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| "I wasn't prepared for that." |
| 2007-10-26 |
| "Bill and Bob's Excellent Afghan Adventure" I had prepared for saying goodbye to my children. I set a calm and cheerful example, and being prepared for it kept my emotions more manageable. My kids did pretty well with it, and I'm pretty sure that being calm myself really made a difference for them. I was prepared to say goodbye to my family. It's not easy, but it's something that you know is coming. It's not a surprise, like when you know that you're going to get an innoculation... the pain isn't a surprise. . . . But I wasn't prepared for what happened today. As my flight from Cincinnati to Atlanta was beginning its descent, the flight attendant began her normal spiel about landing and gates, and assistance finding your connecting flights and so on. Then she announced that I was on board and on my way back to Afghanistan after spending two weeks with my family. The plane erupted into applause. I was stunned. I nearly burst into tears. My emotions, barely contained under the thin fabric of my ACU uniform, rushed towards the surface and nearly made it out. Somehow, I managed to keep it all together, but it was close. We arrived in Atlanta with only about a half an hour before my report time to the USO for processing for my flight to Shannon, Ireland and then Kuwait. I had to get a quick nicotine fix and find something to eat. They formed us into a line upstairs at the USO, probably 200 or more of us, and took us downstairs in two long lines. Soldiers and Marines paired two by two in a long line snaked through the airport towards the Army Personnel Command desk to do our formalities. As we wove through the airport, the throngs of travelers began to applaud. I wasn't prepared for that, either. Again, I struggled not to lose it. It was like cracking the seal on a warm, freshly shaken coke. All the bubbles rush towards the cap, bringing the contents of the bottle along. That's what it felt like. I managed to keep all my fluids contained; but it was another close call. How could I be so prepared for saying goodbye to my children that I could put a brave and cheerful face on and nearly lose it when perfect strangers applaud? H/t to blogger "Charlie Foxtrot," who comments: I believe that this is a great demonstration that the public opinion battle over the war is not lost as some might want to claim. I am sure that not all of those applauding support the war in Iraq, and maybe not even the War on Terror, but were merely showing their respect. |
| Posted by:Mike |
| #9 as it should be, CS. TY |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-10-26 22:43 |
| #8 Way back in 1982 I was traveling with my wife (both in uniform) from san Antonio to Sacramento on American Air Lines. When we got to the gate they called us top the podium and told us we were bumbed to first class and we could bnoard immediately. Gosh that felt good. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2007-10-26 22:36 |
| #7 This is the unexpected fruit of the volunteer army. The Morality of the draft has been questionable before, but volunteering to put one's self in harm's way for the sake of the nation says something very profound about one's character. Contrast this with the "safe" "moral" "courage" of leftist media, academia, and politicos: as empty of substance as hard vacuum. I made it a point, while going on a trip recently, to shake the hand and thank every soldier that I see in the terminals. God bless these |
| Posted by: Ptah 2007-10-26 18:23 |
| #6 Great story! American patriotism is alive and well. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-10-26 18:16 |
| #5 When we flew through Bangor, Maine the second time around there were bunches of civilians that greeted us and shook our hands. At the hotel bar there some Canadian guys on their way to some bike week in FLA who bought us round after round of beer. The average folk still supports the troop even if many of them can't grasp the big picture of the war. I feel for this dude - the worse part about any deployment is kissing the kids goodbye - I was like a broken hearted little teenager. |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2007-10-26 15:12 |
| #4 It is good to hear such stories. Thanks for the great posting Mike. What goes on in Congress and what is generally reported in the MSM does not represent the majority of the American people. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2007-10-26 13:01 |
| #3 Last time a Congresscritter received such spontaneous accolades from complete strangers in open public? Priceless. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2007-10-26 12:03 |
| #2 Heartwarming! It also suggests that the constant stream of negativity from CNN, NPR and associated fellow travellers has not been as effective outside of enclaves like San Francisco as they might have hoped. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2007-10-26 11:36 |
| #1 Hoo Rah! |
| Posted by: doc 2007-10-26 09:11 |