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 ...
amen sister :-)
You just gotta love a chick with a finger on a Hellfire missile.....*LOL*
So your construct was three brief unrelated rants. I'll buy that.
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....
A Hearty HOO-AAHH to you, LTC!!!!!!!!!
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.
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.
but just what is the problem with a woman flying a helicopter gunship?
sure it could, now an oh-58 A or charlie model wouldn't be much fun.:)
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....
I'm a fan of well-muscled chicks who wear the uniform...guess this retired military officer is just chivalrous at heart...
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.
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:)~
Where were they when people were being shot down?
This is one of the long list of jobs that women simply should not do.
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.
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....
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.
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