Iraq Medal of Commitment Announcement

Medals of America — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:55:30 +0000

This post was originally posted on Medals of America's Blog under the name "Iraq Medal of Commitment" and we thought it would be useful to the readers here at milplace. Medals of America is the premier source for all things military. From Army Awards, Military Rank and Navy Rates we've been the largest supplier since 1976.

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Earlier this year Iraq’s Minister of Defense, Dr. Saadoun Al-Dlaimi, sent notice to the Secretary of Defense authorizing the Government of Iraq Commitment Medal. Here is an example of how we receive information and announcements on new military medals here at Medals of America. This medal has yet to be adopted and produced. Below is the message written to the Secretary.

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Dear Mr. Secretary:

As Iraq and the United States prepare for the final withdrawal of United States forces, we reflect upon the long years during which we have been mutually committed to the effort to achieve peace and prosperity for the people of Iraq. We wish to recognize the contributions of those who have dedicated themselves to this great work. The government of Iraq is pleased to inform you that it has approved the issuance of the Government of Iraq Commitment Medal as a fitting means of acknowledgement.

It is our intention that the medal be awarded to military personnel who served in Iraq as part of the armed forces of the United States and other coalition nations. To qualify to receive the medal, service members must have served for 30 consecutive days or for 60 non-consecutive days within the borders of Iraq, within its territorial waters, or within its airspace during the period of March 19, 2003 to December 31, 2011. Pilots and aircrew members who flew missions within Iraqi airspace will be credited for one day for each day of air operations. In addition, service members who engaged in combat during an armed engagement or were wounded or injured in the line of duty to a degree which required medical evacuation from Iraq qualify without regard to the number of days of service. We expect that more than one million current or former service members may be eligible to receive the Commitment Medal.

We have enclosed a depiction of the medal and its associated ribbon. The Government of Iraq authorizes military authorities of the United States and other coalition partners to award the medal on behalf of Iraq to persons whose military records demonstrate that they qualify. We further authorize the United States and other coalition partners to arrange for the production of the medal and ribbon in their respective countries so that the items may be readily available to the recipients.

May the commitment to the bright future of Iraq, which we have shared through many difficult years, never be forgotten.

Sincerely,

Dr. Saadoun Al-Dlaimi
Minister of Defense

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The Commitment Medal is to be issued by the Government of Iraq to honor the service of the United States and its Allies during the Liberation of Iraq.

Description – The Commitment Medal is a gold-colored medal with enamel, 1 9/16 in diameter. On the front the relief of Iraq represents the area of operation. The lines symbolize the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, recalling Iraq’s title as “the land of two rivers.” The two hands superimposed over the relief symbolize the friendship between Iraq and her coalition allies. The star at the center top represents a vision of unity for the seven peoples of Iraq (Sunni, Shia, Kurd, Turkoman, Assyrian, Yazidi, Armenian) leading to a more secure, prosperous and free future for Iraqis. The inscription in both Arabic and English merge into a continuous circle symbolizing the closeness of Iraq and her allies.
On the reverse side the rayed disc symbolizes the sun, optimism and Iraq’s future of reconstruction and the establishment of the democratic way of life. The relief of Iraq represents the area of operation. The lines symbolize the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, recalling Iraq’s title as “the land of two rivers.” The crossed scimitars recall the partnership between Coalition Forces and Iraqi Security Forces essential to bringing a democratic way of life to Iraq. Gold is emblematic of honor and high achievement. It states JOINT COMMITMENT in both Arabic and English symbolizing the unity of effort between Iraq and her Coalition Partners. The palm trees along with the palm fronds on the front represent the sacrifices made by the Coalition Partners.

Ribbon – The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches in width; however it is it is mounted on the ribbon bar horizontally so that the horizontal top stripe is a 1/16 Chamois (67142) stripe with a 3/64 inch Scarlett (67111) stripe underneath it. A 1/16 inch White (67101) stripe on each side of a 1/16 Green (67129) follows. Below the bottom white stripe is a 3/64 Black (67138) stripe with a 1/16 Chamois (67142) stripe serving as the bottom stripe. A device of palm fronds representing the sacrifices of coalition forces, both Iraqi and Allied, is centered on the ribbon.

