<p>After I posted last night Bullet and I had a conversation about this topic about self-discipline or courage was more important. His sentiments are very similiar to ds52262.</p>
<p>Self discipline will help you to overcome the fear and be more courageous, but I stick by my original and hornet actually touched upon why:</p>
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<p>This is not a happy thought, but we lived it on our first assignment when I was 9 mos pregnant with DS1, our squadron lost a jet. I can only imagine what was said, but here is the scenario that occured:</p>
<p>Wife gets a phone call from a friend located at another base saying it was on the news that a jet with a UH tail just went down. She immediately goes over to the O’Club to find their best friend. She tells him that she thinks its her DH. He tells her to calm down, and he’ll get the info, he was sure it wouldn’t be him. He calls relays that the wife is with him, they tell him you know we can’t release the info because we are on lock down…he replies tell me now or I will come in and find out myself…they reply just find out where she will be…she obviously could tell by his face and said where she would b4 her friend could say anything at all.
No self discipline or toughness will ever teach you how to find the words to say to a wife and a new mother (baby was 6 weeks. old), we’re sorry, but…to make matters worse she had to live through the night waiting to find out if he died…Courage is what is needed to survive that night.</p>
<p>For all of you at the AFA, he is home with you. Capt Cliff Massengill (afa 81) died 18 yrs ago this month and was buried at the Academy. Cliff had signed his papers to get out, only 3 days earlier and had a seperation date. Bullet was his crew mate, but fate intervened and he was taken off the schedule less than 18 hours prior to the flight…Our sponsor also had courage, because when he found out the news, he came over to our house expecting to hold my hand. I will never forget his face when Bullet answered the door.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I have seen too many times that commanders had to find the courage for this situation…</p>
<p>Sorry if this bit of reality freaked anyone out, but remember fighting int a war, having the best intel, best planes,etc…doesn’t negate the fact that accidents happen, and it courage that is usually found after you go through self-discipline and toughnes</p>