Our own Subsunk sent us this one from B5 HQ North (like way North). At first glance, this is a story about a horrific mistake that was made - friendly fire might have killed two of our own. The worst thing is friendly fire (check back here tomorrow for more on that). But read the story as there was a part that you should definitely read and share...the bold emphasis is mine: Predator drone may have killed US troops BY Pauline Jelinek And Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press – Tue Apr 12, 3:31 pm ET WASHINGTON – The military is investigating what appears to be the first case of American troops killed by a missile fired from a U.S. drone. Officials said this is the first case they know of in which a drone may have been involved in a friendly fire incident in which U.S. troops were killed, and they are trying to determine how it happened. Marine Staff Sgt. Jeremy Smith of Arlington, Tex., and Seaman Benjamin D. Rast of Niles, Mich., were hit while moving toward other Marines who were under fire in Helmand province. Military officials in Afghanistan declined to provide any details, saying only that it was a friendly fire incident. "A formal investigation will determine the circumstances that led to the incident," the International Security Assistance Force said in a statement last week. "Whoever that young man or woman was, they didn't send that drone over there to kill my son or Doc Rast," Jerry Smith told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "If it was a royal screw up, it was a royal screw up. Make corrections because I don't want another family to have to go through this." He said "trying to put a bigger burden on that person who fired the missile is not something I would do." "I guarantee you if he was standing in front of me, he'd be asking for forgiveness, and I would give it to him," Jerry Smith said... More than a few times on this blog (hell, even this week), I've wondered how we produce such great warriors... Well, if the Smith family of Arlington, Texas, is indicative of the American family, we have nothing to worry about. Godspeed, Staff Sergeant Jeremy Smith and Seaman Benjamin Rast.
Read the complete post at http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Blackfive/~3/BIFMDooJK9g/the-men-who-fight-and-die-and-the-fathers-that-love-them.html
Posted
Apr 13 2011, 12:02 AM
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BLACKFIVE