AMERICAN THINKER'S David Paulin tells how 50 Years Later: Bravery Outshines Public Humiliation in the moving story of Air Force pilot Lt. David Steeves (left).
Fifty years ago this month, President Eisenhower and Sputnik were in the news -- and so were the marital travails of an Air Force pilot named David Steeves. The 23-year-old lieutenant -- once a national hero -- was now under a cloud of innuendo and suspicion stirred up by the nation's news media.... Lt. Steeves captivated the nation that previous July 1, 1957 when he wandered out of California's Sierra Nevada. Weeks earlier, the Air Force had declared him dead after he disappeared on a cross-country flight. Yet 54 days after ejecting from his disabled jet over ice and snow-covered mountains, he hobbled out of the wilderness with a heavy beard and tattered flight suit.A long and riveting article. Certainly the most memorable I've read on the web in quite some time. Might be the same for you. Posted by Vanderleun at December 30, 2007 12:05 AM | TrackBack
Ideas seem, by nature to be viral. That is, once a powerful or seductive idea is started, it will catch on with a 'vulnerable' audience, just as a disease will spread among people with low immunity.
It seems apparent that then, and now, the so-called News Media, is quite aware of this idea, and frequently uses it to make a lot of money.
Truth be damned, there's money to be made. Especially when it's about flawed and vulnerable human beings, which we all are.
Posted by: David at December 30, 2007 9:18 AMIt's stuff like this that I come here for!
I've worked for the Air Force as a Defense Contractor for 10 years. I still do. I constantly travel to Seattle to see where our money is going: Boeing Defense has consistently been a top performer. They are the best...
But I digress: The AF is a very, very 'Christian' organization.
I put the scare quotes around Christian 'cuz it's not in a good way. I've had trouble with the AF Christian Mafia while I was getting divorced, and I'm just a contractor in their office! I had to make up stories to take time off for divorce court appearances 'cuz I didn't want them to know.
I've seen otherwise good officers downrated and censured unofficially 'cuz they were getting divorced--and didn't attend enough Prayer Breakfasts.
I believe it was exponentially worse in the time of LT Steeve.
His command didn't care at all what happened to him and it shows. The fact he was 'having marital difficulties', in the eyes of his commander and commander's commander, cast doubt on his character, integrity and Airmanship.
Poor bastard....
Posted by: Gray at December 30, 2007 2:20 PMA victim of early Nifong Man.
Posted by: Gagdad Bob at December 31, 2007 2:57 PMWho the heck would have wanted a T-33? The Russians? Not! It was a trainer, not a frontline aircraft, and not interesting enough to put together a plot to get when you could buy one off of an unreliable US ally somewhere. All the Russians needed to know about the Shooting Star they learned in Korea.
Posted by: Mikey NTH at January 1, 2008 12:53 PM"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper N.B.: Comments are moderated to combat spam and may not appear immediately. Comments that exceed the obscenity or stupidity limits will be either edited or expunged.