America First

The founding principles of the original America First Committee in 1940:

~ The United States must build an impregnable defense for America.
~ No foreign power, nor group of powers, can successfully attack a prepared America.
~ American democracy can be preserved only by keeping out of the European war.
~ "Aid short of war" weakens national defense at home and threatens to involve America in war abroad.

Pat Buchanan picked up the America First theme as a Presidential candidate.  I was present at the DoubleTree Hotel when he made the now iconic statement: ''Our two parties have become nothing but two wings on the same bird of prey.''  

Donald Trump was in that race, as well.  Now Trump has lifted the America First flag and is charging forward to a likely (R) nomination in Cleveland.  Will he prove to be nothing but a spoiler as some people believe?  Will he prove to be nothing more than an opportunist who lifts the America First banner as a meme to win an election, only to pivot once in office?  Will he prove to be a True Believer who manages to harness the discontent of tens-of-millions of Americans who hold the Establishment Elite in contempt so strongly that RevWarIII is a very real possibility?

Time will tell.

But for this moment, those of us who have been America Firsters since our baptism in American politics - we can hope.

Donald Trump is no Pat Buchanan.  But at the moment, he carries the right flag...

Here's the piece.

We'll see you all in Cleveland.

Weapons: The Garrote

New garrote offered through III Gear, made in America.

The garrote is a silent killer for the Patriot who needs to take advantage of a sudden opportunity, or has an OSS-style targeted mission that requires stealth and tradecraft.

A few realities about the garrote as a weapon: You will get wet.  Lots of blood, especially if you are using wire - which I personally prefer.  Rope is a strangulation weapon.  Wire is a cutting weapon.  If you have never trained in flexible weapons, find a martial artist or old-school spy with the requisite background and ask for a special course program.

OSS Issue: Preferred T-Handle design

If you succeed in getting close enough to employ the garrote, and you are smart enough to use wire, please use T-handles on the ends.  Some people sell versions with rings for you to pull tight, but you are then having to concentrate all of your force on single points.  Much better to spread your strength along a 3 inch stick/steel rod.

Next - people who suddenly feel a garrote around their neck will whig the F out - especially if they are trained and they know what is coming.  If they are not trained, you'll have to deal with the startle response and panic. If they are trained, they are going to try to get fingers (best case for you) or something steel between the garrote and their neck (worst case for you), and counter-attack violently.  So, get that weapon looped FAST and cinched even FASTER.  Either way, pull that soon-to-be dead Enemy of Liberty away from anything he can kick against for leverage. They may also try to flip you over their head or execute a shoulder throw - be ready for it. Defenses against the garrote attack are limited, and by necessity, extremely vigorous and violent.

Next, assuming you get his neck clean, or even with a few fingers, pull with everything you've got.  Wire will start digging in and cutting meat. But make no mistake - you've got to use strength.

Less optimal ring design

Understand he is going to thrash, kick, reach for a pistol or knife.  Be ready to defeat these attempts.  First move, kick the back of his knee and take him to a manageable height.  If he is still reaching to pull that knife and gut you or pistol to shoot you, be in a position to block that hand with the bottom of your boot.  You won't have to hang on long - but it'll seem like forever the first time you have to do it.  If it is available to you (he's not reaching for a weapon, he's locked on the primal instinct trying to reach the garrote as it cuts) put a knee in his back and arch him backward - not so much that he falls - you want to stay on your feet for defensive reasons. 

If you have done everything right, as I have instructed above, you'll have an unconscious target in a few seconds - 3 to 8, usually.  He'll be dead in under a minute if he bleeds out.  He may have a few fingertips on the ground, because your garrote will cut through them easily.  You will have cut through his windpipe (no screams) and you will have cut through his carotids - hence the bloody mess, but the quick blackout.

If mission parameters call for it, drag him out of sight.  If mission parameters call for it (like you have to blend back into public after this caper) have spare clean clothes you can slip into to avoid the blood.  If mission parameters call for it, dump his seeping corpse in the middle of the street as Fair Warning to other Commies in your AO.

III Gear is now offering a well-built garrote (pictured above) with your choice of ABS or aluminum T-handles and a micro-braided 23" wire.  The III logo is engraved on each end of the T-handles.  A special training program is offered free with every garrote sold.  Of course, it is made in America and comes with a lifetime warranty.

For a limited time the III Percent Society is offering a free garrote to all new and renewing Members who sign-up for a single payment membership.  If it is time to renew your membership, get your garrote free!

Power is Power. Courage is Courage. Man makes the Man, not his tools...

While he was leading his company against the enemy, his line came under heavy machinegun fire, which threatened to hold up the advance. 

Followed by 2 soldiers at 25 yards, this officer went out ahead of his first line toward a machinegun nest and worked his way around its flank, leaving the 2 soldiers in front. When he got within 10 yards of the gun it ceased firing, and 4 of the enemy appeared, 3 of whom were shot by 1st Lt. Woodfill. The fourth, an officer, rushed at 1st Lt. Woodfill, who attempted to club the officer with his rifle. After a hand-to-hand struggle, 1st Lt. Woodfill killed the officer with his pistol. 

His company thereupon continued to advance, until shortly afterwards another machinegun nest was encountered. Calling on his men to follow, 1st Lt. Woodfill rushed ahead of his line in the face of heavy fire from the nest, and when several of the enemy appeared above the nest he shot them, capturing 3 other members of the crew and silencing the gun. 

A few minutes later this officer for the third time demonstrated conspicuous daring by charging another machinegun position, killing 5 men in one machinegun pit with his rifle. He then drew his revolver and started to jump into the pit, when 2 other gunners only a few yards away turned their gun on him. Failing to kill them with his revolver, he grabbed a pick lying nearby and killed both of them. 

Inspired by the exceptional courage displayed by this officer, his men pressed on to their objective under severe shell and machinegun fire.

The man was not armed with a tacticool slick & tricked boomstick.

He had a 1903 Springfield.  That's a bolt-action rifle for those who need a serious lesson in the ways of killing men.  And a revolver.  And a pick.  And most importantly, his brain and balls.

For those who may be missing the point: If you do not have the courage to go forth and do that which you know how to do, and what must be done, then it won't get done.  At least, not by you...

Old School in the Polygonal Battlespace

Full details, here.

Get everything you can, while you can.

And what Sparks31 puts out is gold.  I just re-read my Grid Down Comms book this morning.  If you have not rec'd the revised edition, yet - you need at least one copy for yourself.  Preferably, one for your cache as well, and a few for those who you would like to see survive the Liberty Games.  Here's the link.

Kerodin
III

After the Squad Radio

After the Squad Radio, by Sparks31.

MVT Rifleman Challenge: AAR

The first Rifleman Challenge appears to have been an extraordinary success!  Congratulations to everyone who dared to take the challenge, to those awarded the Rifleman Tab and the Vanguard Tab.  

And I think we can all agree an outstanding Bravo Zulu! to Max for creating the Rifleman Challenge, doing the hard work of creating a set of realistic standards, enduring the peanut gallery and driving forward to put together a standard for the entire Patriot Community that is worthy of emulation.  When you encounter a III Patriot with an MVT Rifleman and/or Vanguard tab on his kit, you know that Patriot has met a serious standard.

I'm also very proud to share that Jim (in the above picture, far left in that handsome III Cap) won the III Society Scholarship and did us all proud by earning his Rifleman Tab.  Good for you, Patriot!

I hope many more Patriots out there are looking forward to the next Rifleman Challenge, and doing what it takes to get yourself to MVT and earn your tab.

Well done to everyone involved.

Here's Max's initial report.

An AAR from a Student, here.

We'll post Jim's AAR when it is ready.

Kerodin

III

III Society Members Only: Front Sight Memberships Offer

A III Patriot has offered 10 Lifetime Diamond-level Memberships to Front Sight in Las Vegas for a price you will not believe.

Here are the details.

You must be a III Society Member in good standing to take advantage of this offer.

Kerodin
III