War is Hell...
AP: KABUL, Afghanistan - The U.S. military confirmed Thursday that all 16 servicemembers aboard a special forces helicopter died when it crashed into a mountain ravine in eastern Afghanistan earlier this week, apparently after being shot down by a rocket-propelled grenade. The crash was the deadliest blow yet to American forces in Afghanistan grappling with an escalating insurgency. The remains of those killed were being recovered at the site in Kunar province where the MH-47 chopper went down Tuesday, the military said in a statement.
The loss of life in this War on Terror may be a necessary evil, but that doesn't mean we have to like it. All of those killed were someone's children.
I was lead mechanic on the project when all of the MH-47 helicopters were being built, and I did my level best to ensure it was done well, to keep our Special Forces as safe as possible on their often dangerous missions. Of course, none of that mattered to the RPG that took it down.
I can only hope (and pray) that this war can be concluded as efficaciously as possible, but my fear is that it will be a protracted campaign, much like the Cold War which preceded it...
posted by camojack | 16:09
16 Comments:
I heard on Fox News, today, that they had reached the wreckage, and that all had been confirmed killed. God be with their families in their time of grief and mourning. We all can take comfort in the knowledge that these soldiers died in the midst of "doing good," and that they are in a better place, now.
camo, being the kind of man that you are, I am sure that you worked diligently to ensure that this aircraft would operate safely, and God Bless you for that.
'da Bunny:
Thanks, kiddo. I remember admonishing someone about something as seemingly minor as the cabin door step height adjustment, knowing that an extra inch to step up might spell a life or death difference in some troop reaching safety under fire...
Jack,
Often when we focus our prayers and thanks on the soldiers in the field, we forget to thank those in the homeland that supply them.
Knowing that you are a 'stand-up' American, may I offer my thanks for what you do, supplying our troops with the most well built equipment EVER for them to use.
Rosie the Riveter would be proud, as am I!
Thanks, and God Bless you and your co-workers.
MargeinMI:
I appreciate the sentiment, but I'm no longer at risk of being placed into harm's way...so I do what I can, from where I am, with what I do.
Jack
As you know, noone dislikes war more than the warrior. War is hell. Let's hope and pray that we don't give up on the dream of freedom. If we do, it will only make the terrorists more bold.
As Bill Whittle says, you cannot deter someone who wants to die and take you with him. But the fact of them actually being dead cuts down on their options.
Pat'sRick:
As I know, indeed. Still hating the necessity of it all...
I sincerely believe that only God knows when it is our time to die. I can only pray for these soldiers family's. War is indeed hell, but while here on earth, a necessary evil that we must fight and win.
Camo, I thank you for having the best interest of the soldier in mind when you helped build their equiptment. I worked for Amtrak in maintenance for 25 years and know all to well that when I was working on brake cylinders that I LITERALLY had people's lives in my hands.
RAM:
I believe a person is only as good as their word, and their work...and I try to be the best person I can.
Who knows where and/or how the extra effort might pay off?
My current assignment is installing and rigging the flight controls on the V-22, which I expect will become operationally active in fairly short order...
camo,
Thanks for your article, and thanks for your service... for as long as you've been serving.
Howie,
By "bring them home.Now" or what I call cut and run before the mission is accomplished, can you explain how that is supporting our troops mission they are committed to now? Many of those troops whom have committed themselves and re-enlisted and volunteered for another campaign in Iraq?
How does that support their HONOR, their COMMITMENT, their VALOR?
I know that's not what Camojack meant by "efficaciously".
howie:
If you truly are a 21 year old college student, I can forgive your naiveté.
If we bring the troops home before the problem is contained, then we go back to "square one", as in 9-11-01.
The picture you are using is obviously not you, or any actual human. A little honesty goes a long way...you claim you are not a parody, so I have a proposal for you: some Friday or Saturday evening I will ride over to Princeton and meet you at a bar and/or restaurant of your choosing, to discuss your views. Some public place where you feel safe. If you refuse, I will know you're not what you claim to be. Also, if you truly wish to be taken seriously, post a serious picture of yourself; then, if you actually show up for a conversation, I'll know what you look like.
My picture you've already seen...
truth_is_freedom
Be insulting and/or offensive, get deleted...simple as that.
David:
1. Thanks, I really did enjoy vacating.
2. I took sailing classes, because (if I live long enough) when I retire I'm going to sell my house and see the world...on my own terms.
3. Welcome to my little corner of da 'Net.
Happy birthday America, indeed!!!
truth_is_freedom:
Not surprisingly, you're wrong.
If you look around, I have left up many a post which disagrees with me...but saying I "must be clean out of my head" (which is what you did) is insulting and offensive.
Why is that such a difficult concept to grasp?!
truth_is_freedom:
Yeah, that's me...so very sensitive. Oh, and cowardly, too.
Howie has no sense, courage has nothing to do with it; if he had any, he'd take me up on my proposal.
And if I choose to delete offensive crap, it's my blog, deal with it. It doesn't change the FACT that your assertions are incorrect, there, "truth". What a joke that is...
Get a clue, why don't you?
truth_is_freedom:
Wrong again. I haven't deleted your false allegations, TRUTH, only your asinine denigration of my sanity...something that's also referred to as an ad hominem attack.
If you'd look around, there are comments other than congratulatory ones, too.
(Try some of the other posts)
If this nonsense is all you've got, I shan't be wasting my time on you very much.
This post is about the war, and a helicopter that I helped build; try to stay on topic, OK?
Your sarcasm certainly doesn't impress me, either. If you can't express yourself in a civil manner, don't bother...
truth_is_freedom:
I made no demands of Howie, merely a proposal in order to give him an opportunity to demonstrate that he's not the phony I believe him to be...in which I was willing to meet someplace of his choosing. Spin that as you wish, but I would be taking more risk in that situation, if you were truly honest about it. But you truly aren't, are you?
Also, I never claimed not to use sarcasm, I simply said that yours doesn't impress me.
FYI, you certainly can't "hurt" me with an ad hominem attack, but I am not compelled to leave any such statements on here. If you can't be civil, you'll be deleted. Whether you comprehend it or not, that's the way it is.
As for your opinion regarding the war, nobody ever said it would be brief or easy.
If you think I'm sanctimonious, that's your problem; nobody forces you to come here. Obsessed, are you?!
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