During a national security press conference, things took a turn toward the humorous at a surprising moment, with a fire at an Army artillery shell manufacturing plant sparking a question that led to a funny Billy Joel response and even funnier, Billy Joel-themed response from the quick on his feet Pentagon Press Secretary, Major General Patrick Ryder.
For reference, the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pennsylvania, one of the few plants able to produce artillery shells in America, caught on fire on the afternoon of Monday, April 15. Fire crews in the area were able to quickly respond and put out the flames, with the blaze apparently being controllable and small. Army officials later said that no personnel were injured.
The fire is important because the war in Ukraine and America’s attempts to arm the Ukrainians have shown that there are serious bottlenecks in the American defense industry, particularly in its ability to church out high volumes of consumables like artillery munitions. That has given the Russian forces a significant advantage in their ability to pound the Ukrainian positions with artillery barrages to which the Ukrainians have trouble responding.
In any case, asking Maj. Gen. Ryder about the fire, Jeff Schogol of military-focused outlet Task and Purpose asked about the fire while working in a reference to Billy Joel’s hit song, “We Didn’t Start the Fire. He asked, “There was as a fire at the Army’s ammunition plant in Scranton yesterday. At the risk of invoking Billy Joel. do we know who started the fire?”
Responding, Maj. Gen. Ryder was quick on his feet and responded with his own reference to the hit song, saying that he’d have to pass the question off because “we didn’t start the fire.” He told Schogol, “I’d have to refer you to the Army because we didn’t start the fire.”
Watch them here:
Commenters on a post about the incident pointed to the quick wit of both men, saying things like “General Ryder and Jeff co-hosting a charity fundraiser for wounded warriors would do quite well” and “And to General Ryder for providing the only appropriate answer.” Another said, “That guy low key has the best one liners and puns in the press conference game lmao”
Still another added, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a @DefenceHQ spokesperson take journalists questions like this, or provide anything but bland scripted statements, certainly never riffing off a tongue in cheek question between the serious.”
Others argued those involved should have been more serious, saying, “Don’t know, but when he is identified he should be discharged. Otherwise, they would have to say, ‘We didn’t fire the starter'” and “’hahaha well it’s always nice to lighten up these press conferences! Anyway, our hearts go out to the loved ones of those killed…’” Similarly, another said, “Better question: When can reporters and fire evaluation experts get a tour of the damaged areas of the plant ?”
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video
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