Most Courageous Jobs in War

[Leroy Lizard]

Which group of military fighters do you think had the biggest cajones? I can think of a few:

1. Vietnam Tunnel Rats. Marines who went down into Vietnamese tunnels. (I don't even like caves; I'm not going into any dark place where someone is waiting to kill me.)

2. Rangers that scaled the cliffs at Normandy. (I don't want to be hanging on a rope while someone above me is shooting at me... and cutting my rope.)

3. ME-163 Komet pilots. (Nothing like being corroded to death to put that extra bite in life/death.)

4. JG-300. German pilots who intentionally rammed enemy bombers. (Unlike Kamikaze pilots, these guys wanted to live and felt they had a small chance of doing so.)

Any others? What about the British, Russians?

[MR2-Sooner86]

I'd say the guys that got into the ball turrets under B-17s were pretty brave as well.

[Serge Ibaka]

I'll echo MR2's vote. Flying in those bombers must have been scary.

But maybe I was just particularly affected by Catch 22.

But I'd still vote for Kamikaze pilots regardless of whether or not they "wanted to live."

[Leroy Lizard]

I'd say the guys that got into the ball turrets under B-17s were pretty brave as well.

Probably a safer job than pilot. Typically bomber pilots take on the heaviest casualties.

[Leroy Lizard]

I'll echo MR2's vote. Flying in those bombers must have been scary.

But maybe I was just particularly affected by Catch 22.

But I'd still vote for Kamikaze pilots regardless of whether or not they "wanted to live."

That goes back to what it means to be "brave." Not so sure. I wouldn't consider it brave myself. Dedicated? Sure.

[Serge Ibaka]

That goes back to what it means to be "brave." Not so sure. I wouldn't consider it brave myself. Dedicated? Sure.

That's also operating beneath the assumption that all Kamikaze pilots were ready to die--indeed, they were totally psyched to die!

Granted, I'm not a historian on the matter. But I'm betting the psychology is more complicated than just that.

[MR2-Sooner86]

Probably a safer job than pilot. Typically bomber pilots take on the heaviest casualties.

Well the thing was the ball turret is it was hydraulically operated, thus any damage to those hydraulics left the gunner hanging, yes, there was a manual override to open the hatch and permit the gunner to exit, but it's controls were on the plane side. If the plane had to land without landing gear though....

[Serge Ibaka]

Well the thing was the ball turret had to be in a certain postion to open and couldn't retract up. Many times they couldn't open them until they got back to base but if the plane had to land without landing gear....

Jesus. That's awful.

[GKeeper316]

theres a lot of "jobs" in the military that are inherently incredibly dangerous. its almost an insult to the others to say one requires more bravery or courage than another...

that said, the 3rd bat., 9th marines were the hardest of the hard. it was them at chosin.

[GKeeper316]

Well the thing was the ball turret is it was hydraulically operated, thus any damage to those hydraulics left the gunner hanging, yes, there was a manual override to open the hatch and permit the gunner to exit, but it's controls were on the plane side. If the plane had to land without landing gear though....

there was an episode of Amazing Stories about this very subject...

[MR2-Sooner86]

I also forgot tail gunners. Those guys were in a very bad position.

Also, we lost more fighter pilots strafing German air fields than defending bombing formations. I'd say flying low attacking targets very closely that can easily hit you back takes balls.

[Leroy Lizard]

there was an episode of Amazing Stories about this very subject...

Yes, with a very disappointing conclusion.

[Leroy Lizard]

That's also operating beneath the assumption that all Kamikaze pilots were ready to die--indeed, they were totally psyched to die!

Granted, I'm not a historian on the matter. But I'm betting the psychology is more complicated than just that.

Not sure how this changes anything?

I certainly don't consider Islamic suicide bombers as brave.

[Serge Ibaka]

Not sure how this changes anything?

I certainly don't consider Islamic suicide bombers as brave.

They're certainly evil and vile scum. They're terrible people with warped ethics and logic.

But I probably wouldn't call them cowards.

I guess we differ.

[Leroy Lizard]

I wouldn't call them cowards either. But brave? Meh.

[Serge Ibaka]

I wouldn't call them cowards either. But brave? Meh.

Eh. Is there a difference between brave and not-cowardly?

Tomato, tomahto...in most cases.


theres a lot of "jobs" in the military that are inherently incredibly dangerous. its almost an insult to the others to say one requires more bravery or courage than another...

I like that too.

[olevetonahill]

And Once again limptard shows his ignorance:rolleyes:
http://everything2.com/user/Simulacron3/writeups/Tunnel+rat

Now talk about balls of steel.
Try these guys
Dustoff Pilots
http://www.diabetic-diet-secrets.com/images/stories/tomainhuey.jpg

And The Door Gunners
http://www.hartfordmichigan.com/hartfordhistory/military/Military%20Personnel/Vietnam%20Era/Walls,%20James%20sm.jpg

[Leroy Lizard]

And Once again limptard shows his ignorance:rolleyes:

Not sure what that's all about. But okay.

