SEAL Team 6 Hatchets

[CPP]

In keeping with Red Squadron’s appropriation of Native American culture, Howard came up with the idea to bestow 14-inch hatchets on each SEAL who had a year of service in the squadron. The hatchets, paid for by private donations Howard solicited, were custom-made by Daniel Winkler, a highly regarded knife maker in North Carolina who designed several of the period tomahawks and knives used in the movie “The Last of the Mohicans.” Winkler sells similar hatchets for $600 each. The hatchets Howard obtained were stamped with a Native American warrior in a headdress and crossed tomahawks.

From a rather unflattering article about SEAL Team 6 at the Intercept.

A retired noncommissioned officer said Howard’s encouragement and provision of Winkler hatchets was simply adding fuel to the fire. The power of the Native American mascot, he said, was not to be dismissed. Since the 1980s, when Red Team was first created, there were many operators in the unit who had experienced a “metamorphosis of identity and persona” into Native American warriors. “Guys are going out every night killing everything. The hatchet was too intimate, too closely aligned with a tomahawk, to have been a good idea.” The former SEAL, who himself had served in Red during his career, said that by giving operators the weapon of their battlefield persona, Howard sent an unmistakable message to his men: Use it. “That’s when you take away a hatchet,” the retired SEAL said. “Not provide them.”

 

[Guitarist7.62]

Interesting. The last quote doesn't really make sense to me, what's stoping them from buying their own actual tomahawks? I mean if having one makes them more like the warrior they are trying to be, and therefore more bloodthirsty, then why wait to be given a hatchet that's based off a tomohawk when you can by an actaul tomahawk from day one?

 

[Lapedog]

I somehow doubt the tomahawk is what is causing the problem. Seems abit silly blaming an inanimate object. They're implying that the symbol of the tomahawk is too powerful and too persuasive? That is idol worship ofnthe basest variety. Attatching spiritual power or any power to an object. It is too powerful for those feebleminded SEALS.

 

[jdm61]

No such thing as bad publicity.......

 

[Woodcraft]

I somehow doubt the tomahawk is what is causing the problem. Seems abit silly blaming an inanimate object. They're implying that the symbol of the tomahawk is too powerful and too persuasive? That is idol worship ofnthe basest variety. Attatching spiritual power or any power to an object. It is too powerful for those feebleminded SEALS.

What he said. Also the article seems it was written in a way that was very, a particular bag that holds a feminine product, eeeee.

 

[Sidehill Gouger]

If you read all of the story connected with these hawks, it seems the SEALS are being accused of committing war crime type activities with them. If they did, they were wrong. It sounds like it is the American Tomahawk story from Viet Nam all over again. The truth is hard to discover, but some unit commanders did ban the hawks to stay out of trouble with the media. I don't think they were ever banned army wide. They certainly never got around to telling my unit.

 

[mete]

PC and all that crap !
My very close friend and hunting buddy just passed away. He was in SF in the early days. He said much of the efficiency of the group was lost when they became toys of the politicians !
His unit had people who were 'different '.Very effective and no one thought bad about using non-standard weapons.
Today there's too much attention by the media and politicians to be PC, second guessing the SF . Like the original SAS these units should not be on page #1 .

 

[Archienj7]

This is absolutely disgusting to read. Disregarding the hit piece on Red, is the guy really that stupid to not know tomahawks and hatchets are not solely Native American inventions? Not even close.

 

[aussiedude]

Getting rid of tomahawks from defence personnel? How about first getting rid of pens from bankers, politicians and the press. I know which one has done more damage and killed more people...

 

[ohen cepel]

And I thought that everyone blamed the firearm all the time. Who knew that a 'hawk would turn highly trained men into nut jobs.

 

[CPP]

When I began reading the article I was expecting it to say there were complaints about the Native American theme being cultural appropriation...

 

[button]

Political Correctness,the down fall of our country IMHO.

 

[Square_peg]

I think Wall Street's gutting of our economy has been our downfall. Everything has been outsourced and shipped overseas. Wages have been stagnant for 30 years. Our infrastructure is in shambles (see Oroville dam).

 

[Camber]

I think Wall Street's gutting of our economy has been our downfall. Everything has been outsourced and shipped overseas. Wages have been stagnant for 30 years. Our infrastructure is in shambles (see Oroville dam).

Plus one to this...although I would add the inability to realize the US might just need to evolve as the years pass. Returning to the good old years sounds great, until you replace good old years with 1900s or 1800s or anything time period before that.