![]() ![]() There wasn't a sound from the crowd, who had their handkerchiefs out. That pilot is what heroes are made of," said Reagan. "The co-pilot jumped and the plane spiraled to its doom. The pilot put his arm around the boy and said: 'Hang on, kid, we'll ride her down together.' "Just as he was about to jump, he saw the pilot approach the kid and squeeze in beside him. The co-pilot tried to pull him loose but no luck so he headed for the hatch. The waist gunner yelled he was stuck in his turret and couldn't move. 'Bail out everyone,' yells the captain and the crew headed for the exit door. "They were hit by flak and barely staggered to the English coast. "America needs heroes," he said, "and I know about heroes because during the war it was my job to pick out the men and women who deserved medals, men like the pilot of a bomber running to England after a raid on Germany." It was on one of those hills overlooking Los Angeles and Reagan was running to be Republican presidential candidate. I never had much use for the man but I will never forget the one occasion he left my eyes wet, at a rodeo of all places. I know of only one candidate I covered who could move an audience to tears and laughter. The United States presidential race appears to have one compelling speaker in Barack Obama, but the rest fall to speech writers. A moving tale about a World War II bomber pilot who chose to go down with his disabled plane rather than abandon a trapped gunner in his dying moments has prompted a good deal of philosophical debate: Did the pilot perform a supremely noble and heroic act of self-sacrifice in providing comfort to a dying comrade in the final moments of the latter's life, or did he needlessly throw away his life (and deprive his side of an experienced pilot) for an inconsequential and transitory benefit? Either way, the vehemence of the debate demonstrates how compelling many have found this anecdote to be: ![]()
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