John Donaldson
John Donaldson is not the longest serving PWC government relations guy, but he’s close. He had been in the power sports industry for over a decade when his then employer decided his gift for gab and ability to write completely confusing letters were a perfect match for dealing with politicians and legislators. Since the course change in his work history, Donaldson has worked for two of the biggest PWC manufacturers as well as having a turn at running the Personal Watercraft Industry Association. Donaldson says that these government relations experiences have helped him understand that it sure isn’t the government one learns about in a text book. Further in Donaldson’s past was his service in the U.S. Coast Guard and a few years as owner of a major power sports dealership in Southern California. This diversity of government, manufacturer, and retail experience qualifies Donaldson to help keep AWA members and others informed on the latest activities of government impact on the use of PWC in the PWC Nation.
Chris Manthos
Chris Manthos serves as executive director of the American Watercraft Association. When not riding, he dedicates his time to educating regulators and other officials on the realities of personal watercraft, in contrast to the fantasy world of the no-access crowd. He mows his own lawn, washes his own truck, served his country, pays his taxes, picks up trash on public roads, opens his own beer bottles, reads books, hunts, feeds his own dogs, doesn’t need government to tell him right from wrong, and deplores sanctimonious hypocrites, bullies, and know-it-alls, particularly the political kind. Wiley Russell Jr.
Wiley Russell Jr. is the dealer coordinator of the AWA and works closely with personal watercraft dealers nationwide, promoting PWC access for all enthusiasts, as well as promoting dealerships. He is a Virginia native and enjoys riding PWC as much as possible. | The Real "ICEMAN" from Generation Kill |
| Written by Chris Manthos |
| Tuesday, 06 January 2009 11:59 |
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Gunny Brad Colbert speaks with the AWA’s Chris Manthos
So it was better than Christmas, when watching the last few episodes of my all time favorite TV show, producer David Simon’s “The Wire”, that I frst saw Simon was fnishing work on the “Generation Kill” mini-series for HBO. Simon’s seven part series does every credit possible to Wright’s book, and then some. The key player in both the book and flm is (then Sgt.) Brad Colbert, United States Marine Corps., or as enthusiastic fans of the book and series know him; the “Iceman.” When close friend Shawn Alladio casually asked me not long ago if I’d ever heard of him, I replied, “You mean the Iceman? Hell yeah I know who he is… why?” “He’s training with us in some personal watercraft classes” she replied. Thus, I had a chance to ask ten quick questions to both a remarkable professional and a recent convert to the PWC Nation. Q:We’re you surprised at the success of Evan Wright’s book and David Simon’s mini-series? A: I was surprised at just how many people identifed with the characters and the dialogue. I have had numerous people approach me about the show and tell me how much our experiences mirror their own. Marines have a defnite culture and the back and forth banter and joking is universal regardless of where they come from or what they do in the Corps. I knew this ahead of time, but wasn’t prepared for how many Marines approved of that facet being publicized. I mean, we talked about some pretty infammatory and derogatory things! As far as the popularity of the book in civilian circles, I wasn’t as surprised as much since when it went to print there wasn’t another book like it, and in many respects, there still isn’t. The ground-eye view of Marines on the battlefeld presented in “Generation Kill” was a unique insight for most people. Q: How was it watching an actor play “you?” A: It was very surreal. I liken it to hearing yourself on the answering machine: you sound like an idiot. It was strange watching someone act out the events that you were a part of. You don’t ever get the chance to see something like that normally. Alex did a fantastic job -- especially considering we never talked or met until after the series was flmed. He took a lot of advice from people who knew me, but at the end of the day it was all his. I have nothing but praise for the job he did with my character. Q: One of the key themes in the book is the incredible bonds and friendships between the men. For folks who’ve never served, it’s always a surprise for them to see the remarkably diverse mix, which is the military, work so well. Do you feel that civilian society would beneft from lessons learned from the military? A: I feel that anytime people are dependant on one another for their survival you form a bond unlike anything experienced elsewhere. To put it another way, the bonds formed through shared hardships are the strongest. The Marines draw from every corner of our culture to form its ranks and by immediately thrusting challenges upon them, they learn to work as a team. The private sector tries to copy this through retreats and other team building exercises but it never yields the same results. There is no other way to learn the level of