“Willie Pete’s” was the name given to the phosporus rockets that FACs (Forward Air Controllers) mounted on the wings of their O-2s and OV-10s to fire and mark enemy positions during a mission in Viet Nam. Those guys (the FACs) were in contact with the fighters they were directing, the units on the ground, and command control folks to request reinforcements. The whole time, the NVA would be shooting at them as they flew low-and-slow. I lost one of my high school buds, Garrett Eddy, who flew for the Rustics out of Da Nang and Laos. In a battle, it’s not fun being shot at and one tends to lose one’s temper up there. One of the more fervent wishes was to “lodge” a Willie Pete where the sun doesn’t shine in an enemy soldier.

..if the terrorists can’t hack it, then I suggest they pack it in and return to herding goats.