> 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 seven 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, 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 Kuhuku 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
> > were 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.
> >
> > 18 February 2001, Dale Earnhardt died driving for fame and glory at the

> > Daytona 500. The nation mourns. Seven soldiers died training to
> protect our freedom. No one can remember their names.
> >
> > James V. Torney
> > CW4, US Army, Retired

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