[Magnum44]

Your not telling me anything I don't already know. I knew Zaun and Wetzel as well. They were shot down on night 2 over western Iraq on a foolhardy low level by their squadron CO (later relieved of command). Zaun was a class mate of mine at the Academy.

I guess I don't like the article because it is not clear to me where it is going, if the authors are using Spike's story as a way to discredit/blame the military for someones personal gain or make our armed forces look something less than patriotic.

[Bkauthor]

Not at all. And the point is just the opposite of what you are thinking. In the end, it's about doing the right thing by Scott Speicher--and thereby any of our military who put their lives on the line. But we share an obligation as part of that commitment by our uniformed personnel to do everything possible to account for them, too. There are those now in power and with the ability to help Scott who will. That was not always the case. This "test of honor" or honor itself is something ingrained in all Academy midshipmen--and since I, too, wore my naval officer's uniform with pride, this is a matter of honor and patriotism for me as well.

As for Wetzel/Zaun:

Navy Lieutenants Robert Wetzel and Jeffrey Zaun launched from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS SARATOGA (CV-60) in the Red Sea on the night of 17 January 91. LT Wetzel was piloting an A-6E Intruder carrying 10 Rockeye bombs. LT Jeffrey Zaun was his Bombardier/Navigator (B/N). They were both assigned to Attack Squadron 35 (VA-35), the Black Panthers.

After receiving fuel from a USAF KC-135 tanker located over Saudi Arabia, they proceeded toward H-3 airfield located in southwest Iraq. H-3 airfield was heavily defended by several surface-to-air missile (SAM) batteries and numerous anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) batteries. Their target at the airfield was a cluster of fuel storage tanks. The strike package consisted of four A-6E Intruders each flying separate low level routes to arrive at their individual targets at H-3 airfield within a minute of each other. Wetzel and Zaun were "Dash 2" of the flight of four Intruders.

As they approached the target airfield, both aircrew observed parachute flares being deployed by the Iraqis, turning the night sky into daylight. Additionally, the illumination from the tremendous amount of AAA and SAMs launches aided the Iraqis in visually targeting the incoming aircraft. After evading numerous AAA batteries and one SAM, the aircrew were targeted by an SA-6. LT Wetzel attempted to evade the missile but it detonated behind the aircraft’s right wing.

Due to the powerful explosion, the aircraft caught fire and quickly lost power to both engines. Both aircrew ejected from their stricken Intruder. Due to the low altitude and extremely high speed of the aircraft, LT Wetzel broke both his arms, his collar bone, and his back in the ejection. LT Zaun was also injured in the ejection. Both aircrew were captured shortly thereafter by the Iraqis, and transported to Baghdad where they were imprisoned for the rest of the war. They were both repatriated on 4 March 91.