[FWDLK] Dale Earnhardt

[MARK J HASH <mjh@xxxxxxxxxx>]

This isn't exactly List related, but at the same time it is.  I served in
Bosnia for the year of 1997, we were among the first to establish IFOR and
SFOR, the peacekeeping force there.

Mark   mjh
'57 Fury

>>>A good friend of mine sent me this. Please read and remember to thank
>>>Goodness for the men and women and their families that make up our
>military
>>>so we can have freedom.
>>>
>>>On 18 February 2001, while racing for fame and fortune, Dale Earnhardt
>died
>>>in the last lap of the Daytona 500. It was surely a tragedy for his
>family,
>>>friends and fans. He was 49 years old with grown children, one, which
>was
>>>in the race. He was a winner and earned everything he had. This included
>>>more
>>>than "$41 million in winnings and ten times that from endorsements and
>>>souvenir sales". He had a beautiful home and a private jet. He drove the
>>>most sophisticated cars allowed and every part was inspected and
>replaced
>>>as
>>>soon as there was any evidence of wear. This is normally fully funded by
>>>the car and team sponsors. Today, there is no TV station that does not
>>>constantly remind us of his tragic end and the radio already has a song
>of
>>>tribute to this winning driver. Nothing should be taken away from this
>man,
>>>he was a professional and the best in his profession. He was in a very
>>>dangerous
>>>business but the rewards were great.
>>>
>>>Two weeks ago six U.S. Army soldiers died in a training accident when
>two
>>>UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters collided during night maneuvers in Hawaii.
>The
>>>soldiers were all in their twenties and early thirties, pilots,
>crewchiefs
>>>and infantrymen. Most of them lived in sub-standard housing. If you add
>>>their actual duty hours (in the field, deployed) they probably earn
>>>something close to minimum wage. The
>>>aircraft they were in were between 15 and 20 years old. Many times parts
>>>were not available to keep them in good shape due to funding. They were
>>>involved in the extremely dangerous business of flying in the Kohoku
>>>mountains at night. It only gets worse when the weather moves in as it
>did
>>>that night. Most times no one is there with a yellow or red flag to slow
>>>things down when it gets critical. Their children where mostly toddlers
>who
>>>will lose all memory of who "Daddy" was as they grow up. They died
>training
>>>to defend our freedom.
>>>
>>>I take nothing away from Dale Earnhardt but ask you to perform this
>simple
>>>test. Ask any of your friends if they know who was the NASCAR driver
>killed
>>>on 18 February 2001. Then ask them if they can name one of the seven
>>>soldiers who died in Hawaii two weeks ago. On 18 February 2001, Dale
>>>Earnhardt died driving for fame and glory at the Daytona 500. The nation
>>>mourns. Six soldiers died training to protect our freedom. No one can
>>>remember their names and most don't even remember the incident.
>>>
>>>The most tragic thing about all of this is although Dale Earnhardt was a
>>>great sports hero and these soldiers were the heroes of freedom, not
>many
>>>people will remember any of this in a month... I was asked just 2 days
>ago
>>>what the USS Cole was. How many people do you know even know where
>>>the Marine Barracks was (Beirut) or what happened to 241 Americans
>(died)
>>>on
>>>October 23, 1983? When was Oklahoma City? Grenada? Do we still have
>Troops
>>>in the Gulf? What about Bosnia and the Active duty and National Guard
>>>personnel (yes, the same Guard that is supposed to be helping the
>citizens
>>>during a local disaster) that are still there (that started as a 9 month
>>>MAX
>>>peacekeeping tour)... Just the same way we can all think of more than
>one
>>>piece of American Heroism that will be lost in the archives once another
>>>political scandal, actor on drugs, dirty Mayoral race, the endangered
>slime
>>>snail of Northern California or anything else remotely news worthy comes
>>>along.
>>>
>>>This isn't a chain letter and you will forward it to whomever you
>wish...
>>>The only good that will come from forwarding it will be to keep the
>>>memories
>>>of forgotten heroes of our Nation alive. "For those who fought for it,
>>>freedom has a flavor the protected will never know" POW/MIA