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Soldiers Cheer Commander in Chief; Unending 'Hooahs' Herald Bush Visit
DefenseLink.mil - American Forces Press Service ^
| Jan. 3, 2003
| Kathleen T. Rhem
Posted on 01/03/2003 6:42:14 PM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl
Soldiers Cheer Commander in Chief; Unending 'Hooahs' Herald Bush Visit
By Kathleen T. Rhem
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3, 2003 - There was no mistaking that America's soldiers are firmly behind their commander in chief during a presidential visit to the Army's Fort Hood, Texas, today.
The troops there interrupted President Bush's short speech no less than 24 times with that unique Army seal of approval -- "Hooah!"
Bush spoke to troops from the "great 1st Cavalry Division" and "the mighty 4th Infantry Division" before having lunch with soldiers during a noontime visit.
The president noted 1,300 Fort Hood soldiers are deployed in various locations overseas and another 1,600 are preparing to go.
"In the months ahead, more soldiers from Fort Hood may be given other essential missions," Bush said. "But wherever you serve or wherever you may be sent, you can know that America is grateful and your commander in chief is confident in your abilities and proud of your service."
(Lots of hooahs here.)
Bush reminded the soldiers why America is fighting a war against terrorism. "(The terrorists) don't value innocent life. They're nothing but a bunch of cold-blooded killers, and that's the way we're going to treat them," he said to rounds of hooahs. "They reach across oceans to target the innocent. They seek weapons of mass murder on a massive scale. The terrorists will not be stopped by mercy or by conscience, but they will be stopped.
"And they will be stopped by the will and the might of the United States of America," he said. The continuing roars of approval -- "Hooah! Hooah!" -- were deafening.
Bush outlined the military's successes in Afghanistan and spoke of the challenges ahead in dealing with other rogue regimes.
"In the case of North Korea, the world must continue to speak with one voice to turn that regime away from its nuclear weapons," he said.
Iraq is a "grave threat" to the United States and its allies. The president ticked off a list of things that prove the level of this threat: Saddam Hussein has publicly declared his hatred for America; Iraq has a record for torturing its own people and of aggression against its neighbors; Iraq has used weapons of mass destruction.
"That's why I say Iraq is a threat, a real threat," Bush said. Still, the president said, he hopes Iraq changes course and complies with U.N resolutions mandating the country's disarmament.
But, if not, "America will act deliberately; America will act decisively; and America will prevail because we've got the finest military in the world. (Paroxysms of hooahs.) We are ready," Bush said, over the hooahs. "We're prepared, and should the United States be compelled to act, our troops will be acting in the finest traditions of America."
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TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: hooah
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To: Howlin; Miss Marple
|
A few examples of Senator Edwards's failure to represent the people of North Carolina
- Voted NO to the bipartisan tax cut plan (a bill which passed 62-38).
- Voted NO to partial birth abortion ban (a bill which passed 63-34).
- Voted NO to eliminating the marriage tax penalty.
- Voted NO to repealing the estate tax (a bill which passed 59-39).
- Voted NO on the confirmation of Interior Secretary Gale Norton (one of only 24 senators to do so).
- Voted NO to temporarily suspending the gasoline tax.
- Voted NO to stopping the use of federal funds to distribute the "morning after pill" on school grounds.
- Voted NO to limiting the social security tax to 50% of total benefits (it had been 85%).
|
Edwards the rat.
He's pro-partial birth abortion yet heads up the Senate prayer breakfast and criticized President Bush's family values in front of a convention of Baptists. That's hypocrisy.
What defines Edwards the most, imho, is his divisiveness - how he pits one group of Americans against the other for power's sake....class, race, sex...and his lack of humility. His "the little people have nothing without me" spiel may play in Havana, but this is America in wartime. Chanting 'United We Stand' at an Edwards' rally would probably derail his whole campaign.
Ask Chip Pickering what he thinks about the character of Sen. John Edwards.
