Body of 'Russian Rambo,' who called in airstrike on own position, flown home Updated 1445 GMT (2145 HKT) April 30, 2016 (CNN) Alexander Prokhorenko was battling to free the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra. But he found himself surrounded by Islamic militants. He feared that he would be captured, tortured, killed and his body mutilated. He preferred to die with dignity. Trapped behind enemy lines, surrounded by jihadists and with no possible means of escape, Alexander Prokhorenko, took the decision to end his own life by calling in Russian warplanes to obliterate his location. He was 25 years old. Following Prokhorenko's death, a Russian military spokesman said: 'An officer of Russian special operations forces was killed near Palmyra while carrying out a special task to direct Russian airstrikes at Islamic State group targets. 'The officer was carrying out a combat task in Palmyra area for a week, identifying crucial IS targets and passing exact coordinates for strikes with Russian planes. 'The officer died as a hero, he drew fire onto himself after being located and surrounded by terrorists.' A transcript of Alexander Prokhorenko's final communications with Russian Special Forces has been released revealing how he was surrounded by ISIS 'b*******' and low on ammunition as he attempted to hold off gunfire. He was ordered to move to safety before the air strike but told his commander he couldn't escape the area, before adding: "Conduct the airstrike now, please hurry." He went on to say: "I am surrounded, they are outside, I don’t want them to take me and parade me, conduct the airstrike, they will make a mockery of me and this uniform. "I want to die with dignity and take all these bastards with me. please my last wish, conduct the airstrike, they will kill me either way." In his last communication he said: "This is the end commander, thank you, tell my family and my country I love them. Tell them I was brave and I fought until I could no longer. "Please take care of my family, avenge my death, goodbye commander, tell my family I love them." http://edition.cnn.com/2016/04/30/europe/body-of-russian-rambo-flown-home/ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...n-Rambo-wiped-calling-airstrikes-HIMSELF.html
It's not really being hard at all. The alternative is being tortured and probably held hostage for years and then killed. He made the easier choice and one that made more sense.
A LARGE percentage of US inhabitants are all about being greedy, parasitic, snivelling little snots... "freebies for me, social justice, wah, wah, wah"... and know nothing of being a patriot. A few of us do... not exactly a "few"... but a small percentage, sadly.
You're right, it was likely the best choice in the circumstances, but we should still give the man his due. In the heat of the moment and imminent capture, he might have simply taken his own life at the last moment of a losing battle to escape the horrors that would likely follow. But he had the presence of mind to take his would-be captors with him while they were still in his proximity. Even the right and obvious choice can sometimes require intestinal fortitude.