It does. I saw disgusting podcast yesterday and the guest was practically overjoyed that a helicopter and two aircraft were shot down yesterday. History is that it was unheard of to send a helicopter to rescue a down pilot because helicopters are vulnerable. And he acted like it was some kind of pentagon incompetence to not simply abandon one pilot, and instead to risk several others to get him. It was a younger commentator who had no clue that since World War II at least, we did anything remotely feasible to rescue a pilot.
Submarine patrols, sea planes, extensive searching. We did a lot of things to bring back lost pilots. The Korean War had a massive effort. Michener described it in bridges of Toko Ri. The pair of rescue teams in Vietnam were legendary.
It’s a cornerstone of our aviation that a pilot knows if it’s humanly possible to rescue him we will. That pays the dividends big time. I couldn’t believe that podcast that actually said it was poor tactics to try to rescue them. And as far as I know, all the pilots were retrieved
Three wild-eyed guesses on my part:
1) The "guest" has never served in uniform in any capacity.
2) None of the "guest's" family members, within living memory, has ever served in uniform in any capacity.
3) None of the "guest's" friends, acquaintances, or coworkers, has ever served in uniform in any capacity.