Regarding the Brits captured by the Iranians.
On 13 April, an Air Force Captain named Lance Sijan would have turned 65. He would have, at least, had he not chosen a different path from that chosen by the Brits. The difference in the respective approaches is what underlies the discussion of the behavio(u)r of the Brit sailors and Marines.
I've been pretty quiet on the issue, actually. Initially, I wanted more information, though from what we had I was appalled at the response of British leadership, military and political. As the debacle continued, I became more appalled with the response of the Brit leadership, military and political.
As the story became clearer, I was less sympathetic to the individuals actually involved, though I'm still not quite as bloodthirsty as many have been... because I see it mostly as a failure of leadership.
Then I remembered Lance Sijan, triggered, no doubt, by Dusty's post on the subject of the Code of Conduct and the duties and responsibilities of the American warrior.
Meet Captain Lance Sijan, from the Wikipedia post about him:
...After almost a whole day of locating his position and softening up air defences in the area, the SAR forces were finally able to get one of the big Jolly Green Giant helicopters roughly over Sijan's position (during this operation over 20 aircraft were disabled, due to the anti-aircraft fire, and had to return to base. Another aircraft was also shot down, though it's pilot was rescued with ease by one of the Jolly Greens on station.) Sijan, refusing to put another person in danger, insisted that he crawl in to the jungle and have a penetrator lowered by the helicopter, instead of sending down the helicopter's Para-Jumpers to carry him. However, he couldn't reach the penetrator quick enough, and after 33 minutes the rescue team, which faced enemy fire and the growing darkness, had to return to base. Although search efforts continued the next day, they were called off when no further radio contact was made with Sijan, due to his unconscious state, and he was placed in MIA status.
With a fractured skull, mangled right hand, compound fracture of the left leg, without food and little water, and no survival kit, Sijan evaded enemy forces for 46 days (all the time "crawling" or rather scooting on his back down the rocky limestone karst on which he landed, causing even more wounds) before being captured on December 25, 1967. Although emaciated and in poor shape, he managed to overpower his guard and escape, but was recaptured within hours. He was transported to a holding compound in Vinh, North Vietnam, where he was put into the care of other American POWs. Here, in even more pain from his wounds, he suffered beatings from his captors, but never gave any information other than what the Geneva Convention allowed. After further travel to Hanoi, Sijan suffering from exhaustion, malnutrition, and disease, died in captivity on January 22, 1968.
Sijan was promoted posthumously to captain on June 13, 1968. His remains were repatriated on March 13, 1974 and positively identified on April 22, 1974. He is buried in Arlington Park Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
That is how I like to believe I would have behaved, though you never know until you do it.
This is how it should be done. This is a good standard against which to measure yourself.
Normally, at this point in a post like this, the Denizens dance to the tune of Taps.
Not this time. There is, I think, more appropriate music to dance to in honor of the memory of Captain Sijan. We mourn not his passing, but we celebrate a Warrior, the mettle of whom is a basis of success or failure - if their leadership is up to the task.
So, now is the time at Castle Argghhh! when we dance: In celebration of a Warrior
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