Posted on 09/12/2004 10:11:01 PM PDT by pittsburgh gop guy
Monday, September 13, 2004 By Jerome L. Sherman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
On May 1, 2003, Lt. Cmdr. Scott Zellem was standing in a briefing room at North Island Naval Air Station in San Diego when President George W. Bush entered, wearing an olive-green naval flight suit.
"Mr. President," Zellem said, "you look awesome."
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Lt. Cmdr. Scott Zellem, right, stands with Lt. Rockne Baker, left, and President George W. Bush. |
|
|
|
"Thanks, 'Z-man,' " Bush replied, using Zellem's Navy call sign.
Later that day, the president made a tailhook landing on the USS Abraham Lincoln in a S-3B Viking jet flown by John "Skip" Lussier, commander of Zellem's squadron. Bush then gave a speech that heralded an end to major combat operations in Iraq.
Bush was soon criticized by some Democrats who saw the flight as little more than a "Top Gun" stunt. Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia questioned "the motives of a deskbound president who assumes the garb of a warrior for the purposes of a speech."
But for Scott Zellem, a native of Indiana, Pa., the moment was a high point in his naval career.
Zellem, 35, was buried with full military honors last week at Arlington National Cemetery. He was one of four Navy officers who died Aug. 10 when their jet crashed into an uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean during a training exercise.
Zellem gave family members extensive details about his encounter with the president.
"It was one of the highlights of his life," said his brother, Navy Cmdr. Ed Zellem of Dahlgren, Va. "Just to get a chance to meet the commander in chief -- for a military guy, it doesn't get any better than that."
Scott Zellem was an obvious choice for the team of officers who would accompany Bush and Andrew Card, White House chief of staff, to the aircraft carrier, said Lt. Rockne Baker, another member of that team.
"It was a no-brainer," Baker said. "Scott was as motivated and charismatic as they come."
Bush quickly put Zellem, Baker and everyone else in the briefing room at ease with a few jokes, some of them off-color. Zellem showed the president how to use the Viking's ejector seat, and the other officers went over flight routes with Bush.
|
|
 |
|
|||
|
|
|||||
Obituary: Lt. Cmdr. Scott Zellem / Naval aviator from Indiana, Pa., buried at Arlington |
|||||
|
|
|||
Zellem was the navigator and Baker was the pilot on a jet that flew ahead of the president's plane and also carried Card, who briefly took the controls, just as Bush did on his jet.
The crew on the aircraft carrier, not Bush or his staff, decided to put up the controversial "Mission Accomplished" banner that hung behind the president during his speech, Scott Zellem told his brother Ed. Even though the war in Iraq was still raging, the USS Abraham Lincoln was headed home, and for the men and women on board, the ship's mission was accomplished.
Baker said that the ship's crewmembers did not see the event as a political stunt.
"Every person on that boat would have divvied up what it cost to bring the president," he said. "It was so important for them."
Scott Zellem graduated from Indiana High School in 1987 and the U.S. Naval Academy in 1991, and received his naval aviation wings at Pensacola, Fla., in 1991.
He excelled in football in high school and at the Naval Academy.
Zellem had more than 540 carrier landings during his career and he flew 26 combat missions in Iraq. During each mission, he carried two items given to him by his brother: a pocket Bible and a medal depicting St. Christopher, the patron saint of sailors.
On Saturday, Zellem's wife, Jennifer, attended the Tailhook Convention in Reno, Nev., an annual event frequented by many Navy and Marine pilots, where she received a leadership award honoring Scott Zellem's career.
Shortly before Zellem's burial in Arlington, a letter published in the Indiana Gazette heaped praise on the Navy officer:
"Lt. Commander Scott Zellem was a great kid growing up here in Indiana, later a great student, a great athlete, a great U.S. Naval Academy graduate, and then a great military pilot," Ronald Henry wrote.
Another letter, signed by George W. Bush and sent to Zellem's 1-year-old son, Tanner, last month, also praised the pilot:
"I had the privilege of flying with your father Scott on May 1, 2003," the letter reads. "He was a strong, brave man who defended our nation and protected our freedom. I'm proud to have been his commander in chief."
Another thing that is touching is how our President goes out of his way to connect with and show respect to our military. That he was able to joke with these guys, well - it means something to them. And that he wrote a letter to Tanner Zellem - to remind him for the rest of his life that his dad is a hero. Wow.
AND - this is worth repeating:
The crew on the aircraft carrier, not Bush or his staff, decided to put up the controversial "Mission Accomplished" banner that hung behind the president during his speech, Scott Zellem told his brother Ed. Even though the war in Iraq was still raging, the USS Abraham Lincoln was headed home, and for the men and women on board, the ship's mission was accomplished.
Baker said that the ship's crewmembers did not see the event as a political stunt.
"Every person on that boat would have divvied up what it cost to bring the president," he said. "It was so important for them."
May God Bless You and Yours"Z-Man"!You ARE AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!
America is more blessed than any nation in this world because of the fine people this nation has produced.
ping
May GOD bless the family of Z-Man. Men like that are in great number in this wonderful country of ours.
I wish we could hear more about their wonderful self-service, but unfortunately our media has an adgenda.
The gesture of sending a letter addressed to Cmdr. Zellem's baby boy, and of writing those three incredible sentences, speaks volumes abou the kind of MAN our Dubya is.
God bless and keep Tanner, his mom and family, and God please receive their beloved Scott into your eternally loving embrace.
God Bless Z-Man. BZ!
W is sincere in his belief in America. That is why the Left hate him so. They will stop at nothing to to destroy him and elect Kerry. The Left will be aided by Hollywood and the MSM. We must not let them win.
May God be merciful and lift Scott Zellem up to the Light of His countenance, and may perpetual Light shine upon him.
The"Mission Accomplished"banner referred to the fact that The USS Abraham Lincoln was returning from her deployment when she was called back to extend that deployment to the LONGEST EVER for a US NUCLEAR AIRCRAFT CARRIER!The Rats CYNICALLY misrepresented this to suit their own NEFARIOUS PURPOSES!!!!
Had to stop for a tissue break after this paragraph. We are so deeply in the debt of fine men like Lt Cmdr Zellem. God bless him and his family. And may God continue to bless our President.
May we strive to live lives worthy of such selfless ultimate sacrifice. May God comfort Lt. Cmdr. Zellem's family, knowing that he fought for a noble cause, giving his life.
IIRC It was the USS Lincoln's extended mission. Their cruise was over and they were heading for home and the President had to turn them around and send them to the gulf.
They deserved a little extra recognition for their mission accomplished!
Rest in peace Navy Pilot, rest in peace.
Z-Man
A strong, brave guy.
BZ
You are so right. We are blessed to have such men. Being a fighter pilot is hazardous duty, even in times of peace. Mrs PD
Makes us all aware that life is precious and temporal.
Your personal ruling planets are Moon and Venus.
Venus ruling social situations and love of home makes your life a veritable garden of flowers in which you, the butterfly, wish to taste each and every color and fragrance. You love beauty and friendship, even idealizing others to your own detriment. Learn to scrutinize the motivations of others.
You love to entertain and beautify your surroundings - will always have people in your house, and make your home a shelter for one and all.
Famous people born on your birthday include Merv Griffin, Janet Leigh, Della Reese, Nancy Reagan, George W Bush, Sylvester Stallone and Geoffrey Rush.
366 Birthday Horoscope Profiles
Tears, tears and more tears :-(
May God hold him in a special place in heaven and bless his family with comfort in their agony.
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.