mike277 - Why bother to post when you have nothing to say about the article? Why waste everyone's time reading your nonsense? Vote for who you prefer and so will the rest of us. Otherwise, keep your political opinions to yourself, PLEASE!

People should have a physical before they go to those isolated places. Also, is it really a good idea for someone that has suffered a stroke to go back? I wish people would use common sense, to avoid having to spend time and resources later in "rescuing" them.

This is the second time in 2 years that we've had to do this. QUIT SENDING OLD PEOPLE TO THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE! If you can't get them out quickly, then they do not need to be there.

IRESPOND--re-read the article. There's no mention of the condition of the individual nor who they are. The stroke victim was another incident.

Is it time to construct a fully equipped state-of-the-art hospital there? Wouldn't have to be that big.

trust2122 & Irespond - Don't know the age of the sick scientist. However, maybe kids aren't quite educated enough to handle what the scientists are investigating. This isn't the movies where 20 something year olds have all the answers! This is real life where experience counts.

Perhaps you two need to exercise some common sense!

Allpeoplerights...............Agreed! In 2010 50% of the work force in America was comprised of those OVER 50 and it is predicted that by 2018 that number will be 80%. High school graduates today do not have, or have not learned basic stills to calculate simple problems or write proficiently any better than of a 3rd grader !

Another1,

"Is it time to construct a fully equipped state-of-the-art hospital there? Wouldn't have to be that big."

That's really not a bad idea, except it would be kind of hard to construct anything there now. Antarctica is in the middle of winter now right now. It's usually pretty nasty weather there any time of year, but it's especially nasty in the winter. I think that's the reason why this rescue operation is going to be kind of tricky.

Ken -

Yes, good idea, let's just let scientists die there rather than bring them back for medical care. Let's do that for you too! When you get sick, your family should just drop you in an isolated place and let you die. I am sure they will be "proud and privileged" that you died "somewhere". It will save them a lot of money to not have to take care of you.

You are a jerk of the highest order to say such a thing!

Ken in CT... I can't even fathom how you can even try to use that arguement. First, there is no indication that this research is funded by US tax dollars. Second, if it is, there may be a good reason for it. Third, if these scientists were to discover a cure for a disease that you may get in the future, I am sure you would be using that cure (even though it was a waste of "your" tax dollars.

Go find a hole to crawl in.

Idiot! They are scientists - they are not on vacation!

I just love arrogant fools who think they have a "handle" on everything in life. You are an idiot to think you are so independent and perfect. Also, perhaps this person's expertise was important to their goals. You are just jealous that you are not all that important! Grow up and have compassion for people. Maybe, if you are lucky, someone will have compassion for you when you need it.

Ken you speak like someone who likely has never gotten seriously sick or injured and been in a position where you need help from others. It is a humbling experience that would change your point of view very quickly I assure you. I would like to think your comments are nothing more than a spoiled brat trying to annoy other people in a bid for attention, I guess the thought of you really being this way is too disappointing to believe. Your comments are absurd and lack any sense of compassion or common sense for that matter. There is no indication what happened to this person, maybe a box fell off a shelf and hit them in the head, which would be through no fault of their own. They were out "working", just doing their job. The fact that you see no value in it because they are a scientist is because smart people obviously threaten you. I'm betting it is considerably more difficult to train, prepare and work in that environment than anything you do in cushy CT. I wonder if you would feel any different if they said it was a military scientist. Surely if they were researching ways to kill people you might find more value in it. As a last point, using your ridiculous logic that the person knew they were going to be working somewhere that medical care was not easily available and therefore no effort should be made to rescue them, I find it hard to see how you can draw a distinction between someone in a car crash that needs to be rescued. Surely they knew the risk of driving an automobile and that a crash was possible. Why should we spend tax dollars to send rescue workers out to save them?

As somebody who spent six months out of the year for four years going to McMurdo Station in the late 80's and early 90's let me point some things out to all the "experts" who have never been down there. First of all, I was with the Medical Department of the Naval Support Force Antarctica. This was a Navy command on permanent loan to the National Science Foundation before the Navy's participation ended and it went to civilian contract. At that time, as well as currently, all prospective candidates were extensively screened medically. If they were winter-over candidates, they also underwent psychological evaluations. What many people do not seem to comprehend is that a person can be or seem perfectly healthy and have nothing show on the mandatory lab work before going to the Ice. People can and do get sick while down there and do require emergency medical treatment and emergency medical evacuation off the Ice.

The misconception presented by this article is in what it does not say. At this time of year, the advance party flights down to Antarctica have or are already staging into the forward support base at Christchurch, New Zealand for a evolution known as WIN-FLY or Winter Fly In. These are advance parties that go down two months before the beginning of the regular Austral summer season, which begins at the beginning of October, to help the outgoing winter over personnel turn over to the oncoming summer support personnel. Flights to Antarctica were most likely already in the works when the current medical emergency occurred. The permanent snow covered runways at Williams Field out side of McMurdo Station have already been prepared to receive ski equipped C-130 aircraft, as well as the temporary Ice Runway carved out out of the ice to receive C-17 and C-5 transport aircraft delivering supplies and equipment, and to take out any personnel leaving Antarctica.

I chose to ignore him. It is simpler

Simpler to ignore Ken, but kind of fun to respond to him.

Very good post, Thanks

PilotHawkeye, well stated. As you well know, there is a horrendous difference in the weather conditions between this time of year and the middle of the winter. That New York Air Guard crew certainly earned those awards. Always nice to hear from a fellow OAE.

Enjoy your Good News. It has nothing to do with the article. Go drink your beer and read your bible.

Ken - Your little points will mean something when you accomplish even half what these scientists accomplish for the rest of the world. Until then, keep your childish ideas to yourself. Grow up!