treesloth:

What's the point of being friends, even on a national scale, if you're keeping score and ripping each other apart? Here's a chance to honor a truly awesome guy. How about it?

And when were the French our friends? Now, I didn't jump on the freedom-fries bandwagon, but the French are renound for being very rude to Americans and Brits, and they haven't done a whole lot in the last, say, 100 years, to help us out.

Something not mentioned in the article but I saw on the CBC story last night that in addition to the medal he was also awarded something like 100 or 1,000 cigarettes. Wonder if he got his nickname before or after earning the medal?

As for a Smoky movie, it's probably been said but I'd be a little afraid of what would happen if Hollywood got their hands on this story. I can picture it now... He's American... defeats Hitler in hand to hand combat... and they'd get Brad Pitt, Jude Law or some other equally large waste of space to portray him.

surfingcow.

If Canada upped and invaded Uzbekistan for no good reason, would you send 10% of your troops for shiats and giggles? Would you say, "hell, they're going to go kill some people, I think we should go too!" Strap on your gun and go get shot at!

Yes they would. Any other questions?

RIP Smokey. What a man.

haha, Trucker, judging by your name and your profile, you and me could get along good. mind you, you dont sound like no super trucker or nothin, but.. :P

mikelambert70

From your own article it recongnises that there is a hearty accademic debate concerning the term. I've researched a lot of that periods history concerning Finland (Winter War, Contiunation War, Lapland War, the AFCM treaty etc.) and from what I've learned is that Finland did its best to maintain its soverighty given the circumstances.

The west did not interfer when the USSR crushed East German protest in the 50s, did not interfer in the Prague Spring, did not interfer in the Hungarian Uprising and let the USSR built the wall with little more than a diplomatic wimper. I have full sympathy for the Finns' fears that they would be screwed if the Soviets ever started throwing their weight around again.

So in short I respectfully disagree with the term 'Finlandization'.

sorry for being an a--hole but
the facts are that canada gets to live a lifestyle of relative prosperity and peace because of having a neighboring country that it shares a common culture with a country that has in the last 60 years been a shield against tyranny (or at least doesn't economically rob you the way russia did to its eastren european COMECON allies)[and as an aside be sure not to attack me for using caps when typing out an acronym]. yet as payback canada on "moral" grounds decides to not participate in the foreign policy of a economic system that it is very much a part of.

apparently canada is now mostly devoid of individuals like the man this thread is about.

well at least we got alanis morrisette now(she recently got u.s. citizenship)

JC Superstar

And when were the French our friends?

Maybe that time when we rebelled against the British and the French sent us troops and trained us to fight.

A lot of Farkers and Americans seem to forget that France was a major ally of the colonies during the Revolutionary War.

If anyone is interested

the CBC story from last night is available to view online.

1) http://www.cbc.ca/newscast.html
2) click on "The National" link (beside CBCNEWSWORLD icon)
3) fast forward to 18:05 in the player.

/should be online until tonight's edition is aired.

> And when were the French our friends?

Remember when they kicked the English's ass all over the Atlantic for you? Kept a guy named Cornwallis from getting what he needed to stomp all over a guy named Washington?

> and they haven't done a whole lot in the last, say, 100
> years, to help us out.

You apparently missed the first and second world wars.

King John:

> And when were the French our friends?

Remember when they kicked the English's ass all over the Atlantic for you? Kept a guy named Cornwallis from getting what he needed to stomp all over a guy named Washington?

Yes, that was great, and it was 200 years ago.

> and they haven't done a whole lot in the last, say, 100
> years, to help us out.

You apparently missed the first and second world wars.

Do you mean when we pulled France's ass out of harm's way? No, I missed those.

Rio_Yeti:

A lot of Farkers and Americans seem to forget that France was a major ally of the colonies during the Revolutionary War.

I certainly didn't forget it, but I also understand that that was a long time ago, and it was a different France.

reporter: "what's it like being here sixty years later?"

smoky: "i'm older"

Wow. What a great soldier. I'm a little proudER to be a Canadian tody.

But I've got to criticize you Americans for trying to flame and crap all over this thread. Can't you guys ever hold your farking tounge?

Can we just drop all this US/Canada border skirmish cr@p?
Lets just honor a true HERO an his passing.

/Tips a glass in Smokey's honor.
//Combat veteran, who has been there.
///Have you?
////Slashes are fun!
/////Have some more.

junge altman: sorry for being an a--hole but

apology not accepted. Your complete lack of understanding about history, foriegn affairs, and just about everything else that has had the misfortune of flowing forth from the massive excretory orifice you call a mouth makes me and every other US citizen on this board ashamed and embarassed.

