The Purd!

[Sharky]

Anybody seen the Purd? (AKA: CSM Donald Purdy)I heard he's running a pawn shop on Victory drive these days. For those young rangers out there who never experienced the Purd you missed quite an experience. Ask some of the old timers about him.

[Sharky]

Thought maybe I should resurrect this old thread. It was one of the first times I posted on SOCNET almost a year ago. I figured this might be a good one to tell war stories about "The Purd" on. He was quite a character to say the least. The man was and still is as hard as they come.

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F.I.D.O.

[This message has been edited by Sharky (edited 04-10-2001).]

[Sharky]

Well, I sent him an e-mail last night and he's already written me back. I can't believe he remembers me after 10 years and how many faces. Although, I did do some pretty memorable stuff while I was there, and not all of it good. He hasn't changed a bit.

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F.I.D.O.

[MrPotatoHead]

You mean the stories about him: Flashing back when we were in the field, getting blown up without a scratch, being ripped out of the sides of aircraft and surviving, beating himself up because he couldn't run as fast as he could when he was 18, wanting to shoot everyone in the company in the leg and then roadmarch so they would know "Real Pain," being a motivational speaker, "Executing" a bunch of 2Lt's that screwed up in IOBC, etc, etc, etc?????? This could turn into a thread that would beat the heck out of the 10 page one in SWATNET! Purdy was INDESTRUCTIBLE!

He was definately one of a kind. They broke the mold when they made him probably because the world couldn't survive if there were two of them out there. I'm surprised he lived this long after his retirement. Glad he's still around an kicking and making someones life better, more miserable, and generally motivating people out there.

[XavieN]

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Do you know if he has any children?

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[This message has been edited by XavieN (edited 04-10-2001).]

[realpolypro]

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Yup, at least a Regiments worth.

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[Sharky]

Originally posted by realpolypro:
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Yup, at least a Regiments worth.

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Well said.


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F.I.D.O.

[Sharky]

This is kinda weird. My part-time mailman here was the 1st Sgt. of C Co. when 3rd Batt was formed. We met at the mailbox one day and just started talking. One thing led to another and he mentioned that he was retired Army. From there it led to battalion and from there, naturally, to CSM Purdy. They served many years together. I can't remember his name but I see him every now and then. I'll ply him for some stories next time I run into him.

One of my favorites was told to me by CSM Eddie L. Roberts (Ret.). CSM Roberts was C/75 in Vietnam and has known CSM Purdy since RVN. He said that when Purdy was a PFC in Nam he was in CH-46 and they were inserting into an LZ that was supposed to be cold. Turns out it was very much hot. The loadmaster already had the ramp horizontal for the infil. The bird started taking intense small arms fire just as it was getting ready to touch down. The pilot was not amused and pulled pitch to get the hell out of Dodge. PFC Purdy was standing near the back of the bird and as soon as the pilot started pulling up he screamed "what the hell are you doing, the enemy is DOWN THERE!" at the loadmaster. He then jumped out of the bird via the ramp from a height of about 20 feet and started engaging the enemy on his own. The rest of the team couldn't just leave him there so they jumped out too. Apparently they wreaked havoc on the enemy with the aid of some CAS and artillery until a larger unit arrived and they were able to exfil. My understanding was that PFC Purdy's team leader was not amused with his PFC's enthusiasm for engaging the enemy.

Then there was the time that he supposedly was presumed dead but was only unconscious. The tale goes that he was placed in a body bag and when he regained consciousness he cut himself out of the body bag with a K-bar and at the same time managed to give some soldiers nearby heart problems as they watched him cut himself out of the bag. That sounds like a tall tale but, if you ever knew him you might believe it.

Then there was the tire house incident at Ft. Bragg with a live frag where he walked out without a scratch and started chewing some ass for getting fragged.(This one is confirmed.)

He was also a founding member of CAG.

The stories go on and on and on.

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F.I.D.O.

[This message has been edited by Sharky (edited 04-10-2001).]

