boundary violations (mistakes were made)

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Nov 05, 2004

On Wednesday night an Air National Guard F-16 fired more than two dozen rounds of 20-mike cannon into a junior high school in New Jersey. Preliminary indications are that a mishap took place. One wonders what would happen if the responsible military commanders demanded accountability in the same way as do men of the cloth:

Letter, November 5, 2004:

I have looked into the matter and can assure you the rumors of a strafing are an exaggeration and entirely without merit. It is an enduring source of pain to me that some civilians should be so quick to accuse and think the worst of those who serve them so well.

Radio Interview, February 11, 2005:

While there do seem to be some indications that the alleged "target" sustained minor roof damage, there is also evidence that the school itself invited the attack, "coming on" to the pilot in a markedly provocative manner. The accused officer is currently in counseling and is cooperating fully.

Press Release, October 3, 2005:

Our invariable policy is to keep confidential the name of the errant gunner and the name and location of his/her damage site, so as to preserve the privacy of the alleged casualties and to aid other potential damage sites in coming forward without fear of unwanted publicity.

Briefing, March 20, 2006:

The Incident Inquiry Committee that investigated the strafing of the Little Egg Harbor Intermediate School has determined that the pilot's heroin problem has responded well to therapy and he has accordingly been returned to unrestricted duty.

Letter, December 29, 2006:

Dear Jack, Yours has been an effective service career, sadly impaired by madness.

Press Release, June 17, 2007:

With the benefit of 20-20 hindsight, we recognize that it was a mistake to assign General Ripper as wing commander of our Tactical Nuclear Strike Force. However it must be acknowledged that we know more today than we did back in 2006 about the lasting negative impact of paranoid schizophrenia. We are on a learning curve here.

Personnel Announcement, May 1, 2019:

Lt. Dennis Pyke has been made information officer of the Visitor Center at Wampus Crater State Park (formerly metropolitan Dallas-Forth Worth).