Posted on 09/04/2005 10:39:33 AM PDT by joinedafterattack
"When he arrived at the Astrodome about 10 p.m. Wednesday, 20-year-old Jabbar Gibson modestly confessed that he had commandeered a school bus in New Orleans, then picked up about 70 passengers before heading out for the 13-hour trek to Houston." <!-- DIV.b2 { margin: .75em 0px; } -->
Jabbar Gibson rescues NO citizens on 8-31-05
New Orleans public transit buses:
Count 'em and weep...
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
Is it that easy? There's not something complicated about shifting or something?
(Remember, I'm only 36 - I've never actually had to drive a three-on-the-tree or any other kind of weird manual vehicle. Standard stick shift is the extent of my experience.)
Bush needs to do a prime time speech and give this young man the recognition he deserves.
Jabbar Gibson for the Medal of Freedom!
That bus is certainly an automatic. Sadly, most buses are these days.
BTW, I'm CDL, Passenger and routinely drive 4 speed, double shift passenger buses. Not a real steep learning curve.
"I don't know if I could actually physically drive a school bus. Doesn't it require either a commercial license, or at least knowledge of how something that big handles? Surely it's different from my little Saturn (even though they are both manual, I think)."
If you're over 5' tall, you can drive one. You take it slow, find out how it handles in corners, and what it takes to stop gently, and there you are. If you're shorter that 5' tall, you use pedal blocks and a seat cushion so you can see over the wheel. Piece of cake.
Lots of school-bus drivers are ladies. Most of 'em aren't very tall.
Jabbar Gibson,a young man with b@lls,brains,and initiative.Despite all the depressing and negative coverage by the msm,there are some standouts in NO.Too bad the mayor isn't one of em.
All the bus drivers I ever had were very short ladies, now that you mention it. They probably did have to use blocks.
I guess it's the door-opening mechanism I'm thinking of. I had it in mind that shifting a bus was different from shifting (say) my little Saturn coupe.
I mean, the shifting ratio I'm sure is different, but if it's as easy as "step on the clutch, shift, let the clutch out," I can handle that!
A couple days ago, it sounded like some thugs stole a bus that night.
We now know that is not the case, and it is great. God bless him.
If it ain't a manual, you ain't drivin'! ;)
(Saith my Uncle Jimmie.)
"I mean, the shifting ratio I'm sure is different, but if it's as easy as "step on the clutch, shift, let the clutch out," I can handle that!"
That's it, for most. Heck, nowadays, many buses have automatic transmissions.
A true American hero. Took decisive action by thinking of others.
Thank you Jabbar Gibson.
If he is charged with something, I would be glad to donate to a fund for him.
I am just your typical poor college student. All my cash goes to school. But, I will spare some for this guy if he needs some help.
Unlike the TV character Ted Knight played as Ted Baxter, the real Ted won FIVE (5) Bronze Stars during WWII. I just found that amazing bit of trivia a few weeks ago.
If folks want to try to find out how to get some money or support to this kid, try e-mailing:
rick.casey@chron.com
This is the guy who wrote this piece. Maybe he has some clue about where he is. Maybe not.
He'd better not be charged with a crime.
He saved almost 80 people!
I also saw one middle-aged man in NO who found a car sitting around, he needed to get his family out of town, so he took the car and filled it with people but he was arrested by the pd!
They cuffed him.
In an emergency situation, that's just wrong. He was no gang-banger stealing that car.
This guy has some incredible photos from Houston. Very moving pics, including some from the bus.
Look at the hopes on people's faces and the friends being made in the worst of times.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/slightclutter/39718496/
Just look at those pics. Wow.
So glad to see you post this. Jabbar Gibson has been a hero of mine for days.
No, but he had stayed at a Holiday Inn Express.
"RULES ARE RULES AND RULES HAVE TO BE ENFORCED."
Not that I was surprised since he had the same attitude when he was First Sergeant. I think he is still in the Navy.. But I can clearly see the benefits of special forces testing to find them "exceptional candidates"..
WOO HOO! All Hail mighty JABAR!
I was starting to think that all of NO was populated by "Victims".
I would love to shake his hand.
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