A Georgia redneck, a Florida redneck and a Texan were sitting around a small catfish pond and noticed some catfish. They felt it would be a good idea to have a fish fry, but they didn’t have a fishing pole or net. They started to ponder techniques to catch some fish for the fish fry, when the Georgia boy dove in the water and tried to catch one. He dove in, splashed around and after 5 minutes of no luck he got out, frustrated and sat back down. The Florida boy then got up, went to his truck and got a shotgun. He began shooting at the catfish. He expended over 30 rounds and he too was unsuccessful. Frustrated, he sat back down. The Texas boy sat for a bit, finished his beer, and cut the top of the beer can off with his pocket knife. Then he calmly stood up and walked over to the small pond and dipped his empty beer can in the water and filled it up. Then he walked to the top of the dam and poured the water on the ground on the back side of the dam. He walked back to the pond and got another can full of water and as he walked by the 2 other rednecks, he stated with a drawl, “You boys better git comfortable, this may take awhile.”
Michael Yon has posted an open letter from Command Sergeant Major Pippin — which begins with the quote above. “…this may take awhile” is the truth. The consequences of ignoring that truth are so horrible I don’t want to write about it here.
I recommend CSM Pippin’s letter to you, which closes:
The American Armed Forces has an empty beer can and the war in Iraq is like that small catfish pond. If the American people will be patient and supportive, we’ll have that fish fry.
CSM Pippin is absolutely correct. Its too bad the media hasn’t figured this out & they are largely to blame for the public’s poor outlook on the War on Terror. Every time I talk to a veteran or soldier who has been in Iraq, I hear a totally different story on the war, a positive one that is not being told… intentionally. This is because the media is more interested in advancing their own political agenda than telling the truth.
Damn straight, CSM Pippin.
Last time I checked there was only one CSM James Pippin in the Army. I am CSM James Pippin and did not write this open letter.
It may be a fraud, but it sounds like something CSM Pippin would say.
csm pippin first told 2/7 this joke at an awards ceremony in mosul iraq. i know of this csm, his morals , and his words. make no mistake about it, ive met a lot of csm……and none hve the balls like this csm had…..and still has. and the most amazing thing is that he never boasts about what hes done or seen….and im sure theres a lot he has been threw.
“garryowen”
There is another CSM James D. Pippin and I believe he did write that “Open Letter”. He is a Ranger and now serving outside the Rangers. He told this story to Michael Yon personally.