The colors represent the following. The Green is the traditional color for Islam. Red honors the fighting courage for the pursuit of freedom. White denotes generosity and black exemplifies Islam’s success. The tan represents the sands of Mesopotamia.

Japanese-American Vets Receive Bronze Star Medals

Medals of America — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 19:38:07 +0000

Here’s a recent news release from the Department of Defense that we thought our readers would find useful regarding the Bronze Star Medal.

By C. Todd Lopez
Army News Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2, 2011 – In a ceremony here yesterday more than 66 years after hostilities ended in World War II, 40 Americans received the Bronze Stars they deserved for combat service in that conflict.

The Japanese-American soldiers fought as part of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the 100th Infantry Battalion and the Military Intelligence Service.

Army officials decided that all soldiers who wore the Combat Infantry Badge from World War II were owed a Bronze Star; some, however, never received theirs.

Getting such an award, in many cases, depended on "how good your clerk was, … and some of the clerks were not that great," said retired Army Lt. Gen. Joseph F. Peterson. It's really a matter of poor paperwork that the soldiers had to wait so long to get their Bronze Stars, he added.

The general organized a three-day recognition of Japanese-American soldiers in Washington, D.C. The highlight has some 800 of those veterans being honored with the Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol today. But for the soldiers who gathered yesterday at a posh hotel, the day was about finally getting the Bronze Star they had earned.

At the event, 31 of those soldiers were present to have the military medal pinned on their chest by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno. Another nine Bronze Stars were provided to the family members of soldiers who could not attend or who have died.

"It's amazing to get a star like this," said Don K. Masuda, one of the recipients of the award. The former soldier attended the event with his wife, his daughter, and two of his grandsons. He said he's led "a pretty good life" since leaving the Army, which has included being a co-owner of a shipping business in his native Hawaii, and also working six years for the postal service.

He served as an infantryman in World War II, in both Italy and France, as part of the 442nd RCT. He earned two Purple Hearts during his service. He said he's been waiting "a pretty long time" to have a Bronze Star.

Fellow 442nd RCT soldier George Joe Sakato was also at the award ceremony -- both as a recipient of the Bronze Star and as a speaker. Sakato is one of 21 Japanese-American Medal of Honor recipients to come out of the 442nd RCT and 100th Infantry Battalion.

On behalf of the 33,000 Japanese-Americans soldiers who served in World War II, Sakato thanked Congress for the Congressional Gold Medal they are receiving today. He also thanked his country for the opportunity to earn that honor.

"We also thank the government, which allowed us to serve in the U.S. Army to defend our country and to prove our loyalty to America," Sakato said.

Odierno reiterated for those at the event the greatness of the Japanese-American soldiers’ service and the service of all who served in World War II, calling them "the greatest generation."

But the general also touched on the tragedy those soldiers faced that other soldiers did not. Many of their families back home were locked away in camps and branded as enemies of America, even while their sons served to defend the country's ideals.

"From the shock of Pearl Harbor, and out of fear and prejudice, 120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry were sent to internment camps," Odierno said. "But what's incredible to me is that many of them did not allow that grave injustice of the internment to stand in their way. They remained steadfast in their commitment to their country, and volunteered to serve a nation in combat -- a selfless act of devotion."

Those Japanese-American soldiers, he said, served as infantrymen, linguists, military intelligence specialists and artillerymen.

"Over 33,000 Japanese-Americans served in the war," Odierno said. "And of those, over 13,000 served in the 442nd, and earned over 9,000 Purple Hearts."

The 442nd became the most highly decorated unit in the Army's history, Odierno said. The 442nd and the 100th Infantry Battalion together earned seven Presidential Unit Citations, two Meritorious Service Plaques, 36 Army Commendation Medals, and 87 Division Commendations. Individually, soldiers earned 21 Medals of Honor, 29 Distinguished Service Crosses, one Distinguished Service Medal, more than 354 Silver Stars, and more than 4,000 Purple Hearts.

