If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Apparently in "Arts war" the rear areas ( England for instance) never got
bombed and those cowardly ground crews always "live to see the sunrise tomorrow morning". Pitty those cowardly fitters and loaders didnt hitch a ride on the outside of Arts plane and throw hammers and spanners at nasty old "jerry". "ArtKramr" wrote in message ... Subject: Future military fighters and guns - yes or no ? From: "Pete" Date: 3/2/04 4:48 PM Pacific Standard Time Message-id: "ArtKramr" wrote They also serve who stand and wait. How would they have done in combat?. We will never know will we? Art, it seems your dividing line between glory and those of a lesser caliber is combat/no combat. i.e. being shot at counts. Everything else somewhat less worthy. You know as well as most reading this that military personnel don't get to choose their war, or often even their job. No matter how many people volunteer for the Green Berets, the military *still* needs supply troops, bomb loaders, crew chiefs, etc, etc, etc. Of the many thousands of bombs I loaded in my career, none was dropped in anger. Not a one. Yet I served during several combat actions. Libya, Grenada, Panama, Somalia, Iraq. How did THAT happen? Why didn't I 'volunteer' for El Dorado Canyon, or Desert Storm? Because that's not the way it works anymore. My mission was elsewhere. Why didn't the F-16 pilots at Ramstein 'volunteer' for Desert Storm? Because that's not the way it works anymore. They had their own mission with the 86th FW in Germany. Not everyone gets to go, no matter how bad they want it. What would you say to Willie the Wolfs' crew chief? Or the bomb loaders? Or the supply troop that ensured you had good tires? Or the logistics officer ensuring the entire 8th AF had fresh tires? Would you call them a lesser caliber of men, simply because they were not shot at? No. You would shake their hand, buy them a beer, and thank them for helping you in *your* mission. They had theirs, you had yours. At least, that's what I hope you'd do. Now please extend the same respect to all those others who did serve honorably, volunteer or draftee, in war or in peace. Pete Yes. Everything you say is correct. But I must be totally honest. As we rushed down the runway and lifted off and Willie's wheels came up I would look down at those on the ground that we were leaving behind and I would think how they will still be alive tonight. And they would go home after the war and live a full rich lives with families and friends. And I didn't know for sure that I would ever see this airfield again or live to see the sunrise tomorrow morning. These are thoughts I had. And these thoughts create a thin line that separates those who were with me and those who stayed behind on the ground. And I can't deny in good conscience having those feelings. And I think many who flew with me had exactly the same feelings whether they admit it or not. It's a very thin line of separation. But a very line it is. Can you understand that? Arthur Kramer 344th BG 494th BS England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany Visit my WW II B-26 website at: http://www.coastcomp.com/artkramer |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Best dogfight gun? | Bjørnar Bolsøy | Military Aviation | 317 | January 24th 04 06:24 PM |
Remote controled weapons in WWII | Charles Gray | Military Aviation | 12 | January 21st 04 05:07 AM |
Why did Britain win the BoB? | Grantland | Military Aviation | 79 | October 15th 03 03:34 PM |
P-47/51 deflection shots into the belly of the German tanks,reality | ArtKramr | Military Aviation | 131 | September 7th 03 09:02 PM |