Posted on 08/16/2006 4:06:27 PM PDT by SandRat
CAMP LIBERTY — Troops serving at this large logistics base near Baghdad International Airport were provided a rare opportunity Saturday to meet and talk with Gen. Peter Pace, the sixteenth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Pace answered questions from Soldiers of Multi-National Division – Baghdad and the 4th Infantry Division.
“We came a long way to do one very special thing, and that is to say thank you to you for what you are doing over here. We are so proud of what you do,” said Pace to the room of about 50 service members.
“Sometimes, when you are serving overseas and you watch some of the things on television, you could get to the point where you ask yourself ‘do we still have the support of the American people?’ and the answer is absolutely,” he said
The general compared the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan with his own experiences as a young lieutenant in Vietnam.
“There is a very distinct difference between what is happening right now and what happened during Vietnam with regard to the Armed Forces of the United States. In Vietnam it seemed to me … that our country was not able to distinguish between the war and the warrior."
“That is no longer true in my opinion,” continued Pace. “Even those at home who have concerns about the war are supportive of you as individuals and your dedication to keeping them safe, and they understand that and appreciate that. People come up to me all of the time … and stop me and say thank you – not to me as an individual but because they recognize me and ask me to pass on to you their appreciation. So, my thanks come not only from me personally but, more importantly, from so many of your fellow citizens who truly understand and appreciate what you are doing. There is zero doubt in my mind that what you are doing is important to our nation.”
You got MY support, Troops! God Bless America's Military!! HoooRah!
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