Bad news .mil related

[69camfrk]

It looks like these are guys from my unit. I don't know who it is yet, but am going into work here in a few. Very sad....

3 airmen washed away by typhoon are from Robins Air Force Base | Military | Macon.com

[VITE1]

[Bill]

According to an article published in the Stars and Stripes, the missing airmen were among a group of airmen who were walking along the coastline Sunday despite a high-wave warning as Typhoon Phanfone was headed north toward the Japanese mainland. CNN reported the airmen were taking photos of the high waves.

Read more here: 3 airmen washed away by typhoon are from Robins Air Force Base | Military | Macon.com

Sad, but apparently, totally preventable. When I first heard about this, I naturally assumed they were washed overboard a ship while on duty. These guys paid a high price for thrill seeking. They didn't die in the service of the country.

[Sea Six]

Very sorry to hear.

[wwomanC6]

[VatorMan]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

Sad, but apparently, totally preventable. When I first heard about this, I naturally assumed they were washed overboard a ship while on duty. These guys paid a high price for thrill seeking. They didn't die in the service of the country.

Probably true. It's what happens when you get 18 and 19 YO in the military. They think they are invincible.

[Barn Babe]

[Uncle Meat]

You've got some young Airman that love heading to the seawall when the typhoons are in town. Typhoons are not something to be messed with. I spent 7 years at Kadena and spent time locked in the dorm or base housing while 150+ MPH winds were whipping around outside.

U.M.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by VatorMan

Probably true. It's what happens when you get 18 and 19 YO in the military. They think they are invincible.

At that age, it probably could have been any of us, including me.

[ApexOversteer]

Asshats. 4 dead because they wanted to take pictures of waves. This isn't like the guy lost in the Persian Gulf last week, this is just dumbassery.

[Norm]

Damn shame, sorry to hear.

[Grey Ghost]

[DukeAllen]

[Blademaker]

[CBonsall]

[OddBall]

[69camfrk]

Well, it was kind of worse than I expected. All 3 of the guys I knew. The names are already in the newspaper link, so I can talk about it. One is a Senior MSgt Guard guy that I've known for 14 years and he was close to retirement. He was a supervisor in jet shop. Another Guard guy, who was in his 30's, and I've known his Dad since I went in the Guard (his dad is a retired Chief from my unit) is missing and presumed dead. Dan, the guy I'm talking about rebuilt the Muncie that is in my Corvette and has a small child. The third is an active duty guy in his 20's. I knew him, but not all that well, but he leaves behind 2 small children, and he is missing also. It will be a miracle if they recover the bodies. There was a 4th guy that went in the drink, and is a good friend of mine, but he made it to shore, and is busted up. From what I understand, he will be ok. Also, there was another good friend of mine with them, but he didn't get swept away.

It's sort of like I told someone tonight, I've never been on a deployment where I ever thought for a minute that I wouldn't come home. I think sometimes we take our health and safety for granted.

Either way we will deal with it, and life goes on. My heart really goes out to the families, especially those that will not see their loved ones again and no funeral is possible. Closure is going to be tough on them.

[69camfrk]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

Sad, but apparently, totally preventable. When I first heard about this, I naturally assumed they were washed overboard a ship while on duty. These guys paid a high price for thrill seeking. They didn't die in the service of the country.

I can't wrap my head around the fact that they were that close to a churned up ocean. No, they didn't die in combat, but you are wrong in the fact that they weren't serving their country. They were on that island to do just that, but yes, it could've been prevented. The youngest of them was mid 20's, and the oldest was in his 50's. You would think that they would've been a little smarter about the situation though.

[island14]

I'm very sorry to hear that you lost your friends.. when I read this post yesterday I had a feeling it would turn out that you knew them, but had no idea how close they were to you.

I highly doubt they had any idea how dangerous it would be that day, as even myself and possibly you also, may have joined them for a walk also had we been there that day.

Sometimes a storm like that can sneak up on you fast, at first you know it is coming, but not how soon it will hit, or how strong it will really be.

When Typhoon Yolanda hit us here last year, I had no idea how bad it was really going to be, and when the eye of the storm came, it was so peaceful i really thought it was over and went outside, as I wanted to go home to see how bad the house was damaged.

About 15 to 20 minutes went by, and then I knew it was coming back, had so many trees not fallen to block my path, I would have been caught out there for the second part backside of the storm, that was even worse the the first part.

I do know one guy that went outside, and the wind picked him up and threw him 30 to 40 feet.. he said later he felt like he was flying...

Very sad that these guys that you knew had children, that will have to grow up now without their fathers..

[VatorMan]

Sorry to hear that you were so close to these guys.