Took out a tank from 10m with a PIAT. If I remember right, its strongly advised against firing a PIAT that close to a target.

Know why he was in a wheelchair? 'Cos his big, brass balls finally kept him from walking.

JC Superstar:

I certainly didn't forget it, but I also understand that that was a long time ago, and it was a different France.

Interesting irony of history:

A large part of the massive French debt that put its people in such a bad position in the 18th century was due to the French King giving aid to the US revolution. That same US revolution which inspired the French a few years later to rise up and overthrow the monarchy.

But I've got to criticize you Americans for trying to flame and crap all over this thread. Can't you guys ever hold your farking tounge?

A Canadian with indignation over Americans doing the same thing that Canadians have been doing to Americans for the past decade. How rich!

RIP Smokey. He was a throwback from the days when being Canadian meant something. They don't make them like that anymore.

junge altman

We don't owe you shiat and have paid just as dearly for what we have just the same as you have. Just because we didn't decide to fight one war with you (in the right i believe because all the reasons for your war have turned out to be untrue - WMD's anyone?) doesn't mean we wouldn't be there in the future.

Don't worry your little head if the shiat hits the fan again canada will be there contributing more then most just like we always have. I mean how would you get by without canadian's like smokey kicking serious ass?

I love when people bring up the haven't done our part BS

Please, "people" is plural. There's only one guy showing the red ass around here.

I was going to post in honor of Smoky, then I saw all the America bashing. I briefly considered posting a protest to that, when along came junge and gave partial justification for it.

Let's skip all that.

I'll hoist a glass to Smoky tonight. No one who has read anything about the performance of Brit, Canadian, US, Anzac or any other English-speaking soldiers in WWII can doubt their bravery. Comparisons are pointless and demean all of the combatants.

And for the handful of you who think violence is never justified, you may continue in your delusion. There are enough people around who will defend you that you need never be disabused of the notion.

RIP Smoky. Hope you get to knock back a few with Joe Beyrle.

Best wishes from an American.

The trolling in this thread is not worthy of Fark.
Try harder trolls

Jerry! Hello!

/war club?
//with nails?!
///come get your medicine you hinnie bastards

junge altman

i just think that canada is morally obligated to participate in ANY military action the united states engages in, if not it should not be in NORAD or NATO.

So...You have a large, muscular friend, which means that no one picks on you or the other friends in your social group. And then one day, he says let's go kill someone who's not in our group, or let's go take their car. You are obligated to go because you are his friend and help kill or steal even though you think it is wrong?

Furthermore, it is a moral obligation?

/Seems the military didn't teach you much about logic
//Glad you weren't in charge

to Smokey,
*raises glass

Information posted on the website of 'Smoky's Regiment, the Seaforth Highlanders is pretty good.

I believe he will lie in state for one day, and then 300 members of the regiment will be escorting his body across the Burrard street bridge to a church in downtown Vancouver next week. Anyone in Vancouver that has the time should spend the few minutes it would take to pay homage to a Canadian legend.

surfingcow: The next time you meet a guy that single-handedly disabled two tanks, faces down ten enemy soldiers at point-blank range and kills four of them without sustaining an injury, and routs the rest by himself while rescuing injured comrades, buy him a damn Scotch.

acaciaavenue: Amen, brutha

Fark that. Buy him the whole damn bottle! And a box of cigars to go with it.

Remember, kiddies: Memorial Day is not just a day off from work. It's the day we set aside to remember the sacrifices made on our behalf by people like Smokey Smith, Audie Murphey, "Gunny" Carlos Hathcock, Adm. James Stockdale, Randall Shughart, and Gary Gordon, and the countless others who served and died.

Props to you Smoky


Victoria Cross is the one on the left

A Scotch to Smokey.

apparently canada is now mostly devoid of individuals like the man this thread is about.
He was a throwback from the days when being Canadian meant something. They don't make them like that anymore.

ok but still weak, keep trolling

Tassach Good point, and Rememberance Day in Canada too

" "Try to do this as often as you can,'' said Smith, who used to kill enemy troops with a half-metre-long, Indian-style warclub bristling with nails. "

This guy is farkin awesome!

Interesting fact on CBC -

He was a soldier who didn't take well to the military way - he was promoted to Corporal 7 times. :)

mandib
cause the nazi's weren't murderer's right?

No, Nazis were definitely murderers, too. Self-defense is morally justifiable, but seeking out other people to kill is wrong. Some guy crossed an ocean because his government told him to and killed a bunch of Germans. He liked it so much and was so good at it that he crossed a different ocean to kill Koreans. Not my idea of a hero.

