: Since I got so much wrong earlier, I shall nitpickingly ( wait till the spell checker
: sees that one! ) defend myself. I said "His" mission was bogus, not "The" mission,
: on purpose, because I see the story the same way you do.

I shall see your nitpickingly and raise you an argumentational!
"His" mission was as an observer, which was not a bogus mission, just
one that anybody with eyeballs could pretty much accomplish. (awaiting flames
from highly qualified former observers...)
ISTR when I was in that the local helicopter units carried "observers"
when on SAR training missions and such. Almost invariably, they were
attractive young women who had been met at the club. I guess they didn't
have any nurses around so LBJ had to do. :-)

regards,
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