Monday, December 6, 2010

Hunter-Killers



The Puget Sound region of Western Washington State is rife with military bases, defense contractors (think Boeing), and current and retired intelligence officers. I personally know of places on private islands that have been protected by Secret Service details at times.
I am purposely going to leave this story a little vague, so as not to get anybody in trouble:
We were on the mainland a couple of days ago, at a great bar we visit for drinks and music. Sometimes when I go to these places, it seems that the oddballs are drawn to talk to me. I must have a sign on my forehead that says "tell me your life story".
It had been a fairly long day, we hadn't had dinner yet and I was primed with at least six Beers. Shortly before the music was supposed to start, a guy in a green military-style coat approached us. He had shoulder-length black hair, a short goatee beard and carried a small day pack. He wanted to know where the other bars in town were, as a popular pub up the street had been closed recently. We gave him directions to a more up-scale jazz club a few blocks away, and while we were talking I realized his partner was a few bar stools away watching us. The other guy stood up and introduced himself by handshake, no name. Both these guys had obviously been drinking a fair amount themselves. For some reason, we were the people in the Bar they chose to approach. Guy #2 was more clean-cut and wore a ball cap. As we talked, he told me "We protect America". I see a lot of Coast Guard types in our area, so I said "Homeland Security?". He said "No. Higher up". I looked at his partner with shoulder-length hair and I said "DEA?", thinking they might have been an undercover team. He said "No, we kill people>". Now, I was fully primed with plenty of Beer by this time, so I decided to play the game too. I said "Kill people in this country or outside the country?". He said "Wherever they send us".

I started to get the picture, so I probed a little further. It seemed like these guys really, really had to talk to someone and just didn't fit in with the young-punkish crowd that filled the bar. I asked " Do you ever question the motives of your mission?". He said "All the time, but it's our job." Meanwhile, the guy with longer hair in the military jacket tells the person I'm with "The town has changed since I was here last. Lots of pot smokers and Liberals." -"When were you here last?" - "Seven years ago." He added: "We're on a Navy Munitions ship." -"Over at (location)?"- "Yes, over at (location)."
Well, we had seen the ship and are familiar with the facility.
Now, people talk a lot of shit in Bars after they've had a snootfull. But here we were in "Navy Land". You could wrap the guy with the long black hair and beard up in desert garb and he would fit right in in tribal Afghanistan. These guys were obviously having trouble fitting in with the crowd in the Bar, and for some reason, they identified with us. They had a somewhat vacant look in their eyes, like they had a serious disconnect with civilian life. We thanked them for their service.
The next morning we left our hotel room and there was a big white bus parked outside the American Legion Hall, waiting to pick people up. By the drivers window, in small blue letters was "US. Navy".
We thought about those guys on the ride back up to our place.
While waiting for a ferry back to the islands, I saw something I had only seen once a couple of years ago; a large passenger jet, with a small fighter jet in escort, right on it's tail.

12 comments:

Charles James said...

Those who talk, don't; those who do, don't talk.

Alcohol, regardless of quantity.

Toldain said...

Interesting. I live very close to Moffet Field, in Sunnyvale, CA. The squadron assigned there was moved during all the base closings in the late 90's.

Lately, though, I've seen F-22's landing there. Loaded. I wonder what that's about.

Man of the West said...

About whether or not those gents were some sort of Navy or Marine Corps assassins, I don't pretend to know.

Not to pick nits, though, I was intrigued by the "Marco" image and read it in some detail--and promptly went "WTH?" I didn't remember anyone talking about such a thing when I was in the USMCR, and as I read the description, I thought that it was almost identical to the mission given Recon Marines, and it seemed unlikely to me that we would have two such units in the Corps--so I google it, and for what it's worth, it looks like "Marcos" belong to India, not the United States Marines.

Of course, I have no idea whether or not you were under the impression that the Marcos were U.S. forces, and I offer the observation only as an item of interest.

steve-vh said...

I'm with Charles. My buddy never mentioned his past force Recon experiences for over a year after we met and I had to pry/trick it out of him. Can't wait for the waiting period to end though.

Dojo Rat said...

Thanks MOW, I caught that late.
The part that intereated me in the Mercon Pic was the description of the commandos growing beards and dressing in native clothing to fit in with the population.
Picture updated.

BSM said...

Ninja Assassins and the founder of WikiLeaks with a digital nuke.

See my recent post.

steve-vh said...

My buddy was in Iraq long before the official Recon guys told about in books. And they were fully blended with clothes and beards. 'Cause I wondered aloud how he could have done so. Not a guy to call Bu!!sh!t on but I do it anyway.

Dojo Rat said...

Steve-vh and the guys;

I think these guys were real.
sure, they should have not talked but they did not disclose any specific information.
Clearly, they just wanted to get something off their chest, so to speak.

Charles James said...

Steve-vh quote: "I'm with Charles. My buddy never mentioned his past force Recon experiences for over a year after we met and I had to pry/trick it out of him. Can't wait for the waiting period to end though."

Hi, Steve-vh: It in this case is not a matter of waiting period which does apply to the requirements as to discussing anything of classified nature. Even after the twenty years plus "read my first post comment again for this spot!"

It is just not done, discussing these things.

steve-vh said...

Charles, I get your point and agree. Anything he ever did tell me would probably be made up misinformation anyway, LOL. Still can't beleive he had to say he was unemployed during those years on future job apps. What a shame.

DR, the part I don't get is "We kill people". Maybe independants? Just doesn't ring.

Dojo Rat said...

Well, they said they were temporarely stationed on a Munitions ship, which we saw.
I assume they were Seals, but I might be wrong.

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