Pubdate: Sun, 24 Jun 2012
Source: Saratogian, The (NY)
Copyright: The Saratogian 2012
Contact:  http://www.saratogian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2100
Author: Paul Post

VETERAN SPEAKS ABOUT DRUG WAR

SOUTH GLENS FALLS - The "War on Drugs" can be won, but requires a 
three-pronged approach of tough law enforcement, improved treatment 
programs and constant education.

That's what an official who headed the federal government's anti-drug 
program during the Reagan and Bush administrations said last week 
during a visit with fellow military veterans in South Glens Falls. 
Lt. Gen. Stephen G. Olmstead (U.S. Marine Corps, retired) fought at 
Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War and was later commanding 
general at Parris Island, S.C. - the Marines' boot camp facility - 
before taking a position in July 1986 as deputy assistant secretary 
of defense for drug policy and prevention.

"It is containable; it's not stoppable," he said of the trafficking 
of drugs into the United States.

Olmstead was also a member of the National Law Enforcement Drug 
Policy Board. He coordinated efforts to support the U. S. Drug 
Enforcement Administration, FBI, U. S. customs and border patrol 
agents and local police.

However, the national program would only be effective if the federal 
government, specifically the Armed Forces, first cleaned up its own 
act, which it did.

"In 1982, the military needed cleaning up," Olmstead said. "From 
privates to generals, 30 percent of all personnel had tried some drug 
at least once."

When the services instituted command of surprise inspections 
involving urinalysis, drug use fell to 4 percent by 1992, he said, 
calling the drop off "startling."

Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently introduced a bill that would legalize 
public possession of small amounts of marijuana and blasted 
Republicans on Wednesday for blocking it in the state Senate.

However, Olmstead said, "marijuana is a gateway drug that just leads 
into other stuff."

Olmstead used to consult regularly with then- Vice President George 
H. W. Bush on a border interdiction program, along with Ronald 
Reagan's defense secretary, Caspar Weinberger.

He was also a close friend and Bethlehem High School classmate of the 
late U.S. Rep. Gerald B.H. Solomon, R- Queensbury, a fellow Marine. 
In fact, Solomon joined the Marines because of Olmstead, who had 
served one year in the late 1940s, came back out and re-enlisted when 
the Korean War began in June 1950.

Before that year was over, Olmstead found himself at Chosin 
Reservoir, one of the most famous battles in Marine Corps history.

Although greatly outnumbered, the Marines and other United Nations 
troops destroyed or crippled seven Chinese divisions. Eight-hundred 
thirty-six Marines were killed and 12,000 were wounded. Most of the 
injuries were related to frostbite inflicted by the severe cold.

"It was 35 below zero and we slept outside," Olmstead said. "Of the 
16,000 who came out, there are only 5,000 left. We are working to 
have a permanent monument to that battle at the Marine Corps Museum 
at Quantico, Va."

There is already a new "Chosin Few" memorial at Camp Pendleton, the 
Marine Corps base in California.

"It's very symbolic," Olmstead said. "It's on a cliff overlooking the 
Pacific Ocean. This is where we left from when we went to Korea."

On Thursday, Olmstead, who lives in northern Virginia, met with World 
War II Marine Corps veteran Dan Orsini of South Glens Falls, who 
chairs the Gerald B. H. Solomon Freedom Foundation. Since its 
inception in 1995, the organization has given more than $150,000 in 
scholarships to Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

They were joined by Vietnam veteran Steve Elms ( U. S. Marine Corps) 
and World War II D-Day veteran (Army) Dave Sexton of South Glens Falls.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom