Posted on 05/23/2019 11:48:47 AM PDT by DollyCali
My dad seldom spoke of the war. He was in the South Pacific 13th air Depot. After taking him on an Honor Flight. Things changed. He couldn’t speak for a couple of days. Just tears. And then all he would say was “all those stars”. You would have to see the memorial to understand.
He began talking after that. Part of the reason he didn’t speak was because part of what they did was classified. My cousin Mike (Vietnam Vet who has since passed). Showed him a section of a book which described the alterations his unit did to plane. In one battle two planes would partner up. The first with machine guns blaring The second dropping bombs. Then they would switch position. They also worked on THE PLANE No name just title was ever spoken in our home
It was after the trip to D.C. And speaking with Mike that he opened up. It was also then the nightmares started. (They may have existed before but he hadn’t admitted it ). He was JAG officer for his area. Had a lot of guilt about doing any dicipline to his kids Sent them home usually needing medical attention. He was a firm believer that no warrior should be punished for “breaking” if none of our soldiers were hurt!
Glad we had our talks. Only wish he were here to witness the history that is being made. I miss him so! Watching over for five years as of June 4.
Interesting. Thanks for posting.
I should just come down or you come up and we do projects in Amy’s studio. You would love her and she you.
From: “Gabriella Orr”
Subject: Travel Pool #5 — Arrival at Omaha Beach
Pool landed along the coast of Omaha Beach shortly before POTUS after a quick 8-minute helo ride.
Your pooler did not see Marine One land, but heard the crowd applauding POTUS when they showed his arrival on two large video screens. A master of ceremonies informed the crowd at 10:57 AM local that the program
will begin in 15 minutes.
Spotted in the crowd so far: Energy Secretary Rick Perry, Kellyanne Conway, Amb. Woody Johnson, Gen. Keith Kellogg.
Attached are photos of the crowd and the stage, where POTUS and Macron will deliver separate remarks shortly.
https://whitehouse.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c97630621baff8c44fe607661&id=14b115d465&e=ed6de30c2c (https://whitehouse.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c97630621baff8c44fe607661&id=f8d080cadd&e=ed6de30c2c)
Gabby Orr
Subject: Travel Pool Report #6 — Pelosi in crowd
The ceremony is expected to begin. A video presentation was just shown in which several D-Day veterans vividly recounted their experiences on June 6, 1944.
The crowd gave a standing ovation afterwards as videographers panned the stage to show the dozens of veterans who made the trek to be here today. Many arrived in wheelchairs, with decorated medals and caps denoting their veteran status.
A number of U.S. lawmakers are also present in the crowd, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sens. Lankford and Barraso.
Gabby Orr
Date: June 6, 2019 at 10:36:54 AM GMT+1
Subject: Travel Pool Report #7 — Trump/Macron arrival
At 11:24 AM local, POTUS and Macron processed down a red carpet adorned on both sides by American and French flags. They were followed by their wives.
The two leaders paused to shake hands with a number of the veterans when they arrived on stage, one of whom asked POTUS to come greet the foreign veterans too.
“Hey, you’re our president too. Come on up this way,” your pooler heard him say.
The same man later told POTUS he has tons of supporters in Pennsylvania, which appeared to delight members of the president’s staff, and his two adults sons, who are all seated in the front row.
“There’s a lot of people back in Pennsylvania who want to vote for you,” the man said.
Others shouted, “We love you” and “God Bless you, President Trump.”
A performance of the National Anthem followed the posting of colors.
Gabby Orr
Subject: Travel Pool Report #10 – POTUS speaking
POTUS began speaking at 11:08 AM local. He thanked President Macron and turned toward the veterans behind him, specifically recognizing the 60 American veterans who were here on D-Day.
...
Date: June 6, 2019 at 12:17:25 PM GMT+1
Subject: Travel Pool Report #11
Macron and POTUS departed the ceremony together with their wives at 12:45 PM local. They processed back down the red carpet, stopping halfway down for the 21-gun salute. Luckily, pool had earplugs on hand.
The two leaders proceeded down the carpet at the salute’s conclusion, chatting along the way. They made their way to an overlook along the coastline, where they paused for a rendition of Taps and a moment of silence.
The two leaders stayed there for several minutes to view a map of the D-Day invasion, which a docent explained to them. POTUS listened intently, placing his knuckles on the map as though it were a boardroom table. He and Macron turned around and chatted a bit more as they watched a series of flyovers. Your pooler counted five total.
Subject: Travel Pool Report #12
POTUS and Macron, joined by their wives, walked down a short path to the cemetery to lay flowers at the grave of one of the soldiers.
Each grave — there are some 9,300 at this cemetery — was marked with a small French and American flag.
They remained at the grave for several minutes, chatting amongst themselves as the crowd from earlier watched behind a rope line.
Pool is moving back to helo now for an aerial tour of the Normandy beaches. Apologies for the delay. Solid wifi signals are scarce here on the coast.
Subject: Travel Pool Report #13 — Aerial tour/arrival
POTUS and FLOTUS arrived back at Caen-Carpiquet Airport at 2:02 PM local, following a 20-minute aerial tour of the coast.
At one point, we flew over Pointe Due Hoc, a massive cliff overlooking the English Channel and the site of Ronald Reagan’s famous 1984 speech to veterans of the 2nd Ranger Battalion. That speech was given 35 years ago, on the 40th anniversary of D-Day.
