Navy Pilots Who Rescued Victims Are Reprimanded

[mudkow60]

Thank you all. It is nice to hear all the support. I have never been so proud of my crew... they deserve all the praise.

 

[semperfido]

MUD,

Kudos, dittos, excellent job!....u sure you are not a marine?

S/F fido

 

[dtfl]

Like everyone else said - you did the right thing. The overall mission was to help these folks and you did. Hell, in AFSOC they'd give you a MEDAL!?! I thought the Navy was more laid back than us AF types!?!?!?
I tell you what...if they threaten to downgrade you I'd send this one to Cavuto. ;-)

 

[Weasel Keeper]

Thank you all. It is nice to hear all the support. I have never been so proud of my crew... they deserve all the praise.

Make sure to let your crew know they are all congratulated at least in this forum! SH sir!

 

[resqav8r]

Good Job Guys, we're doing the alert at OEF but have assets in New Orleans and just want to thank everyone that'll risk their ass to save others. Those young fast burners in charge are to busy punchin' tickets to understand the mish ... wish they could just learn to back their crews.

 

[Workin'Stiff]

Great work mudkow! Both to you and your crew. No matter what shat comes down the pipe towards you, those people you guys saved will be around due to the two H-3's that did a killer job!

 

[Vector4fun]

From Today's White House Press Briefing...

Mudkow, don't know if you heard this from today's Press Briefing:



Great Job to you and your crew!









Q Scott, The New York Times reports that two Navy helicopter pilots who rescued 110 people, including two who are blind, have been reprimanded by a Navy commander because they were supposed to devote themselves entirely to supply. And my question: The Commander-in-Chief of the Navy will surely counter this reprimand with a presidential commendation, won't he?





MR. McCLELLAN: Les, let me check into it. I've seen some the stories, but there are chain of command issues involved here and there are some military rules in place that prohibit us from commenting on certain chain of command issues.

Q Follow-up. World Net Daily reports that despite the devastation and suffering by so many thousands in New Orleans, there was a homosexual parade called "southern decadence." Does the President believe this is tolerable or --

MR. McCLELLAN: I want to finish on the military. The military is doing an outstanding job in search and rescue and ongoing humanitarian efforts, and we're greatly appreciative of the many men and women in the region, from the National Guard to reserve to active duty --

Q Including the ones that saved the 110 people? MR. McCLELLAN: -- who are helping, and we're greatly appreciative of the efforts they have undertaken to save lives. There have been a number of lives that have been saved because of our Coast Guard, because of our military and others on the ground in the region that have been involved in those efforts.

 

[eagle1983]

I could care less what your superiors think in my opinion your mission was complete and you did your country a favor saving those people. If they can't recognize that than I would be very concerned aout the leadership of our Navy today.

And I extend my congratulations to you and your crew for what you thought was right.

 

[wrxpilot]

MSNBC just picked the story up too - As one of the worst response moments by the government. A lot of people are PISSED that this happened to you and your crew Mudkow, and it looks like the ball is rolling. Thank god there are people like you left who can critically think and make decisions.

 

[Bjammin]

Just saw the story on CNN. Your 15 mins of fame are here and you deserve any benifits that will come of it, great job!

Man, whatever happened to flying a cargo plane filled with rubber shiat out of Hong Kong? FJ

Hey, I resemble that remark.

 

[SIG600]

Matt's a celebrity and I can say that I know him!!!

Dude, I'm sitting duty right now, looking out at our ramp packed full of semi trucks, cargo a/c, tents, FEMA trucks, refugee's etc... and the guys that are here in the ready room that just picked up on this story all are behind you 100%. Every person agree's they would have done the same thing given the situation and the inability to call home. You took the inititave and made the desicion on the fly. Sounds like the CDR may have created a PR nightmare for the Navy but what do I know? I'm gonna try and forward this on to Mister Stick (he's on leave right now) and you and I are going drinking after the airshow. Sent the story to Sarah too... job well done again dude.

Edit:
From CNN
Navy says pilots who rescued victims were not reprimanded

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Navy said Wednesday that two helicopter pilots who diverted from their logistics mission on the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast last week to rescue stranded civilians "are to be commended for their actions," and were not reprimanded as reported by the New York Times.

A Navy spokesman said the pilots -- Lt. David Shand and Lt. Matt Udkow -- were reminded by their commander, Cmdr. Michael Holdener, that their mission delivering supplies and spare parts is critical to the overall mission of saving lives, but neither pilot was punished or removed from flying duties. (Posted: 2:37 p.m.)

EPA: New Orleans floodwater has 10 times safe levels of E. coli, lead

 

[pkober]

The CNN story said that Rumsfeld got involved and may have thrown the bullsh*t flag.

It sounds like your CO may be one of those CYA types, more concerned with making sure he gets it on the record that he didn't agree with your divert, than doing the right thing. I bet he feels about two inches tall right now.

They said you guys rescued 100 people. Truly awesome.

Thanks for doing your job and doing whats right.

CLAMBAKE

P.S. I'm only watching CNN because I don't have control of the remote at work.

 

[Flyingdutchman]

mudkow60,

Outstanding job, Sir. God bless you. I just saw it on CNN.

f*ck them! you did the right thing!

FD

 

[Deli Guy]

I told my kids a bedtime story about you and your crew. I made the CDR out to be the bad guy. You guys were (and are) the heros. Now its the only story my kids want to hear. Great Job.

 

[mudkow60]

Again,


Thank you all. It is nice to hear the good comments. We were just doing what we knew was right. I feel bad that all the great things that the Navy is doing now is overshadowed.

 

[LegacyDriver]

This is a textbook example of taking the initiative. Aren't all military officers encouraged to behave this way? If not, they should be.

Someone tell Bill O'Reilly so he can make any attempt to discipline or censure these men is a public relations disaster for the , Navy.

My hat is off to you. Good show!

 

[AD SUPT Hopeful]

Well done! Super stoked for you guys.

 

[LegacyDriver]

Corrected. I hate Blackberries!

 

[islandhopper]

I been watching FOX all morning and not so much as a blurb about this story except what a wonderful job W. is doing... I just changed the channel to CNN. I think its pathetic what is going on out there. I think those poor people were intentionally left to die out there.
GOOD JOB mudkow60!!!

I can only pray if there was a disaster of this magnitude in my city there would be guys like you to save my neighbors and family. Aloha...

 

[sandman2122]

Darn right those crews did the right thing!

It's jerk Commanders like that is why I left active duty service.