I watched several newscasts yesterday, after reading it online early in the morning. Never did see the story I had turned on the television to view.
Early on Monday morning, off the coast of Guam, a B-52 Stratofortress went down with a crew of six aboard. Not a word on the television news. Mind you, every little local pilot who bobbles clearing the power lines gets on the news. And if one crashes, we get the full story and the same pictures at every newscast of the day. And we are kept well informed if Britney puts on 10 pounds, or Paris falls off her barstool. But six military members are down and lost at sea, and not a single word?
Two men, at least, are dead. They were found floating in their life jackets, apparently. The other three are still being sought by all methods imaginable. Yes, I know accidents happen. Yes, I know men die. Yes, I know I am a fortunate woman whose son came home injured, but alive. It is the mention of the risks and deaths I miss. It is the “Oh, thats just military crap, it doesn’t concern Us.” attitude that drives me buggy.
Very, very rough and terrible times are ahead for America, I believe. Times during which you better hope and pray (if you do that sort of thing) that your military members care about you more than most of America seems to care about them. What does it say to them when major media outlets don’t even notice them dying on the job?
To the airbase in Louisiana where the bomber was based…my sympathies; my son who worked on the flightline for the BUFFS at Minot says you all had so little to work with to maintain your BUFFS. To the families waiting, hoping and worrying….I want you to know SOMEbody else in the world gives a damn and is re-checking news every hour with fingers crossed.
To the news media, for whom this will be a 20 second side story if ever anything at all? Fuck you!
Wednesday Edit: They are, of course, all lost and gone. Recovery efforts are still under way, but here are the names of the men lost:
The six crew members were identified as :
Maj. Christopher M. Cooper, 33, aircraft commander;
Maj. Brent D. Williams, 37, navigator;
Capt. Michael K. Dodson, 31, co-pilot;
1st Lt. Joshua D. Shepherd, 26, navigator;
1st Lt. Robert D. Gerren, 32, electronic warfare officer;
Col. George Martin, flight surgeon.
