Posted on 12/03/2003 8:13:32 AM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl
Sent: Monday, December 01, 2003 10:06 AM
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We knew there was a dinner planned with ambassador Bremer and LTG Sanchez.
There were 600 seats available and all the units in the division were tasked with filling a few tables. Naturally, the 501st MI battalion got our table. Soldiers were grumbling about having to sit through another dog-and-pony show, so we had to pick soldiers to attend. I chose not to go.
But, about 1500 the G2, LTC xxxxx, came up to me and with a smile, asked me to come to dinner with him, to meet him in his office at 1600 and bring a camera. I didn't really care about getting a picture with Sanchez or Bremer, but when the division's senior intelligence officer asks you to go, you go.
We were seated in the chow hall, fully decorated for thanksgiving when aaaaallllll kinds of secret service guys showed up. That was my first clue, because Bremer's been here before and his personal security detachment is not that big. Then BG Dempsey got up to speak, and he welcomed ambassador Bremer and LTG Sanchez. Bremer thanked us all and pulled out a piece of paper as if to give a speech. He mentioned that the President had given him this thanksgiving speech to give to the troops. He then paused and said that the senior man present should be the one to give it. He then looked at Sanchez, who just smiled. Bremer then said that we should probably get someone more senior to read the speech. Then, from behind the camouflage netting, the President of the United States came around.
The mess hall actually erupted with hollering. Troops bounded to their feet with shocked smiles and just began cheering with all their hearts. The building actually shook. It was just unreal. I was absolutely stunned. Not only for the obvious, but also because I was only two tables away from the podium. There he stood, less than thirty feet away from me! The cheering went on and on and on. Soldiers were hollering, cheering, and a lot of them were crying. There was not a dry eye at my table. When he stepped up to the cheering, I could clearly see tears running down his cheeks.
It was the most surreal moment I've had in years. Not since my wedding and xxxxx being born. Here was this man, our President, came all the way around the world, spending 17 hours on an airplane and landing in the most dangerous airport in the world, where a plane was shot out of the sky not six days before. Just to spend two hours with his troops. Only to get on a plane and spend another 17 hours flying back. It was a great moment, and I will never forget it.
He delivered his speech, which we all loved, when he looked right at me and held his eyes on me. Then he stepped down and was just mobbed by the soldiers. He slowly worked his way all the way around the chow hall and shook every last hand extended. Every soldier who wanted a photo with the President got one.
I made my way through the line, got dinner, then wolfed it down as he was still working the room. You could tell he was really enjoying himself. It wasn't just a photo opportunity. This man was actually enjoying himself! He worked his way over the course of about 90 minutes towards my side of the room. Meanwhile, I took the opportunity to shake a few hands. I got a picture with Ambassador Bremer, Talabani (acting Iraqi president) and Achmed Chalabi (another member of the ruling council) and Condaleeza Rice, who was there with him. I felt like I was drunk.
He was getting closer to my table so I went back over to my seat. As he passed and posed for photos, he looked my in the eye and "How you doin,' captain." I smiled and said "God bless you, sir." To which he responded "I'm proud of what you do, captain." Then moved on.
This is a Commander-in-Chief!
He makes me proud to be an American, proud to be a Texan, and proud to be a fellow human being!
Thank you, dear God, for George W. Bush!
2 1/2 days..........60 hours........3600 minutes.......216,000 seconds!!
It's getting closer, BG!
Very soon you'll be jumping up and down in a real plane seat!
Here's a poll that needs some freeping. Also if you or TK see another appropriate high volume thread, please duplicate this there...
As the U.S.-led coalition began to occupy Iraq, what was its biggest mistake?
Votes Percent Choice
625 % Poor communication with Iraqis.
951 11% Delay in replacing utilities, including electricity and water.
542 % Disbanding Iraqi army, which put Iraqis out of work.
1299 15% Too few troops on ground for security.
394 % Other.
1912 22% I don't believe major mistakes were made.
2925 34% Coalition forces should not have been in Iraq in the first place.
I suggest waiting the NORMAL amount of time it takes to READ the whole poll, before pressing VOTE.
(they seem to have time lockout if you go there and vote too quickly... a 25 second wait is OK)
The press fails to inform, and then tells us what the people don't know.
I have a difficult time not hating them for what they're doing to our troops, these months.
VOUCHING FOR THAT TURKEY E-MAIL [Kathryn Jean Lopez]
A relative of the captain in Iraq writes in:
This email was from my brother to our mother and his wife who is in [ Wiesbaden]. We have no idea how it 'got out' as we received it Thanksgiving morning. We had heard on the news that the Pres.had visited the airport (where my brother is based with the intel division) and so we (the family) knew we'd soon get an email from him. Sure enough, this one came and my mother read it to us all as we stood around the den. My mother sobbed and the rest of us got very teary-eyed as well...even my 18 year old son.
I had forwarded this to a friend of mine (who is a retired Navy Commander) whom I keep updated on my brother's 'goings on' and he wrote me yesterday that he had received the same email from several of his friends. He was flabbergasted that my brother's email came to him from other sources far and wide. He had not sent it to anyone. Interestingly enough, in the version he sent me the names are edited out with X's. In the version you published, the names were still there...i.e. my nephew.
So see? This is a real letter from a real patriot and soldier who is serving his country per his chosen responsibility. Not all warm and fuzzy sentiments are staged after all. My question remains...how the heck did it get 'out' unless Shelly passed it along to other mil. Personnel in Germany who may have distributed it. Never the less, the point, again, is that this is not a military PR ploy.
Thank you for your time,
Marsha Jefferson
Prairie Grove, Arkansas
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