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Look at all of the smiling faces in the background. What a GREAT picture of a GREAT PRESIDENT!!
TC
22
posted on
01/03/2003 7:33:12 PM PST
by
I_be_tc
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
I hadn't refreshed my Comments page, so I missed the note that the speech would be replayed on CSpan! Interestingly, the article I read earlier today (can't remember where) said that the crowd was mostly silent during his speech. It seemed to me that the writer was trying to indicate that the President wasn't being well received. I immediately suspected some bias on the writer's part because I KNEW that they'd be hoo-ahing him during the whole speech!
23
posted on
01/03/2003 7:33:36 PM PST
by
SuziQ
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Have you got a link to that speech?
24
posted on
01/03/2003 7:34:29 PM PST
by
Howlin
To: witnesstothefall
Concerning "Hooah!"
Hooah (who-ah), adj. U.S. Army Slang. Referring to, or meaning anything and everything except "no." Generally used when at a loss for words. Also:
-good copy, solid copy, roger, good or great; message received, understood.
-glad to meet you, welcome.
-I do not know, but will check on it, I haven't the vaguest idea.
-I am not listening.
-that is enough of your drivel--sit down.
-stop sniveling.
-you've got to be kidding.
-yes.
-thank you.
-go to the next [briefing] slide.
-you have taken the correct action.
-I don't know what that means, but am too embarrassed to ask for clarification.
-that is really neat, I want one too.
-amen.
A few years ago, the Army sent me to graduate school. In one of my first classes I let a big Hooah out of my mouth. The whole class came to a stop. Without a beat, the professor, a former soldier answered with a Hooah and kept lecturing.
And now an article by Article by SGT Audrey Brunson - Soldier's Magazine; Jan 95
You can hear it echoing from the hallowed halls of Fort Benning, Ga.s Infantry Center to the ranges of Fort Lewis, Wash. It is uttered at award ceremonies, bellowed from formations, and repeated before, during and after training missions. Visit just about any Army office building, sports field, dining facility, gymnasium or academy and you will probably hear someone exclaim "HOOAH!"
No matter how one might spell the word - with or without a hyphen, a U instead of two Os or so on - the word is still an expression of high morale, strength and confidence. And, when powered by an overwhelmingly proud, and usually loud, tone of voice, hooah seems to stomp out any possibility of being bound by the written word.
"Its an affirmation that I fully agree with and support the idea or intent expressed by the person to whom I make that response," said Maj. Gen. F. A. Gorden, Military District of Washington commander. "I t applies not only to the letter of what was said, but to the spirit of what was said."
Former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan has his interpretation. "I dont know how exactly to spell it, but I know what it means," Sullivan said. "It means we have broken the mold. We are battle focused. Hooah says Look at me. Im a warrior. Im ready. Sergeants trained me to standard. I serve America every day, all the way. "
The modern hooah, primarily associated with but not restricted to the infantry, originated with the Second Dragoons in Florida as "hough" in 1841. In an attempt to end the war with the Seminoles, a meeting was arranged with the Indian Chief Coacoochee. After the meeting, there was a banquet. Officers of the garrison made a variety of toasts, including "heres to luck!" and "the old grudge" before drinking. Coacoochee asked Gopher John, an interpreter, the meaning of what they said. Gopher John responded, "It means, How dye do," whereupon the Chief, with great dignity, lifted his cup above his head and exclaimed in a deep, guttural and triumphant voice, "HOUGH!"
And so the expression was born. It has since achieved high popularity having lasted for more than 150 years, through the American Civil War, two world wars, the Korean conflict, the Vietnam war, Operation Just Cause in Grenada and the Persian Gulf war.
And the expression continually grows in popularity. Once heard mainly from infantry soldiers, hooah has spread throughout the rest of the Army. Soldiers will continue to acknowledge a mission to be accomplished, a job well done, victory at a sporting event or any occasion imaginable with "HOOAH!"
