Border Wall and Security

Border Wall and Security

Politics aside, please.   This is a position on the need for a border wall and a better approach to security.  We have had too many preventable attacks and for those that could not have been prevented, our losses could have been much lighter if leaders had listened or read intelligence and after-action reports.

To start with, I would like to show off a few of my experiences around Walls, Security, and Threats.  In my military service, I had perhaps more than average exposure to intelligence and security.  I worked around some good Soldiers - combat arms, MPs, MI, some civilian specialists I have this mindset that most Americans do not understand security very much and leave it to the “experts.”  Since 9/11, there have been some significant improvements in our security posture, but the physical border is just a little more secure than it was in 2001.  We (our elected officials) have not gone that extra mile to put a lock on the gate. 

I have had some experience along borders and believe that I can present some evidence that they can and do work.  This lists a bit of my experience with this stuff. 

I worked for three years along the Berlin Wall. From a year after it was started, one saw continual strengthening and improvements that continued until it fell 25 years after it went up.  It was used to keep people in and it worked.  Probably fewer than 150 people escaped across it in the open.  I flew over it almost every day, patrolled both sides of it almost daily, took about 8,000 photos of it as well as some other recordings to maintain a daily record, maintain a large situation map, and files at G2, Berlin Brigade on the wall. We input our data as potential targets for potential operations as well as the order of battle information. We usually briefed visitors in some authority 2-3 times a week.  That was much of my work in Berlin until Vietnam called out for me to return.

After a year in Vietnam, where I was fortunate enough have been with good troops and even on the worst day to be in a good solid RF Fort that would pass anybody’s inspection, FUGAS, Claymores and Spooky 47 to save our butts during a rather large VC attack, it was back to Europe.  Good security saved my butt there. 

I was assigned to HQ USAREUR/7A/CENTAG and conducted update briefs and some added intelligence collection, targeting and projects that included Berlin and East Germany. 

I was stationed in Korea three times, with duty along the DMZ twice and at EUSA Hq initially on the IG Inspection Team at both KORSCOM and EUSA that included security and surety programs and field work that included monitoring some NK tunneling activities under the DMZ.  On my last tour there, my MI (CEWI) Battalion had surveillance and collection sites and Soldiers on or within rifle shot of that well-patrolled border.  Some sites are still in use by the ROKA.  Not that my presence had any significant impact on security in Korea.  While having lunch at Camp Humphreys during a security inspection, the power went off.  It was due to local nationals hooking up to a 100KW generator with a large truck that pulled it through the double perimeter fence and across fields.   Rules of engagement prohibited the garrison security forces from using force to stop the theft. The locals learned how to survive while under Japanese rule and had some rather sophisticated methods to acquire needed items.  Fence or no fence. 

In the early days of Vietnam in 1961, on TDY trips, I assisted in attempts to provide some added physical security at new SF Camps and Advisory Team locations along parts of the border with Cambodia.  It was a time where a roll of tape concertina wire was guarded more than beer and everyone dreamed of a solid berm.   Later in that conflict, I plotted and assisted in placing UGS and other sensors such as GSR on and along known infiltration routes in the 44^th Special Tactical Zone/IV Corps.  There were many areas without fencing and we had few resources to respond to border crossers detected by our sensors. But they looked nice on the map and in reports.  Much of my time was spent with Operation SEALORDS, a large scale plan by Admiral Zumwalt, COMNAVFORV to use most US Navy assets available such as the PBR and PCF along with USSF that were on the border and VNN/ARVN for larger operations against discovered base camps.  This denial operation in 1968-70 proved quite effective in intercepting and ultimately reducing VC/NVA movement of supplies into and through the southern areas of Vietnam. After that, we began turning the war over to the permanent residents. 

I was stationed at Fort Huachuca that is located in close proximity to the border with the Mexican State of Sonora.  In 1972, the Army Intelligence School moved there and along with the Combat Surveillance and Electronic Warfare Schools, provided training to the armed forces from lessons learned in Vietnam.  This included some training with ground surveillance radars, unattended ground sensors, and monitors as well as airborne platforms such as the OV-1B, C, D Mohawk that were used by our forces in Vietnam, and also deployed to Korea and Germany.  Also, R&D work was started here in using drones and static aerial platforms for surveillance and reconnaissance. We also provided equipment and training for those that patrolled the border. It was rewarding to pass on lessons learned to younger folks and units. 

I received some insight into drug and human trafficking after retirement from the Army.  While working as a contractor for psychology services at a U.S. Federal Prison, I learned quite a bit. I talked to many inmates and staff as well as some government agents about drug and human trafficking into the U.S.  Drugs were the big item people were incarcerated for there.  But my lessons also included how to corrupt or threaten officials, human slavery operations, border crossing techniques, and the huge amount of money that was involved.   The picture was not a pretty one and that was back in the late 1980s, early 1990s.  It was interesting to talk with those traffickers who were caught right outside of Fort Huachuca and others such as those involved in moving military equipment as a part of Iran-Contra. 

That is a summation of my experience with borders and security.   I have attached some additional information you might find useful from the experiences of both U.S. and foreign border security operations.  In reading about several countries, I found some interesting para-military border security units that I did not know were as large as they are and discovered some new technology that is being developed to detect tunnels and to strengthen borders.  

The attachments include the words of people that live on the border.  The second asks the question as to whether border walls work; the third discusses tunneling under walls, the fourth talks about the threats out there and of course the last, my soapbox.  I no longer consider myself an up to date expert on security.  I have been away from it for too long.  But I do know that this old Soldier knows more than many of those who are in control or are self-claimed experts that have revealed they don't know jacks**t of what they speak. 

If any of this is helpful to anyone, let me know.  I use this format for personal learning.  I know it is sort of odd but that describes me.   Perhaps, if you have strong feelings about the need for better security, you forward parts to a friend, your veteran organization or your representative or just have a drink and delete it.  I researched a bit to bring myself up to date.  I now know more than I want to. 

And no, I do not have concertina around my house.   

Lou