Pima, you know better. I have served my time. Unlike EAA consultants, whatever that is, other wanabees, parents, and even dependants, I have earned the right to trade barbs, joke, and make fun of my fellow brothers in arms, no matter the color of their uniform. And they, me.
By your measuring stick, I guess I should feel honored to allow myself to be able to express a few opinions of my own on this matter then.
My only problerm was that I mistakingly thought my adversary was a fellow warrior, not a wanabee whose claim to fame is that his wife works for Boeing. This does embarass me.
No. Your mistake THIS time was that in your never ending quest to put down any service but the Navy, you've gone too far in insulting the actions of the aviators who earned this medal. I'm sure if these were Naval aviators, yo would have gone to the nearest roof-top to crow about the way these men acted and the outstanding airmanship they displayed that day, and why they so rightfully deserved the medals they were awarded. But instead, you started playing that silly "Navy way vs. the AF way" game. For THAT, yes you should be embarrassed.
I should have realized when medals came up that something was amiss. We all know the AF's propensity for handing out medals and that no self respecting AF officer can be anything other than embarassed as to how they are distributed, especially to officers.
Disgusting. These two aviators, whom I personally know (as they are in the squadron I retired from, and I've flown with Mike a bunch of times; proud to say I was one of his instructors and crew-mates that got him ready for the events of the day in question) performed superbly that day, worthy of praise AND THE RECOGNITION they received for their outstanding actions that day. Actions the men on the ground even cite as responsible for saving their lives, and ensuring they made it home safely to their loved ones and thankful nation.
Does the military have a propensity for handing out medals for the current conflicts out at a much greater rate than in previous wars? For actions barely worthy of recognition that are extremely less that in previous wars? Sad to say, yes, they do (to ALL the services, but again your Navy bias is laid on thick; to the point where you go to far to insult other services without looking at the warts of your own).
But that is not the case here. And YOU know it. This crew was on station 10 minutes after take-off (something no carrier fighter could EVER do), and stayed on station for over 7 hours directing air support for the men on the ground desperately fighting to stay alive. They ran the fight from the air for fellow military members in need, and made sure the job got done and these men were saved before going home.
Would a Navy fighter stay on station for 7 hours? What? And screw up the carrier cycle? No way! MY experience? Not on your life: they would have shown up for 30 minutes, dropped ordinance, and returned to the carrier to ensure they didn't foul up the deck for the rest of the recovery.
Did you notice in the article that the poor AF enlisted guy down on the ground, running around, getting his butt shot off, saving everyone's life, only got a AF Commendation?
Yes, I did notice that. And shame on this SSgt's commander for not recognizing his contributions properly. But it in no way diminishes what this Strike Eagle crew did that day. So don't try to play that game in your attempt to do so.
My son has been a Navy Tomcat/Super Hornet pilot FAC(A) since 2002 now on his 5th deployment to the Middle East. The Navy does the same thing. Only they think it is a part of their job, not worthy of a DFC.
So, on the day in question, a day when US Armed forces on the ground were being over-run in a close quarter multi-hour gun battle, where perhaps every air asset capable of providing air support for the 72 men i the fight for thier lives, this is just another day at the office? A typical "part of their job"? And on this "typical" day, where the air battle lasted 7 hours, how many Navy assets were involved in that battle? I guess the Navy had some other office project to work on that day, like perhaps that week's morale video...
Seriously, please tell me though, that the DFC, even though exerpts from the citation seem to indicate it, did not include a 'V'. I can't imagine a fighter pilot, no matter what service, with very few exceptions, earning one since about 2004. I earned both mine and am damned proud of the fact.
Seriously. Please try to tell me that this all was your attempt to poke some fun via service rivalry, or perhaps was a poor attempt at humor. As someone who has "been there", I'd think even you would bur this crew a beer for their actions that day. But knowing you, and your "Navy can do no wrong, and everyone else can do no right" attitude, perhaps not...
Mods, you want to ban me for this post? Fine. But I respectfully remind you to look at what Stealth wrote before Mongo posted this garbage, and that offended me so. I'm thinking at the least, both his posts and mine should be removed. I can also live with the reality that a mutual banning may be in order. At least you know in my case that I will have the integrity not to return under a new username.
