The Legion
 

Didn't they used to call the 5th...The Legion.........?

Just my memory
 

I was in 5th Group from 74 to 87. All of that was in 3rd Battalion. In all that time I don't remember "The Professionals" or "The Legion" in general use.

When I came back to 5th Group in 93 I began hearing "The Legion". I think I first recall it said by the Group Commander and then by a few others here and there. Again, it was not in general use but everybody at that time knew that it refered to 5th Group as a whole.

Knowing a word is related to a Group and then using it everyday are two different things.

Anyway, that's how I remember it.

Pete

They still do. It's internal to the Group/community, I wouldn't recommend throwing it around like one of the cogniscenti. FWIW - Peregrino

In '68 the CO of C-3 or A Company 5th Grp began referring to said C Team as "The Professionals" both in word and in print.

I have always had a personal fascination with "The Legion" and don't think of it being a good comparison or point of reference to any SF.

They would compare well with rangers as a unit.
My .02 Dong

Gentlemen,

I believe the “legion” reference began shortly after Desert Storm. Most guys on the Teams never really used the term, it seemed to be mostly used by BN and Grp types, especially the various Group CDR’s.

Take care,

SERPENT5XX

Yes, they call it that most of the FOGs say it, matter afact i heard it just the other day.

GEE
 

GEE, SEPENT5XX, I guess that last post sure put us in our place in life's line.:D

Pete

“The legion”
 

Guys,

From what I understand, the term “The Legion” was started with the 5th and 77th, and then rarely used, I agree that the use was mostly at the BN and Group levels, but not as a normal reference and never outside SF. Here is my recollection which is dated.

The first, I heard the reference was at a SFA while talking to Pete Petersen (77th SFG) now this was a long time, and having consumed the normal amount of libations, anyway Pete told me this long sorted story, so here is the quick and dirty: The reference to SF and the 5th specifically as “The Legion” came from the results of a tough mission, that was executed using the primary plan (this would have been a first) by a short handed ODA, very efficiently and this mission was taken because the Regular Army guys could not step up. The regular Army Brass said that it would take a “Legion” to complete the mission, months to plan, and then the threat would be gone, so the 5th Group Commander stepped forward, saying Bull Shit, my guys can do it, in three weeks and that only one ODA was needed, so they planned, executed, and completed the mission in two weeks and five days, so the reference “The Legion” was born this was in 62 or 63. Pete thought using “the Legion” was over the top, but he was from the 77th and they were never over the top, were they? So to close this commentary, the Group and BN Commanders loved using the term “The Legion” as SF Teams always are doing what others consider are impossible missions. So, that’s the story and I’m sticking to it!

Zinger531,

Sounds like a good story to me! I'll buy that!

Take care,

SERPENT5XX

don't get me wrong Pete I'd follow an FOG into a hot LZ any day and be honored. Nothing but respect for you gents.

Sounds like a credible explanation but then who cares what you call them. You are going to get your butt kicked no matter what you call them.

Hush.

Then why did you ask the question in the first place? You hush too.

SORRY NDD Ill hush now:(

Hmmm......I thought it all stemmed out of the Movie Gladiator!!!!!!!!

Seems like right after that movie came out, all the Commanders and staff started to bandy "The Legion" around, along with "Strength and Honor!!!!!!!!"

I guess it was just a reincarnation!!!!!!!

legion
 

edit by Team Sergeant.... this one is gone.

Probably a good thing............

Must be a real legion problem! HEEE:lifter

What do you mean by butt kicked?:lifter It doesn't fit the context.:lifter

2nd warning.
Read the stickies.
Fill out your profile.
Don't be a smartass unless you can back it up.

You are making yourself a target, and there are some Interdiction Specialists that are gonna eat you for a friggin snack.

Shut up and read.

"Interdiction Specialists"....Dang I like that one.....

Don't know anything about the 5th being referred to as "The Legion" but I do have a 5th Group coin, given to us in 1971, with "The Professionals" cast around the outer rim.

I was only in 5th Group for a couple of years as a support guy, I don't know what was done before or since but I heard both of my Group commanders repeatedly refer to 5th Group as "The Legion." I think COL Pagan addressed us as "The Legion" in his farewell speech, but I'm not certain.

Attached is the coin the Group commander and CSM passed out in OEF II. On the front it says "Strength and Honor," and on the back it says "Task Force Legion." The CJSOTF West coin (not posted) says "Desert Legion" on the front and "Task Force Dagger" and "Strength and Honor" on the back. It also has a Roman numeral "V" incorporated into the design.

My understanding is that referring to 5th Group as "The Legion." and the motto "Strength and Honor" both predated the movie Gladiator.

Mara,

I was in 5th from 84-87 and from 94-05. I NEVER heard the “Strength and Honor” phrase used before the movie “Gladiator”.

Take care,

SERPENT5XX

Roger,
I was there 83-87 and never heard the "Strength and Honor" phrase.

