Paying Respects
 

Just a quick one here, I'd be grateful for some thoughts on this:

Is it ethically correct to pay respects to fallen airmen of an erstwhile foe?

Thanks in anticipation.

Yes .

What he said.

Yes. They were just like all of us. They had Mums and Dads and kids, and died for their country, because some politician sent them into harms way.

One of the most memorable events of my life was touring France in the area where so much of the trench warfare took place during WWI. Standing in cemeteries filled with gravestones of all the different armies, whether friend or foe, filled me with emotion. One cannot be a soldier, having experienced combat, and not feel the loss all those graves portray. Each one marks a family's loss felt just as much no matter who they are.

Treat others as you would like you (and yours) to be treated.

What he said.

IF you are both an officer and a gentleman I am surprised that the question should ever occur to you.

Read the profile. Was a car mechanic, now a boat mechanic :}

I led a squadron of cadets who laid crosses on war graves with the British Legion. I insisted that all graves were visited, crosses laid and salutes offered, regardless of nationality. The parents thought it was correct, as did the cadets and RBL.

Ll

I am not an officer. I am an oik. But I am a gentleman and I agree with what he said too.
:)

As a generality, of course the answer is yes.

But are there not exceptions?

Herman Göring, for example. Hans Ulrich Rudel? Some of the lads who quite cheerfully shot at our boys in their parachutes? Who strafed columns of women and children?

I don't know the answer - I'm just asking the question.

Fallen Foes
 

Interesting that you equate being an officer to being a gentleman :suspect:

S_H

SH, far from it. I think , by implication, the comment suggests that there may be Officers, there may be Gentlemen, there may be those that are both and there may be those that are neither.

A bit like sexual orientation really

WC

Jacko - clearly war criminals are not included - but everyone who went into battle and "fought fair" must be respected, regardless of cap badge.

Definately yes.
Manfred von Richthofen (the Red Baron)
The commanding officer of 3 Sqn, Major David Blake suggested initially that Richthofen had been killed by the crew of one of his squadron's RE8s, which had also fought Richthofen's unit that afternoon. However, following an autopsy that he witnessed, Blake became a strong proponent of the view that an AA machine gunner had killed Richthofen.

In common with most Allied air officers, Blake regarded Manfred von Richthofen with great respect, and he organized a full military funeral. Richthofen was buried in the cemetery at the village of Bertangles near Amiens on 22 April 1918. Six airmen with the rank of captain — the same rank as Richthofen — served as pallbearers, and a guard of honor of six Australian soldiers fired a salute. Other Allied squadrons presented memorial wreaths.

I generally agree with the thrust of this thread although it is difficult to understand how anyone can be forced to pay respects. Respect is something you have to earn...A concept many of our lords and masters fail to grasp.

However, any person who wears the uniform of his/her country and is prepared to die to protect the freedom of their country gains my respect.

I think you need to look no further than the American Civil War. There were officers on both sides who had attended the same courses at West Point, and were in many battles, Gettysburg being one, but on opposing sides. They treated each other with the utmost respect.

Yeah, I know, it was a tragedy anyway......

Jacko

War by its very nature makes bad guys out of all of us. I think that had the mainland UK been invaded by thousands of military parachutists our boys would have been out shooting them as they descended as well. War criminals only exist on the loosing side. Had we lost WW II you good bet 100% that Harris would have been hung by the Germans as a war criminal. Our boys new during the fire bombing of Dresden that 60% of the population beneath them were women and children.

There are atrocities committed by every side in every war, and i dont pretend to understand why. War releases the animal within. Maybe those at the top of the tree should be held accountable, but the normal Soldier,Sailor, airman dies doing their 'job'.

I dont know the answer either.