It is a disservice to use these men, who put their lives on the line, to justify actions in a game..
Yes, this real-life story about an amazing act makes anything that goes on in this game insignificant by comparison. However, since this is a forum about Aces High game-play, I think the point about honor shouldn't be disregarded. It is just another way of making the point of how ridiculous some of the behavior and animosity that exists, and is largely tolerated, in this game really is.
Here were two men, mortal enemies at the time, that shared a rare moment of humanity. While again, insignificant by comparison, it is true that too frequently we lose sight of the fact that we are not really enemies, but members of the same gaming community. We are simply competing against one another on the same field. Too often the gamer’s desire to get the “name in lights” overwhelms the self-respect of knowing how you got it. I, as a rather competitive person, fall victim to this all the time. But I can speak from experience that the self-respect maintained by disengaging and saluting someone like Latrobe, so he can ditch his oiled 109F4 after putting up an amazing 3:1 fight, lasts much longer than the feeling of landing 10 kills from vulching a deacked field.
When I find myself succumbing to the emotions of the game, I try to remember the lesson I learned as a young athlete long ago: that in the end you should be able to look your opponent in the eye and shake their hand in mutual respect, whether in victory or defeat.
Saluting the foe who just shot you down or disengaging and telling the stricken opponent to “go land it” are certainly honorable acts that are worthy of discussing in the context of this game.
