>>chalu, last paragraph first. The term "front lines" belongs to the ground pounders, in that they are on a line of either offense, or defense, and in most cases are looking at the enemy in the flesh, instead of at 12-25,000 feet. They can see each other's faces on many occasions. Any air action, not including air to air combat, while having a certain element of danger, is not the same as warrior against warrior. The air to air phase of the Viet Nam war,was very early and very brief.<<
Where in the world do you get your history? From GWB headquarters? Well, I'm not sure all of the facts trickled back to Austin.
I will attribute your post to ignorance, as it otherwise would be close to most despicable post I have read on SI. Vietnam pilots were not on the "front lines"?; they were not "on a line of offense or defense?"; and their service involved only a "certain element of danger?" Outrageous, simply outrageous!
I would love to introduce you to Michael Sloniker of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, provided you would survive the encounter. He would enlighten you to the fact that, of helicopter pilots and crew alone, over 4,896 men were KILLED in Vietnam (2202 pilots, 2694 crewmen). I think their widows and children perceived them to be on the frontlines! Yes, they faced a "certain element of danger" all right--MORTAL DANGER.
Limited duration? Very early and very brief? Hundreds of army, navy, air force, marine and coast guard pilots were shot down and killed in the last years of the War. A large percentage of the 2200 MIA's were FIGHTER PILOTS, who faced, ho hum, a "certain element of danger", but certainly were not "front line" warriors. Absurd!!!!!!
Do your homework before you again attempt to diminish the degree of danger faced those pilots who died for their country.
THIS POST IN MEMORY OF COL. MERRILL H. MASIN, SHOT DOWN AND KILLED IN SOUTH VIETNAM IN 1972, and COL. ROBERT M. ELLIOTT, KILLED FEBRUARY 14, 1968, WHEN HIS F-105 THUNDERCHIEF WAS HIT BY A NORTH VIETNAMESE MISSILE. MAY GOD REST THEIR SOULS. |
