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2012-04-02 -Obits-

PFC Johnathon Davis from Griffin, Georgia killed in Afghanistan

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Posted by Besoeker 2012-04-02 00:00|| || Front Page|| [2 views ] Top

#1 God bless him and his family.

Posted by Ptah 2012-04-02 09:52|| 2012-04-02 09:52|| Front Page Top

#2 A little research points out two very disturbing things. No, lets make that three. 1) Cavalry Scout - Killed by a sniper clearing a roof top. Which means Johnathan was out front. 2) First Deployment. 3) What the hell is wrong with the army? Aren't scouts supposed to be seasoned and knowledgeable about the area? Especially if the military has been in the area for 10 years? So why did they send out a 20 year old kid on his first deployment as a Scout in a very dangerous area who has never been in that area, while plenty others have and could have served as Scouts?

Posted by Spolumble Phash6983 2012-04-02 11:29|| 2012-04-02 11:29|| Front Page Top

#3 Perhaps he was with vets.

Posted by bman 2012-04-02 12:10|| 2012-04-02 12:10|| Front Page Top

#4 We have a number of gentlemen, to call them what they are, who have what can only be described as having an in depth knowledge of small unit tactics, and who could possibly shed some light on this subject.

Posted by badanov 2012-04-02 12:24|| http://www.freefirezone.org 2012-04-02 12:24|| Front Page Top

#5 Badanov nailed it!

The Army has essentiall redefined the role of... "Scout." Historically, Army Scouts were used for recce and surveillance (R&S). The mission of the Scout Platoon or element of a larger force was NOT to be detected or to engage the enemy, but to report on enemy whereabouts ("FIX the enemy"), report on strength, disposition, and activities. The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have put Army Scouts out on routine day-time "presence patrols" which are essentially movements to contact.

Posted by Besoeker 2012-04-02 13:39|| 2012-04-02 13:39|| Front Page Top

#6 First lets clear something up from Spolumble: You have "Scout" confused with some older definition of the term. A US Army Cav Scout operates as part of a Scout Troop (Company), usually in a team or squad sized element. You write as if PFC Davis was operating on his own. Wrong assumption. Secondly, 20 years old, he was in at least 2 years, and had already been on deployment for 6 months, so although he wasn't salty yet, he was no cherry either. Airborne soldier (4/73 Cav Sqdn, 4th BCT, 82nd Abn Div).

I was a Cav Scout. It was our training and our job to be out in front of the main force, find the enemy, track him, report on him, direct fire or weapon systems onto him, and if necessary, engage him to disrupt him. The classic SALUTE tactical report. Dismounted patrolling, and counter patrolling are part of the job - and in the Airborne, a major part of it (compared to armored cav). We were trained constantly in E&E, as well as infiltration, and "not being seen" (fieldcraft). This was from the get-go, right out of advanced training. Recon, tactical movement through the FLOT and infiltration into the enemy was our specialty.

PFC Davis was undoubtedly NOT out there alone, he was part of a cav fireteam, and he had experienced NCOs leading him. He and his troop were likely on a mission to "prepare" a battle or movement area, which means they had to find advanced tactical positions for the regular infantry that were sure to follow - either reduce the enemy hide areas (by clearing them), thus denying the terrain to the enemy, or grabbing it for a recon position to decrease the likelihood of unobserved enemy activity against the main body or further friendly units in the area. Thats what Cav Scouts do.

The hard fact is that sometimes the bad guys do get one up on you - its part of war, and being in "indian country" as the first-in. The risk of death comes with the job. As I knew back in my day, so he also knew the risks when he volunteered. God rest his soul that he is coming home to rest too soon. Lets not forget what a loss we take daily by young men like him.

Posted by OldSpook 2012-04-02 15:15|| 2012-04-02 15:15|| Front Page Top

#7 Thanks, OS. We love Rantburg U. And good to see you around. Hope you're feeling better.

Posted by SteveS 2012-04-02 23:29|| 2012-04-02 23:29|| Front Page Top

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