Weary Travelers Support Operation Iraqi Freedom Troops at BWI

American Forces Press Service ^ | Oct 31, 2003 | Donna Miles

[Spruce]

Weary Travelers Support Operation Iraqi Freedom Troops at BWI

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31, 2003 — Nearly everyone has experienced it at one time or another: an airport bogged down by bad weather, delayed and cancelled flights, and cranky, overtired travelers wanting nothing more than to get to their destinations.

That's exactly what Will Ross, an administrative judge for the Defense Department's Office of Hearings and Appeals in Los Angeles, encountered Oct. 27 at Baltimore/Washington International Airport.

But what he witnessed that day, he said, "made me proud to be an American, and also told me why we will win this war (on terrorism)."

Like many of his fellow passengers, Ross had been forced to spend the night in Baltimore. His outbound flight, scheduled for the night before, had been cancelled due to the California wildfires. They had forced the Los Angeles International Airport to close, and the ripple effect drove domestic travel nationwide into a tailspin.

When Ross reported to the United Airlines counter the following morning for the next scheduled flight to Los Angeles, bad weather and aircraft mechanical problems made the prospect of a timely trip even more grim.

As he waited in the terminal, Ross noticed many soldiers in their desert camouflage uniforms, newly arrived from Southwest Asia. All, like Ross and the other passengers at the airport, were awaiting connecting flights — but in the soldiers' case, it was to begin two weeks of rest and recuperation leave.

Flight delays continued and the airport had become, in Ross's words, "a zoo." By the afternoon, one flight to Denver had been delayed several hours. United Airlines agents kept asking for volunteers to give up their seats and take another flight, but Ross said they weren't getting many takers.

Finally, Ross said a United Airlines spokeswoman got on the public address system and made a desperate plea. "Folks, as you can see, there are a lot of soldiers in the waiting area," the agent said. "They only have 14 days of leave and we're trying to get them where they need to go without spending any more time in an airport than they have to.

"We sold them all tickets knowing we would oversell the flight. If we can, we want to get them all on this flight. We want all the soldiers to know … we respect what you're doing, we are here for you and we love you," the agent continued. "The entire terminal of cranky, tired, travel-weary people -- a cross-section of America -- broke into sustained and heartfelt applause," Ross said. "We're talking about several hundred people applauding, a whole terminal.

"The soldiers looked surprised and very modest," he continued. "Most of them just looked at their boots." Many of the travelers in the terminal wiped away tears.

"And, yes," Ross said, "people lined up to take the later flight and all the soldiers went to Denver on that flight."

Ross said he figured that 30 or 40 people had suddenly jumped at the chance to offer their seats to U.S. soldiers.

That moment, he said, reinforced his patriotism and his heartfelt belief that the United States will prevail in the war on terror.

"I think people realized that this fight is going to be long and drawn-out, and these kids are in the thick of it," he said. "It was heartwarming to see their outpouring of support."

[sinkspur]

I like your idea, but you can't get into the gate area without a ticket.

If these guys are just changing planes, they'll never see you.

[deport]

Thanks but not going to be in the Dallas are tomorrow... I suspect if some of the politicos up that way new of their arrival that they may could be hosting a ceremony event.... Don't know how to find that out though

[VOA]

I like your idea, but you can't get into the gate area without a ticket.

If these guys are just changing planes, they'll never see you.

Good point.
Maybe a call to DFW security or public affairs...or even American Airlines (which I naively
suspect would be moving most of the soldiers) could get some sort of arrangement
in which the "welcomers" could be in the area adjoining the terminal...
and maybe airline counter personnel could tell any soldiers (with long layovers)
that some people just outside the terminal area would like to greet them.

Yes, that's a bit contrived...but maybe communication with the DFW staff could
make some things happen.
(but I do say this only having flown via DFW five or six times)

If I was on the ground there...I'd tell American Airlines that I'd like to
see a repeat of the good vibes at BWI happen at DFW...and that AA shouldn't
let those folks with United Airlines show them up...deep in the heart of Texas!

[MeekOneGOP]

Re #40, #42: Thanks folks. I had forgotten about the tighter security at the Airports ...

But perhaps greetings to Texas Troops could be possible ...

[Ann Archy]

Also thank God that the United Spokeswoman had COMMON SENSE and COMMON DECENCY to get on the lodspeaker to let the passengers KNOW the facts!!

[VOA]

Besides calling a TV station (probably FOX!) to see if they'd drive a wedge to get
some greeters in the terminal...another quick thought...maybe the USO is
setting up something at DFW...

Here's contact info. from their website:

Contact the USO
You can contact the USO by phone, at 202-610-5700.

and their location directory lists four Texas installations, but the closest two are here:

USO OF SAN ANTONIO AND CENTRAL TEXAS, INC.
USO of San Antonio Website
420 East Commerce Street
San Antonio, Texas 78205
Phone: 210/227-9373
Fax: 210/299-4435
E-mail: rayholmes@alamouso.org
Raymond Holmes, Executive Director


USO OF FORT HOOD
761st Tank Battalion
Bldg 121
Ft. Hood, TX 76544
Phone: 254/285-2137
Rich Ross, Executive Director
email - richard.ross@hood.army.mil

[VOA]

Also thank God that the United Spokeswoman had COMMON SENSE and COMMON DECENCY to
get on the lodspeaker to let the passengers KNOW the facts!!

Amen to that. She knew the "magic words" and had the gumption to speak 'em.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks ! ...

[Dubya]

Its hard to get in out at the Airport. I may give it a try tomorrow. It depends on my hours. They will have to come out of the terminal for me to see them. They want let me in. I was just there two days ago.
Thanks for the heads up.
DUB

[TexKat]

That's a great idea....my hubby, Mike will be arriving in BWI sometime tomorrow...I only hope he has a seat on a flight home...

What great news m-a, I am so happy for you. Tell Mike we appreciate and are so proud of him.

[TexKat]

If this turns out to be a go, please ping me or send me a private message of the time and the location at DFW. I am up for this.

[VOA]

If this turns out to be a go, please ping me or send me a private message of the time
and the location at DFW. I am up for this.

Actually, I'm a civilian on the ground here in Los Angeles...you'd probably best
check with MeekNMing and the other Texas delegates!
I was just interested because it sounded so good...and I do have some cousins
in Dallas who might be in town this weekend...

I hope all the DFW-area folks can arrange something.
I also remember an article about a nice greeting crew in (IIRC) Maine a few months ago.

[TexKat]

If this turns out to be a go, please ping me or send me a private message of the time and the location at DFW. I am up for this

[MeekOneGOP]

Will do ! Thanks ...

[RckyRaCoCo]

http://www.w3geek.com/movies/pilots.htm

[potlatch]

Great news for you mystert-ak!! Tell him thanks from all of us here!

[tgslTakoma]

Thanks for the links. Will check on them in the morning... wait, it is the morning... will check on them after some sleep.

:-)

Good luck everyone!

[tgslTakoma]

We'll see what happens. I've heard from a couple of folks that it's doable at BWI; will check with the USO and airport/military office. I'm not ready to give up on the idea just yet...

[nunya bidness]

I'm up for it. Let me know how the security shakes out. Hell, I'll probably do it anyway.

[tgslTakoma]

Will do, nunya.
mr.sarcastic posted some info about BWI on the MD board, and I'm going to do some checking in the morning. I think JVb may also be in, as well as Kristinn and daughteroftgsl, and maybe another young blonde - if she can get away from work.

And this week I will check some more - to find out weekday flight times and security/parking issues - then I'll start calling and emailing groups who may be also be interested.