[VaMarVet]

Soldiers said they were impressed to see the commander in chief, the world's most powerful man, flying into Baghdad just days after a cargo plane was struck by a shoulder-fired missile.

"It was a shock," said Pvt. Jason Strickland of Virginia Beach, Virginia.

"It was a display of confidence in our ability to protect not just us, but him," said Pfc. Telo Monahan, 20, of Woodinville, Washington. "It was just three or four days after that DHL plane got hit."

Others said they'd been given a heartfelt boost after struggling with a difficult occupation.

"After 13 months in theater, my morale had kind of sputtered," said Capt. Mark St. Laurent, 36, of Leesburg, Virginia. "Now I'm good for another two months."

[FreeReign]

"It was a display of confidence in our ability to protect not just us, but him," said Pfc. Telo Monahan, 20, of Woodinville, Washington. "It was just three or four days after that DHL plane got hit."

Three or four days after DHL. Amazing!