Bet there isn't an e-mail like this for Hillary's visit!!! LIBERALS
HATE AMERICA!!!!!!!!!
An Email from a Captain in Iraq
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 we retasked 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.
*****
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