Thank you for your interesting post. And thank you for telling your
story
without flames, insults or sarcasm. I appreciate that.
In other words, Kramer, allow me to spell it out for ya. What the
poster is alluding to above is that bush pilots are among the
thousands of brave aviators whom you have categorically insulted
as "cowards."

I'll put it in my own words. Art, I sincerely respect and appreciate
the sacrifice you made for freedom. I literally get Goosebumps thinking
about the sacrifice of W.W.II veterans. But I feel the same way about some
other vets from other wars, and for people who've stood up to injustice, and
for children who've blossomed despite mistreatment, to parents who
sacrificed everything for their children's welfare, and to people who are
devoted to helping others. Indeed, the most heroic people I've ever heard
about were NOT combat vets (just about every religious figure comes to mind
as examples, and I think children and mothers have shown me the greatest
courage). Combat is only one test of men, and an imperfect one at that.
I'll stop preaching about now, as I don't have all the answers, and I'm
not a combat veteran myself (although I have put my life in harm's way for
others). The point of my post was: a) to mention that in WWII, non-combat
instructors were highly valued in some instances (talking to my father
tonight, he said my granddad Lancasters later in the war, fighters earlier-
my granddad could really fly 'em all!!), b) through his years of service my
grandfather made a courageous and valuable contribution to the freedom of
the world, and c) Art, if you truly believe that heroism isn't limited to
combat, you might want to examine the kind of language you use (e.g., the
respect for a non-combat instructor). There was no flame, sarcasm or insult
designed into my post, only a desire to illustrate that you don't have to
serve in combat to show courage deserving of, and receiving, respect. In my
limited opinion, courage is neither necessarily required for or equated with
combat service (the type-writer guy in Saving Private Ryan serves as a
fictitious example). Sincerely,

Tony