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Female Pilots Get Their Shot in the Iraqi Skies Men Say Women Are Proving Skills in Direct Combat
The Washington Post ^ | February 27, 2006 | By Ann Scott Tyson, Washington Post Staff Writer

Posted on 02/27/2006 5:39:04 AM PST by aculeus

TALL AFAR, Iraq -- Buzzing over this northern Iraqi city in her Kiowa scout helicopter, a .50-caliber machine gun and rockets at the ready, Capt. Sarah Piro has proved so skillful in combat missions to support U.S. ground troops that she's earned the nickname "Saint."

In recent months of fighting in Tall Afar, Piro, 26, of El Dorado Hills, Calif., has quietly sleuthed out targets, laid down suppressive fire for GIs in battle and chased insurgents through the narrow alleys of this medieval city -- maneuvering all the while to avoid being shot out of the sky. In one incident, she limped back to base in a bullet-riddled helicopter, ran to another aircraft and returned to the fight 10 minutes later.

"They call her 'Saint Piro' -- she's just that good," said her co-pilot, Chief Warrant Officer Todd Buckhouse, a 19-year Army veteran who has worked with Piro on two tours with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Iraq.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News
KEYWORDS: cas; chixngunzroxor; iraq; militarywomen; oif; tallafar
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To: silverleaf

amen sister :-)


41 posted on 02/27/2006 8:15:34 AM PST by Kelly_2000 ( Because they stand on a wall and say nothing is going to hurt you tonight. Not on my watch)
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To: P3pilotJAX
There will always be a few chicks who also like to blow things up and kill people. Key word: "FEW". Yeah, I know the libs would like you to believe that they are just the crest of the wave, but the reality is that their numbers will always be fairly (self)-limited.

You just gotta love a chick with a finger on a Hellfire missile.....*LOL*

42 posted on 02/27/2006 8:16:33 AM PST by Al Simmons ("Only those are fit to live who do not fear to die" - Theodore Roosevelt)
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To: Viet Vet in Augusta GA

So your construct was three brief unrelated rants. I'll buy that.


43 posted on 02/27/2006 8:16:59 AM PST by verity (The MSM is comprised of useless eaters)
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To: GOP_Party_Animal

Easy Dude. Your comments are appropriate re: infantrymen, but more off the mark when it comes to skill positions like flying a helicopter....they don't have "manual steering", so being BIG isn't an advantage - in fact it could be the opposite - having put my life in the hands of female UH-60 pilots many times, I give them all the respect that's due....


44 posted on 02/27/2006 8:20:05 AM PST by Al Simmons ("Only those are fit to live who do not fear to die" - Theodore Roosevelt)
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To: silverleaf

A Hearty HOO-AAHH to you, LTC!!!!!!!!!


45 posted on 02/27/2006 8:22:55 AM PST by Al Simmons ("Only those are fit to live who do not fear to die" - Theodore Roosevelt)
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To: silverleaf
If you feel feminized, please do not blame the Sarah Piros of this world.

Nice try, I wasn't talking about myself, but rather for example, the men who got Title 9'd out of college sports.

I can talk and express my opinions freely on this forum. If I was a current member of the military and could not express my opinions (as is most certainly the case), I would indeed feel feminized.

46 posted on 02/27/2006 9:08:16 AM PST by Last Dakotan
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To: hocndoc
Come on - remember racially segregated units?

That's the old standard argument when defending the "women in combat" notion. It is also specious. Are only the top 5% of black men comparable in strength to the bottom 5% of white men? No? Then there is no basis to keep them from combat; they do not degrade the overall effectiveness and unit-cohesion of fighting units. Emotional relationships between men and women are also ignored by this poor argument.

47 posted on 02/27/2006 9:09:32 AM PST by GOP_Party_Animal
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To: Last Dakotan

but just what is the problem with a woman flying a helicopter gunship?


48 posted on 02/27/2006 9:10:01 AM PST by Kelly_2000 ( Because they stand on a wall and say nothing is going to hurt you tonight. Not on my watch)
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To: cll

sure it could, now an oh-58 A or charlie model wouldn't be much fun.:)


49 posted on 02/27/2006 9:13:06 AM PST by superfries
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To: Al Simmons
You just gotta love a chick with a finger on a Hellfire missile.....

