Military Injustice

[sbryce]

On 18 February 2001, while racing for fame and fortune, Dale Earnhardt died in the last lap of the Daytona 500. It was surely a tragedy for his family, friends and fans. He was 49 years old with grown children, one which was in the race.

I am unfamiliar with the NASCAR culture, so much of what I know has come from the newspaper and TV. He was a winner and earned everything he had. This included more than "$41 million in winnings and ten times that from endorsements and souvenir sales." He had a beautiful home and a private jet. He drove the most sophisticated cars allowed and every part was inspected and replaced as soon as there was any evidence of wear. This is normally fully funded by the car and team sponsors.

Today, there is no TV station that does not constantly remind us of his tragic end and the radio already has a song of tribute to this winning driver. Nothing should be taken away from this man, he was a professional and the best in his profession. He was in a very dangerous business but the rewards were great.

Two weeks ago seven U.S. Army soldiers died in a training accident when two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters collided during night maneuvers in Hawaii. The soldiers were all in their twenties, pilots, crew chiefs and infantrymen. Most of them lived in sub-standard housing. If you add their actual duty hours (in the field, deployed) they probably earn something close to minimum wage. The aircraft they were in were between 15 and 20 years old. Many times parts were not available to keep them in good shape due to funding. They were involved in the extremely dangerous business of flying in the Kuhuku mountains at night. It only gets worse when the weather moves in as it did that night. Most times no one is there with a yellow or red flag to slow things down when it gets critical. Their children were mostly toddlers who will lose all memory of who "Daddy" was as they grow up. They died training to defend our freedom.

I take nothing away from Dale Earnhardt but ask you to perform this simple test. Ask any of your friends if they know who was the NASCAR driver killed on 18 February 2001. Then ask them if they can name one of the seven soldiers who died in Hawaii two weeks ago.

18 February 2001, Dale Earnhardt died driving for fame and glory at the Daytona 500. The nation mourns. Seven soldiers died training to protect our freedom. No one can remember their names and most don't even remember the incident.

Please pass this along so others may see the injustice our military experiences still.

- RicRoc

endquote
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U.S. military servicemen, past and present: I salute you and thank you for your efforts on behalf of freedom.

--Denise

 

[STLRN]

sbryce
That E-mail has made its way around most military installations, attributed to multiple persons. Who ever wrote it hit the nail on the head other than saying they where infantrymen killed. They where artillerymen doing a night insertion.

 

[K80Geoff]

Sad

Americans will agonize over a celebrity who flaunts death and finally does himself in. But GI's and Marines who risk their lives regularly are not worthy of mention.

I lost two men in non combat situations when I was on active duty. They had families and friends and buddies who were affected. Every time something like this happens I remember them.

The biggest crime here is that they were probably flying in aged equipment kept flying by wire and tape. With parts scavenged from other equipment to keep them flying. Earnhardt had every expensive piece of safety equipment available, and the money to buy it from sponsors.

We are loosing too many men (and women) to old POS equipment that should be in the scrapyard. Bush better get off his Texas butt and start changing things.


Geoff Ross

 

[beemerb]

We had 6 troopers killed in a little over 30 days in 1965.All in individual military accidents during training.I don't think it even hit the stateside papers.This was in Germany by the way.

 

[Libertarian]

Rudyard Kipling said it best (for me) in his poem "Tommy"

Tommy

I went into a public'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no redcoats here".
The girls be'ind the bar, they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mr Atkins", when the band begins to play-
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mr Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord!, they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy wait outside",
But it's "Special Train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide-
The trooper's on the tide my boys, the trooper's on the tide,
O it's "Special Train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this an' Tommy that an' "Tommy, ow's yr soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes when the drums begin to roll-
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy psints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this and Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir" when there's trouble in the wind-
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir" when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you'll treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cookroom slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this and Tommy that, an' "Chuck 'im out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this and Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool-you bet that Tommy sees!

 

[B9mmHP]

Yes, it sucks that the one`s that need to be reconized are nothing but some statics "sp" in a file some where and the only people that grive are the ones that knew them, and I feel for Earnhart and his family. But he did not die for this country.
The brave men and women that died in service of our Republic
are nothing to the Socialist Communist Press.
My Prayers are for those that died for us. Sorry but I limit what I ask from God.

 

[Spatula]

It's a sad but on-going trend....

here in the US. The death of someone is always tragic, but American can't seem to value the true meaning of a heroism. Who is more important to you, someone that will entertain you for two hours on a Sunday afternoon, or someone that is training to protect/carry out dangerous mission for the shake for justice day in and day out? Personally I worship the later.

Dale chose a racing career himself. No one strapped him on the driver seat and jammed the gas paddel for him. He was well aware of the danger of this career, and he knew that someday he will get seriously injuried. That all his own choice. The truth is, regular person like you can me has a greater chance of serious injury on a daily base. Do you think the mass will make a tribute about it?

On the other hand, some people chose to become a soldier and serving for the country. They train 24-7-365 without so-called "off season". They have to protect the citizens from any unfriendly forces and help out demostic problems. Their reward is often a bare minimum wage and self honor. I've never heard of anyone showing off his "GI souvenir" or "trademarked merchan". Why? Because most people think they are not a hero of any kind and not worth mentioning. Many more GI's are accidentally killed or injuried than those celebrities combined, and all they deserved is merely a small segment on the news.

This is not fair.