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/2008/02/technical_serge.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:32:33 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Just another day at the office, honey, honest! When an American convoy in southern Afghanistan suddenly came under small arms and rocket propelled grenade fire, Sergeant Dean immediately made contact with a flight of two US Air Force, F-15 Strike Eagle aircraft overhead. After the planes made their first strafing run, Sergeant Dean announced calmly over the radio that he’d been shot by insurgents in the stomach below his body armor. Despite his injury, Sergeant Dean continued to direct the aircraft, calling for battle damage assessments and additional strikes against the attacking insurgents. His parting words over the radio as... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/technical_serge.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/technical_serge.html Tue, 26 Feb 2008 06:30:56 -0600 I just went back through the DoD casualty notifications for Oct 2007 (when the event occured) to present and his name isn't in them. But that's as far as it goes. I'll ask CJTF-82 if they know. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/technical_serge.html#comment-70094 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/technical_serge.html#comment-70094 Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:28:00 -0600 Anybody know the current status of this fine young man? Far too many gut shots below the belly plate result in death. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/technical_serge.html#comment-70087 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/technical_serge.html#comment-70087 Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:49:03 -0600 I've also noticed a lot more AF deaths/injuries on the ground. You expect AF casualties in the air, but not as much on the ground. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/technical_serge.html#comment-70082 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/technical_serge.html#comment-70082 Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:37:25 -0600 I don't believe I ever said that, Dusty. I'm just observing that unlike the wars of our era, where the Sergeants of the AF were *generally* waving at the officers as they went off to do the killing and dying, "This Kind of War" where there is no fight in the skies and the AAA threat is near-zero, it's the Sergeants who are taking the casualties. There's nothing about cowardice in here, flyboy. It's just about how in this war, who's taking the risks (other than those inherent in military flying) vice Desert Storm, the Balkans, and Vietnam. Nothing more, nothing less. Sorry if I stepped on a nerve I didn't know was out there. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/technical_serge.html#comment-70074 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/technical_serge.html#comment-70074 Tue, 26 Feb 2008 09:57:35 -0600 Well, we flying officers are just overpaid cowards anyway, John. Right? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/technical_serge.html#comment-70071 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/technical_serge.html#comment-70071 Tue, 26 Feb 2008 09:38:15 -0600