Article

2005-08-15 Afghanistan/South Asia

The Marine Corp needs a few good donkeys

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by anonymous5089 2005-08-15 08:56|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 PETA protest in 5...4...3...

Posted by Jackal">Jackal 2005-08-15 09:24|| home.earthlink.net/~sleepyjackal/index.html]">[home.earthlink.net/~sleepyjackal/index.html] 2005-08-15 09:24|| Front Page Top

#2 The irony of this comes from the 10th Mountain Division in New York. When they were formed, they assumed that mules would be a major part of their operations. Mules are better than either horses or donkeys, for they are hardy and disease resistant. So the Division built large stables and purchased a bunch of mules. Unfortunately, they were unable to find anyone who was a skilled muleskinner, to train other muleskinners. And, unless you understand the way of mules, they are as unusable as a truck with no engine or wheels. So they ended up having a mule "fire sale", and returning to motor vehicles.

Posted by Anonymoose 2005-08-15 10:32|| 2005-08-15 10:32|| Front Page Top

#3 That's because you need a guy like Donald O'Connor to handle these mules.

Posted by Chuck Simmins">Chuck Simmins 2005-08-15 10:41|| http://blog.simmins.org]">[http://blog.simmins.org] 2005-08-15 10:41|| Front Page Top

#4 I don't think this is what they had in mind, though.

Posted by Deacon Blues">Deacon Blues 2005-08-15 11:51|| 2005-08-15 11:51|| Front Page Top

#5 Mules are better than either horses or donkeys, for they are hardy and disease resistant.

In desert or sub-desert environments you will find that the horse part in the mule makes them less suitable than donkeys (originally a desert animal)

Posted by JFM">JFM 2005-08-15 12:23|| 2005-08-15 12:23|| Front Page Top

#6 But if the mules get loose, they don't breed.

Posted by mojo">mojo 2005-08-15 14:22|| 2005-08-15 14:22|| Front Page Top

#7 Nice Myth Moose.

However, I was with the 10th in its reactivation from 1985-88 in the DISCOM where said transport would go. There never were any mules or facilities created. Never got to use the new facilities cause weren't built yet, had to do with rehab'd WWII buildings while the new Drum was constructed. Had a number of offers of former Mountaineers to show us the ropes, but it never was in the plan.

"Climb to Glory"

Posted by Jirt Omager7355 2005-08-15 15:58|| 2005-08-15 15:58|| Front Page Top

#8 Funny how these tales get circulated. I'll take your word for it, being there trumping military rumor mill. At the time I was in Germany, involved in other business.

Posted by Anonymoose 2005-08-15 21:08|| 2005-08-15 21:08|| Front Page Top

#9 Giving old meaning to the phrase; "Get your tired ass up that hill."

LOL! I had to call my Ex-Marine Father In law to share that tidbit...

Posted by Ptah">Ptah 2005-08-15 21:29|| http://www.crusaderwarcollege.org]">[http://www.crusaderwarcollege.org] 2005-08-15 21:29|| Front Page Top

#10 I've heard they did use mules in Italy during WW2 and had to use field manuals originally written in the late 1800s from the Indian campaigns. Seems plausible. Anyone know?

Posted by JAB 2005-08-15 21:38|| 2005-08-15 21:38|| Front Page Top

23:50 anonymous2u
23:42 Zhang Fei
23:34 Anonymoose
23:17 Zhang Fei
23:14 DMFD
23:12 Glenmore
23:10 Anonymoose
23:09 Jan
23:07 BH
22:56 Frank G
22:51 Thoque Unush3335
22:50 Constitutional Individualist
22:47 bigjim-ky
22:45 Sobiesky
22:44 Constitutional Individualist
22:44 Frank G
22:44 Zhang Fei
22:38 Zhang Fei
22:38 Uleregum Hupains2323
22:36 bigjim-ky
22:34 phil_b
22:30 bigjim-ky
22:29 Captain America
22:27 Frank G