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Emery
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Joined: Sun Jul 28, 2002 1:02 am
Location: Owensville, MO
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Post by Emery »

We knew there was a dinner planned with ambassador Bremer and LTG Sanchez.

There were 600 seats available and all the units in the division were tasked with filling a few tables. Naturally, the 501st MI battalion got our
table. Soldiers were grumbling about having to sit through another dog-and-pony show, so we had to pick soldiers to attend. I chose not to go.
But, about 1500 the G2, LTC Devan, came up to me and with a smile, asked me to come to dinner with him, to meet him in his office at 1600 and bring a camera. I didn't really care about getting a picture with Sanchez or Bremer, but when the division's senior intelligence officer
asks you to go, you go.

We were seated in the chow hall, fully decorated for thanksgiving when
aaaaallllll kinds of secret service guys showed up. That was my first clue, because Bremer's been here before and his personal security detachment is not that big. Then BG Dempsey got up to speak, and he welcomed ambassador Bremer and LTG Sanchez. Bremer thanked us all and
pulled out a piece of paper as if to give a speech. He mentioned that the
President had given him this thanksgiving speech to give to the troops. He then paused and said that the senior man present should be the one to give it. He then looked at Sanchez, who just smiled.

Bremer then said that we should probably get someone more senior to read the speech. Then, from behind the camouflage netting, the President of the United States came around. The mess hall actually erupted with
hollering. Troops bounded to their feet with shocked smiles and just began cheering with all their hearts. The building actually shook. It was just unreal. I was absolutely stunned. Not only for the obvious, but also because I was only two tables away from the podium. There he stood, less than thirty feet away from me! The cheering went on and on and on.

Soldiers were hollering, cheering, and a lot of them were crying. There
was not a dry eye at my table. When he stepped up to the cheering, I could clearly see tears running down his cheeks. It was the most surreal
moment I've had in years. Not since my wedding and Aaron being born. Here was this man, our President, came all the way around the world, spending 17 hours on an airplane and landing in the most dangerous
airport in the world, where a plane was shot out of the sky not six days before.

Just to spend two hours with his troops. Only to get on a plane and spend
another 17 hours flying back. It was a great moment, and I will never
forget it. He delivered his speech, which we all loved, when he looked right at me and held his eyes on me. Then he stepped down and was just mobbed by the soldiers. He slowly worked his way all the way around the chow hall and shook every last hand extended. Every soldier who wanted a photo with the President got one. I made my way through the line, got dinner, then wolfed it down as he was still working the room.

You could tell he was really enjoying himself. It wasn't just a photo opportunity. This man was actually enjoying himself! He worked his way
over the course of about 90 minutes towards my side of the room. Meanwhile, I took the opportunity to shake a few hands. I got a picture with Ambassador Bremer, Talabani (acting Iraqi president) and Achmed
Chalabi (another member of the ruling council) and Condaleeza Rice, who was there with him.

I felt like I was drunk. He was getting closer to my table so I went back
over to my seat. As he passed and posed for photos, he looked me in the
eye and "How you doin', captain." I smiled and said "God bless you, sir." To which he responded "I'm proud of what you do, captain." Then moved on.
Be ye kind one unto another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

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Emery
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Joined: Sun Jul 28, 2002 1:02 am
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Post by Emery »

Whether you are for or against the war, for or against the president, he has instilled respect back to the presidency. You would have never seen this type of reaction with President Clinton. (Of course, we wouldn't be over there helping out the people of Iraq either.) I can tell you that he would have gotten his standing ovation because that is what the position directs us as military members to do, but it certainly wouldn't have been heartfelt and there wouldn't be any tears in the audience. How do I know this you ask? Well, Clinton was the reason I got out of the military after 10 years. There were lots of others as well. Yes, he shrunk the military to a skeleton crew, why do you think he had a budget surplus? Most of the people got out by choice because they couldn't stand the commander in cheif. When the first attacks on the World Trade Center happened, what did he do? Throw a couple of cruise missles and call it good. When the USS Cole was attacked, what did he do? When the embacies were bombed, what did he do? Need I go on????? President Bush (like him or not) has the respect of the military which hasn't been in the presidency since Clinton took office.

Emery
Be ye kind one unto another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

Steve C.

Post by Steve C. »

Emery, that story reminds me of a similar incident in May of 1983. Ronald Reagan was in office and had given the military its' first raise in years and showed a commitment to raising the Armed Forces back to the prominance it enjoyed prior to the Iran hostage crisis and the scuttling of our national defense during the Carter administration. President Reagan was scheduled to deliver the commencement address at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. AS SAIC of the Fort Jackson Resident Office of the 902nd MI Group, I was tasked to provide security support to the Secret Service and FBI during the President's visit. A huge crowd had gathered on the campus in anticipation of the president's visit as no sitting chief executive had been to South Carolina in decades. Just prior to President Reagan's introduction a small band of protesters began pushing their way through the crowd towards the podium, chanting, waving signs and hurling insults directed at the president. I radioed my contact with FBI for instructions but he said not to worry, that things were under control. Within moments thousands of students engulfed the protesters and they simply vanished as quickly as they had appeared, though protest signs, shoes and shredded clothing could be seen flying through the air during the retreat. President Reagan was introduced and began his speech right on schedule. Now, I'm not one to pay much attention to political rhetoric, but I must admit I was spellbound listening to the great man speak. The hour long speech seemed to last just minutes and no one made a sound except for the frequent and long ovations he received throughout the speech. This was not a Republican vs Democrat speech nor was it really a political speech. It was simply a "Why I'm Proud to be an American" speech and this was the only time in my life I was so stirred by the spoken word. No wonder all people who love our country, values and way of life so loved this man. He made us proud of our country, our leadership, our servicemen and women and mostly, ourselves. The sound bites on TV never showed the electricity in the air or showed the pride on people's faces as they left afterwards. It was a time I'll never forget. God Bless all our men and women in uniform!

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