TS

I was there from 82-84 and never heard it mentioned either. Most of that was when Bynum was Gp Cdr, then followed by Jim Guest. Seems we have a fairly good time frame covered on this board.

Roger.

Looks like our service overlapped a little (02-04).

The Strength and Honor, definitely started up right after Gladiator came out..........I thought the Legion thing was another byproduct of that, I was wrong about that, but I was not about the Strength and Honor.

BG Bolger-CMATT
 

The only time I heard of the phrase in theater was from BG Dan Bolger who ran CMATT in 05' when I was there. It was part of his signature block. I dont know however if he was SF at one time or even a gladiator for that matter.:)

Then-LTC Bolger was my first battalion commander on active duty. Although he has a well=earned reputation for brilliance, I don't remember him being SF qualified or having any time in 5th Group. I didn't turn up anything about it in any of his bios I looked up online.

The Legion
 

I was in 5th Group for a while. I recall Col. Noe, Col. Paxton and Col. Mulholland using "The Legion" phrase during group formations and ceremonies. The Strength and Honor phrase started at Camp Stronghold Freedom I believe. The Group was issued coins that had this on it when we were part of TF Dagger. I gave mine to Mike Roof for his youngster.

The 5th "Legion"
 

As a short timer in 5th Group (1998-2001) I heard the phrase The Legion all the time...As for Chip Paxton....well I won't say it. On my retirement plaque it states from the men of the 5th Legion....I also got an "x-ray" of a hand with six fingers.....yes six fingers.....But that may have been a 1st Bn thing caused by inbreeding..... :)

Having had the honor of serving in several of our fine organizations I can say with some authority 5th Group is truely a special unit to have been part of!!! CSM-H

It was being used well before Stronghold Freedom..............

I started hearing it right after the movie "Gladiator" came out, a good year and a half before "Stronghold Freedom" was envisioned..............

Don't forget Maximus B...
 

...who encouraged us to: "kill those bushels by the bastard-ful." Fortunately no one saw much of him once hostilities commenced. He loved him some "Strength and Honor."

The "Legion", how suiting. I was in 5th twice, from 82-87 then 96-99.

Now granted I was in two different roles, the first as a JR/SR commo, then the second as a TM SGT.

The first stint was at Bragg, grew up with some great folks, had a good time. The second of course was at Campbell (love the post BTW) as a TSGT.

It was very obvious that it was highly "regimentalized" with alot of 5th group only leadership. I could swear I was in RGR BN, that's all they knew.

I tried to inject some...."gasp" small unit JCETS, TM training, but they turned out to be company clusterfucks.

I wish the leadership (Co/Bn level SGM etc) had experienced life "outside" of the 5th. SF is a great thing, when ya get it smaller than company level....gee what a concept.

Attending TM SGT mtg's with the Co SGM and he wants to make all the tm rooms the same ie, all tm lockers stocked and locked, so if a guy goes from one tm to another, he could "find" something???????:eek:

Also, all LBV/LBE set up the same so everyone knows where everyones stuff is?????:eek:

C'mon, guys, we could handle that ourselves with our TM SOP.....

Frustrating to say the least.

I will hold 5th near and dear, since it was my first SF assignment, but boy.....has it changed.

Not all bad, I'm not downplaying them, they're doing what it takes to whack bad guys, so....carry on "legion"

A/3/5th SFG was my first assignment in SF. It is still my favorite assignment as it was the basis for my whole career. I met a lot of great people young and Old that set the tone for my future SF assignments. The Smoke Bomb Hill and the old division area just is not the same since 5th departed. Heard the term for the first time out a Bliss on my first DMV training trip......... Riding was much better than walking in that area.

Riding...what a concept...LOL.

When we first started the Desert Training Program (DTP) we were given a "few" mapsheets, an assload of water and directions of "go that way as best you can"....

We were always wondering....haven't these bone heads found their LRDG manuals/lessons learned shit.

I guess it finaly caught on, and they (they being B500 AKA the "GOD" squad (Guests' Operational Detachment) and the bunch started using these vehicles Fast V's and different variations of stuff or something like that. Damn things always broke the reverse gear, they were just some civilian stuff they tried to militarize.....eehhh, didn't work.

Anyone remember Dave Nicewander(sp?) RIP, he had that chevy 1/2 ton with duece 1/2 axles under it??? He also got a write-up in Army Times if I'm not mistaken...

I remember the FSV ie 4 seat dune buggy that broke its reverse in Jordan in Mar 85'. Also remember jumping into DTP in 86' and walking, walking and some more walking just to get onto the map sheet.

CD

Glebo, Dave N. and Frank Stonko and I hung out to together. We went through the Q course together then 5th Grp. RIP to both. After retiring, heard Frank Stonko was killed in a trucking accident out west.

Ernie...six fingers wtf lol? What the hell was that about?
Bowra used the Legion thing all of the time and it trickled down, before he started that I didn't hear it very often and can't remember it at all in the early 80's.