Sgt. Maj. Lady: Patient defense,
determination are key factors
By Jon R. Anderson,
Stars and Stripes
HEIDELBERG, Germany — Declaring the beginning of the "Third World War,"
U.S. Army Europe Command Sgt. Maj. David L. Lady told a gathering of troops Wednesday they
must focus on a patient defense even as they hone skills that will soon enable them to
take the fight to the enemy.
"This war will call for patience and great determination. It is going to take a
while to track these jackals down, to pull them out of their pits and slit their
throats," said Lady.
Speaking before a scattered crowd of soldiers at a symposium in Heidelberg, Lady said,
"It’s going to take a while, but we are going to do it."
Lady told the soldiers that planning now is under way at all levels to go on the
offense as quickly as possible, but in the meantime, soldiers and leaders alike should
focus on protecting the force.
"Right now, we must become experts on the defense," Lady said. "Our goal
is no more tragedies. Our goal is no more horrors. Our goal is no more dead U.S. citizens.
"We need to reverse the blasted body count," said Lady, his voice rising in
anger. "Right now, it’s 19 terrorists to nearly 7,000 Americans. That sucks. And
we have to reverse that."
Sgt. Charles Bolick didn’t need much convincing. Outside, standing in front of his
M1 Abrams tank on display for the symposium, the Germany-based 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry
trooper said he’s ready to go right now.
Just days after the Sept. 11 attacks, Bolick stenciled "Cure 4 Terrorism"
onto the 120mm gun of his vehicle, the spot tankers reserve for the unofficial names of
their individual war wagons. "I’m not going to put a name up there that I’m
not serious about," Bolick said. "Hopefully soon, we’ll get to go take care
of business."
Lady said that opportunity will come.
"We can be confident that once we have adapted, once we have formed our coalition
and once we have made all preparations, we will move forward and we will crush this scum
to dust," Lady said. "And we will have systems in place to where they will never
rise again."
Drawing solemn nods of agreement among those present, Lady said that, in the meantime,
everything from unit training to family shopping will continue, but under what he
described as "the new normal."
"After nearly 30 years of assault on United States citizens and facilities, these
terrorists have finally aroused our national will and inspired our political leaders to
form an international coalition and declare war — a world war without
tradition," said Lady. "New ways of fighting must be developed, old ways must be
updated.
"Our families need to be shown by us — and our fellow citizens need to be
shown by us — that the routine will go on within the new normal."
Just as new thinking must be applied to how the war will be fought, a new patience must
be found in dealing with the inconveniences that result from it.
"We are not in a bunker waiting for the jackals to come pull us out," he
said. "I need you as leaders to be calm, aware, and confident throughout this
crisis."
Lady warned soldiers to guard against spreading rumors, to report suspicious activities
immediately and promised, "victoriously, we will get through this Third World
War."
And if there is any doubt among soldiers here in Europe that they would be a part of
that effort, Lady made clear their training and preparations will be put to good use.
"Just like U.S. Army Europe won the Second World War, was a major factor in
winning the Cold War and turned Desert Shield into Desert Storm when it was called on for
that war, the U.S. Army in Europe is going to play a major role in winning the Third World
War."
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