[Joe Boucher]

Years ago there were maybe 3 or 4 misguided souls that hijacked aircraft to go to Cuba. So now we're up to maybe 4 or 5. I have told this on Free Republic before. Years ago when the Marielitos came, near the end of the flotilla a few friends and I went out fishing from Fort Pierce Florida. When we went out we'd go about 5 in the morning and stay out trolling all day. We'd go maybe 30 miles into the Atlantic. We kept seeing rafts on the horizon. If the Navy or Coast Guard picked up these people they'd scuttle the rafts and spraypaint them phospersive orange paint so that aircraft spotters would know that they were empty. The last few days had been rough, maybe 8 and 10 foot seas. That day we came upon 9 rafts. All empty and trashed and sea tossed. No people though. We wanted to go in to go home but couldn't because we'd see another raft and felt obligated to check and make sure no one needed help. The rafts we so very crude. Copper pipes lashed together. Maybe fourty vehicle inner tubes. These folks would risk everything to get the hell out of Cuba and it appears that many lost.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"These folks would risk everything to get the hell out of Cuba and it appears that many lost."

"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

Patrick understood, didn't he?

[Budge]

Yes, I seem to remember that now.

God Bless you for risking your life in what turned out to be a futile attempt at saving Cubans fleeing Castro's island paradise.