teamwork, dedication, fidelity, and leadership without wearing the uniform. The Marines that I have served with know me better than my own parents since they have seen me at my best and my worst. Q: You have a passion for speed. You’re quoted as saying your bike was the only thing you missed. Do you still have the Yamaha r1? A: I do have a love for speed. It’s not an adrenaline thing but more about control. When you are in combat you are at the mercy of so many factors: weather, terrain, enemy, time. When I ride I’m insulated from a lot of those factors. It’s also something I don’t have to share with anyone else. It is a personnel experience that I miss from much of my normal life. I still have the same r1, though it shares the garage with a few others these days. I still pour money into it to try to squeeze out as much horsepower as I can.Q: Many motorcyclists are naturals when it comes to personal watercraft. Have you found it similar? A: I found it very similar. Much of the subtle shifting of weight that takes place when you are on two wheels is the same for watercraft. of course there is much that isn’t similar but enough carries over to help me start higher up on the learning curve then those that don’t ride. It’s a whole new environment to explore and I am really enjoying it.Q: What attribute(s) of personal watercraft are you most impressed with? A: I wasn’t prepared for the acceleration. I assumed that because of the drag caused from the water that it would be slow on the pickup -- it wasn’t. I was also surprised how responsive they were, again because of the drag. You have to pay attention.Q: You were going to purchase british surplus armored vehicle at one time. What was it? A: Yeah that’s true. I guess in some ways I’m still twelve years old. I was going to buy a Scorpion light armored personnel carrier. The fact that I would have needed a fatbed semi-trailer to get it to where I could drive it stopped me from going through with it. I had a sum of money burning a hole in my pocket and thought it would make a nice statement at the drive-through.Q: Personal watercraft serve in the armed forces today mostly in life saving and force protection roles. Coming from a recon background as you do, clearly there are endless mission profles for personal watercraft, would you agree? A: There are to an extent. Keeping in mind the noise signature and the fact that you are exposed to the elements there are some constraints on its use as a method of insertion. There are a lot of very smart guys out there who have explored more on this topic and only time will tell what develops. of course if someone could make it armor plated and put some guns on it. I’m sure it would be a best seller!Q: Personal watercraft serve in the armed forces today mostly in life saving and force protection roles. Coming from a recon background as you do, clearly there are endless mission profles for personal watercraft, would you agree? A: There are to an extent. Keeping in mind the noise signature and the fact that you are exposed to the elements there are some constraints on its use as a method of insertion. There are a lot of very smart guys out there who have explored more on this topic and only time will tell what develops. of course if someone could make it armor plated and put some guns on it. I’m sure it would be a best seller!Q: You are combat-diver qualifed. I trust there are some pretty stunning things to stumble onto while diving at night offshore. What was the most disconcerting problem you ever encountered on a dive? A: The biggest thing without getting into sensitive topics s fguring out your location. It takes skill and a lot of practice. We dive very differently than our civilian counterparts. Diving at night exposes you to some pretty strong sensory deprivation that is challenging. Since you become part of the food chain when you step into the water you get some close encounters with some curious marine life. Q: You’re quoted in the book, as saying “I really thank God I was born American. I mean seriously, it’s something I lose sleep over.” I’m certain a great many of our members agree with that sentiment. occasionally, there’s the odd apple who blames America for everything. Would you like to see those olks pull 16 months in someplace like Iraq, and see how they feel afterwards? A: I think the knee-jerk reaction is to drop people ike that into a hot spot and let them earn their 1st Amendment right the hard way. of course what makes our country great is the right to openly disagree and I think we have a richer culture because of it, though I am deeply concerned about the apathy our generation is showing for its freedoms. For some people, unless it causes longer lines at Starbucks, they don’t care. I suppose you could make an argument for compulsory service but that’s a whole other story. Ask me again after November 4th. Q: What book are you currently reading? A: “Of Arms and Men” by robert L O’Connell. It demonstrates how social and economic conditions determine the types of weapons and the tactics used in warfare and how, in turn, innovations in weapons technology often undercut social values. He describe for instance, how the invention of the gun required a redefnition of courage from aggressive ferocity to calmness under fire. |