"Together, they define the ethos that we all live by today: ‘Never leave a fallen comrade,’” Odierno said.

The experience of World War II provided a lesson about tolerance, the general said.

"The lesson of the Japanese-American experience is that fear and prejudice make our country weaker, not stronger," Odierno said. "Japanese-Americans, like others, have more than earned their place in our country, in our Army, and in our society -- a melting pot to include African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans and today, Arab-Americans."

About 240 veterans attended the Bronze Star event. Another 100 spouses of deceased veterans also attended, as did about 500 family members representing soldiers.

Peterson, who has Japanese ancestry, said the event was both to honor those soldiers who served, and to educate America.

"It's educational for our nation to know that a group of soldiers and a group of Americans, who because of the mass hysteria when the imperial military of Japan attacked Pearl Harbor -- were classified enemy aliens," Peterson said.

About 120,000 Japanese-Americans were rounded up, Peterson said, and put into any of 10 internment camps across nine states.

"Out of those camps came a demand, by 65 percent of them -- 65 percent of 120,000 internees -- to serve their country in a time of war," he said.

Those soldiers who served in units like the 442nd RCT, the 100th Infantry Battalion and the Military Intelligence Service, Peterson said, averaged number three individual awards for heroism.

"They are the most decorated unit in U.S. military history of its size and duration of the conflict," he said.

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Be sure to visit Medals of America for a huge selection of Awards, Military Patches, Challenge Coins and Military Rank. Veteran owned and operated for more than 35 years! Our mission is simple - we want every Veteran and Service person to display the Medals our grateful Nation awarded them. Anything we can do to have all the great Americans who served their country in the Military Forces display their award will enrich future generations by these symbols of Duty, Honor and Country.

Army Reserve Componenets Achievement Medal - Video

Medals of America — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:01:26 +0000

This information on the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal is provided by Medals of America. Medals of America is the premier source for Army Medals and Ribbons, Military Patches, Army Caps and Army Rank. Be sure to visit today and also try out our Army Rack Builder and other custom military builders.

Authorized by the Secretary of the Army on March 3, 1971 and amended by Dept. of the Army General Order 4, 1974, this medal is awarded to any person in the rank of Colonel or below for exemplary behavior, efficiency and fidelity while serving as a member of the Army National Guard (ARNG), a United States Army Reserve troop program unit (TPU) or as an individual augmentee.

The Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal is 1-1/4 inches in diameter. In the center is a flaming torch symbolizing the vigilance of the Guard and the Reserve and their readiness to come to the Nation’s aid. Two crossed swords in front of and behind the torch represent the history of the Guard and Reserve forged in combat. Left and right of the torch are five pointed stars and the entire design is surrounded by a laurel wreath symbolizing accomplishment. Around these symbols is a twelve pointed star superimposed over a smaller twelve-pointed star indicating the Guard and Reserve’s ability to travel where needed in the United States or the world. In between the points of the larger star are laurel leaves and a berry representing achievement.

On the reverse side of this military medal in the upper center is a miniature breast plate taken from the Army seal. Above this, the outside edge of the medal is inscribed either, “UNITED STATES ARMY RESERVE” or “ARMY NATIONAL GUARD.” Along the bottom edge of the medal are the words, “FOR ACHIEVEMENT.”

The ribbon has a wide center stripe of red flanked by narrow stripes of white and blue, reflecting our national colors and patriotism. The outside gold stripes are symbolic of merit. Additional awards are denoted by bronze and silver oak leaf clusters.

The history of the Army Medal of Honor

Medals of America — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 19:13:34 +0000

This information on the Army Medal of Honor, the highest valor Army Medal available, is provided by Medals of America. Medals of America is the premier source for Army Badges, Military Ribbon Racks and Cap Badges. Be sure to visit today.

Army Medal of Honor Criteria: Awarded for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of one’s own life, above and beyond the call of duty. This gallantry must be performed either while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States, while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. Recommendation must be submitted within three years of the act and the military medal must be awarded within five years of the act.