[dragonrain]

Great F'ing stories, Keep em coming.


case

[MadMatt]

I remember the body bag story. And I believe it. There was also the rumor that he was mentioned in Beckwith's book as a certain someone who did a certain something in the desert. Remember that ?
Mad Matt

[Sharky]

That story about Desert One was confirmed to me by someone who was there. I'll let it go at that.

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F.I.D.O.

[RogueExec]

Hey Sharkman, any chance he'd respond with something other than "FO" if I sent him something? I don't rate talking to the guy, but thought I'd ask.

[MrPotatoHead]

Originally posted by realpolypro:
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Yup, at least a Regiments worth.

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That was on of the most intelligent/inspired responses ever posted on a bulletin board IMO. I'm proud to be one of them.

[wolf 129]

I wish I had the honor of meeting CSM Purdy. He was a legend when I was just a butter bar.

-Wolf

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"One of the inescapable encumbrances
of leading an interesting life is that
there have to be moments when you
almost lose it." -Jimmy Buffett

[Sharky]

Rogue,

Sure, I don't think he will be anything other than nice as long as you are tactful and respectful. Just don't look for very long and detailed responses.

MrPotatoHead: Ditto.

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F.I.D.O.

[rgr-jc]

When I was a buck private getting my ass smoked by the spec-4 mafia (who just returned from a certain op in Africa), I used to hear stories about this man. He is a legend in ranger-land. I couldn't fucking believe he wanted to cap people in the knee before a ruck march. As they would say, "back when it was hard".

-jc

[Sharky]

Actually he just wanted everyone to get a flesh wound in the thigh. His explanation was that we should all know what it was like to be shot and to bleed a little so we wouldn't freak out when it really happened. A shot to the knee would be counterproductive. I wonder if it makes me crazy that I can see his point.

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F.I.D.O.

[rgr-jc]

Just a flesh wound to the thigh? That's nothing <sarcasm>. I assume those on RRF-1 wouldn't be included in this suck-fest. I guess a knee wound would just take a little too long to heal, huh? Could you imagine standing in formation waiting for your turn? Talk about some serious anxiety.

-jc

[RogueExec]

Originally posted by Sharky:
Rogue,

Sure, I don't think he will be anything other than nice as long as you are tactful and respectful. Just don't look for very long and detailed responses.



Right. The Quiet Professionals. That's their name for a reason.

Thanks, bro.

Shoot me an email, will ya, and point me in the right direction.

quickfunding@hotmail.com




[This message has been edited by RogueExec (edited 04-12-2001).]

[mcdude]

Well, I have an answer (I think) to one question here. SCM Purdy has a son. It's a;most unbelievable, I know....

The Purd was CSM of 3/187, whilst I was in 1st Bn 187 (Rakkasan!). I heard the "every should get shot in the leg and road march" speech. He used to play Patton's speech, and march music, before PT every morning. What a trip!

Well, long story short-my team SGT in Panama (Ricardo, If you're out there, drop me a line!) told me a story. When he was still in regiment, CSM Purdy's son was going through RIP. He was an admin specialist (71L, I believe) for Reg HQ. I think that he went through RIP, then went elsewhere.

Man, wouldn't it suck to have to follow in his old man's footsteps? I thought i had it bad!

That's the story, as it was told to me....
MD

[Sharky]

MPH: Ask and ye shall receive.......Let the tales commence again......

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F.I.D.O.

[para325air]

Was he the CSM of Regiment in '90?

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Worldwide Service Provider, No Mission too Tough, No Sky too High, You Call, We'll Fall, 18 Hours or Less.

[Sharky]

Negative, he was never a CSM higher than battalion level, unless it was his last assignment at the 101st. In 1990 he was my CSM at 4th Ranger Training Battalion. He went to the 101st in 1992 I believe, after I ETS'ed. I heard that his last assignment at the 101st was his only assignment outside of the Delta, SF, Ranger community since he was a private in Vietnam.

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F.I.D.O.

[MrPotatoHead]

Dude, you rock! Found it for us all!

[Ranger1]

Admin,

Any chance of getting the Purd an invite and access to this BBS?

