Posted on 03/18/2006 5:35:43 PM PST by FairOpinion
IRWIN — With regimental flags flying in a cool, stiff breeze, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Friday afternoon helped the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment welcome 2,200 of its soldiers back home from duty in Iraq.
While hundreds of the regiment’s soldiers, for mer soldiers, friends, family and children looked on, the governor shook the hands of 13 of the regiment’s soldiers who had suffered wounds while serving in Iraq and had been awarded the Purple Heart.
The “Black Horse” regiment soldiers, he said, “have done an incredible job (in Iraq). You have assisted the Iraqi national elections, trained and partnered with Iraqi army and police, rebuilt communities and conducted many critical combat operations.
“And on top of all that, your regiment maintained a force right here in the National Training Center and trained other soldiers as they prepared to be deployed overseas. So you were really given a huge challenge this past year, and you did it with great honor,” he said.
“Today I want to say from my heart, as governor, as a Californian, as an American and as an immigrant,” Schwarzenegger said. “I’m incredibly proud of all of you and what you have done for this great nation.”
He went on to say everyone in attendance, including former Black Horse Cavalry members, friends, spouses and children, constituted a “real gathering of heroes, for California, and for our nation. I’m talking about everyone here — all the soldiers who were deployed, the families who stood by the loved ones in uniform day in and day out.
“To all of you I say thank you for answering the call of duty,” the governor said.
Schwarzenegger arrived at the ceremony in a Black Hawk helicopter and watched as the pageantry of the welcome unfolded, including presentation of arms, uncasing of the colors, a salute by three cannons, an inspection of the troops by the commanding general and a recital of the regiment’s history.
Col. Peter Bayer, who was part of the contingent who served in Iraq, said the big review on the helipad is to say “fantastic job, welcome back home” to the soldiers. For him, he said, the sense of pride in the solders is “just overwhelming.”
Having the governor here, he said, “was a fantastic show of support for the only active duty Army unit stationed in California.”
Watching the ceremony were Rochelle Dumont and her husband, Capt. Dale Dumont, and their two children Justus, 5, and Isaah, 3.
Mrs. Dumont said her husband, who is in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, has not been to Iraq but believes he could be sent there.
“He has not been in Iraq, but probably in time, he will,” she said. “If that’s what God wants, he will make a way for me to cope,” she said.
The regiment spent a year in Iraq before retur ning to their home base at Fort Irwin last December.
Earlier in the day, there was a ceremony in the Black Horse Chapel honoring the 13 members of the regiment who gave their lives while serving Iraq last year.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, left, shakes the hand of 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment Sgt. Don Teel at a ceremony welcoming the regiment back to Ft. Irwin after a one-year tour of duty in Iraq. Teel was one of a group of 13 soldiers with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. He was awarded a Purple Heart medal.
Arnold arrives at Baghdad International Airport"
Arnold visited our military in Iraq and did many USO tours, before ever thought of running for governor. He truly admires and respects the military. See a few more pictures in the other thread, link in my previous post.
Well, I am glad to see Arnold likes the military, too bad he doesn't think about what it will be like when they get home and face an ever shrinking business evironment and job loss due to high taxes and other idiotic regulations that CA has imposed upon their citizens. Get with it Arnold, fight!!! Even if you lose, fight the f***king dems!
Speaking of business climate:
Aerospace offers its wish list to Schwarzenegger
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1598912/posts
Although California has improved its business climate with Schwarzenegger settled in, aerospace executives say these anecdotes are stark reminders that the state must be more aggressive in protecting a vital industry.
He's fighting the Dems every single day.
He knows what a disaster they are, and what Angelides will destroy.
Yes.
A bit of their history from another article:
"In its 105-year history, the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment has served in the jungles of the Philippines, Cuba and Mexico, where it took part in the last classic-mounted cavalry charge in U.S. history.
In 1919, the regiment received its nickname, Black Horse, from local citizens who took heed of the distinctive black horses the troops used.
The troopers of the 11th Cavalry said goodbye to their mounts in 1941. "
http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_3614660
I very much appreciate him supporting the military.
Good on you, Governator.
Very true. Did you know that almost every military person (I know Reservists for sure) who retires while stationed in California, gets a letter from Arnold, thanking him/her for the service to our country?
"Did you know that almost every military person (I know Reservists for sure) who retires while stationed in California, gets a letter from Arnold, thanking him/her for the service to our country?"
===
No, I didn't know, but it's very decent of him.
A couple of years ago when the military had a poll, which celebrity they all wanted to meet, they chose Schwarzenegger. He then indeed visited several bases, including in Iraq and spent time with the troops. That was before he was running for governor.
Arnold, for all his RINO tendencies, does care a lot about us in uniform, and that is something that makes him tons of points among the Armed Forces. Kinda like President Bush.
Thanks for confirming first-hand what I have believed to be true. Arnold is the troops' kinda guy, and the troops are Arnold's kinda guys. He appreciates this country and knows that freedom is not free.
He went on to say everyone in attendance, including former Black Horse Cavalry members, friends, spouses and children, constituted a “real gathering of heroes, for California, and for our nation. I’m talking about everyone here — all the soldiers who were deployed, the families who stood by the loved ones in uniform day in and day out.
“To all of you I say thank you for answering the call of duty,” the governor said.
Welcome home to our heroes of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment.
Welcome home 11th.
Thank you.
Good for Arnold.
Nice. Thanks for the ping.
Great story, and thank you for the ping, LE.
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