This full size army medal is a five-pointed gold-finished star (point down) with each point ending in a trefoil. Every point of the star has a green enamel oak leaf in its center and a green enamel laurel wreath surrounds the center of the star, passing just below the trefoils. In the center of the star is a profile of the Goddess Minerva encircled by the inscription, “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”, with a small shield at the bottom. The star is suspended by links from a bar inscribed, “VALOR”, topped by a spread winged eagle grasping laurel leaves in its right talon and arrows in the left. The star represents each State in the United States. The oak leaf represents strength and the laurel leaf represents achievement. The head of Minerva represents wisdom with the shield from the Great Seal of the United States representing lawful authority. The laurel leaves clasped in the right claw of the Federal eagle offer peace while the arrows represent military might if the country’s offer of peace is rejected. The back of the bar holding the star is engraved, “THE CONGRESS TO.” The rest of the medal is smooth to permit engraving the recipient’s name. The ribbon is a light blue moiré patterned silk neck band one and three sixteenths inches wide and twenty four inches long, with a square pad in the center of the same ribbon. Thirteen white stars are woven into the pad.

The first Army Medal of Honor had the same five-pointed star and flag ribbon as the Navy Medal of Honor. The only differences were in the means of suspension. While the Navy medal was suspended by a fouled anchor, the Army’s was suspended from an American eagle with outstretched wings with a stack of eight cannon balls and a sabre in front of crossed cannon. The cannon, shot and sabre represent the artillery and cavalry with the eagle as the national symbol. The top of the ribbon was held by a shield derived from the Great Seal of the United States flanked by two cornucopia, symbolizing America as the land of plenty. The reverse of the medal was engraved with the words, THE CONGRESS TO but was otherwise blank to permit engraving the recipient’s name.

In the years following the Civil War, many veteran’s organizations and other patriotic societies adopted membership badges and insignia which were thinly-disguised replicas of the Medal of Honor. To protect the sanctity of the Medal of Honor, Congress authorized a new ribbon for the medal in 1896 to clearly distinguish it from veterans association’s badges. The basic colors of the original ribbon were not changed, but simply altered.

Unfortunately, the Army Medal of Honor continued to be widely copied and its design criticized. On April 23, 1904 a new design was approved and was granted Patent Number 197,369. In addition to the new planchet, the redesigned award was suspended from the now familiar light blue moire ribbon symbolic of the loyalty and vigilance, containing 13 embroidered white stars representing the 13 original states. This new version of the Medal of Honor is the design that is still used to the present day. The only change that has taken place since the Army Medal of Honor’s adoption in 1904 is the suspension which was modified in 1942 from a pin on breast ribbon to a neck ribbon.

Many Veterans Suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a Disorder that Needs to be Recognized

Medals of America — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:43:06 +0000

This post was originally posted on Medals of America's Blog. It's a great read and a disorder that we all need to be aware of.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a very serious disorder that many of our veterans deal with in their lives. While this disorder isn’t always widely recognized, it is important that we support our troops and our veterans. Medals of America is doing its part to raise awareness and support this disorder by offering PTSD merchandise, including PTSD shirts, challenge coins and hats. All PTSD items are great for both active and retired military members helping let all of our soldiers know that they are supported.

While PTSD may not always be widely recognized as a disease or disorder, it is one that is very prevalent, as close to one-third of all soldiers returning home after war suffer from this disorder. Despite being angry, confused and even suicidal, many of these men and women refuse to seek help, as they are afraid it will be seen as a weakness or stigma. However, it is important to remember that it can be through the aid of friends, family, and military leaders that these individuals pull through and can begin the healing process. We all can play a role.

PTSD is a type of anxiety disorder that often affects people after they have witnessed or experienced a traumatic event that threatened them with injury or death. Victims of this disorder may suffer from flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, confusion, guilt and anger—all of which may result in thoughts of suicide. Many cannot stop thinking about the traumatic event, or events, that caused the PTSD. The sooner PTSD is diagnosed and treated, the better.

Helping spread awareness about this disorder and how it affects our country’s military, Medals of America is trying to do its part through the distribution of PTSD merchandise. It is important for those suffering from PTSD to know that they are not alone. Additionally, to support Vietnam Veterans with PTSD, Medals of America donates a portion of every purchase made through their VVA Store to the Vietnam Veterans of America Headquarters in Maryland.