25
posted on
01/03/2003 7:34:56 PM PST
by
Gamecock
To: Howlin
When I see him I see a slimy little man who has gone through life profiting off the pain of others. I have little respect for trial lawyers who are successful at winning huge settlements from insurance companies. I want to see what he's done "Pro Bono"
I can see his crooked smile on TV Ad asking for those who think they have been wronged to contact his law firm. I loathe his type
26
posted on
01/03/2003 7:35:51 PM PST
by
MJY1288
To: Miss Marple
What a great picture! Look at him look in that baby girl's eyes! Isn't it great!? And the smiles on the faces of our brave warriors...if only the left could see.
To: SevenofNine
Hey, Seven!
Look at the faces of the soldiers in the crowd behind the Prez and the little baby. Especially the ladies at the front left.
They're all going "Awwwwww . . ! Ain't that cute?"
The baby obviously likes him too. She's looking at him with that "Oh, my!" look they get with a new toy.
To: MJY1288
I'm not going to ruin this great thread about the president's speech today talking about that WEASEL......LOL.
29
posted on
01/03/2003 7:39:02 PM PST
by
Howlin
To: Howlin
Here's the transcript:
.As for
hearing those "hooahs!" (anyone?)...
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Thank you, but I meant Edwards' speech. I know you have a LOT of Edwards bookmarks!
31
posted on
01/03/2003 7:43:51 PM PST
by
Howlin
To: Howlin
Agreed :-)
32
posted on
01/03/2003 7:48:11 PM PST
by
MJY1288
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
And the smiles on the faces of our brave warriors...if only the left could see. First they would have to open their eyes
33
posted on
01/03/2003 7:50:17 PM PST
by
Mo1
To: Gamecock
Navy SEALs and the Marine Corps have their unique versions of this. It's wonderfully expressive and gets the blood pumping!
To: Gamecock
In one of my first classes I let a big Hooah out of my mouth. The whole class came to a stop. Without a beat, the professor, a former soldier answered with a Hooah and kept lecturing. Great story! Thanks, Gamecock, and for the history of "Hooah." Florida's a strange land. Those Seminoles 'ethnically cleansed' the peaceful Calusa (Caloosa) Indians from Florida - chased them clear to the Keys where they disappeared into legend.
To: AnAmericanMother
YO YO AM what is upzzzz
Actually I nail Capitol Hill Blue Reader Rant and check out everything troll news wires yeah I saw that cute photo
One thing for sure unlike worry about Clinton Dubya won't drop this baby OH NOOOO hey you see carry Barney around he had practice
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
I am sad that some of these brave young warriors might not come back home. We owe them a debt we can never repay. The war seems inevitable. Thank God that George W. Bush is the right man at the right time to lead this nation. He knows that they deserve the best training, the best equipment, and the best support.
From THIS THREAD comes my proudest moment as a FReeper ---
(Town Hall meeting in Ontario, CA on Jan. 5, 2002; broadcast on C-SPAN)
Yes, sir, back in the back.
Q First, sir, a message from the crew that just recently returned from the USS Enterprise. My son-in-law was aboard that. From the last man and woman on that crew, they are honored to call you their Commander in Chief. (Applause.)
To: Howlin
Edwards bookmarks I have! Funny thing about Edwards information on the net...did you notice how most of the links, speeches and NC Insider articles have disappeared? I have excerpts from the Drake University speech, but didn't copy the whole thing:
Sen. John Edwards: NOT a moderate. Someone
must have a copy of another Edwards speech...he's been
corrupting addressing law school students (campaigning) across the country for the past two years.
To: doug from upland
I am sad that some of these brave young warriors might not come back home. We owe them a debt we can never repay. Amen, doug. Thanks for sharing yet another wonderful dfu Freep moment.
To: MJY1288
Just let anybody try to challenge the military vote ever again while this President is in the White House. The entire Country will be up in arms!
40
posted on
01/03/2003 8:03:19 PM PST
by
terilyn
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