Soldiers Cheer Commander in Chief; Unending 'Hooahs' Herald Bush Visit

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."

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."

I have no idea what Huzzah means, never heard it before in my life, but check this out:

Your family might be too HOOAH if...

* Your newborn must attend the new comers' orientation briefing within the first 30 days of life.

* Your wife's two favorite shades of lipstick are light green and loam.

* You go to a barbecue and insist that your family feed tactically.

* Your children clear housing before they go to college.

* You require your mechanic to replace the sandbags in your floorboard as a part of a tune-up.

* Your station wagon is equipped with blackout lights.

* Your kids call their mother "Household 6."

* Your kids volunteer to pull air guard on the school bus.

* Your doorbell sounds off with the current challenge and password.

* Your house has sector sketches posted by every window.

* You give the command "Fix Bayonets" at Thanksgiving Dinner.

* Your kids show their meal cards at the kitchen door, except the oldest, who is on separate rations.

* You make your daughter sign out on a pass on Prom Night.

* Your kindergartner calls recess a "smoke break."

* Your wife calls foreplay "prepping the objective."

* Your wife conducts an AAR after making love.

* Your wife "takes a knee" in the checkout line at the Food Lion.

* You do your "back to school" shopping at the U.S. Cavalry store.

* Your kids call the tooth fairy "Slicky Boy."

* Your son fails the third grade but tells everyone he was a "phase three recycle."

* Your kids salute their grandparents.

* Your wife's "high-n-tight" is more squared away than your commander's.

* Your kids get a LES for their allowance.

* Your grandmother won "All American Week" and "Best Ranger."

* All your kids have names that start with AR, FM, TM, or DA Form.

* Your pick-up has your name stenciled on the windshield.

* Your kids are hand-receipt holders.

* Your older kids call the youngest one "Cherry."

* Your kids recite their ABCs phonetically.

* Your wife keeps Mermites in the China cabinet.

* Your wife left you and you held a "Change of Command" ceremony.

* You call your in-laws the "Slice Elements."

* Your dog's name is "Ranger."

* All your possessions are military issue.

* Your kids call their sandbox "NTC."

* You have pull-up bars outside the kitchen door.

* Your daughter's first haircut was a flattop.

* Your kids pull fireguard.

* Your newborn's first words were "all OK Jumpmaster."

* You decorate your Christmas Tree with Chem Lights and Engineer Tape.

* You use call signs and proper RTO procedures when using the telephone.

* You have the household SOP posted on a corkboard as you walk into your front door.

* You have photos of the current chain of command up to the Commander-in-Chief, decorating one wall of your house.

* You have to salute your wife every morning because she is the Household Commander.

* Your wife puts a better shine on your boots, than you do.

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