Macron did not join for the tour, but instead jumped ahead to meet POTUS at the Prefecture du Calvados, where they will meet one-on-one and hold a working lunch.
Some notes from the White House on the flyover tour earlier this afternoon. There were seven flyovers:
1. Four French Republic Rafael fighters
2. One U.S. C-130J aircraft
3. Twelve U.S. C-47s and two P-51s
4. Eight U.S. C-130Js
5. Four U.S. F-15 aircrafts in a missing man formation
6. Nine French Republic Air demonstration team aircrafts with red, white, and blue smoke
7. Nine French Republic Air demonstration team aircrafts in a missing man formation, also with red, white and blue smoke
At 2:16 PM local, motorcade is rolling to the prefecture.
Subject: Travel Pool Report #14
Motorcade arrived at the Hotel de Prefecture du Calvados at 2:26pm and was rushed into a courtyard lined with guards just as POTUS, FLOTUS, Macron and his wife Brigitte were arriving.
The foursome walked down a short red carpet in the center of the courtyard and posed for photos at the end. POTUS and Macron then proceeded inside alone.
Pool is waiting to enter Salon Abeilles, the room where their bilateral meeting will take place.
Subject: Travel Pool Report #15 — Pool spray comments
Pool entered the room with POTUS and Macron at 2:38 PM local.
Macron spoke first, in French. POTUS was given a translation device roughly 2 minutes into Macron’s remarks, so the French leader switched to English and promised to repeat what he said.
POTUS and Macron took questions. Highlights below.
On Brexit/UK visit: “Very big news will be who is the new prime minister in the U.K. So I think before you can find out what’s going to happen in the next few weeks you have to find out who’s going to be the next leader.”
On timing of new tariffs on China: “I make that decision in the next two weeks after the G20. I will be meeting with President Xi and we’ll see what happens, we’re probably planning it sometime after G20.”
On disagreements with Macron on Iran: “I don’t think we have differences over Iran. The president doesn’t want to see Iran have nuclear weapons and neither do it.”
“They’re failing as a nation and I don’t want to see them fail as a nation. We can turn that around quickly.”
Macron jumped in to say he thinks “we do share he same objective.”
“We had an instrument until 2025,” Macron said, but “we want to go further.”
Macron added: “So we have to deliver together this sole objective.”
More TK
Subject: Travel Pool Report #16 — More from spray
POTUS and Trump were seated alone in a palatial room, beneath a stunning chandelier. The two appeared to get along well throughout the pool spray, nodding at each other’s remarks and talking at length about their experience with World War II veterans this morning.
Some remarks from POTUS below:
“Thank you very much. I will say we’ve had tremendous success working together.”
He referenced France’s participation in the campaign against ISIS, claiming that U.S. military personnel routinely tell him how “absolutely excellent” the French navy is.
He then talked about the D-Day anniversary. “This was a special day. We read about it all our lives and there are those who say it was the most important ever.”
“We met some great people today – some tremendous people, some very brave people. I look forward to coming back, hopefully many years we’ll be coming back.”
He said the D-Day invasion is “near the top” of history’s most important moments. “In some cases, it is the top.”
POTUS then previewed their bilateral talks. “We’ll be discussing trade and military and all sorts of things. A lot of people are anxious to see what we’re going to be doing together because as you know, and a lot of other people don’t know, we’re doing a lot together.”
“The relationship (between France and the U.S.) is outstanding... The relationship we’ve had together has been terrific.”
Some highlights from Macron’s remarks thanks to Eli Stokols of the LA Times:
“First, thank you, President Trump for your presence here. Thanks to your country, your nation and your veterans.”
“Your presence here is best evidence of his unbreakable [alliance? (inaudible)] between our two nations.”
He mentioned how US and French forces have fought side by side since World War II in Vietnam, Iraq and Syria.
He said the shared goal has always been to “protect democracy everywhere.”
“Thanks for this friendship, thanks for what your country did for our country, and thanks for what our two countries can do together.”
Pool was ushered out right around 3 PM local.
Subject: Travel Pool Report #17 — Pool heading back in
Pool is heading back inside at the request of POTUS for a previously unscheduled spray at the top of his working lunch with Macron.
Stand by.
Subject: Travel Pool Report #19 — Back to Ireland
Motorcade left the Hotel de la Prefecture at 4:24 PM local, more than an hour after POTUS and Macron began their working lunch.
Pool did not see POTUS join the motorcade, which many locals along the route stopped to photograph. We arrived at the airport at 4:44 PM and caught a brief glimpse of the president boarding. POTUS flashed a thumbs up to pool before ducking inside the smaller AF1.
We are wheels up for Shannon, Ireland at 4:53 PM.
Subject: Travel Pool Report #20 — Arrival in Shannon
AF1 touched down at Shannon International Airport at 6:11 PM local. After a brief reprieve across the English Channel, we have returned to chilly Irish weather.
POTUS and FLOTUS deplaned at 6:20 PM and were wheels up in Marine One at 6:26 PM. They will travel separately from the pool back to his golf course in Doonbeg.
Gabby Orr
Wonder why they are traveling separately. ??? Anyone know?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8NzTvYzRNo
This is one very good video.
“I want everything to be absolutely perfect.”President Trump
John Duncan-Pilot. Watching this video is will be apparent our President demands perfection. Even a seam in a kitchen floor needs to be replaced.
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