STARS AND STRIPES
Rescued Pilots Return Home
In a carefully choreographed ceremony a Boeing 777 carrying 2LT Wright and CW3 Otto was met by an Air Force band and a crowd of family and friends as well as several senior Army officers. Both helicopter pilots exited the aircraft to the notes of the classic song, "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" as the twin daughters of CW3 Otto were being held in both hands by his wife, straining to be turned loose to see their father who was returning home early. The wife of 2LT Wright was present along with the lieutenant's parents and brother, all with smiles on their faces as their loved ones came into sight. It was an emotional experience despite what this reporter heard from a teenaged cousin of one of the two pilots describing the music as, "corny".
Putting aside the lack of good taste of the next generation this ceremony may not have occured had it not been for what the Pentagon described as a: "Perfectly executed rescue operation which used the full spectrum inter-operational capability of the United States Armed Forces to achieve a completely successful operation using assets derived from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, including infantry, A-10 Warthogs, A/H-64 Apaches, Navy reconnaissance drones, and Army Green Beret special forces." The Pentagon stated that all its objectives had been accomplished despite heavy resistance from both Militia and Elite Guard forces throwing serious combat weight into their attempts to repulse the American rescue operation.
The Elite Guard claimed that it did not participate in this recent clash with American forces, stating that: "Elite Guard forces remained away and allowed the radical terrorists to be disposed of by the American rescue operation. We are a uniformed armed force, sworn to the upholding of the rules of war. We will not be involved in what was essentially a hostage situation. We may be outmatched by our American opponents, but we will not sully our honor by adding radicals who kidnap and formulate chemical weapons to our numbers." The Pentagon did not state that there were any chemical weapons in the tunnels that the pilots had been located in, which this reporter believes to mean that the Elite Guard knew much more and were involved in more than they are admitting to. This is also quite likely considering the measures with which the Elite Guard has resorted to to fight American forces, including an unprovoked attack using what was previously a cooperative relationship to draw first blood.
