War Photographer

When I was in college in the early 1980s, I was really into photography, but that was not the degree I was working towards. I worked in the darkroom for the school newspaper for something to do in my off time. During my time in school, a war photographer came to campus to give a lecture about his experiences. I made sure not to miss his presentation. This photographer was a Christian. He told us he was assigned to a fighter-bomber squadron in Ubon, Thailand, during the Vietnam War. He got involved with a Bible Study group while there and became good friends with some of the Christian pilots. He also followed around some of the other pilots who were not Christians to document their time off while not flying. There was one pilot who was not liked by many of the pilots but was well respected because he outperformed most of them in the air. This pilot would say things before thinking them through and was very arrogant, which is why most people did not care to be around him.

The time would come for the F4S to be sortied on missions over North Vietnam. The pilot most did not like while on the ground was the one everyone wanted to fly as wingman, since he was the best. The photographer could choose to fly in the back seat of any of the pilots on these dangerous missions, so he would fly with the pilot whom few people liked. One day, while spending time with his Christian friends, the photographer was asked why he never flew with any of them. He responded, “Even though I don’t care to be around that pilot, I fly with him because he is the best pilot in the squadron. He knows what he is doing; he knows the capabilities and the limits of the F4 he flies. I want to fly with the best, so I will have the best chance of coming home after the mission.”

I have thought about that presentation a lot over the years. Today, it reminds me of our President. He says things that many people do not like and that may come across as arrogant. But he is the best for the job of President of the United States right now. I would rather have someone who is the best in the business and supports our Constitution in the office than someone who talks nicely.