Well, you asked for it...
Dude,
Okay, you guys are taking up too much of my study time, but here goes.
1) First - Andy, thanks for the salute [that's what that was, right?], and d28pilot thanks for the kind words. Andy, if you get a chance to look at General Foss’s CMOH citation, you’ll see he got it while leading a mixed flight of Jarheads and Army dudes. Jointness at it’s best.
2) This is the United States of America. There is freedom of speech. Some folks think that means they can say what they want and no one else can call them on it. For starters, AWACoff doesn't know who Joe Foss is [which is okay, I only know because I'm a Marine and they make you learn that stuff], but then he insinuates that General Foss is a drooling mess and gee, wouldn't any 86 year old guy with the CMOH deserve a triple rogering coming through security? Anyway, this is the United States of America. That's why I could call AWACoff an unpatriotic mouth breather whenever I want, though I won't because I don't know that for certain. I love this place...
3) Then AWACoff decides that because a few of us object to his youthful characterization of General Foss as a mindless bed wetter, we must be racist John Birchers and he has the audacity to question my patriotism. Once again, his right. However, it's my right to point out that he doesn't have a clue as to what he's talking about, and while he's been out putting around the pattern with his private students, I was rolling down the chute dodging AAA with “United States” painted on the side of my aircraft.
4) Dude, as for your points (the following is my opinion only):
a) Anyone who earned the CMOH deserves every possible consideration - yes, even more than the average citizen. They are special to this country in the way that former Presidents are, even the ones who are well known enough not to get screwed with by security even if they were despicable draft dodgers. Does that mean preferential treatment? In my mind, heck yeah!
b) The screeners knew that General Foss had the CMOH, because they tried to take it away from him and he told them what it was. Anyone who has a CMOH is by definition a war hero. At that point, they needed to call a supervisor, not further harass the poor man.
c) I bet you that the VP and Public Relations manager at America West have Joe Foss's face and bio indelibly etched in their minds right now, and I would bet you that chow hall steak that they wish they'd had a greeter whisk General Foss straight from check-in to his seat in first class. At the time of this incident, the screeners were America West employees (though I’m sure they worked for a subcontractor). America West doesn’t think that this incident was just business as usual.
d) Finally, while I was not fortunate enough to meet him when he and his wife were here in New Orleans, a good friend of mine was his escort, and he said that the General was a stand-up guy and one of the nicest people you could hope to meet (as was his wife, though of course, she wasn't a guy). So you wouldn't have to take General Foss down to get to that steak first, he'd offer you cuts. ;-)
So here’s my last on this string (I need to get back to my FAR/AIM)….
Shame, shame, shame on America West and your employees for the way you abused Joe Foss. I hope you feel it in your bottom line as this story gets bounced around through AARP and the service and veteran’s organizations. Make amends as soon as possible or feel the wrath of a pre-baby-boomer boycott!
AWACoff – you are probably a pretty nice guy when you aren’t running down America’s heroes. Spend a little time finding out who they are.
Everyone else – freedom of speech means that people can actually point out when you say something stupid. They can even call you stupid for saying it. That’s one of the reasons why I think…….
IT”S GREAT TO BE AN AMERICAN!!
