NavyDoc's Inaugural Adventure W Pics

[NavyDoc]

Hi! For those that don't know me, I met some Freepers on the side of Penn ave. during the inaugeral parade. They were very nice and were in sharp contrast to the unwashed protestors. A brief bio: Enlisted in the USMC as a 0311 back in 1986. Was a rifleman for a year then got an appointment to the Naval Academy. B.S. in English Lit. Naval Flight Officer (re: "Goose") for 5 years then a military scholarship to U. of Michigan in Ann Arbor for medical school. Now a staff anesthesiologist and pain management fellow at NNMC Bethesda and WRAMC here in DC area. I volunteered to provide medical support to the military mission to the inaugeral parade. I was medical officer in charge of Aide station #4, the first military aide station on the parade route. I was filling in for an Air Force Doc who came down ill so actually all my troops were Air Force Personell: 8 medics, 2 nurses, 1 senior NCO, and one admin type. We were stationed on the street, and had a small heated "shack" (for better words) to keeps supplies, put patients, and warm up once in a while. Mustered at WRAMC at 0100 and was posted on Penn Ave at zero-dark-thirty. Got to watch the sun rise just off the Capitol's left shoulder. Pretty early on the cops started to arrive. They were VOLUNTEERS from as far away as Oregon and Florida, and had come to support this inaugeration. They were fun to talk to and were very professional. They JOKED about being there to smash hippy heads!

They marched on line in a very professional manner... I weigh about 225, am 6' 1" and bench 315#. This guy made me feel small and HE was one of the smaller cops!!!!! Some of Virginia's finest ready for some fun! I liked the above image so I had to get a shot of me in the forground.. Ok, and now a pic of most of my posse: Having lots of fun, then enter the nasty, smelly protestors. THis one was actually fairly attractive and her sign reads,"The only Bush I trust is my own." She was behind alot of regular folks, but her sign struck me as funny...besides I am a sailor after all... There really weren't that many of them, but the ones that were there were a pain in the rear. Shouting epithets at me and my medics, spitting, throwing snowballs/fruit. Since I was there to be a doc, not a photographer, I was too busy to get pics of the really rowdy ones. That blather about "spporting the troops, but hating the war," is pure B.S.. At every chance, they laid as much venom and hate upon us as possible. After the CIC rode by they actually tride to rush the barricades, but were repelled by the police with batons and pepper spray. Of course lil ol' me was right in the middle. I treated a couple of cops for eye irritation and bruises. A few of the honor guard that lined the route for bruises (hit in the back of the head with an apple). Next few shots are of the CIC passing. They are bad shots, but I took them with my left hand as he approached, dropped my left and snapped up my right in a sharp and crisp salute as he drew abreast, and was unable to get any followup shots after he passed due to the above bruhaha.

Oh, did I forget THESE guys with their funny, long "suitcases?" Oh yes, the reason I am now a member of this site: there I was; tired, cold, hungry, my feet hurst, harrased by B.O. and patchatouli wearing idiots...walking up and down when I see some more fools waving signs...except on closer exam, THESE signs are supportive and instead of spitting, they are smiling. Instead of shouting obscenaties at me and my guys, these people are saying, thank you. ?????? I needed to have a closer look, and was thus taken into the fold! JCS marched by...very cool. My boys! Semper Fi!!!!

Well after running around all day, dealing with protestors, cold, and a wild horse. (Bucked his rider, got off the route, and was kicking people one block over), cold, sore feet, and one bruised hand (don't ask...facial piercings can hurt if ya smack 'em!). It's time to call it a day. After the last military person was cleared, we got to stand down, about 2100 that night. We retreated to a local watering hole, and I bought my posse many beers. Goodnight and God bless, Zack Kitchen, M.D. LCDR, MC, USN

[shield]

WELCOME TO FR...love your great pics ;o) Thanks for sharing.

[A Navy Vet]

Well done, sir.

