No Air Force during World War II? What do you call those things in the sky they were flying in? Mortality rates of some combat units were horribly high, while mortality rates of other units were thankfully low. Who is to stand up and judge them? Not me. There are no apples and oranges in mortality rates.
My Dad's gravestone reads World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He wore the dark brown jacket and "pink" pants of an Army Air Force officer in World War II. He wore the dark blue of the Air Force in Korea and Vietnam. What is the difference? His World War II unit went past enemy lines. His units with Korea and Vietnam were behind enemy lines. Does that mean his service during those wars was less important than World War II? He is one of thousands who have the same history. When he was laid to rest at Fort Logan there was the Air Force Honor Guard in their dark blue. Does that make them less of an Honor Guard than another service?
I don't mean to be snarky either. You are perhaps getting the sense of how much I appreciate your service. I'm hopefully giving you something to think about. If you wish to dismiss it as coming from some crabby old buzzard, so be it. I really don't care. I'll still thank you for your sacrifice, service and valor. Take care.
And for sackman who was concerned about a thread jack: Too bad Calhoun didn't send out his offense to run the option on the 2 point play instead of the kicking team.
Let me try this again, Buff 30.
1. DBT was celebrating the sacrifice of the Air Force Cadets. My point was, they don't really sacrifice so much. I wasn't talking talking about WWII, Korea or Vietnam. Did you not see the article where an Air Force servicemember is safer in Iraq than the average American citizen? Does that sound like sacrifice? Have you seen how the members of this service live? I have.
Do you really, really believe that your Dad would celebrate their sacrifice after what he saw and did? That was my point from the beginning...
2. Again, I wasn't the one comparing the casualty rate of the 8 Army Air Force to other services. That was your choice. I'm quite familiar with the 8th Air Force, by the way, and something like half of all air mishaps/casualties in the war belonged to them, meaning their numbers are skewed. Here, let me take your approach.
Nearly 1200 personnel died on the USS Arizona...about 80% of the entire crew. The USS Arizona suffered 80% casualties while the US Army only suffered 2% casualties!
How is that even related? That's why I said that comparing units to larger services is like comparing apples to oranges. It doesn't minimize the sacrifice that those individuals made in any service or any capacity. I remain humbled and in awe of those that make that sacrifice. I'm humbled by those that take the risk daily, now or back then, even when they don't pay the ultimate price.
I just don't understand celebrating those that don't really sacrifice so much. The Air Force tour in theater is half that of the other services. Their facilities back home are amazing. They are safe and they have good jobs. I do appreciate that they volunteer to serve--but building it into something it's not was what I was protesting early on.
Do you really think your father would disagree if he were here? Or do you think he'd look at this bloated, comfy, safe Air Force and say, "Jeez, what a bunch of sisies"?
You know better than me.