call me a coward... I write music, draw, play the guitar, and play video games in my spare time... mostly the latter... but I don't think I would have gone out in a blaze of glory like Mr. Luke. it wouldn't have serviced his country all that much by killing a dozen guys or so... and my sense of self preservation would kick in... besides... if I were taken prisoner I might even be able to pick the language. guess I'd rather live as a prisoner knowing that they were definitely losing the war then die fighting. what good would the sacrifice of my life be? I guess I'm disrespecting Mr. Luke on this point... but I'm not sure he his methods exhibited sound judgement. Maybe he was grounded unjustly, but losing two wingmen in 18 days, one of whom was a friend, seems like he just wasn't cutting the mustard and so they decided to 'give him a breather.' Wasn't it Dietrich Hrabak who said something to the effect that 'if you come back from a mission with a victory and lose your wingman that you lost your battle'? Maybe Luke thought this way too... and that's why he made this unusual choice.. was it ballsy, yes, was it audacious, certainly... but was it smart? not in this fellow's opinion. He's a hero... but American's have a long-standing love affair with renegades, loners, and outlaws... this country was founded by them... I like to compare them to terrorists because the early Americans felt they were opposing an unjust and oppressive regime... and they certainly were! Mr. Luke was certainly not a terrorist, not by any means... but before we lionize people let's consider what their sacrifice brought about... and I'll be damned for saying this (at least figuratively by others
, but Luke's sacrifice didn't bring about very much... I can only understand it if he was so embittered at the prospect of imminent death or was so ethnocentric and blinded by hate of his enemies that he decided his life wasn't worth it and attacked those soldiers. but then again, some people seem to be meant for war, and it is in such circumstances that we see the true measure of their courage and strength... hah hah... I just AIN't one of those people... and by golly, I'm glad we have them around to protect the rest of us.
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