[NavyDoc]

Wow, that Pic of me is not very good. Baggage under the eyes, windburned skin.
In my defense, I put in a full days work on WED, the 19th of Jan and was called about 2100 that night to report at WRAMC at 0100 on the 20th. This pic has me at about 36 hours awake. Not too bad considering!

[EDINVA]

wonderful photos and commentary .. thank you and GOD BLESS YOU and your posse

[Freee-dame]

The protestors did more harm to their side than good. They really showed the truth of their beliefs, and the hollowness of the "support the troops but hate the war," rhetoric.

Thanks for your service....and your pictures.

The group of USA supporters would have been much larger were it not for the masses of anti-war disruptors preventing patriots from getting through the checkpoints.

[maica]

***After all of the fuss, venom, and hate directed at them by the leftists, they were talking like Rush Limbaugh by the end of the day! ***

#####

:LOL! This is happening more than we know! Major media have done their very best to keep Americans from seeing the "real" George W Bush, so each voter has to have a personal moment of revelation. Even with that handicap, W won twice, and the Dems are a crippled party.

Have you found the "Day in the Life of President Bush" thread here on FR? We who check it every day are witness to the number of photos taken of our President on a daily basis with average Americans. These pictures are available to all of our news media, but rarely seen in newsprint. He makes them all relax, smile and even laugh. He really has a gift, and the left wants Americans to be kept blind to this fact.

Here is an example: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1336268/posts

[shield]

No...I think it's a great picture...I love all your pictures and the different accounts of what took place. The beltway is another world...most are really out of touch with middle America exception is our military. God Bless...thanks for all the service to America. We love ya'll.

[Coleus]

"The only Bush I trust is my own."  >>

attractive, maybe, any brains, NO, crude, Yes

but just like the others: vile, repugnant,  hatful, dirty, foul-mouthed, hypocrites  who are NOT peaceful and are rather hateful, are violent and war like, they worship trees, turtle eggs and spotted owls and murder God's image in the womb.  I just call them a bunch of  frustrated sore losers who have to get over the President winning twice.  

This biggest joke was when some of the TV reporters tried to interview these mental midgets where they just  couldn't seem to get out one sentence that made any sense, they had NO concept of the issues and why they really didn't like the president, I just couldn't stop laughing!  They had no problem annunciating the word duh, guess they watched too much of beavis and butthead.

I had the displeasure of being upfront and close to them. I should have brought a clothespin for my nose.

A recapitulation of last week's Free Republic/Protest Warrior counter demo demo at the RNC Convention in NYC

[NavyDoc]

Nice link! I've got to do my job w a sense of humor otherwise I'd gone nuts long ago.

[Coleus]

It's so sad that they had to defile a Presidential Inauguration with Pornography. It just shows what trash they really are where peace and togetherness were NOT in their agenda. I often heard their spin, the lies of the MSM where they kept saying that we need to come together and that the nation is divided. They sure picked a strange way of showing they are true to their word.

[Happy2BMe]

Good job.

[cowgirlcutie]

Great pictures! I only WISH I could have been there. Watched it on my computer at work in between patients and phone calls all day that day! Got so teary eyed seeing our troops, looking so sharp, marching by! God Bless you!

[al baby]

Welcome to Free Republic

Great post looking forward to more

Beebers up!

[fastattacksailor]

Goose:

Bravo Zulu!

Fastattacksailor

[NavyDoc]

Thanks Y'all.

[Feiny]

Welcome to FR. So happy you met some of our illustrious DC freepers. They are a great bunch. It is good to know that our presence is appreciated. Your service is very much appreciated by us!!!

[cjshapi]

Welcome and thanks for the great report and pics. And please thank your posse too.

Guess you just happened to accidentally smack a piercing, huh? Always wondered how badly it would hurt if one of those buggers accidentally got ripped out.

[Jackson57]

Thanks Doc, from an Air Force vet!! I'm sorry you had to put up with the "support" the left shows our troops. But, the majority of people in this country do appreciate your service. Please pass on to your posse our appreciation, as well.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Welcome NavyDoc - great write up - loved the way you seemed shocked to find the support group there!

I'm the wife of a Beirut Vet '83............