Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Passengers Give Troops First-Class Seats
My Way News ^ | 7/15/04 | AP

Posted on 07/15/2004 6:01:43 PM PDT by wagglebee

DALLAS (AP) - Eight soldiers flying home from Iraq for two weeks of R&R flew in style instead of coach after first-class passengers offered to swap seats with them.

"The soldiers were very, very happy, and the whole aircraft had a different feeling," flight attendant Lorrie Gammon told The Dallas Morning News in Thursday's editions.

The June 29 seat-swap on American Airlines Flight 866 from Atlanta to Chicago started before boarding, when a businessman approached one of the soldiers and traded his seat.

When the swapping was done, "the other two first-class passengers wanted to give up their seats, too, but they couldn't find any more soldiers," Gammon said.

Another flight attendant, Candi Spradlin, said she was impressed with the acts of good will.

"If nothing else, those soldiers got a great homecoming," she said.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: patriotism; welcomehome
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041 next last
Well this blows the "America is totally opposed to the war" theory to hell.
1 posted on 07/15/2004 6:01:44 PM PDT by wagglebee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

I see it's been picked up by all the media outlets.


2 posted on 07/15/2004 6:03:19 PM PDT by Lady Jag (Used to be sciencediet (AKA Tad Rad) but found the solution)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #3 Removed by Moderator

To: wagglebee

It's a great story but doesn't contradict war opposition. All the mainstream anti-war groups claim to support the troups without supporting the war.


4 posted on 07/15/2004 6:11:28 PM PDT by nuggler
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

Well, you see, these businessmen were Evil Capitalist Republicans (probably working for Halliburton) who can only make money off of war.


5 posted on 07/15/2004 6:13:57 PM PDT by Guillermo (It's the 99% of Mohammedans that make the other 1% look bad)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nuggler
I wouldn't necessarily say all anti-war groups "support the troops, but not the war." Many in fact are open in their support for the "insurgents."
6 posted on 07/15/2004 6:15:09 PM PDT by Guillermo (It's the 99% of Mohammedans that make the other 1% look bad)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

Lets hope that this generosity continues with other soldiers going home as well.


7 posted on 07/15/2004 6:15:44 PM PDT by diamond6 (Everyone who is for abortion have been born. Ronald Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lady Jag
I see it's been picked up by all the media outlets.

Click Here. Not exactly headlining but..

8 posted on 07/15/2004 6:19:25 PM PDT by TomServo ("I'm so upset that I'll binge on a Saltine.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

I was in the military in the 70's and used to fly to and from El Paso quite a bit. The late afternoon flights were usually full especially on a Friday. American would bump military in uniform to first class in order to put as many as possible on the plane. It was something to see a bunch of PFCs or SP4s flying up front having the time of their life. After bumping the EM, they sometimes had room for officers too.


9 posted on 07/15/2004 6:19:57 PM PDT by DugwayDuke
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

Wow! Good to see there are some real Americans out there.


10 posted on 07/15/2004 6:20:31 PM PDT by ETERNAL WARMING (He is faithful!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee
Another flight attendant, Candi Spradlin, said she was impressed with the acts of good will. "If nothing else, those soldiers got a great homecoming," she said...sure beats the deal I got on United flying space available from Philly back to Seattle in 1967 - everybody else got the regular hot meal, I got a cold box lunch - "I'm sure you'll understand", the attendant told me - of course, I did - I was a Vietnam vet, one of those vicious war criminals, as John Kerry so eloquently publicized to the world only a few years later........
11 posted on 07/15/2004 6:22:02 PM PDT by Intolerant in NJ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

Compelling evidence that despite all the "documentaries", music videos, and hate-a-thons, the anti-American types are failing and failing miserably.


12 posted on 07/15/2004 6:23:18 PM PDT by BenLurkin ("A republic, if we can revive it")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ace1964

I bet that sort of stuff happens all the time and we don't hear about it. I didn't know about the first class seat swap till just now and you know what I heard on this evening's TV news? A couple white guys beat up an Arab storekeeper.


13 posted on 07/15/2004 6:25:30 PM PDT by Lady Jag (Used to be sciencediet (AKA Tad Rad) but found the solution)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee
BumpBumpBump! Every chance I get I let these soldiers (and firefighters and cops) know how I'm with them.

FMCDH(BITS)

14 posted on 07/15/2004 6:27:51 PM PDT by nothingnew (KERRY: "If at first you don't deceive, lie, lie again!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Intolerant in NJ

On a flight during the Vietnam war, a stewardess refused to sell a young uniformed soldier a beer. So I bought one for him. He was old enough to put his life on the line, I figured he was old enough to enjoy a drink.


15 posted on 07/15/2004 6:28:09 PM PDT by Veto!
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Intolerant in NJ
Thank you for your service and please know there are millions who thank you too.

FMCDH(BITS)

16 posted on 07/15/2004 6:30:53 PM PDT by nothingnew (KERRY: "If at first you don't deceive, lie, lie again!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Veto!

Good for you!


17 posted on 07/15/2004 6:33:20 PM PDT by tiamat ("Just a Bronze-Age Gal, Trapped in a Techno-World!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska; Ragtime Cowgirl

Good stuff ping!

(I'm still moving.... so I'm still AWOL, sort of!)


18 posted on 07/15/2004 6:34:53 PM PDT by tiamat ("Just a Bronze-Age Gal, Trapped in a Techno-World!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lady Jag

Ahhhh! Stories like this bring tears to my eyes. I am reminded of the goodness of man and am comforted knowing our troops do not have to face what John Kerry had to offer after his tour of duty in the Purple Heart Pickin' Fields.

No wads of spit on that airplane....


19 posted on 07/15/2004 6:40:05 PM PDT by Protect the Bill of Rights
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee
I can guarantee you that those First Class passengers thought it was the least they could do.

Just like those before them, Our troops have brought great honor to this country. I just hope they realize that all this bickering back here in the USA is just the useless liberal democrats politicizing the war in an effort to oust President Bush. The Liberals have tried everything else with little success, so they're down to politicizing the war.

God Bless our Troops,

20 posted on 07/15/2004 6:45:51 PM PDT by MJY1288 ("KERRY" & "EDWARDS" ARE TWO "JOHNS" THAT NEED FLUSHING!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson