U.S. defense chief lauds soldier in pink boxers

[zach braff]

This is awesome, however if the Deid ever came under attack I'm sure an E-9 would pull this guy immediately out of the fight for being out of regs...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090522/lf_nm_...stan_gates_pink

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday praised an Army soldier in eastern Afghanistan who drew media attention this month after rushing to defend his post from attack while wearing pink boxer shorts and flip-flops.

In fact, Gates said he wants to meet the soldier and shake his hand the next time he visits Afghanistan.

"Any soldier who goes into battle against the Taliban in pink boxers and flip-flops has a special kind of courage," Gates said in remarks prepared for a speech in New York.

"I can only wonder about the impact on the Taliban. Just imagine seeing that: a guy in pink boxers and flip-flops has you in his cross-hairs. What an incredible innovation in psychological warfare," he said.

Army Specialist Zachary Boyd, 19, of Fort Worth, Texas, rushed from his sleeping quarters on May 11 to join fellow platoon members at a base in Afghanistan's Kunar Province after the unit came under fire from Taliban positions.

A news photographer was on hand to record the image of Boyd standing at a makeshift rampart in helmet, body armor, red T-shirt and boxers emblazoned with the message: "I love NY."

When the image wound up on the front page of the New York Times, Boyd told his parents he might lose his job if President Barack Obama saw him out of uniform.

"I can assure you that Specialist Boyd's job is very safe indeed," Gates said in the speech.

The U.S. defense chief was scheduled to deliver the speech at New York's annual Salute to Freedom dinner in Manhattan.

[Guest whyme?]

This is awesome, however if the Deid ever came under attack I'm sure an E-9 would pull this guy immediately out of the fight for being out of regs...

There is NO USAF e-8 e-9/Shirt That would EVER be caught in in combat they can better police regs with their tails between their legs at the Died. Plus they still get the same BSM... who cares about a little bronze V

[MadMac]

Pick shorts but no reflexive belt...back to the bunker with you young man.

[BQZip01]

Pick shorts but no reflexive belt...back to the bunker with you young man.

Reminds me of Bill Cosby's sketch about the American Revolution.

"Suppose way back in history if you had a referee before every war, and the guy called the toss. Let’s go to the Revolutionary War."

[Referee speaking] "British, Settlers. Settlers, British. Shake hands. Call it in the air. British call heads. It’s tails. What do you do, settlers? . . . Settlers say that during the war they will wear any color clothes that they want to, shoot from behind the rocks and trees and everywhere. Says your team must wear red with a white cross on your chest and march in a straight line."

Good on the guy, but I don't see PT gear anywhere in the picture. Epic fail at the Deid (elsewhere SOP).

[Guest fourtenwedge]

I can't believe the guy to his right isn't wearing socks that cover up his ankles. What is his excuse?? /sarcasm off/

[BQZip01]

I just thought about this:

What if the Deid ever came under attack at night? How wise would it be to have about half the people wearing reflective PT gear? The jarheads may not do everything correct, but they have this one right for sure!

[JarheadBoom]

What if the Deid ever came under attack at night? How wise would it be to have about half the people wearing reflective PT gear?

Or any other USAF installation?

Not very wise at all. To paraphrase Top Gun:

That's what I call a target-rich environment.