Re: Tribute
LadyFish, thanks - moving and beautiful. I forwarded that site on to a friend of mine who just returned from Iraq. He had been the flight engineer on Air Force 1 and had numerous talks with Pres. Bush. Anyway, here are some exerpts from his "Gulf Time."<br /><br />Tony's helicopter (he was engineer) was shot down on the way to rescue another helicopter. Co-pilot broke his neck and some limbs, pilot injured, Tony was unhurt. When they went down the Iraqi's knew where they were and began firing on them. Tony, being the only one uninjured, had to blow up the helicopter, get their ammo and food out first, and then dig foxholes for all three. Iraqi's fired on them for 18 hours a day, leaving up at night for 6 hours to honor their "religious" commitments. During that time Tony would have to drag the 2 wounded to another location, dig new fox holes, and prepare for more fire. This went on for 4 days and at time the Iraqi's were in handgun range. He and his crew were recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross for this.<br /><br />He was also in Baghdad when the statue of Sadaam came down. His chopper was to pull it down, but there were too many people there and the wind picked up, so they left it for the tank. He said the majority of the people over there were so thankful to them for the liberation. There were thousands of people in the square cheering the US forces!<br /><br />He was also involved in the Jessica Lynch rescue! His chopper was providing cover for the Navy Seals. Tony had been transporting the Seals all over Iraq and it was his chopper that landed ont eh hospital roof. When he was told how the media was trying to downplay the rescue all Tony would say was, "Believe me, it was real! I was there!"<br /><br />Tony was also in some of Sadaam's palaces and saw the gold toilets when the majority of people lived in mud houses.<br /><br />The people were so happy with the MRE's the soldiers gave them and the Forces were cheered all along the way. When he saw most of the media reports he thought he was in a different war than was covered!<br /><br />Our troops a definitely worthy of a TRIBUTE!<br /><br />THANKS SOLDIERS!