-Kirk

[Jatekos]

Saw Purdy once in a bar in Savannah in close combat with 1SF Fox for the attentions of a sweet thing. Purdy lost that fight-hands down. But, then again, Fox was one smooth talking dude.

[Dark Helmet]

Originally posted by Jatekos:
Saw Purdy once in a bar in Savannah in close combat with 1SF Fox for the attentions of a sweet thing. Purdy lost that fight-hands down. But, then again, Fox was one smooth talking dude.

Last time I saw 1SG (ret) Stan Fox, he was working in that pawn shop outside the gate at HAAF, wearing a Polo shirt and a Sig on his belt. That was a LONG time ago (maybe ten or twelve years). Always wondered what happened to him(?)

[Sharky]

Originally posted by Jatekos:
Saw Purdy once in a bar in Savannah in close combat with 1SF Fox for the attentions of a sweet thing. Purdy lost that fight-hands down. But, then again, Fox was one smooth talking dude.

ROFLMFAO.....Well....Let's just say that SM Purdy wasn't known for his looks.



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F.I.D.O.

[realpolypro]

Stan Fox retired as CSM of 3/75 in 88...Hale was the BC at the time (A Great One!). We gave him a fishing pole. Sharky wants a story. Well, Mr. Purdy was the President of the Board for my E-5 promotion. His question to me was current events. "Arrhaaaa...What happened recently in Iran, Specialist"?..."The Ayatolla died SGM"..."What'd they do to the body?"..."They tore it apart SGM"..."F'n ragheads, ahhhhhhhhhhh". I can pass any board http://www.socnetcentral.com/ubboard/smile.gif

Poly

[Moran 'doc']

I hit Bco 3/75 in time to see the Purd in action . No not a mission or a story or a motivational sugar free speech around a baby that was in his arms I guess if you have been through the "vally of death" you apericiate the simple things in life

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'doc'Moran 'silent pride'

[realpolypro]

Originally posted by realpolypro:
Stan Fox retired as CSM of 3/75 in 88...

As I was, 87'. "Houseboy! get me another Margarita!

[rgrjoe175]

Just noticed this thread and will share one of my Purdy storie.....

I remember sitting on my bunk in Idaho at that national guard base just outside of Boise, when someone said Niblett, Purdy wants to see you. I think to myself what the hell does he want. I walk in the room they told me he was in an next thing you know he has me by the throat and up against the wall. Screaming I want the name of that motherfucker that fell out of the movement last night. Was it your RTO?? What is his name? Nope wasn't Teves, Sgt Purdy. Sgt Purdy you talked to me and Teves when I was changing the freq on his radio and you told me hurry the fuck up and catch up. Well goddamn it who was that motherfucker that pussed out? Fucker fell to his knees and said he could not go any further? Sgt Purdy that was that LT. grader from the 82nd. You snatched him up by the throat said march or die motherfucker and he took off like a bat outta hell to the front of the company. The squadleaders in the room died laughing. Purdy looks at me grins and says see I told you what said to that motherfucker. He let go of my throat and slapped me and the back and said get the fuck out. He was one hard mofo...hahahahah and probably the ugliest Ranger I have ever seen....hahaha

Joe

[abn_rngrr]

Actually a guy named Batalona was even uglier than Purdy. I think he was in Alpha.

[rgrjoe175]

Oh I forgot about Batalona...and he was in Aco...hahahaha I saw both him and 1sg Fox at the 1sg 25th Anniv. Least I think it was Batalona this was around midnight in a bar on river street. Some of that evening remanes a fog. Except for have to tell Doc Donavan's girlfriend about how he abused me one day in the aid station back when he was an SSG..

Joe

[Sharky]

LOL.....nice one.

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F.I.D.O.

[Jatekos]

Joe,

Weslie "Backblast" Batalona was indeed one ugly mother. That's why he got his nickname http://www.socnetcentral.com/ubboard/smile.gif "What happened to that guys face?". However, he was also tough and that Hawaiian-English accent used to make me laugh to hell and back

[Wearman]

Gents Occasionaly we receive pearls of wisdom from the great man himself. Basically his views on the current state of the Army. Here is one, and I have some others but will have to dig them out.

