We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:04:37 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Somedays, the flight pay doesn't cover the risks. Heck, I'll even lay off the Marines today. Now is the time at Castle Argghhh! when we dance. In memoriam.... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html Wed, 26 Jan 2005 09:04:21 -0600 Helpful tip: Don't do it for the pay--they haven't printed enough money in the world to make it worth the risk. Do it for the other reasons. You know what they are... There are no cheap plots in Arlington... Bill Gates couldn't buy one.. Somethings money can buy.. for everything else.. there is the US Millitary. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12724 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12724 Thu, 27 Jan 2005 00:03:01 -0600 I am so sorry...it hurts thinking about it and well, I am sure they were welcomed at their new assignement with open arms. Rest in Peace, you have earned it. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12709 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12709 Wed, 26 Jan 2005 21:40:28 -0600 Umm, sorry, there. Helicopters are horribly dangerous unless meticulously maintained, when they become the safest aircraft there are. On the Billy Jeff thing, well, that particular episode is just one of my hot buttons. As for the dead Marines, yeah I miss 'em, even not knowing anything else about them than what I've read here. They *had* to be in that helicopter and *had* to go where it was flying to, whether they liked it or not. I do feel for them, and their friends and families. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12706 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12706 Wed, 26 Jan 2005 21:25:47 -0600 Well, trying to keep the level of discourse a step or two above the Rottweiler (may God smile upon his children, our first Big Blogger blogroll entry!). No, that's not a warning, really. Just an observation. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12700 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12700 Wed, 26 Jan 2005 20:50:47 -0600 What the man said, that is, flying is an unnatural act, and therefore inherently dangerous. You can mitigate the risk, a bit, by flying only when conditions are good and you feel like flying. If yer flying for a living, and flying militarily to boot, you don't have the option to refuse if things are less than perfect, whether such things be yerself, the mission, the equipment, "mean people who suck" or the weather. A damned shame and my condolences to all concerned. Yeah, that "peace dividend" cheapness chaps my ass too. Oh, one more: It's not Billy Jeff biting his own lip that annoys me as much as his biting of Ms. Broadrick's. Rapist. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12698 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12698 Wed, 26 Jan 2005 20:46:52 -0600 cool, thanks guys. just checkin... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12661 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12661 Wed, 26 Jan 2005 14:58:48 -0600 really mean. =]]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12660 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12660 Wed, 26 Jan 2005 14:37:52 -0600 We prefer bustard or bast*ard on the front page, but in comments, it's okay. If we're really concerned about it, we just go in an edit. No First Amendment here! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12659 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12659 Wed, 26 Jan 2005 14:30:01 -0600 Thanks for the updates all. I know they won't release names until NOK is notified, but it's been yet another busy day at work and I haven't been able to keep up. I figure you guys would, so I keep checking in when I can. Man, do I HATE Slick Willy. What a bastard...(can I say that, net nanny?) I still cannot believe how many people in this country and abroad (no pun intended) love that jerk of a president! Never in my life do I EVER want another lilly-livered, spineless whore of a president representing the United States. And that goes for his wife too. Echo that, Sgt. B. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12658 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12658 Wed, 26 Jan 2005 14:26:57 -0600 I don't think it is just the budget cuts. I think the effects of a military that has a tendency to drive away the best people with the most drive is also begining to show up. One is hopefull that is in the proccess of changing, but the DoD is a slooow beast to turn. May they serve with as much honor in their next assignment. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12657 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12657 Wed, 26 Jan 2005 14:20:11 -0600 Ah, c'mon, Bill. Billy Jeff felt, and I'm sure still feels, your pain. That should be enough, shouldn't it? The bitten lip, the tear. Of course, he never realized anyone would actually *use* the military in any serious meaning of the term... especially not at a high optempo. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12656 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12656 Wed, 26 Jan 2005 14:19:16 -0600 Update: Navy lost one, too, but all aboard survived; 30 miles out from NAS Oceana, operating from the Eisenhower. Same airframe, H-53. Just finished reading a flurry of SOFs on problems with the UH-1H/V, OH-58D and AH-64. Thanks for the budget cuts, William J. Clinton. Excuse me. My gut hurts ... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12655 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12655 Wed, 26 Jan 2005 14:09:14 -0600 AFSis - First Marine Division. No names will be released until all NOK have been notified. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12645 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12645 Wed, 26 Jan 2005 13:20:14 -0600 Most of the Marines were members of the 1st Marine Division... My division, different time, different place, but it still hurts... On another note, my old battalion, 3rd Bn, 4th Marines, is on the ground in Iraq, for the third time... I wish them good hunting... I support the mission. I support the troops... What floors me is the nature of the enemy... Hell, even the Viet Cong were fighting for something I could begrudgingly respect (from what I've read; I was seven years old when we left VN in '73...) ... But not the nut cases who we're dealing with now... I dunno folks... Today isn't a real good day for ol' Sgt. B., but let's try to find the silver lining on this one: That CH-53 is part of God's Air Wing now... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12644 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12644 Wed, 26 Jan 2005 13:19:25 -0600 Any word yet on the names or their units? I didn't hear about this until this morning, and my heart just sank. That's a lot of Marines. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12642 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12642 Wed, 26 Jan 2005 13:09:14 -0600 Thanks John. I keep wondering when this kind of thing won't hurt so much - half a day later and it still feels like someone just punched me in the gut. Damn. Just damn. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12640 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12640 Wed, 26 Jan 2005 12:18:56 -0600 Lord bless them and keep them, Their pain is gone, their duty done... May we who remain behind be worthy of the gift they have given. Semper Fidelis, Marines. Sgt. B. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12628 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12628 Wed, 26 Jan 2005 10:52:25 -0600 Helpful tip: Don't do it for the pay--they haven't printed enough money in the world to make it worth the risk. Do it for the other reasons. You know what they are... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12599 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/01/okay_a_moratorium_on_picking_on_aviators_today.html#comment-12599 Wed, 26 Jan 2005 09:20:00 -0600