Home Again, A New Generation of Heroes

NewsBusters.org ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

With gratitude to Providence and thanks to all who kept me in their thoughts and prayers, I'm happy to be home from Iraq. I arrived in Ithaca last night at about 9 PM, about 43 hours after beginning the journey home from Baghdad. Naturally there were a few more plot twists along the way. Instead of traveling via Rota Spain and Dover, DE, etc., it was Qatar, Ramstein Germany, Charleston, Charlotte, Philly, Syracuse and Ithaca. I'll spare you all the details, but will say that the East Coast being socked in made for lots more time to appreciate the charms of the Philly airport. Also, if you ever have the choice, opt to travel on a comfy C-5 with commercial-style seats that let you stretch out across a row, versus a spartan C-17. That said, the Air Force crews were great and did their best to keep us comfortable. And the bottom line is that I'm home, safe and sound.

I'll save my commentary on the trip for an upcoming entry. But let me pass along one anecdote reflecting how the trip has changed my life, and giving yet one more insight into the great people serving our country.

If you've been reading my Iraq Diary, you'll recall some of the stories I told about the wonderful Navy Corpsmen, including this report on the heroic Corpsman Enrique Romero who tended to others hurt by an IED despite having sustained serious injuries himself.

Sitting three-across on the flight from Charlotte, NC to Philly yesterday, I heard my seatmate mention to the other passenger that, you guessed it, he was a Navy Corpsman in training. Naturally we struck up a conversation - something I might well not have done before this trip.

Meet Sean McKay, pictured here. One of the major roles for Navy Corpsmen is to serve as battlefield medics for the Marines, and Sean is training at the famous Camp LeJeune Marine camp in North Carolina. He was typically modest about himself, but as we continued to chat, the passion for what he is learning, and the scope and depth of the knowledge he has acquired, became evident. He got out paper and pen, and for over an hour took me step-by-step through all the methods, techniques and principles with which he's been imbued. From triage priorities, to procedures for examing the wounded, to treatment of a wide variety of injuries, to the many types of tourniquets available, Sean patiently and enthusiastically explained it all. He is scheduled to go to Iraq within a few months, and I have no doubt that this hero-in-the-making, originally from Montana, will help save many lives and comfort many wounded. Who knows? - Sean might take the place of Corpsman Romero, and keep the proud tradition alive.

Once again, my sincere thanks to all the NewsBusters members who read my reports and sent me their encouragement and good wishes. It meant a tremendous amount to me out there.

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Home-from-Iraq ping to Today show list.

Due to time pressures in Iraq I didn't cross-post my NewsBusters 'Iraq Diary' at FR. Those wishing to read the entire story of my trip can do so here:

http://newsbusters.org/taxonomy/term/580

[demkicker]

Thanks for the ping and your insightful and wonderful stories.

[Traditional Vet]

Also, if you ever have the choice, opt to travel on a comfy C-5 with commercial-style seats that let you stretch out across a row, versus a spartan C-17.

Having been in the AF in the 60's (and a crew chief, with thousands of hours, on a C-124, which used the the the AF's carrier of convenience and not so lovingly called "Old Shaky") never had the "pleasure" of flying on a C-17. However, cannot imagine that ANYTHING would be worse than a 8 - 12 hour flight (even 30 minutes is enough) on a C-130, sitting on web seats.

[DCPatriot]

Welcome back, GLGB!

[Bahbah]

I am very glad you are home safe and will look forward to hearing more about your amazing experience.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Thanks, DC, great to be back, but very, very glad I went.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Many thanks, DK - very glad you enjoyed them.

[Gosh I love this neighborhood]

I'm happy to hear that you are safely back home. That was such a good story about Corpsmen McKay. My Grandson is in Iraq for his second time, so I welcome true stories about what is going on there.
Thank you.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

My pleasure, and wishing your grandson a safe and successful completion of his mission.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

We did have a couple short C-130 flights during our trip, and I can say that I might even prefer it to the C-17! The C-130's web seats were actually more comfortable than the rigid C-17 ones. But again, give me a comfy C-5 any day!

[Carolinamom]

Welcome back! And in the days to come, please tell us more about the trip and what you saw and did in Iraq.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Thanks Carolinamom. For details of my trip, please check out the Iraq Diary that I maintained on a daily basis at NewsBusters:

http://newsbusters.org/taxonomy/term/580

[Traditional Vet]

We did have a couple short C-130 flights during our trip, and I can say that I might even prefer it to the C-17! The C-130's web seats were actually more comfortable than the rigid C-17 ones. But again, give me a comfy C-5 any day!

Welcome Home Brother.

Sorry I should have said that the first time.

I'll never forget my ride home when I left Nam and when I landed at Travis (outside San Francisco).

We could have anything we wanted on our Chartered 707's, but for the most part, (I'd say about 90%) we all wanted "real" milk.

lol. By the way, I've asked this a couple of times and have not gotten any answer so maybe you can?

While in Nam, we referred to the good ol U.S. of A. as "The World," and our flights home were on "Freedom Birds."

Was wondering if there is any such terms being used by our Military today?

God Bless you and all our Military Brothers and Sisters.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

As a mere media guy, I'm honored to be referred to as a brother by a true veteran. Thank you.

At least in my group, people fantasized about having something with a little more kick than milk ;-)

Not quite sure about nomenclature for the World, etc. but will check into it and let you know if possible.

Thanks again!

[Lancey Howard]

Welcome back BUMP

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Thanks Lancey, and looking forward to seeing you on the NB boards!

[MuttTheHoople]

My dad was fortunate to be a Marine officer when he came home from Vietnam in 1969. He was greeted at airport in San Diego by wives of fellow Marine officers still overseas.

He didn't have to go through the spitting, cussing, screaming anti-war protesters many others did. Of course, dad always told me that if someone tried that on him, he was such an angry man, he'd have probably killed him. He voted for George Wallace in '68 when he was over there because he liked that Wallace said that if a bunch of anti-war types laid down in front of his car, he'd have run them over. Like I said, Dad was VERY angry when he came home, and he admits it took him two years to simmer down ('69-'71). He wouldn't have been one to endure some smelly, drug-addicted, long-haired, maggot-infested future Democrat spitting on him or calling him "baby-killer". Since he says what he means and means what he says, and I never had to visit him in prison, I guess nobody really tried that on him.

Anti-war folks are pretty cowardly. During Vietnam, they faced individual soldiers coming off civilian flights so they could outnumber them. Now, with the unit rotations, they can't come out and spit on them without getting their tails kicked by those of us who appreciate their effort at turning Iraq and Afghanistan into pro-American countries. Today's soldiers can proudly wear their uniforms in airports and bus terminals, unlike the '60's when they had to change to civilian clothing to get away from those smelly punks. Even now, the anti-war types have to "say" they "support the troops" when you, I and they know they don't.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

It must be nice to be home, away from an isolated community full of people who hate American soldiers and back in...wait....you're still in Ithaca, aren't you?


Never mind.




;-)



Seriously, welcome back, GL

[AmericaUnite]

We missed you. Welcome home.