Words of wisdom from CSM (ret) Purdy.

Original Message:
From: Donald Purdy
To: To Whom it May Concern
I would like to give an NCO perspective on this issue of the Army of one. I am a retired CSM with 27 years of service. Most of it in Ranger companies and the Ranger Regiment. I am a Vietnam veteran, and a veteran of special operations. I retired in 1995 but have done
mostly contract work at FT Benning involving experimentation on MOUT ops. I got to work around a lot of soldiers, and had to keep up with current trends and tactics. I am currently working in Saudi
Arabia training Saudi paratroopers and Rangers.

Some senior NCOs are nothing more than boot lickers who sing the Army of one song to there superior officers everyday. Commanders need to hear the good, bad and the ugly, and then be given good solid recommendations. They need their senior NCOs to be TRAINERS. LEAD by EXAMPLE. DO as the troops do. LEAD FROM THE FRONT.
GET IN THE DIRT. This bullshit of "I have done that" is garbage. What
you are doing now is what counts. Quit worrying about your next assignment. Focus on your mission now. Your mission is to train soldiers for war, and it's damned hard work. If you do it right you will leave the Army in worse shape physically than when you
came in. BE HARD BUT FAIR. You must have MORAL
COURAGE.

Training is just a word they can't spell. Chief trainer means chief boot licker. TICKET PUNCHERS.

"Moral courage" means telling your commander what he wants to hear these days. I was condemned by my peers, and superiors for speaking up, and telling it like it was. I was called a relic from the past that should be put in a glass case. I was focused on training for war not peace. Discipline was my watch word, and the soldiers did not decide what punishment was right or wrong where I served as CSM. I was the Chief Trainer. The buck stopped with me. I participated in all training and lead by example. I was told by a Division CSM that I would never serve above BN level because I was to intrusive. That means I scared commanders with the truth. The next thing he asked was why do you train with your soldiers? The question was shocking, but the answer was simple. When I speak everyone listens. That went over his head like a tent. I carried a rifle not a pistol, and I damn well knew how to use that weapon and my soldiers knew how to use their weapons as well.

Combatives is important. Boxing, wrestling, and bayonet fighting are not antiquated. CQB is just what it means, Close Quarter Battle. MOUT, Trench systems, and bunkers must be cleared, and you had better be aggressive and prepared to do bayonet or hand to hand fighting. When others were laughing at my unit for doing this my soldiers were prepared and understood what fix bayonets meant. They were aggressive and well disciplined. Sub standard performers were put out immediately. My First Sergeants were not mail men or chow deliverers they were the Chief Trainers of their companies.

We trained for war not peace. Live fires were a priority, and were not canned. Leaders, and soldiers had to react. Maneuver elements maneuvered, and had to rely on the SBF not to shoot them but only the enemy. Bayonets were fixed and there were dummy targets for the soldiers engage with those bayonets. Resupply millions were planned and executed. The battlefield had to be policed of casualties, and equipment by any means available, even if it meant driving vehicles cross country, or physically carrying the wounded. Reload drills, dead gunner drills, and crew drills were executed over, and over, and over again. These were executed day and night. NODS went on your face when the sun went down. They weren't hanging around your neck. We executed live fires at night with NODS in the woods, and the live fires were not canned. Raids, ambushes, search and attack were all executed at night up to company size. This took us over one year to get to that level. Mortars could hit their targets. Units could move silently day or night, and didn't get lost. We did no rely on the GPS. WE USED MAPS AND
COMPASSES. We lived out of our rucksacks, slept on the ground, in all types of weather from the BN CMDR on down. Frostbite, and heat casualties were not common because we trained to live and fight in the same environment. We did not look like bums. We shaved every day, wore our equipment properly, camouflaged our face, and hands when necessary, soldiers new how to maintain themselves and their equipment in the field, and uniformity was important. Soldiers knew what a cat hole was, and trash was carried in there rucks not thrown on the ground or buried for the hogs to dig up. Uniforms were worn properly. The companies received one hot meal a day and understood how to conduct tactical feeding. Our cooks knew how to function in the environment. The combat trains did not live in tents. Their perimeter was secure, weapons were clean, noise and light discipline was maintained. Cooks, clerks, and all other support personnel knew how to use their weapons, and were trained on basic Infantry skills. Misfires were damn well rare, and punishment was swift when it did happen. We suffered no live fire deaths because we trained properly, and used good old-fashioned common sense. We never had the soldiers execute missions they were not properly trained for. The NCOS trained the soldiers, the officers commanded.

