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Cheney re-enlists wounded soldier at rally for troops
The AP via The State ^ | July 21, 2006 | Russ Bynum

Posted on 07/27/2006 2:35:03 PM PDT by new yorker 77

FORT STEWART, Ga. - During a rally for more than 8,000 Georgia troops, Vice President Dick Cheney administered the re-enlistment oath Friday to a 24-year-old Army gunner determined to remain in the ranks after losing his left leg last year to a bomb blast in Iraq.

Flanked by risers crowded with his fellow 3rd Infantry Division troops, Cpl. Jerrod Fields of Chicago raised his right hand before Cheney and pledged to serve another four years. The Army approved Fields to remain in his cavalry unit after he passed his physical fitness test with flying colors, including running 2 miles in 14 minutes, 9 seconds with a prosthetic leg.

"I wasn't going to let the bad guys, the enemy, affect a decision I'd already made," said Fields, who was wounded by a roadside bomb while driving a Bradley armored vehicle near Rustamayah, Iraq, in February 2005.

Fields opted to have his leg amputated below the knee to improve his chances of returning to active duty. He said Cheney offered words of personal praise offstage.

"He just told me job well done," Fields said. "He was happy that I decided to stay in and said just to keep pushing."

Cheney traveled to Fort Stewart, about 40 miles southwest of Savannah, to thank Army troops of the 3rd Infantry and the 48th Infantry Brigade of the Georgia National Guard for their service in Iraq.

The 19,000 soldiers of the 3rd Infantry finished their second combat tour in December. The 48th Brigade returned in May after deploying more than 4,500 citizen-soldiers to Iraq for a year. It was the largest deployment of Georgia guardsmen since World War II.

Cheney promised the troops the U.S. will keep fighting in Iraq until it can declare victory, and urged Americans not to become complacent nearly five years after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

`We have only two options in Iraq: victory or defeat. And I want you to know, as members of the United States military, the American people do not support a policy of retreat of defeatism," Cheney said. "We want to complete the mission, get it done right and return with honor."

The soldiers cheered raucously for Cheney after waiting two hours on the Fort Stewart parade grounds, where the July sun pushed temperatures past 90 degrees. Troops dabbed sweat from brows topped with black berets. And Cheney quickly shed his dark suit coat after taking the outdoor stage.

Fields, who has returned to the field training with his unit, said he was "amazed" to be re-enlisted by the vice president.

But the 3rd Infantry's commander, Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, said the young soldier had earned it.

"He's gone through eight legs because he's so difficult and demanding on that artificial leg," Lynch said. "I've got to tell you, I'm inspired by him as an individual and I'm inspired by him as a soldier."

---

Russ Bynum has covered the military in Georgia since 2001.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: heroes
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Despite the MSM propaganda, the troops are not DEAD FAILURES:

"He's gone through eight legs because he's so difficult and demanding on that artificial leg," Lynch said. "I've got to tell you, I'm inspired by him as an individual and I'm inspired by him as a soldier."

1 posted on 07/27/2006 2:35:04 PM PDT by new yorker 77
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To: new yorker 77

bttt


2 posted on 07/27/2006 2:35:45 PM PDT by ConservativeMan55
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To: new yorker 77

Bless our heroes, every one!


3 posted on 07/27/2006 2:37:27 PM PDT by OldFriend (I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag.....and My Heart to the Soldier Who Protects It.)
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To: All

Vice President Dick Cheney swears Cpl. Jerrod Fields as he re-enlists in the Army Friday, July 21, 2006, at Fort Stewart, Ga., as his wife, Kirra Fields, watches. Fields was wounded by an improvised explosive device in 2005 while he was serving in Iraq with the 3rd Infantry Division. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)

4 posted on 07/27/2006 2:37:51 PM PDT by new yorker 77 (FAKE POLLS DO NOT TRANSLATE INTO REAL VOTERS!)
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To: Clintonfatigued; AliVeritas; holdonnow

Vice President Dick Cheney swears Cpl. Jerrod Fields as he re-enlists in the Army Friday, July 21, 2006, at Fort Stewart, Ga., as his wife, Kirra Fields, watches. Fields was wounded by an improvised explosive device in 2005 while he was serving in Iraq with the 3rd Infantry Division. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)

5 posted on 07/27/2006 2:38:22 PM PDT by new yorker 77 (FAKE POLLS DO NOT TRANSLATE INTO REAL VOTERS!)
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To: new yorker 77

REAL MEN
6 posted on 07/27/2006 2:39:46 PM PDT by FreedomNeocon (Success is not final; Failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts -- Churchill)
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To: OldFriend

awesome heroes we have.........


