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Did a Search this morning for the report on the latest downed helicopter in Iraq to post, finding it MINUS ONE ESSENTIAL FACT I'll relate at the end of this Reply:

Top Stories - AFP

Insurgents down chopper in Iraq, Baghdad braces for new attacks
Sat Jan 3, 6:23 AM ET Add Top Stories - AFP to My Yahoo!

BAGHDAD (AFP) - The shooting down of a US military chopper claimed the life of one soldier and wounded another in the Iraqi town of Fallujah, while a top US commander warned the New Year's Eve car bombing in Baghdad marked an alarming new trend in attacks.

An OH-58 Delta Kiowa reconnaissance aircraft was brought down by rebels on the outskirts of the restive western town Friday afternoon as it assisted a US military raid of storefronts on the outskirts of the volatile town.

"They (the army) are fairly convinced it was enemy fire," Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, the coalition's deputy director of operations, told reporters.

Witnesses described the helicopter exploding in the air after it was hit shortly after the main weekly Muslim prayers, debris landing near a riverbank.

"I saw one of the helicopters taking fire and it crashed behind the bridge on the Euphrates River west of Fallujah," said farmer Ismael Jassem.

Kimmitt said five people wearing black vests marked "press" pulled up at the scene of the crash in two Mercedes sedans and began firing rocket-propelled grenades, adding that they were chased by US troops, who captured four of them.

The Reuters news agency later said three of its employees had been detained by US troops at the crash site and had earlier been shot at by US soldiers.

- - snip - -

What is missing, you ask??

Local news coverage (several television stations) reported the pilot was a female one from South Carolina, the first to be killed in combat in Iraq!

She surely is worthy of the same recognition as male pilots in news articles, and given the honor accorded them.

Seems the PC Press does not wish to ruffle our sensibilities by mentioning this....

She is hereby given my personal respectful *SALUTE* for having served our nation well, exhibiting great skill and courage.

Rest well, America's Best.....

(I regret I did not hear or see her name in the references to add, expecting to see it on the newswire.)

I just read your post. For several days, the only thing that I heard was that the pilot was female and from South Carolina (local). This morning for the first time, I found out that she was the first female chopper pilot. I heard her name, but I hadn't had any coffee, so I was half asleep. I did see her picture and must have heard that she was a graduate of Presbyterian College and an only child. She was very pretty.

Nothing on the national news about her. But then she's a woman and we don't count for much, do we? Even when we give our lives.

The last was probably uncalled for, but it really makes me wonder about the priories in this country. This woman was more of a hero to me than the media princess from West Virginia. She is the one who should have her name and contribution splattered all over the news.

For what it's worth, thats my opinion...

***runs into the Finest, waves and hugs all***

Goes back to terror threads...desparately waiting to see news on what the HECK they are looking for in the water!

Deadhead, Firebrand, have you seen all the activity? Have you heard anything? What are the military and salvage people looking for in the NY Harbor? And why no news coverage?