Our motto was what ever you do, do it right. Rate of sick call in the field was almost zero. Moral was high because of good hard leadership from the front, and realistic tough training. We even executed a day of live fire training during support cycles. You need a strong CSM who understands discipline and training.
He can talk it and walk it.

There is no such thing as a good field soldier. You are either a soldier or not a soldier. Everything from appearance to police call is important. This bull shit about my space and my rights is just that BULL SHIT. Barracks are not his or her home its a place for them to live. For saying this I was told I had a mess kit mentality. This individuality BS of "I need my own room" is garbage. We waste more money building these Condos so soldiers can feel good, and not be part of a team its sickening. They should live in fire team bays. It builds cohesion. Key control alone is a nightmare. Of course don't bother the poor soldier just let him live like a pig, and when he gets sick or you find out he or she is a drug dealer then blame it on the NCO Corp even though you the illustrious BN CMDR, BDE CMDR said leave the soldiers alone in there precious rooms. Soldiers are owed a place to sleep, their pay, and the best leadership and training that can be provided.

DISCIPLINE is the key. DRILL AND CEREMONY is the foundation of discipline. When I say fall in I want to hear your heals coming together. When I speak you jump. All ceremonies should be executed with weapons so each unit can execute the 15-count manual of arms.
Carrying a card around in your pocket does not develop good morals. Morals are developed through solid leadership not gimmicks and headgear.

You want to be politically correct stay on the block. You want to be different or an individual looking to be a victim stay on the block. If you're a pervert and proud of it stay on the block. You want to be a soldier then become part of a disciplined team. This is not a job it's a profession. You're here to fight our country's war not to be a gut eating self-serving individual. Senior Officers, and NCOs I am telling you right now if things don't change you will have the blood of soldiers on your hands. There is an enemy out there who is determined, and he is not concerned about individual feelings, or time out. If you don't train them hard now, and demand from them now what in the hell do you think the enemy is going to do to them? If they can't take the heat in training how are they going to take it on the battlefield?
Technology my ass, soldiers win wars. Be hard on them now or watch them die, or worse break and run. Be HARD BUT FAIR! Being fair does not mean they dictate punishment or babying them. A Russian General said
"Hard on the training field, easy on the battle field". General Patton said "Leading from the rear is like trying to push spaghetti up hill." You want your soldiers to respect you not love you. When they look at you they should see a competent leader. The best compliment I ever received was from a soldier who was PCSing. I was a PLT Sergeant in the First Ranger BN. He said "Sergeant Purdy I hated to hear you come in, in the morning, and some times I just flat hated you, but I would follow you to hell with gasoline drawers on"

CSM Don Purdy
Retired U.S.A.

"The only easy day was yesterday" - Special Ops - "You have never lived until you have almost died. For those that have fought for it, life has a special flavor the protected will never know."

[Battboy From Hell]

Uh oh, the Wearman has posted!


Weigel
"Hey SEEERgeant, can I touch that blasting cap?"

[Huggies]

Whenever I think I'm done, and feel like I can't go on, I'm gonna remember the stories about this man and just keep going.

[brewmonkey]

That just brought a tear to my eye! OUTFUCKING STANDING!

[ghost]

That was on of the most intelligent/inspired responses ever posted on a bulletin board IMO. I'm proud to be one of them.

Likewise. Lotta good Purd memories. SMG Fox then the Purd, good times for 3rd Batt.

Remember 'Flag' football before LTC Hale left? Hale was QB. Who was the one who clotheslined the BC? He was a good sport about it, though. Those were the years!

DL