A mistake between tours in Iraq alters a hero's flight plan

[one...two...tree 2,762]

E.J. Montini

Capt. Michael Savage has spent most of his recent holidays in tents. Last year, it was in Iraq. Before that, it was Afghanistan. Before that, in places like Somalia and Bosnia. He'll spend Thanksgiving under a canvas roof as well, in the Maricopa County Jail's Tent City.

Earlier this year, between tours in Iraq, Savage was in Arizona for some civilian flight training. He hoped it would land him a job with a major airline or transport company. After a successful day of testing, he and some others went out for drinks.

"I was just celebrating life," he said. "Celebrating being alive."

On his way back to his hotel, Savage, who now lives in Colorado, caught the attention of a Mesa police officer when he failed to use his turn signal while pulling into the hotel parking lot. The 34-year-old Air Force pilot admitted that he had been drinking and was arrested.

The Mesa prosecutor pressed for the maximum sentence for a first-time DUI offender. When I found out about the case a few months back, I wrote a column suggesting that Savage be given a break.

The prosecutor (and many of you) disagreed. The law is the law, I was told. Everyone should be treated equally.

I'd go along with that if it were true, which it isn't. Or if folks like Capt. Savage didn't bear such an unequal burden in dangerous places like Iraq. Which is where Savage returned after his arrest. He's back now, having flown 176 missions over two tours.

Last week, he pleaded guilty to the DUI charge and was sentenced to 10 days in jail, among other punishments.

"What I did is my fault, and I take full responsibility for it," he told me before heading for Tent City. "I failed to plan ahead, and I made a mistake. It's the first time I've ever gotten into trouble, and it will be the only time. But it will have an effect on my life."

The DUI on his record will cost him the commercial airline job he was hoping for. And there have been ramifications with the Air Force, although he still hopes to earn the rank of major.

Sometime after he gets out of jail, Savage and his crew are to be presented with citations for having risked their lives flying through a sandstorm to get a wounded solder to a hospital before he bled to death on their plane. Savage doesn't call what they did heroic, but I do.

"There are things that I've seen and been through that will be with me all of my life," he said. "I lived in a tent and had mortars lobbed at me every day. I had two missiles shot at me while flying. One unidentified rocket. One RPG (rocket-propelled grenade). I've gotten mortared four times while in the plane on runways. And I've transported a lot of bodies from Iraq to Kuwait City on their way home."

Still, the DUI shook him. He said that during his most recent tour in Iraq he actually felt like staying in the war.

"In all that chaos I understood my role," he said. "I was good at it. As soon as I got off the plane here, I knew what was waiting for me and it kind of stripped me of my confidence for a time."

For the next week or so, he'll be whiling away the hours behind the barbed wire of Sheriff Joe Arpaio's tent compound.

"It's not the best situation, but I'll still be thankful on Thanksgiving," he told me. "At least there won't be any mortars."

http://www.azcentral.com/news/columns/arti...ontini1119.html

[aussiewench 9]

That is one of the things I don't like about the US. You do one thing wrong and your screwed. Not saying what he did deserved to go unpunished, but why ruin the guy for a first time offence.

On a side note: I live in hope that one day Arpaio is behind bars for the criminal he is.

[mRx 16]

one thing the Air Force has zero tolerance for is DUIs. He is an officer and a pilot, and knows that there is zero room for error in his professional and personal life. Any chance for promotion to major is shot, and his career is basically over.

shoulda called a taxi. what a dummie

[Ban Hammer 13,335]

it's not a news flash to anyone who's been in the military. a dwi for an officer, especially anyone mid-grade and above, is a career killer. same applies for the mid and upper rank enlisted.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Coming from an Air force back ground, which I was Aircrew, one is told over and over again about alcohol. realize he does a lot of good things for his country,but stil no excuse. In some ways he got off easy, luckily he didnt kill anyone

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I feel for the guy but why should he get special treatment? A co-worker got a DUI in NY 2 years ago and he has paid out over $10,000 and just getting off probation. Get a taxi. Even a $100 taxi bill is a bargain.

[Fandango 1,439]

A momentary lapse of judgement has the potential to ruin someone's life. That concept has always held true...no matter who you are, where you come from, etc..... I empathise with the guy, but what if he had killed someone?

[BJZags 17]

The DA could have accepted a "deferred sentence" which is very common on a first-offense. The soldier gets punished for his crime, but isn't jammed-up for the rest of his life. But for the grace of God, and a reasonable DA, the same would have happened to me many years ago.

[kaydee457 13]

I don't understand why they pushed for the maximum.

I feel something's being left out of this story.

Mitigating circumstances? Perhaps he resisted arrest?

I don't know. However, given his sentence he's prtty much screwed for any career that requires a clean record particularly commercial aviation....

It's a deal breaker in my profession also, even first offense= loss of DOD security clearance which usually leads to job loss.....

Bummer- these sentences certainly aren't applied evenly, are they?

Edited November 20, 2006 by kaydee457

[heishe 2]

That is one of the things I don't like about the US. You do one thing wrong and your screwed. Not saying what he did deserved to go unpunished, but why ruin the guy for a first time offence.

On a side note: I live in hope that one day Arpaio is behind bars for the criminal he is.

Don't places in Europe revoke driver's license for life on first offense drunk driving?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The DA could have accepted a "deferred sentence" which is very common on a first-offense. The soldier gets punished for his crime, but isn't jammed-up for the rest of his life. But for the grace of God, and a reasonable DA, the same would have happened to me many years ago.

I think given the circumstances, he should have gotten that. We've all made stupid mistakes and this guy has a stellar record otherwise.

[Ban Hammer 13,335]

It's a deal breaker in my profession also, even first offense= loss of DOD security clearance which usually leads to job loss.....

Bummer- these sentences certainly aren't applied evenly, are they?

ditto here........a dwi means no security clearance and time to look for new employment.

ergo, i don't drink and go driving for that reason, had the same choice while in the military.

[Fandango 1,439]

The DA could have accepted a "deferred sentence" which is very common on a first-offense. The soldier gets punished for his crime, but isn't jammed-up for the rest of his life. But for the grace of God, and a reasonable DA, the same would have happened to me many years ago.

If that was an option they should have used that, but drinking and driving is a serious offense and the soldier IS lucky he didnt' kill anyone....I have lost too many friends to other people's poor choices.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

And double double jeopardy doesn't apply to the military. Back in my Navy days shipmates that got in trouble in the civilian world were punished twice for the crime. Civilian court and Military justice.

[Ban Hammer 13,335]

And double double jeopardy doesn't apply to the military. Back in my Navy days shipmates that got in trouble in the civilian world were punished twice for the crime. Civilian court and Military justice.

still happens