You know, I think it's a shame that this forum (which I've really come to enjoy!) sometimes falls into reply-after-reply of "Yeh, well, up YOURS!" - but I still have a couple of things to say:
JIM ACE: Maybe I wasn't clear in my earlier post to you. I'll try to be more so. Nobody here (myself included) is attempting to belittle you or your contributions in your years of service. However, I think people take exception to comments with the flavor of, "12/25/98 - I was off Iwo Jima - WHERE WERE YOU, SLACKER?" Nor does the fact that you WERE "off Iwo Jima on the USS Boxer" give you the upper hand to dole out your, "Here little boy - let me tell you what the REAL history is". You called me a revisionist; sorry, buddy, don't think so. I read history, a lot of history (including the Civil War; probably my favorite period) just for the joy of learning it. Do I draw judgements? Sure I do, it's natural. Do I foist them on others reading these posts for the joy of learning more about WWI aviation? Nope - I'll leave that to you; you've had quite a bit of experience in that arena!
Maybe you're not picking it up: people are NOT denying your views/opinions/thoughts. They just get a little tired of you lecturing them about how "wrong" they are because they make a positive comment about (Heaven forbid!) a German pilot who fought & died bravely for HIS country, just like you're serving yours, instead of reiterating your mantra over & over: "Ball, Mannock - oh, & Hartmann, he was great, too! But, remember:
LvR sucked salt - awww, hell: they ALL sucked - they must have! They fought for the WRONG cause!"
I've said it before: I, for one, enjoy reading about information regarding this period. But it gets a little tired when somebody "stumbles" & posts something you don't agree with (& I'm NOT referring to these juvenile turds who get their jollies from posting the standard, "Hey - MvR is great; allies SUCK, man!!! Party on, Garth!!" We ALL consider the source there!) So please: consider the POSSIBILITY that somebody else on this forum MIGHT just have some knowledge of history & MIGHT have something valuable to contribute here, even though they might not have served in the military. And to forestall your standard comeback of "Where did YOU serve?": Did I try to enlist? Yes. Answer: deaf in 1 ear - 4F.
Final thoughts: ONE: I didn't write this in an attempt to engage you (or anybody else) in an argument; just wanted to be clear on MY position. TWO: please don't try to lecture me on history; I've read enough on my own, thanks very much, Dad