War on Warriors

I’ve been reading Pete Hegseth’s latest book “The War on Warriors” and agree with some/most of what Pete is complaining about. Actually I am reminded of some of the things that I also experienced during my 25 yearlong Air Force Career.

Hegseth is a principal on Fox News that I’ve watched for years. Pete tells it as it is, not leaning toward modern progressive ideas. Three different overseas deployments as an officer in the US Army has given him experience in the realm of modern warfighting. My own experience was in the air war fought in Vietnam plus before and after. Sadly our beloved USofA hasn’t covered herself with glory by winning all those conflicts but talk to any former warrior and they will tell you it has been political decisions that has caused the endgame failures.

During my tour as a KC-135 air refueling Squadron Commander, it was my job to closely monitor, examine, the quality of my assigned crew members. As in any endeavor, young men - I had no women crewmembers - came from all sorts of backgrounds and experiences. Most learned quickly and made good reliable decisions. A very few, however, never really adapted to the pilot skills required so as their boss I would move them over to a job, like scheduling in headquarters, where flying wasn’t required. Computer skills were coming into play, and some excelled in preforming those new concepts.

Promotions, advances in rank and therefore pay, were based on job performance and mostly, at that time, were given to the more skilled crew members. Sadly, according to Pete, there is a different system now. We read of DEI, (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) being the new standard and for me that is similar to finding spots to employ my crew members that couldn’t cut it in the flying game. The best people don’t get promoted because favor is given to those who are of different skin color, or sex or the “first” to serve in that position. Skill in doing the assigned tasks comes in away second best.

In 1948, a year after our Air Force became a separate service from the US Army, President Truman directed that all the military services were to be integrated racially. I’ve always been proud that my Air Force stood up, saluted, and did just that. During my years of duty, I served with Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans and probably other young men of whatever background. Ethnic identity made no difference as it was skill in the job that made the difference. Evidently that is no longer the standard.

Women doing crew member duty is another story. We had none. Yes I had a female clerk when I was the Squadron Commander and she was one of the best. She was a Non-Commissioned Officer and actually had immigrated, at an early age, from El Salvador. She was really excellent at her job—the best!

Having been a long-time civilian flight instructor I have taught several young women to fly. It is my experience that young ladies with an athletic background actually learn to fly more rapidly than do their male peers of similar age. Maybe it is because they are confident and fearless! Wearing my Squadron Commander cape again I would have welcomed female crew members to my team. My only question would be knowing that a tanker crew consists of three individuals, four in my time, that would be asked to go on temporary duty together, sometimes for months at a time, leaving all dependents behind. So why would a young mom want to do that? I’ve no doubts about their skills but do think that it is the female partner that holds a family together when the male partner is gone.

Chuckling a bit. I have dear friends whose daughter is currently an air refueling tanker pilot. She solved my question by marrying another lady who is a member of the maintenance squadron in which they serve. It is a whole different world today from what I grew up in and am accustomed to living.

Enjoyable Weekend

I enjoyed the Wagner “Crusin’ on the Bricks” car show this past weekend. Well over 100+ entries. Well done. Note I had the second oldest automobile there with my 1925 Model T Ford at 99 years and counting. The oldest was another Model T but this one a 1924 model. 100 years and it still runs.

I’ve found that this old guy gets slightly frustrated to attend a car show and spot wonderfully restored models of cars that I used to own and since sold. I once had a 1957 Belair Chevy convertible and a 1947 Lincoln coupe with a V-12 engine. Actually at one time I owned each of the coupes that Ford made in 1947, a Mercury with a V-8, a Ford with a straight six and the Lincoln V-12. Why oh why did I part with them? Grannie Annie has a better answer—good riddance. Best of the lot was a 1965 Mustang convertible that I bought for my son and he still has it!

Happy birthday to our youngest child now 60 years old and still my beloved baby daughter.

That is the way I saw it.

Dick Trail