I've seen this information but I still want to thankyou for posting it. More people need to read it. I was in the U.S. Air Force and I was in Naha AFB Okinawa in 1970. There were some F-102's there and I saw them be stripped of engines and other parts and their airframes being cut up for scrap. President Bush didn't avoid anything as the RATS would have us believe. The very fact that he strapped the F-102 on had him in more danger than most people ever expirence no matter where they are. Mrs. Bush is lucky she still has him just because of that. Thanks again and We have got to make sure that Hanoi john does not become the Commander in Chief of the Best of the Best, our wonderful people in uniform.
It's interesting that people gloss over the details and forget the context of the times. I'm sure there were 500 or more people waiting to get into the TNG but that none of them had the qualifications to be a pilot (4 year degree, vision, etc.). If he was using pull, why not get a billet in logistics or administration?
Here is another contrast I like and maybe someone can fill in the missing number. When Kerry joined the Navy, the TOTAL count of Navy KIA was THREE. What was the death rate from training accidents for a pilot candidate?