Apr 25 2007

The Rule of LGOP’s

Posted by PAgent in Flotsam, Games
1 Comment

Since their inception, U.S. Airborne Forces have performed admirably in their service to this country. I’ve been playing Medal of Honor: Vanguard lately, which has a strong enough basis in actual history that it makes you stop and contemplate those young men falling gently into the maelstrom of occupied Europe, more than half-a-century ago.

What’s particularly interesting is that all too often, adverse weather conditions, poor communication, or just bad luck resulted in paratroopers being scattered across a wide area, far from their planned rendezvous points, and far from equipment drops. Despite these handicaps, Airborne troopers were able to rise to the occasion, securing important positions and harassing the enemy. Particularly notable examples of this were the 82nd Airborne Division dropping into Sicily during Operation Husky, and the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions dropping into Normandy during Operation Overlord.

Pondering the reasons for this unlikely success has led to the formulation of the Rule of LGOP’s, or “Little Groups of Paratroopers”:

The Rule of LGOP’s

After the demise of the best Airborne plan, a most terrifying effect occurs on the battlefield.
This effect is known as the rule of the LGOPs.
This is, in its purest form, small groups of pissed-off 19-year-old American paratroopers.
They are well-trained.
They are armed to the teeth and lack serious adult supervision.
And they collectively remember the Commander’s intent as “March to the sound of the guns and kill anyone who is not dressed like you” – or something like that.
Happily, they go about the day’s work.

One Response to “The Rule of LGOP’s”

  1. FISMA Report Cards Issued–Response is Rote by Now | The Guerilla CISO Says:
    May 21st, 2008 at 8:43 am

    [...] for a new concept in your vocabulary:  LGOPP (OK, actually it’s LGOP, but I added an extra “P” for comedy purposes).  Imagine June 6th, 1944, paratroopers [...]