rapidfire rapidfire
In review
“Kill cavalry” Kilpatrick;
and ranald Mackenzie,
mounted Warriors: From “the most brilliant of all
Alexander the Great and
indian fighters,” might
cromwell to Stuart, Sher-
evoke memories of a grade-
idan, and custer. by gene
smith. john wiley & sons,
school history lesson.
2009. $27.95. isbn 978-0-
Flight check
471-78332-9.
Immortal: A military
History of Iran and Its
Armed Forces. by steven r.
A
partnership between the Navy and a Ha- War historian Gene Smith
ward. georgetown university
waiian wildlife refuge means fewer gooney vividly presents the history
press, 2009. $29.95. isbn
birds will be fighting the Navy for airspace. the of cavalry in his new book
978-1-58901-258-5.
laysan albatross, called the gooney bird because of its about horse-mounted war-
clumsy landings, had posed an aircraft strike risk at the riors from ancient times to from Xerxes’ ancient
Pacific Missile range facility in Kauai, Hawaii. the last great U.S. cavalry Persian chariots to iran’s
John Burger, environmental coordinator for the Navy charge in 1942. “unmitigated disas-
base, has been working with wildlife biologist Brenda this is equine war ter” in the
Zaun to save the goonies while keeping air paths clear. with all its tactical iran-iraq
“the birds are programmed to return to the location innovations, flam- War of
where they fledged,” says Burger, explaining the risk of boyant traditions, 1980-88, T
allowing future generations of albatross to hatch. ap- and bold, eccentric senior cia
proximately 75 pairs had been nesting near the base. leaders head- analyst lt.
five years ago, Burger signed on to save the albatross, ing into col. Steven
and this year the program saw 100-percent success. Under wild melees r. Ward,
a new approach, the Navy allowed a dozen albatross to of saber and USa-ret.,
incubate their eggs naturally near the base until Zaun pistol. Smith’s takes a percep-
swapped them into foster nests at the Kilauea Point refuge. descriptions tive and in-
“this method decreases the potential of aircraft strike range from light triguing look at
danger while increasing the refuge’s albatross popula- and heavy cav- iran’s military
tion; it’s a win-win project,” says Zaun. alry to dragoons, history.
— Margaret A. Haapoja hussars, lancers, in Immor-
raids, charges, pur- tal, Ward as-
suits, reconnaissance sesses iran’s use of
TrIcAreupdate
missions, feints, and military force in both in-
screening operations. ternal and external wars,
MOAA IMMedIAtely Objected to DoD’s announced Some of the most fasci- as well as its legacy of
intention to raise hospital inpatient copayments by nating portrayals of cavalry corruption, politicization,
$110 a day for retired servicemembers and their family leaders include Sweden’s and religious interference.
members and survivors as of Oct. 1. This means all re- Gustavus adolphus, at points, he contrasts re-
tired beneficiaries using inpatient hospitalization under Prussia’s frederick von cent battles with ancient
TRICARE Standard will have to pay $645 a day or 25 Seydlitz, and england’s war stories.
percent of billed charges (whichever is lower), plus 25 oliver cromwell. Smith likely to be reader fa-
percent of allowed professional fees. The fee hike is up- throws in some household vorites are sections on the
setting because President Obama and Secretary of De- cavalry names, too. Stories islamic revolution and
fense Robert Gates announced earlier this year TRICARE about count Kasimierz the rise of the revolution-
fees would not increase for FY 2010. MOAA has urged Pulaski, “remembered ary guard and its insidious
Gates to retract the plan. as the founding father offshoot, the Qods force.
of america’s cavalry”; — William D. Bushnell
22 Military officer december 2009 photos: above, steve barrett; left, Margaret a. haapoja; opposite page; clockwise froM
top left, Marine corps systeMs coMMand; shutterstock; sgt. Michael connors, usa
Dec_rf.indd 22 11/6/09 2:01 PM
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