7 posted on 07/27/2006 2:41:03 PM PDT by JFC (Land of the FREE because of our BRAVE)
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To: new yorker 77

That's a hero. G-d bless him.


8 posted on 07/27/2006 2:41:16 PM PDT by Alexander Rubin (Octavius - You make my heart glad building thus, as if Rome is to be eternal.)
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To: new yorker 77

Simply Amazing........that is what a real American in made of......


9 posted on 07/27/2006 2:42:10 PM PDT by marmar (Although, I may look different then you....my blood still runs....RED, WHITE, @ BLUE.)
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To: FreedomNeocon

Sad story what happened to the GI pictured there...


10 posted on 07/27/2006 2:44:31 PM PDT by Stone Mountain
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To: new yorker 77

I humbly, gratefully take my hat off to this heroic soldier. You can bet he won't hear a word of praise from the liberals, nor will they hold him up as an example to other young Americans.


11 posted on 07/27/2006 2:45:52 PM PDT by American Quilter (Equal laws protecting equal rights...the best guarantee of loyalty and love of country. -- Madison)
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To: new yorker 77

God Bless our troops for their dedication to our country.


12 posted on 07/27/2006 2:49:03 PM PDT by jazusamo (DIANA IREY for Congress, PA 12th District: Retire murtha.)
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To: marmar
Unfortunately, because of that ignorant black jackass that hijacked a truck which was televised nationally last Sunday here in Dallas......Great Americans such as this young black man...are relegated to the dust bin of the MSM.....This is what the black communities should be seeing instead of fancy rims and thugs with their droopy pants..
13 posted on 07/27/2006 2:49:52 PM PDT by RVN Airplane Driver (Americans are so spoiled with their freedoms they have forgotten what it takes to maintain them.)
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To: Stone Mountain

What happened to him?


14 posted on 07/27/2006 2:54:21 PM PDT by mcshot ("If it ain't broke it doesn't have enough features." paraphrased anon.)
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To: new yorker 77

HOO-AH


15 posted on 07/27/2006 2:55:17 PM PDT by npg
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To: RVN Airplane Driver

Men should be judged by the content of their character... It takes all kinds to make this, the great country that it is......and Freedom, is not free. It is Heroes like these that make me proud to be an American....and proud to serve.


16 posted on 07/27/2006 2:57:18 PM PDT by marmar (Although, I may look different then you....my blood still runs....RED, WHITE, @ BLUE.)
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To: unionblue83

PING!


17 posted on 07/27/2006 3:08:29 PM PDT by goarmy ("Get ready, little lady. Hell's coming to breakfast.")
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To: mcshot
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/focus/story/0,,1810767,00.html

Miller's life has collapsed in the face of post-traumatic stress disorder. He draws a disability pension for his condition and his personal life is a wreck. He suffers from nightmares, panic attacks and survivor's guilt. Despite the immense goodwill of a grateful nation, Miller has slumped into struggle and despair. Last week came the news that he and his childhood sweetheart, Jessica, were getting divorced.

This is what led to him getting discharged:

he was sent to New Orleans. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita had left the city burning, flooded and being looted. Waiting offshore in a troop transport, it appeared to Miller as if he were returning to urban combat. It would be Falluja by the bayou. When another marine in his boat made a whistling sound, like a rocket-propelled grenade, Miller suddenly blacked out. When he came to, he found he had assaulted the man, pinning him to the ground. He was honourably discharged on 10 November, 2005 - exactly one year after the photograph that made him famous was published around the globe. He was diagnosed as suffering from post-traumatic stress.

18 posted on 07/27/2006 3:10:47 PM PDT by Stone Mountain
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To: new yorker 77

Want to show your support for our guys and gals on the frontlines in Iraq and Afghanistan?

Go to www.anysoldier.com and get addresses to which you can send care packages.

America's best are asking for snack foods, books, CDs, DVDs, personal hygiene items, magazines, etc.

Go to the post office and pick up one of the flat-rate boxes or go to www.usps.com and request that the boxes be sent to you. They're free! Be sure to order the customs forms as well. The postage only costs $8.10 to ship a box of goodies to Iraq or Afghanistan.

Chaplains and commanders have said that getting these packages is an incredible morale boost for our troops.


19 posted on 07/27/2006 3:15:43 PM PDT by freedom4me ("Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom."--Ben Franklin)
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To: new yorker 77; All

It is deeply moving to know that men like Cpl. Fields are doing what they do to protect our country and all of us.

Thank you, Cpl. Fields.


20 posted on 07/27/2006 3:21:27 PM PDT by krunkygirl
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