Posted on 09/24/2004 11:42:09 AM PDT by Marcus Alonzo Hanna
After the pool boarded Air Force One, following the president, it was observed that the Secret Service had not boarded, and we were told that the plane was "waiting." It eventually was learned that we were waiting for the arrival of a "World" airlines charter MD-11 carrying 292 Guardsmen and reservists for duty in Iraq. The plane departed from Ft. Bragg with the 30th Brigade Combat team, a guard unit from North Carolina, the 414th Transportation Batallian reserve unit from South Carolina, and the 230th Area Support Group, a guard unit from Tennessee. There seemed to be a few other units as well, such as the 150th armored cavalry, a guard unit from West Virginia. They are heading to Germany and then to Kuwait, for 18-24 months duty in Iraq. They were obviously excited to see the president, and a few confessed to being down when they had to say goodbye to their families, but they said they were boosted by the president's appearance. They were reluctant to talk about the mission in Iraq, appearing stoic about that. They were all wearing desert fatigues and filled virtually every seat on the 3-engine plane. The officers were seated in business class.
The soldiers mostly had cameras ready to take snapshots of Bush. Several requested autographs. They called out phrases such as "this is awesome." The president put a tie and suit jacket on after the rally and walked down one aisle and back up the other, offering gentle smiles and words such as "I'm proud of you" and "thank you." Pool was not close enough to hear any more than that. As he got to the rear of the plane, Sgt. Wanda Dabbs, 22, of the 230th, called out, "That's my president, hooah!" and there were cheers. At the end of the handshakes on the packed, hot plane, Bush got on the PA system from the middle galley. "I appreciate being president to such fine men and women. May God bless you all. May God keep you safe." Potus took the limo the few hundred yards between the two planes.
Brief interviews with a few of the troops: Sgt. Wanda Dabbs, 230th. On president: "This is very exciting." On the mission: "I'm ready. I'm ready to go 'til the mission is done." Sgt. Shelly Bivens, 230th, Enthusiastic about mission? "I'm excited to serve our country." Master Sgt. Johnny Scott, 230th, a postal worker: "It's unusual, very unusual. It's pretty cool, a good morale boost." Sgt. 1st class Bill Freeman, 230th, a steelworker union member with Goodyear tire in Tennessee, "I think he's the best president of my lifetime? I can guarantee you right now this is the best thing that ever happened to me in my lifetime." Specialist Brian Parker, 230th: "We were down when we left our families," he said, giving a thumbs down. "But then we heard Air Force One was here. It's a good morale boost." Sgt. 1st class Bobby Dailey, 150th, a Fedex worker. Good spirits? "We are now. It's a nice surprise. It ain't every day you land somewherer and the president gets on your plane." Asked if he was a Bush supporter, he said, "We're commander-in-chief supporters." Spec. Sgt. David Spence, 230th, 54, on the election: "I'm still balancing the issues. I'm not sure. I'd like to hear what he (Bush) has to say." A machinist, has one daughter. Specialist E4 Eddie Latham. "I can't believe it's him." 35, factory worker. "I think he's a great leader, but I'm nervous to go to Iraq." Will still vote for Bush. 2nd Lt. Roxana Pagan-Sanchez. 30th brigade,30 yrs, 12 year old son. Bush said he was proud of her. Works at urgent care clinic in Raleigh, army environmental scientist. Voting for Bush. "He told me he's proud of me. I'm so proud of him."
Bush aides knew the plane was on its way here and due to arrive about 5 minutes after AF1 left. "They pushed the gas pedal a little bit," Card said, and AF1 waited. Card said after Bush finished the Bangor rally speech they got word that the logistics would work and Bush gave permission to wait.
The plane's pilot, Mikkel "Mike" Hansen, said that they got word from the World Airways hq that they were attempting to hook up with AF1 in Bangor. "We pushed it about 50 or 60 knots," Hansen said. The Los Angeles based pilot added that they received further instructions from the control tower as well as directly from AF1. "You don't get that every day." Gary Goodpastor, another pilot called a "check captain" because he monitors other pilots, said it was a "thrill."
All the soldiers had been given absentee ballots in the day or two before they departed. Many still had the ballots with them.
Dana Milbank/Washington Post Matt Cooper/Time
It's called "genuine" affection as opposed to the bullsh#t fake crap the dems try to pawn off as "real" emotions.
The really sad part about it is that the 'rats will never "get it", cause they are too wrapped up in themselves and can never have an emotion that is about truly honoring those that will sacrifice.
God Bless the troop and safe journey home for all as soon as possible. (wiping tear)
GWB Is The Man ~ A True Leader ~ Bump!
Great post, thanks
What would Kerry have done?
This link has some great pictures of GW on the plane with troops heading to Iraq.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1225321/posts
You got it right. One nice thing about Bush's visit is everyone on that plane will tell other troops and they will tell still others and before you know it morale will be boosted, a real key thing when they get a steady diet of CNN over there.
Well that does it. No more work to be done this afternoon.
**faint**
That couldda easily been written that Dubyuh "ORDERED" AF1 to wait...MUD
He will still be a relative young man in 2008, and we kept Roosevelt for 3 terms so he could finish the war, so why don't we push for a repeal of the 2 term restriction....
That will get the MSM's panties super tight.
Lieutenant do we have any wooden crosses, holy water or stakes handy?
I love this President. God Bless and keep him safe! God bless the men and women who protect our country!
God Bless the USA!
I didn't read this the first time. Now I am REALLY moist-eyed here at work. Godspeed to our troops and our Commander in CHIEF!
So, so cool. Thanks very much for posting this. It's another example of why the internet is so valuable, because this is news we'd never get from the national media.
Thanks for the pings to this great bit of news.
OK now I am crying. I am so proud of these brave men and women and our President.
I read in another report that after his shirtsleeves rally, the President changed INTO a jacket and tie to meet the troops. He is a true gentleman, and respectful of everyone.
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.