Monday, a Marine Corps F/A-18D crashed into a San Diego neighborhood, killing four family members, including two children. The incident is under investigation.
Dong Yun Yoon, a naturalized citizen who was born in South Korea, lost his wife, mother-in-law, and his two children, ages 15 months and 2 months. From the CNN report, Yoon said ""I cannot believe that they are not here right now. I know there are many people who have experienced more terrible things, but please, tell me how to do it. I don't know what to do."
By itself, this story would be a horrific tragedy, a man who has lost everything due to something he could never have possibly foreseen or prevented. But what struck me was the character of the man, speaking even in his grief about the pilot of the plane:
"I don't blame him. I don't have any hard feelings. I know he did everything he could,"
I try to be a good man, but I have to say that I do not know if I could find such honorable words for the pilot, were I standing in Mr. Yoon's shoes right now. I could forgive the pilot, maybe, but it would be hard to show the grace that Mr. Yoon did in this place and time. It only reinforces the fact to me that here is a good man who is suffering a terrible, unbearable pain unjustly, even if it is no one's fault.
If you are a praying person like me, please add Dong Yun Yoon to your prayer list, a good and kind man who needs and deserves solace and comfort in this time.
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Comments (11)
The article mentions that Y... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Steve | December 10, 2008 10:36 AM | Score: 8 (8 votes cast)
The article mentions that Yoon was surrounded by members of his church. The Christian church in South Korea has a reputation for being solid, deep, prayerful and Christ-centered. The faith and depth of South Korean believers often puts that of American believers to shame.
1. Posted by Steve | December 10, 2008 10:36 AM |
Score: 8 (8 votes cast)
Posted on December 10, 2008 10:36
2. Posted by GarandFan | December 10, 2008 11:22 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
A lot of letters in the San Diego Union this morning. Most start out "don't want to prejudge...", then finish by castigating the pilot.
2. Posted by GarandFan | December 10, 2008 11:22 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on December 10, 2008 11:22
3. Posted by galoob | December 10, 2008 11:49 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
That was great. What a generous man Mr. Yoon is.
3. Posted by galoob | December 10, 2008 11:49 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on December 10, 2008 11:49
4. Posted by ODA315 | December 10, 2008 12:10 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
God has a special place for you Mr. Yoon.
4. Posted by ODA315 | December 10, 2008 12:10 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on December 10, 2008 12:10
5. Posted by McGehee
| December 10, 2008 12:32 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
I would say Mr. Yoon is also one of our treasures for the country.
5. Posted by McGehee
| December 10, 2008 12:32 PM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on December 10, 2008 12:32
6. Posted by Deuce Geary | December 10, 2008 1:14 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
We can all honor him by doing as he asks and praying for the pilot, too.
6. Posted by Deuce Geary | December 10, 2008 1:14 PM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on December 10, 2008 13:14
7. Posted by hyperbolist | December 10, 2008 3:41 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
When I lived in Korea my friends and I would occasionally be approached by groups of Christians. Every single time, the extent of their message--in severely broken English--was "Jesus loves you. Be happy. Love each other. Have a nice day!" Not a shred of proselytization, no threat of damnation, only unconditional kindness.
7. Posted by hyperbolist | December 10, 2008 3:41 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on December 10, 2008 15:41
8. Posted by epador | December 10, 2008 4:52 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
The family's loss is sad, the father's stance shows honor and integrity. I wonder at the decision to bring a crippled jet home over a route across the tops of residential neighborhoods. And the decision of local officials that zone residential areas in final approach zones for military aircraft. I recall an attempt of local Las Vegas officials to open up land near Nellis AFB close to the site where live ordinance is loaded and unloaded of the aircraft. It took a private live fire demonstration on the lower range to convince them this was a bad idea. At least temporarily. I think the money finally won out.
8. Posted by epador | December 10, 2008 4:52 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 10, 2008 16:52
9. Posted by res | December 10, 2008 6:57 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
"I wonder at the decision to bring a crippled jet home over a route across the tops of residential neighborhoods."
Things happen pretty fast in a disabled aircraft (BTDT)... Unless you were riding along, your words are mere speculation, and unless you're a pilot, they're not even up to the level of a wild guess.
9. Posted by res | December 10, 2008 6:57 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 10, 2008 18:57
10. Posted by HughS | December 10, 2008 8:39 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Unless you were riding along, your words are mere speculation, and unless you're a pilot, they're not even up to the level of a wild guess.
Having read epador's comments for a while I think they are informed by experience, which is to say they are not close to "a wild guess".
10. Posted by HughS | December 10, 2008 8:39 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 10, 2008 20:39
11. Posted by Donna B. | December 11, 2008 4:09 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
How controllable is an F-18 without engine power? I'm not ready to blame the pilot, but if it were my family killed I don't think I could be quite as gracious as Mr. Yoon.
11. Posted by Donna B. | December 11, 2008 4:09 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on December 11, 2008 04:09