Does the US still have a Mutual Defense Treaty with the Canadians? Just need to know.

junge altman

Maybe it's because regardless of the fact that we are in NATO and NORAD we are actually a sovereign farking nation. Oh, and way to ignore the fan-farking-tastic that our troops are doing in Afghanistan. I mean the US invaded a real source of terror and then just left it to go after Sadam while we try to keep the country from devolving into another Taliban run terror training camp. We chose not to enter the Iraq war as a combatant and that is our right as a nation. It doesn't mean I respect Americans any less (well, only the most rabid Bush supporters) and am not grateful for the trade and friendship our countries have had over the years. People like you can only see as far as the last war.

JC Superstar

I have no respect for those that do no respect history. There are still a great many people around the world that respect the US, but your current administration and the arrogance of many of your citizens when it comes to the Iraq war is chipping away at that. America had the sympathies of most of the world post 9/11 and now it has more disdain than ever. Ask yourself why and no, it's not about jealousy.

In the end I am glad Canada had and still has people that will fight when the need is there and no amount of flaming will change that.

Thanks, Smokey. It's not a great thing to kill, but for him it was fight or flight. And yes, he wouldn't have managed it if he'd been shot quick. But that's why courage, luck and skill are pre-requisites for being a hero. For those who are interested, the official citation: http://www.nwha.org/news_3Q2001/news_page7.html
(You have to scroll down).

Also Related (I read this one a while back when it was available without subscription): http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/prem/196011/omaha

Not that it should be here, but Canada v US?
You guys showed up close to two and a half years late for WWII, because of your domestic politics, i.e. the majority of Americans thought the rest of the world should deal with the Nazis until Pearl Harbour happened. Sorry, Harbor. I think we're allowed to fight the War on Terror in our own way, without kowtowing to Washington...especially if we think you're going about it all wrong.

well at least we got alanis morrisette now(she recently got u.s. citizenship)

She's a sellout. You can keep her. She'll fit right in.

RIP, Smokey. May his ghost haunt us & give us inspiration.

SpanishPeacock:

because of your domestic politics, i.e. the majority of Americans thought the rest of the world should deal with the Nazis until Pearl Harbour happened.


And the best part is it was the democrats who wanted to join the war, while the republicans who wanted out...

rofles...

Sandwyrm
Does the US still have a Mutual Defense Treaty with the Canadians? Just need to know.

Well, unless NATO vanished last night when I wasn't looking, I imagine it does.

mikelambert70

"In short, it has nothing to do with their WW2 exploits and has everything to do with infiltration, kissing ass and bending over backwards in order not to offer their big red neighbor."

Ah the beauty of it all. You mean bending over backwards and kissing ass by say participating in ANY military action another country engages in regardless of the consequences. Get a farking clue.

jungle altman

"i just think that canada is morally obligated to participate in ANY military action the united states engages in"

Stixx: She's a sellout. You can keep her. She'll fit right in.

They'll never get our greatest female singer, Sarah McClauglin!

just another salvo about who is shirking and who isn't among so called western democracies

in 2002 1 in 204 americans were active duty in the u.s. military.
in france it was 1 in 212
in u.k. it was 1 in 264
in germany 1 in 270
in australia 1 in 393
in new zealand 1 in 420
and in canada?
1 in 553

so my point that canada gets to maintain a proportionally smaller military than would be expected because of the u.s. coverage saving them billions in defense expenditures
and the analogy works for blood as well.
217 americans have died in afghanistan, only seven canadians have(four being the fault of the u.s.)

Oh, lay off the Canadians. So what if they didn't go to Iraq? They're the best neighbors we could ask for: clean, quiet, polite, and occasionally they send out supermen to help us when the need arises. Cheers to his man and all others like him.

I love that comment dude! You know we got your back when its for real.

Cheers Smokey!

RaoulDuke

killing people, even nazis, does not make one a [HERO]

Haha! What a moron. It's in the motive for killing that separates killers from heroes.

You're either a troll or stupid, I don't really care which.

junge altman

How about a real source for your stats. And oh, BTW I guess you are pretty selective when it comes to honoring alliances seeing as how Bush and friends chose to ignore the UN. So, it's okay for you, but not for us. I don't deny that our gov't of the last 15 years has gutted out military, but that doesn't change the fact that everyone that has worked with Canadian troops (including current conflicts) have said that they are some of the best trained and tenacious fighters they have ever come across. So, please take your comments and stick them where the sun doesn't shine.

"217 americans have died in afghanistan, only seven canadians have(four being the fault of the u.s.)"

Maybe because they are targetting Americans?

Canada r0x0rs my b0x0rs.

Oh wait that was so 90s.

Just ignore the trolls. You guys are cool, and I would be on your side if a fight broke out on the playground.