No doubt you are a fan of the current crop of Hollywood movies where one svelte women kicks the crap out of twenty guys in a fight....

50 posted on 02/27/2006 9:13:06 AM PST by Last Dakotan
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To: Last Dakotan

I'm a fan of well-muscled chicks who wear the uniform...guess this retired military officer is just chivalrous at heart...


51 posted on 02/27/2006 9:18:58 AM PST by Al Simmons ("Only those are fit to live who do not fear to die" - Theodore Roosevelt)
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Comment #52 Removed by Moderator

To: Last Dakotan
I can out shoot my husband on the pistol range and he is a former marine, so don't dismiss us that easily :-)Admittedly he taught me but hey.....
53 posted on 02/27/2006 9:21:29 AM PST by Kelly_2000 ( Because they stand on a wall and say nothing is going to hurt you tonight. Not on my watch)
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To: fortheDeclaration

The Navy may be the worst. I remember some idiot admiral saying that "pregnancy is consistent with sea duty." I could not believe the silliness of this remark (pregnant women could avoid ship deployment). It was clear that our flag officers had been trained to the feminist agenda.

We've come a long way. Back in the summer of 1973 I knew the names and assignments of each of the four women serving on Naval Air Station, Meridian, Mississippi. I'm delighted that wouldn't be possible today because more women are doing more things in the military. Let's just tell the truth about their service.


54 posted on 02/27/2006 9:21:54 AM PST by jimfree (LT, USN (Ret) served March 9, 1973 to March 31, 1993)
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To: Kelly_2000

but just what is the problem with a woman flying a helicopter gunship?

No problem, but she would be better suited sitting in the S-2 shop, making coffee and writing reports...that make it all the way to the white house :) BTW, I don't think the OH-58D qualifies as a gunship, hence the OH (sarcasm off:)~


55 posted on 02/27/2006 9:23:27 AM PST by superfries
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To: aculeus
If I understand the situation in Iraq clearly, there are no enemy aircraft, and no anti-aircraft fire. So what is the big deal besides the promotion of the feminist agenda?

Where were they when people were being shot down?

This is one of the long list of jobs that women simply should not do.

56 posted on 02/27/2006 9:24:34 AM PST by Bon mots
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To: Kelly_2000
but just what is the problem with a woman flying a helicopter gunship?

In truth, I am astonished by the story of Sarah Piros' heroism, and I salute her actions in defense of this country.

Sadly though, her story and others like this are being used as propaganda pieces by the feminist agenda.

57 posted on 02/27/2006 9:32:02 AM PST by Last Dakotan
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To: superfries
"No problem, but she would be better suited sitting in the S-2 shop, making coffee and writing reports...that make it all the way to the white house :)"

On this occasion she is better as a pilot though....

"BTW, I don't think the OH-58D qualifies as a gunship, hence the OH (sarcasm off:)~"

OK thanks for that update LOL you know what the press are like with the facts....

58 posted on 02/27/2006 9:36:39 AM PST by Kelly_2000 ( Because they stand on a wall and say nothing is going to hurt you tonight. Not on my watch)
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To: aculeus
They can take out the terrorists.  Incur flack.  And look good doing it!  Oh yeah!

 

a10battledamage11.jpg

 

59 posted on 02/27/2006 9:37:30 AM PST by Incorrigible (If I lead, follow me; If I pause, push me; If I retreat, kill me.)
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To: silverleaf
LOL, I am a retired FEMALE military intelligence officer...

Thank you for your service, but none of your post has to do with combat. Few would argue that women cannot contribute to military intelligence, logistics, psychological warfare, etc. However, physical and "relational" (for lack of a better word) differences between men and women are relevant to combat situations. Bottom line, women make a unit less combat effective. And, yes, this includes pilots who sometimes find themselves ground troops and always have to live with other men.

By the way, no one is trying to take away your right to vote. That comment was just ridiculous. Stop being so ... hysterical.

60 posted on 02/27/2006 9:37:52 AM PST by GOP_Party_Animal
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