three tours in Hawai'i, two with the 25th Infantry Division and one with U.S. Pacific Command. He and his wife live on the North Shore.

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