Mattress Company in Wisconsin Insults Our Soldiers!!

Then why are they trying to order floor mats off the internet? I don't get it...

 

Sure you do.

For the same reason I had a Corpsman in my squad in Vietnam that carried a rubber air mattress everywhere he went and spent an hour every evening blowing it up. Some guys like their comfort.

The rest of us just laughed at him. The ground, wet or dry, beat carrying the extra weight and taking the time to blow it up. We had enough on our backs the way it was.

 

Is it your belief that every nation that is in defiance of UN Security Council Resolutions should be invaded and regime changed?

 

Bapmom,

How was that criticizing? I quoted the same article carpro deemed "unimpeachable". Your own sense of fairmindedness should realize that mere statement of fact, pointing out that 40,000 soldiers did not have state of the art body armor, that some bought their own - which was the question - which they were later forbidden to use, is not criticism. I didn't say whether it was good or bad, just that it was.

How many billions of dollars did the Democrats and Republicans authorize for this war? Do you really think for a moment that anyone voted specifically not to fund properly equipping the soldiers? Rumsfeld was one of the main authors for downsizing the military (with the, in hindsight, mistaken idea that modern warfare favored quick strike-and-get-out) and expensive short-term outsourcing support services (food, laundry, etc) would be economical in the long-run.

 

I'm not sure then what you are trying to prove. Either these men were sissies for trying to get a mat to sleep on, or the government ought to make them available to inlisted men who don't want to sleep on the ground. What could it possibly cost? I'm sure they could lease them from Halliburton or KBR for a reasonable monthly fee.

 

Yes you are.

You just don't agree.

 

No, I really don't. Are you saying it is reasonable for these men to have to order a mat to sleep on?

 

Of course it is. They are furnished cots and bedding.

Sometimes their mission requires them to sleep away from their base. They are also furnished ponchos and they can carry what bedding they need(usually just a blanket) with them.

If they want the additional comfort of some kind of mat, they can buy it themselves.

 

I don't get a lot about this thread and I certainly don't get what side Carpro is on.

If this article is correct...Sgt. seeking floor mats gets insult instead...this has nothing to do with sleeping soldiers but conference rooms, warehouses, garages and wobbly chairs and tables.

“The conference room floor is some rough concrete because we are in what used to be warehouses or garages, and none of the chairs sit even and the table wobbles,” Hess told Army Times in an e-mail."​

This company is not even a "mattress" company as it is called Discount-Mats (it's down now due to "technical difficulties"). However, if we go to the way back machine it is quite clear that Discount-Mats is not in the mattress business.
http://web.archive.org/web/20060529200546/http://www.discount-mats.com/

I wonder why a whole bunch of people thought soldiers were being deprived of sleeping mattresses...

"The Internet stories spread like wildfire, including at least one that said the soldier was looking for mattresses for his unit because they were sleeping on the cold ground with sand fleas and mites.​

“I sent the reporter the correct information, but the business is still in the wrong with their return e-mail,” Hess said.​

“This is a great example of the American people supporting their soldiers,” said Maj. Randall Baucom, the 1st BCT public affairs officer. “We understand that people are lining up back home to send our troops sleeping mattresses. That’s great, but we don’t need them.”​

In short, the Sargeant was ordering non-essential supplies and an employee of the vendor he tried to procure it from, was rude and unprofessional. The employee has been fired and the site is now down. Kind of a big deal made out of a not very big deal, reported by an organization that lacks anything resembling journalistic skills but they sure put on a fun show.

[Edit: Removed "Sgt. Hess"]

 

Oh.

Um, never mind.

 

Thats funny.

 

It shouldn't be too hard to follow.

First it was you that posed this question:

Rufus wrote:

Would any current or former military professionals comment on this story relevant to the procurement of supplies? Is it common for a sargeant, who is in theater, to have to spend time shopping online for essential supplies for his soldiers?

Implying of course, that these mats were "essential".

Then it was Daisy who sidetracked us to the body armor issue.

Then

LE Wrote:
Whether it's mattresses, body armor, upgraded humvees or whatever, the DOD has an obligation to supply our soldiers sent into harm's way with the best of everything possible. Color me disgusted.

My position has been constant. They are furnished what they need. If they want a piece of equipment that is not furnished by Uncle Sam, they have to buy it themselves. End of story.

What's difficult about that?

 

This thing is too messed up to try to argue over it. I retract the statement.

 

Closed per previous warning. LE