Killing anyone sucks, and in some sort of fairy tale land, we wouldn’t need to. Captain Kelly was a pilot of an A6 Intruder (low and slow old jet from the 60’s) during the first Gulf war. That war started when an autocratic leader decided to invade his smaller neighbor that he owned money to, after a seven year slog trying to kill his other neighbor (Iran). Saddam used mustard gas on Iran, his own people and was trying to murder any Kuwaiti he could get his hands on. Kuwait had a defense treaty with the US, and that was back when we didn’t bail on treaties like with the Orange Cheeto. Then President Bush (the father) did not invade Iraq, attempt regime change, or wholesale bomb civilian areas. Don’t get me wrong, Bush Sr. Was a shitheel and the weasel son of another rich asshole, but removing Iraq from Kuwait was justified and did not toss out international law through lying and manipulation like the second Iraq war.

Not just a Captain, but a god-damned American hero. He flew dozens of combat missions in Iraq, has the distinguished flying cross and more medals and awards than “punch bowl” Pete can even imagine. He went on to be a Navy test pilot and then to NASA as an astronaut and eventually mission commander of a space shuttle mission. Mark and his twin brother Scott,(also an astronaut) have performed important science in space and on earth, benefiting all man kind.