Read the Medals of America press release, discussing this very real disorder, and what we can do to better recognize it here.

Guns suns and more guns

txsgrunt — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 08:31:06 +0000

Well let me start by apologizing for my absence. I can list all kinds of excuses for not posting, but I will not other than to say that my daughters were graduating from school at the same time we sold our house and bought a new one. We also had to remodel the new one while living in it and prepare for the graduation ceremony, party, and welcoming family from way out of town. And please don't get me started on the red tape war I had with the VA on my home loan. I lost by the way. That will be fodder for a future post on the decline of the VA and the commercialized business it has become. Did I just state an excuse? Sorry, I feel much better now.
Anyway, I would like to address the issue that has popping up in many media outlets that has made the US of A look like a main culprit in the instigation, or at least, the responsible party in the Mexican drug war. That subject is the issue of guns flowing into Mexico that perpetuate the drug war. I'd like to start by informing my readers that Mexico and various American news media outlets have accused the U.S. of either supplying the guns or not restricting the flow of guns into Mexico that are being used in the killings of hundreds of Mexican citizens. I would like to respond by saying, BULLSHIP, HOGWASH, and Lies. First off, The Mexican government does not want to and will not take full responsibility for the embarrassing condition they have created in their country. So, to shift a some of the blame, they've resorted to manipulating the numbers by using an old ATF (Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms)program that tracks U.S. registered fire arms serial number in Mexico which is outdated and unreliable. When Mexican Police or soldiers seize weapons from gun battles and cartel members, they check the serial numbers off of a list which is an old list of weapon serial numbers that have been stolen or known to have been smuggled into Mexico provided by the ATF. Funny thing is, they only check the serial numbers off of M-14s,AR-15s, M-16s, and any American made weapon. They do not check any AK 47 or other foreign made weapon serial numbers or state how many they seized. The result will always be that all weapons that were were seized were American made weapons that were smuggled into Mexico and used to kill innocent civilians. At last count, 80% of weapons seized in Mexico were smuggled in from the U.S. This number is coming from a president of a country where corruption is a way of life and anyone can be bought. In my line of work and the working with people in the position that deal with that particular issue, it has been my experience that most of the weapons enter Mexico from the south. Namely El Salvador, Columbia, and Honduras. Most of the weapons I have seen with my own two eyeballs have been AK 47s, variants of the AKs, and foreign made knock offs. Even in the aftermath photos I receive, the narratives state AR 15s seized but see no mention of the AK 47s I see in the photos.

A few months ago, I stumbled upon a blog by a Guatemalen army veteran report on deserting Guatemalen Kaibiles (elite Guatemalen soldiers) being paid to smuggle weapons and or join the Zetas Cartel in Mexico. When I went back to the page for some more research, the page was 404. Personally, I think the blogger was found out and was 404ed with an AK 47, duck tape and a shovel. With all that being said, most of the guns being used in Mexico that are being used in the narco war are NOT coming from the U.S. as the media says but coming from countries like Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, China, Yugoslavia, and other cash starved countries. Yes. I will not deny that some weapons are going in from the U.S., but not in the numbers you are led to believe.

The Mexican press loves to showcase weapon seizures to the media and display all the weapons seized but fail to mention that that the AR-15 in the photos are actually knock offs made in China with no serial numbers. They want you to think the U.S failed to stop them from being smuggled into Mexico so The U.S can be blamed for one thing or another. I am not releasing the U.S. from any blame in this travesty since I have personally seen U.S. made weapons that have been smuggled into Mexico been used in the killings of Mexican citizens. From where I stand on the shores of the US/Mexican border, I see a different picture than the one the politicians and their controlled agenda driven media states as fact.

I'm just sayin.