[olevetonahill]

Which group of military fighters do you think had the biggest cajones? I can think of a few:

1. Vietnam Tunnel Rats. Marines who went down into Vietnamese tunnels. (I don't even like caves; I'm not going into any dark place where someone is waiting to kill me.)

2. Rangers that scaled the cliffs at Normandy. (I don't want to be hanging on a rope while someone above me is shooting at me... and cutting my rope.)

3. ME-163 Komet pilots. (Nothing like being corroded to death to put that extra bite in life/death.)

4. JG-300. German pilots who intentionally rammed enemy bombers. (Unlike Kamikaze pilots, these guys wanted to live and felt they had a small chance of doing so.)

Any others? What about the British, Russians?


Not sure what that's all about. But okay.

See the Bold part?
Now read the Link i posted :rolleyes:

[Leroy Lizard]

See the Bold part?
Now read the Link i posted :rolleyes:

Wow, does this ever deserve a

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll10/Loki99-photos/Francis.jpg

[olevetonahill]

:rolleyes:

[Leroy Lizard]

:rolleyes:

My thoghts exactly.

(I intentionally misspelled a word to give you something to freak out over.)

[olevetonahill]

You are ****ing pitiful.

[ouwasp]

How about those Merchant Marine fellows that kept USSR and Britain in the war during the early bad day of WWII? Especially before the convoy days, the U-boats were eating them alive out in the cold North Atlantic and Arctic.

[Leroy Lizard]

How about those Merchant Marine fellows that kept USSR and Britain in the war during the early bad day of WWII? Especially before the convoy days, the U-boats were eating them alive out in the cold North Atlantic and Arctic.

Especially since they were not going to receive the accolades that soldiers typically receive.

(Checked it over. No misspellings. Okay... submit.)

[Lott's Bandana]

The United States submarine service sustained the highest mortality rate of all branches of the U.S. Military during WWII


1 out of every 5 U.S. Navy submariners was killed in WWIIComprising less then 1.6% of all US Naval personnel in the Pacific, yet accounting for more then half of all enemy shipping sunk, the US submarine fleets were well represented in the Allied effort for achieving victory.

[Leroy Lizard]

The United States submarine service sustained the highest mortality rate of all branches of the U.S. Military during WWII


1 out of every 5 U.S. Navy submariners was killed in WWIIComprising less then 1.6% of all US Naval personnel in the Pacific, yet accounting for more then half of all enemy shipping sunk, the US submarine fleets were well represented in the Allied effort for achieving victory.

German losses were real high as well (half?). I'm not sure about the Japanese, but I imagine very few submariners survived the war.

[Crucifax Autumn]

Al Gore told me the correct answer to this question is photographer.

[Harry Beanbag]

Army medics and Navy corpsmen.

[Harry Beanbag]

German losses were real high as well (half?). I'm not sure about the Japanese, but I imagine very few submariners survived the war.


9 out of 10 U-boat crewmen did not survive the war.

[Leroy Lizard]

9 out of 10 U-boat crewmen did not survive the war.

You robbed olevet of his chance.

[Leroy Lizard]

Sappers. I'm not doing it.

[Crucifax Autumn]

You just don't see the word "sappers" enough these days.

[AggieTool]

EOD techs.

[Mississippi Sooner]

I had an uncle who was a door gunner in Nam. Man was fearless to the point that some would call him insane. He actually loved that stuff.

And then, after he survived that hell, he accidentally shot and killed himself while cleaning one of his own handguns at home.

[pilobolus]

I had an uncle who was a door gunner in Nam. Man was fearless to the point that some would call him insane. He actually loved that stuff.

And then, after he survived that hell, he accidentally shot and killed himself while cleaning one of his own handguns at home.

One of my ex-fathers in law made it through two tours in the infantry in Vietnam basically without a scratch. Then a few years ago he was cleaning a gun and blew off a good portion of one of his hands.


I think particularly when you have an all volunteer armed forces, anyone who serves is a brave MF and should be commended for it, whatever their specific job happens to be.

[Leroy Lizard]

I had an uncle who was a door gunner in Nam. Man was fearless to the point that some would call him insane. He actually loved that stuff.

And then, after he survived that hell, he accidentally shot and killed himself while cleaning one of his own handguns at home.

It always seems to go like that. If I'm a race car driver, I'm driving through intersections real careful-like.

[Leroy Lizard]

One of my ex-fathers in law made it through two tours in the infantry in Vietnam basically without a scratch. Then a few years ago he was cleaning a gun and blew off a good portion of one of his hands.


I think particularly when you have an all volunteer armed forces, anyone who serves is a brave MF and should be commended for it, whatever their specific job happens to be.

