Don’t ask permission, ask forgiveness: The USMC pilot who “borrowed” a helo to end a sniper situation has died

We Are The Mighty ^ | 2/19/2020

[Blood of Tyrants]

I counted nine murdered. Wikipedia says 13 more wounded.

[allwrong57]

Today it wouldn’t happen, the pilots would have been homos or trannies, they wouldn’t want to break a nail.

[JOHN ADAMS]

Just fantastic. Thanks so much for posting this.

[Hot Tabasco]

Wow, what a great story and this is the first I’ve heard of it.

Wow is right, I never heard of this event either......

[1FreeAmerican]

LOL!!!

[pepsi_junkie]

The cops on the scene sought his advice, and his years of service in Vietnam kicked in. Essex had the high ground, so Pittman would go higher.

Well there you go. He had the high ground. And we all know what happens when you have the high ground.

[shanover]

My God that is hardcore! I have never heard this story until now.

[Sans-Culotte]

Wow, what a story! Sometimes truth is better than fiction.

[Yo-Yo]

It is because of incidents like this that the Police now feel the need to one one of these:

[cherry]

a hero.....

[Svartalfiar]

You would think that the Marine Corps would look at the badassery that Pitman just pulled off and call it a public relations coup. But, they didn't (of course) and started the process of a court-martial.

That doesn't surprise me at all. Getting military equipment involved in civil affairs is a major line that's not supposed to be crossed.

It's just like current intelligence oversight. Military reconnaissance equipment CANNOT be used to take imagery of USPERS except under very narrow circumstances. Incidentally when viewing major natural disasters as part of disaster relief efforts. Incidentally when civilians are traveling on open roads through military bases. But if hikers get lost in the woods, and the local cops request help, the nearby base WILL NOT use aerial assets to help find the missing people. This can only be done with special permission from the Sec of Defense.

It's not to keep the military from helping, it's to prevent the military from using its power in an unConstitutional manner. Sure, Pitman ended up being a 'hero' of the situation, but what happens when the FBI asks for military help at a place like Ruby Ridge? What if the military has collateral damage, kills an innocent? There are reasons that the military is kept out of performing missions like these, except in very narrow circumstances.

[Bubba_Leroy]

[MrEdd]

And incidents like that show why they do not.

[Bubba_Leroy]

[lapsus calami]

 

 

What I recall the cop triggerman on board the helo was a combat vet of the Vietnam War who went into police work after getting out of the service. The problem they were having is that Essex was taking cover in a partially open concrete cubicle on the roof and would shimmy up a pipe out of sight every time the helo swooped in. When they finally tricked Essex down into the open before he could scramble back up the pipe the cop did a mag dump on him with an M16.

 

 

[Aevery_Freeman]

Can't wait for the movie.

Hope Clint has one left in him.

[minnesota_bound]

FTA: When all was said and done, Essex was found with over 200 rounds in his body.

That was when the police could hit their target instead of hitting everything but the target : )

[Yo-Yo]

Huh?

[MHGinTN]

He just looks like a Marine. Ooh Rah

[silverleaf]

Ooo ra