[August 1, 2023] This will sound weird and maybe unbelievable to those who have never been in the military, but I love concertina wire. Concertina wire comes in a circular coil like a slinky toy and is made up of small barbs that will snag anything soft. Our armed forces use it to keep people and small vehicles out of an area. If you are in the military, you probably used it and had your uniform and hands cut from it. People generally fear concertina wire, which is one reason I love it. America’s enemies fear it, and that’s another reason I love it.
My introduction to concertina wire was in the Infantry Officer Basic Course at Ft. Benning, Georgia, in the summer of 1983. We were on a light Infantry training week and had prepared an attack on a simulated enemy machinegun position. I was on the assault team with the task of overcoming the defenders. My team did not know that the defenders used concertina wire to help protect them. When my team “attacked,” we had to struggle through the wire, slowing us down markedly and breaking up our plan (it works well that way). I was caught on the barbs for several minutes, tore my field uniform pants and shirt, and cut up my leg. Now I understood firsthand the purpose of the concertina. I smiled because now I knew what to do. I truly valued concertina wire, I respected it. I was in love.
In 1983 America was at peace. After Benning, I became an Infantry Platoon Leader, but I didn’t forget my lesson being hung up in that concertina wire during training. Being peacetime, we had no extra money to buy the wire, so I had my Soldiers go out and ask other units for any they could spare. We scrounged over 200 rolls. No one wanted the stuff. It’s bulky and took up too much room in their motor pools, accumulated trash blown into it, and was unsightly. They were happy to rid themselves of the wire, and we were someone who could provide a legitimate purpose. The military considered the wire “expendable,” so property controls were not too tight. Besides, who would want to run off with this stuff?
I felt pretty good. My company commander sent us to the field a few weeks later for extra training. My NCOs strung all the newly acquired concertina at night. Within hours we began to hear cries of people hung up, unable to extricate themselves from it. It is nearly impossible to see concertina at night. At daybreak, my senior sergeant brought me 12 soldiers from a sister company. Several of them were crying. These troublemakers had stolen items from other units but not in my platoon. Initially hesitant about using this wire, my NCOs were now happy as could be.
If you want protection, get yourself some concertina wire. People fear it. You’ll love it too.
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One of your more funny posts, Gen. Satterfield, so keep it up.
Occasionally I read one of Gen. Satterfield’s articles that hits home and this is one of them. I was in the Army for three years and during that time I also handled concertina wire (or as we called it, just ‘concertina’). Yes, I cut my hands and pants and shirt many times but I also learned (the hard way) how to handle it properly and without gloves and could put out some beautiful entanglements (ha, ‘beautiful’ as a word here can only be appreciated by those who have done the same). Keep these articles coming our way, Gen. S. We’re loving them all.
Yes Yes Yes, ‘beautiful’ entanglements. Love it.
Ha Ha, loved this article.
“I love concertina wire” article made me nearly spit my coffee onto my computer screen.
Yeah, I loved it too.
Yeah, good one.
Baw Haw Haw …. ” At daybreak, my senior sergeant brought me 12 soldiers from a sister company. Several of them were crying.” That is what makes this website so funny and yet lesson rich.
Great life lesson. What something someone 👀 sees as a nuisance is a powerful tool in the right hand. The Bible says forget not the small things because it the same thing may be that which gives you victory.
You are sounding a lot like Gen. Satterfield, Eddie. Good to have you on-board in this forum!
Gen. Doug Satterfield is giving us several overlapping and important lessons here and ones that should never be overlooked or ever forgotten. Some people have the fear of being hurt and are wussies, pussy, weak men who have never experienced pain or disappointment or had to adhere to high standards of behavior. Don’t believe me, then watch videos of drunks getting stopped by the police and getting tased (from Mr. Sparky) and watch them flop on the ground and scream like babies who have a dirty diaper. Love it when grown ass men can’t control themselves. I in particular loved it when those thieves were crying because they were “hung up” in the concertina wire. Love it.
Ball 3, Strike 2, bottom of the Ninth Inning, down by one run, men on base. Crack. Gen. Satterfield hits another one out of baseball park and the crowd goes wild. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Great comment, Max. Let us never forget these lessons.
The main lesson I got from this is to look at what you fear and learn to turn that fear to your advantage. Remember this, post it on your refrig and read it every day because it matters.
“Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold.” == Helen Keller
Welcome Hellen Keller. If you have any questions about these forums, just ask.
Great life lesson. What something someone 👀 sees as a nuisance is a powerful tool in the right hand. The Bible says forget not the small things because it the same thing may be that which gives you victory.
If you don’t love concertina wire, then you are missing out on life.
A hero is born among a hundred, a wise man is found among a thousand, but an accomplished one might not be found even among a hundred thousand men. Plato
Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/plato-quotes
Great article, again, Gen. Satterfield.
I can understand this completely.
“My company commander sent us to the field a few weeks later for extra training. My NCOs strung all the newly acquired concertina at night. Within hours we began to hear cries of people hung up, unable to extricate themselves from it. It is nearly impossible to see concertina at night. At daybreak, my senior sergeant brought me 12 soldiers from a sister company. Several of them were crying. These troublemakers had stolen items from other units but not in my platoon. Initially hesitant about using this wire, my NCOs were now happy as could be.”
I still smile to myself when I think back on that day.
Sir, this is one of your funnier stories. I love it when you wrote that some of the soldiers cried in the wire.
Excellent article and enticing story of when you were at IOBC in Ft. Benning GA.
That is why we are here reading about it, Audrey. Gen. Satterfield has so many stories that it is impossible to keep track. Remember what he has written about many times.
“Leadership Toolbox: Storytelling”
https://www.theleadermaker.com/leadership-toolbox-storytelling/
He He He He He…… He
Gen. Satterfield, you da man. Using this concertina wire in your platoon position reminds me of today’s battle against the enemies of freedom. I wish there was an equivalent to preventing our dipsticks in Washington DC from taking away our freedoms.
Ha Ha, got a kick out of this article. I too “love” Concertina Wire. Lived with it for many years in the Infantry.
Isn’t it GREAT. I respect it, not so sure I love it. The wire has cut me so many times, I lost count. I do like your story about sister unit soldiers getting ‘hung up’ in the wire while trying to steal stuff from your platoon. Those are the kind of things I like to read about here in your blog. Thanks!!!!
Yeah, good one!
👀👀👀👀👀
Look out or you just might get yourself cut by the concertina wire. Love it, Gen. Satterfield.
Good point, all. This is exactly the kind of articles I love ❤ to read. Hang in there Gen. Satterfield and keep these articles coming our way. We do love them.
Don’t ya just love this personal blog of Gen. Satterfield. I sure do.
LOVE is a multifaceted word. I would say that I respect the wire, not love it. But I get your meaning. Many of us ‘love’ those things others fear, esp those things evil people fear.