Letter: Hoopla over return of crew was overdone

Friday, April 20, 2001 | 10:10 a.m.

I wonder if any of the admirals or politicians who were responsible for the excessive show they put on for the return of the crew downed in China realize the effect their show had on many Vietnam and Korea War veterans. We did nothing but insult them when they returned, most traumatized, after fighting a dirty war.

The current 24 were just doing their jobs and were involved in an accident in which no one was even injured. They even landed safely and were fed and treated well and even allowed to e-mail their families. After a week's delay they were on their way home, and have since been treated as if they had won a war.

I suspect that many of them are embarrassed by the excessive attention. I hear they have even been offered trauma counseling. Surely they are emotionally more stable than to be affected adversely by this event. I hope our service people are better trained than that. The admirals say these were the cream of the crop. To be sure the pilot did an outstanding job in saving the plane and crew and deserves recognition. From what I've seen and heard he is the only hero.

The rest are just very lucky. Of course, this has been a great show for the media, and especially the TV networks, which cost them very little so they play it to the max. At the Washington state ceremony they introduced the crew as a "combat crew." Were we at war? Does America really need that kind of a propaganda show? If so, why?

TED MADDOX