Posted on 04/23/2007 12:05:36 PM PDT by LibertarianSJ
COPPERAS COVE – History will be made today when Copperas Cove resident Bill Thomas and his wife, Georgia, present President George W. Bush with a Purple Heart at the Oval Office.
Thomas said he and his wife came up with the unprecedented idea to present the president with the Purple Heart over breakfast one morning a few months ago as they discussed the verbal attacks, both foreign and domestic, the commander in chief has withstood during his time in office.
"We feel like emotional wounds and scars are as hard to carry as physical wounds," Thomas said.
The medal was awarded to Thomas on Dec. 18, 1965, following injuries he sustained while serving in heavy combat with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam.
It is one of three he was awarded during his service.
Thomas said the Purple Heart he is presenting the president has special meaning to him because the injury he suffered to earn it occurred just after a friend, Richard Peterson, lost his life attempting to save him.
(Excerpt) Read more at kdhnews.com ...
Wow - can you imagine how this would touch the Presidents’ heart?
Great story - great gesture.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
WOW! . . . This is an amazingly thoughtful, touching gesture!
MUST READ PING!
Extraordinary!
And W certainly deserves it. God love him, and those wonderful people who thought it up.
Nice post. Nice gesture. Correct assessment. Thanks!
BTTT Nice post that should be read.
Very nice gesture and classy. Copperas Cove put on the map again.
I lived there for six years and graduated from Cove high school when my dad was stationed at Fort Hood.
What a neat idea.
I will have to look up Copparas Cove - I don’t know it.
Texas - right?
Quite the difference from JF’n Kerry throwing “his” medals over the White House fence. The article was posted last Monday, and said he would present the Purple Heart to President Bush on Monday at 12:30. Not sure if that meant the same day or today (April 23).
He originally wrote up a citation and gave the medal and citation to his congressman to pass on to the President. When the President heard of it he asked that he come to the White House and present it himself. Great and honorable men come from Texas!
Thanks for the ping, Deb. So glad to read about this. What an amazing gesture!
What a cool gesture!
Thanks for the Ping, DrDeb! I will share with others.
This is a heroic and honorable thing to do...and worthy of our service personel and how they feel.
SO proud this gesture comes from a fellow Texan!
My dad was at Ft Hood for years.
Am sure W will always remember Bill Thomas.
Bless him and his wife for coming up with the idea.
It sure makes me proud to be a Texan...that’s for sure!
I am sure that the president was very proud to accept this
gift from the heart of a hero!
Proud to be a Texan ((ping))
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