Posted on 11/06/2013 1:12:38 PM PST by bestintxas
Fourteen Marines on their way home from serving in Afghanistan were upgraded to first class on their flight from Chicago to San Diego.
The Marines learned that American Airlines - which has a policy to upgrade servicemen and women in uniform whenever possible - had six empty seats in first class for the group. That gesture was followed by seven first-class passengers who jumped out of their seats for the other Marines so they could sit together.
"It was incredibly touching," Capt. Pravin Rajan said in a telephone interview from Camp Pendleton in California. "Afghanistan is a very complex and ambiguous war ... and a difficult thing to keep track of so it is amazing when we are 10 years (into) a war and there is still that kind of community, that level of support, the level of willingness to go out of one's way."
The welcome home started with a phone call. Stephanie Hare, a native of Illinois who now works in England, called the USO at O'Hare and explained that her fiance, Rajan, who had served seven months in Afghanistan, was with a dozen other Marines on a plane bound for Chicago from Baltimore.
"I just thought if they could get them some Chicago pizza, champagne or something, that would mean a lot," she said.
On the other end of the line was John Colas, a 74-year-old former Marine USO volunteer. He told Hare he'd try to do something in the hour or so before the flight landed. But he cautioned that while volunteers make an effort to welcome military personnel whenever they come through the airport, he wasn't sure he could pull anything off in such a short time.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Didn’t I hear a story on Fox News this morning where a soldier was tossed out of a cab for being a soldier?
I have approached several service members in various airports. Only one ever gave me a slightly questionable look when I thanked them and shook their hand.
Most were incredibly humble.
Good to hear there is still some decency left in this country.
Honor still exists
when I see a soldier in line for food at an airport I pay his bill and say “Its on me, soldier”
I do the samer, and always get a smile. I’ve also paid for their meals and coffees, on the ‘QT’, and left quietly, while tipping the waitress/cashier, nicely, to keep it to herself.
Wonderful story. I really hope someone passes stories like this on to Obama, because I’m sure they would really piss him off.
Anybody want to raise his/her hand?
Kudo’s to American Airlines & those who gave up their seats.
Back in 1965 I was on emergency medical leave because I had contacted meningitis during basic training. I was a pretty sick puppy and was sitting in the waiting room at the St. Louis airport waiting to fly military standby home.
I guess I was really looking sorry because an Army Captain came over and asked me if I was OK. I told him what was going on. He returned in about 10 min with a full price ticket so I did not have to wait standby. He was an aide for a General who was the one who had spotted me sitting there and it was the General that bought me the ticket.
I never did get the General’s name. I just saw him leave the airport with his aide and he smiled at me and gave me a brief nod of his head.
When I flew in my class A or B uniform (which you’re required to do on orders) a stewardess would almost always place me in first class, unless it was a military charter aircraft. Once I flew Space A on an Air Force Learjet as the only passenger.
As an intelligence analyst I worked with generals and admirals a lot and found them to be much nicer than their lower-ranking counterparts.
When was that?
That is my preferred way of doing it as well, but...that is just because I don’t want them to feel uncomfortable. I usually make a point of thanking them for their service and then paying and leaving...
Funny, a couple of years ago, I got an idea to go into Logan Airport a couple of days before Christmas and hand out cash to incoming flights with military personnel, but my brother and wife talked me out of it. They said it would be too weird for some of them, and...well, I guess it could have been.
Every year before Christmas my wife and I take a sum out of our joint account, divvy it up and give it to whatever charity we want.
I love doing it, and give all mine to military associated organizations, but I was getting all kinds of information from Freepers “Don’t give to this one, don’t give to that one...” to the point I just couldn’t feel comfortable giving to any of them...handing out the cash was my easy way out.
Sigh, I usually give to the USO, to the the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society, etc, but...I have reservations.
I know this sounds awful, but I cannot fathom making contributions to organizations that are going to possibly redistribute to homosexual couples...and I don’t have any control over that. I don’t want to not get money to some of these, but I don’t know how to reconcile that.
Damn.
As one Freeper suggested, maybe I will find a way to do everything locally this year.
Around 30 years ago.
This was the best thing I have heard all day...:)
It makes me feel hopeful.
I'll never forget way back when I was much younger, and went to visit my dad in France. My dad said "no time to change out of your uniform... let's quick go into town where they're giving an honor to Alan Shepard for his recent moon walk". The town square was packed, and I couldn't even find the admiral. Then, some guy tapped me on the shoulder and said "please stay put, the admiral would like to come over and have a chat with you".
Admiral Shepard did indeed come over and spend a few minutes chatting with me... definitely made my day.
COOL!!!
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