The Immigration Issue.

txsgrunt — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 04:13:30 +0000

Immigration. Aside from the political issues surrounding immigration, I will try to explain why allowing the immigration bills to pass would be a bad thing for the US of A. While allowing immigration to the U.S. has been a hallmark of the American way, it is not the same as it was even 10 years ago. The purpose of immigration nowadays does not have the same purpose it did when people were trying to gain U.S. citizenship for a better way of life. Yes, I realize that people from other countries are trying to enter our country to escape persecution and crime in their perspective countries, but what are they contributing to ours? Are they they just trying to bring their way of life to our neighborhoods for their gain. While many Americans are screaming and yelling to let them in because they are are looking to participate in the American Dream, they are being fooled by the true intentions by many of the so called poor helpless immigrants. My sources at many of the U.S. ports of entry tell me the same thing over and over again. They hear the same sob stories over and over again about just trying to look for work to help their families and the persecution from the cartels and the government. How they just want to earn a decent living, etc, etc. Well, many of these so called immigrants first break the U.S. laws by having themselves smuggled across, and break U.S. laws by crossing illegally and in many cases backpack illegal drugs for extra money instead of the legal route. Then they claim they were forced to do so by the cartels only to find out that they have been busted and deported several times before for doing the same thing at different location. Another purpose for entering the U.S. is to establish transitional contacts and points of distribution (or cells) for future drug shipments as was proven by the latest sting operation in which several illegal immigrants were rounded up by ICE officials all over Texas in December of 2009. All were involved in the drug trade and living in the U.S. illegally, Do you think they were paying taxes like you and me, were they endangering innocent families living next door? Were they contributing to the American way of life like you and I? Are they above the law? Yet, these people who broke our laws to enter our country and dealing in narcotics were receiving free medical care, free schooling for their kids, we were paying for their health care, subsidizing their welfare cards for food because they cannot spend the drug cartel's money on those things or they will be hunted down in our country endangering even more American lives. I and many other U.S. military veterans do not have as good benefits as they do and even get neglected or rejected in some cases and get even better care than we do. We can no longer keep falling for the same sob stories for the sake of political correctness and self righteousness. They've learned to use those virtues against us.
Just as many Islamic radicals have infiltrated our sovereignty by entering our country under false pretenses such as the 9-11 bombers did, The Mexican illegals have learned from that and attempting the same techniques. If you saw an Iranian Islamic radical terrorist entering the U.S. hidden in the undercarriage of a car would you be shocked and scared? Why not a Mexican National with evil intentions who could cause serious mayhem in the U.S. Yes, I know a dirty bomb would be more dramatic than getting our children hooked on drugs and killing a few rivals on our streets would, but only because cases like that don't make the headlines like a bomb would. I think that's only because we have become somewhat desensitized to drug dealers being killed in the streets as opposed to an Islamic terrorist planting a bomb in New York Square. If you don't think that will ever affect you, it will only be a matter of time if you succumb to political correctness and acceptance of outsiders. To address the human side of immigration, Yes. I believe that there are honest hard working Mexican nationals seeking U.S. citizenship that want to contribute to our society because I know a few. But, we cannot continue to fall for the same old sob story and be blinded by self righteousness and political correctness that endanger our American way of life to ease our conscience in the name of acceptance of other cultures and their ways of life.
OK folks before you start calling me a racist or prejudiced against Mexicans, I must state that I am of Mexican decent and 2nd generation American citizen sworn to defend the American way of life. I have chosen to defend the country I have integrated into as my parents have because the USA has provided us with a prosperous life as the U.S. Constitution states. I am just asking that you rethink the issue of politics and "acceptance" and "understanding" over national security and our way of life as our Constitution states it. Our Constitution has made us the most powerful and most desirable country on Earth. Now is no time time to compromise our principles for the sake of false principles of political correctness or politics.