True. But you must admit that there are some jobs that even the common soldier will say, "No freakin' way."

For example, stick a gun in my hand and send me to the front lines. Okay, I'm going. (I have no choice regardless.)

Ask me to pilot an ME-163, and you're probably going to have to shoot me for disobeying orders.

[C&CDean]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artillery_observer

I wouldn't call it the most dangerous job in the military, but it's up there. I did this **** for 3 years, and calling in 8-inch guns on target a few hundred yards out in front of you will pucker your bunghole up so tight you couldn't pound a 10-penny nail up in that bitch.

Due to your close proximity with the enemy, lack of support (small teams often behind enemy lines), and the constant calling in of artilillery, mortars, air strikes, naval fire, etc. right on top of your own position the FO/FISTER usually doesn't have a real good combat survival rate.

[Leroy Lizard]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artillery_observer

I wouldn't call it the most dangerous job in the military, but it's up there. I did this **** for 3 years, and calling in 8-inch guns on target a few hundred yards out in front of you will pucker your bunghole up so tight you couldn't pound a 10-penny nail up in that bitch.

Due to your close proximity with the enemy, lack of support (small teams often behind enemy lines), and the constant calling in of artilillery, mortars, air strikes, naval fire, etc. right on top of your own position the FO/FISTER usually doesn't have a real good combat survival rate.

I would go somewhere else and just fake it.

E.g.

http://andy.nowickinetworks.com/images/Humor/Burger_King.bmp

[Lott's Bandana]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artillery_observer

I wouldn't call it the most dangerous job in the military, but it's up there. I did this **** for 3 years, and calling in 8-inch guns on target a few hundred yards out in front of you will pucker your bunghole up so tight you couldn't pound a 10-penny nail up in that bitch.

Due to your close proximity with the enemy, lack of support (small teams often behind enemy lines), and the constant calling in of artilillery, mortars, air strikes, naval fire, etc. right on top of your own position the FO/FISTER usually doesn't have a real good combat survival rate.


The FAC flying around a little Piper Cub or OV-10 calling in air strikes, armed only with WillyPete rocket markers, is a bit dicey too!

[Leroy Lizard]

In Rommel's diaries he talks about his flights over enemy lines in his Storch. If only the British knew who was buzzing around above their heads.

Dude had stones, that's for sure.

[stoopified]

EOD guys in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[Okla-homey]

WWII Eighth or Fifteenth AF bomber crewman.

Approximately 50% casualty rate. That's higher than any other military specialty in the entire US military from 1942-1945.

Average life expectancy? 3.5 missions.

[texaspokieokie]

to me, they're ALL bad if someone is shooting @ you.

bomb runs over europe would've scared me, especially the ones early in the war. no fighter escort (fighters didn't have the range) & freezing your *** off for several hours before you even got there.

then fighter planes & AA guns, flak so thick you could walk on it.

at least tho, if you made it back to UK, warm bed, good food & limey women.

as opposed to living in a cold,muddy foxhole.

took a long time to figure it out, but aircraft mechanics got to stay in england
& not get shot at. maybe dodge some bombs.

[SouthCarolinaSooner]

Going over the top, ie about any regular infantryman in WWI

[Jello Biafra]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artillery_observer

I wouldn't call it the most dangerous job in the military, but it's up there. I did this **** for 3 years, and calling in 8-inch guns on target a few hundred yards out in front of you will pucker your bunghole up so tight you couldn't pound a 10-penny nail up in that bitch.

Due to your close proximity with the enemy, lack of support (small teams often behind enemy lines), and the constant calling in of artilillery, mortars, air strikes, naval fire, etc. right on top of your own position the FO/FISTER usually doesn't have a real good combat survival rate.

yap...did this in the guard... and im glad too. i couldn't see me being a "fister" in the regular army lol

while in training at sill they said the life expectnacy is something crazy like 13 seconds. yeh im out.

[Leroy Lizard]

Going over the top, ie about any regular infantryman in WWI

This.

But I would also put WW I pilot up there. Flying around in a rickety plane with no parachute while someone shoots at you. The fighter pilots got all the glory, but the recon pilots and observers were brave as Hell.

[homerSimpsonsBrain]

I remember this from H.S. Lit.


Death of the Ball Turret Gunner

From my mother's sleep I fell into the State,
And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze.
Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life,
I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.
When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.

Randall Jarrell

[Jello Biafra]

I remember this from H.S. Lit.

wow. oddly enough, i remember that poem. i didnt think i was listening.

[Leroy Lizard]

If he died, how could he have written the poem? Huh? Huh?

They tried to fool me with those poems when I was in school, but I was too smart for them. Imagine that, a dead man writing a poem.

[C&CDean]

Never heard of Dead Poet's Society?

[Leroy Lizard]

They're Satanic.

[Crucifax Autumn]

Oh Lizard my Lizard...