The crash of a military transport plane that claimed the lives of 16 servicemen in Leflore County on Tuesday is a tragic reminder not only of the sacrifice our military is called to make, but that what we often take for granted represents a genuine risk.
As is often the case, when word of the crash began to circulate, our first thoughts turned immediately to Columbus Air Force Base, which has been training pilots for more than 75 years now.
Although the crash was not related to CAFB — the transport plane was carrying personnel and equipment from North Carolina to a training site in the western U.S. — we naturally find a lump in our throats whenever there is news of such a crash, especially if it occurs in Mississippi. ...
We grieve for the loss those families and our nation has suffered, and are thankful for the service our military provides.
• The Commercial Dispatch, Columbus.