Why all the Killing?

txsgrunt — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 08:45:43 +0000

Why is there so much killing going on in Mexico? The answer is in its simplest form is control by intimidation. Although people are killed for various reasons in Mexico, killing has become a tool for the cartels. There are several drug cartels in Mexico and each one of them wants to dominate the lucrative drug routes into the United States. A lot of the violence is now between the Mexican government trying to stop the cartels and cartel against cartel violence. The larger drug cartels are actually organized multi-leveled organizations with a rank and file structure similar to military units with ranks, specific roles, promotions and an internal language and communication system with territories or "plazas", foot soldiers- "sicarios", lookouts- "halcones". It's when one cartel attempts to enter another cartel's territory that the violence starts. Unfortunately, innocent civilians often get caught in the cross fire. Sometimes, the "innocent" taco vendor, taxi driver, shoe shiner, or street beggar is actually a paid "halcon" or lookout that was found out and killed. Sometimes it will be a lieutenant who was passing through but did not announce his arrival in the plaza that gets blown away in a hail of bullets.

To show their enemies how serious they are about protecting their routes, they have resorted to some of the most grisly methods of killing that would nausiate even the most hardened combat veteran or gag a maggot. Everything from cutting up bodies limb by limb to beheadings, and dipping bodies into vats of acid which they proudly post on the internet. I will leave out many of the other gory details they have resorted to. Anything goes and there is no fear of the law since all levels of law enforcement have been infiltrated and subjected to this type of intimidation as many officers have suffered this fate and are seriously out gunned and under trained to handle this type of violence. In some cases, entire police forces have quit or resigned because of the intimidation or unspeakable ways fellow officers have been killed.

The two largest and most powerful drug cartels in Mexico are the Sinaloa Cartel and the Gulf Cartel which currently dominate the routes into California and Texas respectively. Many other smaller aspiring cartels are vying for those same routes. Inspired by the incredible wealth to be made, they will are willing to do whatever it takes to anyone who stands in their way. Add to the mix, the Mexican government's attempt to stop the cartel from enlarging their operations and you can see how the violence can only escalate. Since millions of dollars are at stake, no drug cartel leader is willing to give up the billionaire's lifestyle, or a drug route to anyone, he will continue to order his troops with the promise of wealth to fight to the death to protect his interests.

The problem of violence in the Texas sector has come about because the Gulf Cartel has waged war on it's former enforcement branch, Los Zetas. Los Zetas were formed by ex Mexican military special forces soldiers who deserted for the more lucrative business of drug trafficking. Initially, many of the Zetas were trained by the US Military for the purpose of fighting drug cartels but the Gulf Cartel leader enticed many of the soldiers to work for them as enforcers since they were familiar with the ins and out of counter drug and other special operations techniques. Recruiting them was easy because a cartel leader can easily quadruple a soldier's pay, benefits and status. Los Zetas were initially very effective and helped the Gulf Cartel increase their profits by eliminating many of the Gulf Cartel's enemies and obstacles through technical and tactical know how. One day in early 2010 A Gulf Cartel leader rolled into his plaza in Reynosa, Mexico unannounced or without a Zeta scout being notified and the Gulf Cartel leader was accidentally killed by a Zeta assassin gunman. As cartel rule has it, the killer was to be turned over to the victim's commander for execution regardless of rank or position. The Zeta commander refused to turn over one of his best trained assassins and friend. That was a turning point in the violence in Mexico. That was the day Los Zetas decide it was time to break away from the Gulf Cartel and go at it alone. The next day The Gulf Cartel declared war on Los Zetas who had decide that they would take over the most profitable route into the US for themselves. The Gulf Cartel leader instructed all member of the Gulf Cartel to kill any member of Los Zetas with a reward for a head.
Eventually, the task of killing a highly trained and skilled Zeta became a challenge for poor uneducated, untrained thugs recruited off the streets used to killing Gulf Cartel enemies and policemen for $20.

Los Zetas were now becoming a challenge to the Gulf Cartel and cutting into their profits with the potential of taking over the South Texas routes all together. The Gulf Cartel Leader called upon a longtime rival to join him in an effort to eliminate Los Zetas by convincing him that they would eventually go after the Sinaloa routes as well. The Sinaloa Cartel agreed and formed an alliance with the Gulf Cartel in an effort to eliminate Los Zetas. Thus the war against Los Zetas was been waged along the US/Mexico border with countless innocent Mexican citizens caught in the crossfire of the war between the Gulf Cartel, The Sinaloa Cartel against Los Zetas while the government was trying to eliminate all three.

Next week,

More on Los Zetas on my next post.

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