-----Original Message----- Subject: FW: E-mail from a Captain in Iraq
> (Thanks to Sam Wainscott, Dayton VetRep) > > > > 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 weretasked > with filling a few tables. Naturally, the 501st MI battalion got ourtable. > 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 my 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. > > ***** ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
