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Posted by Jock Strap on 28/5/2007, 22:21:00 Danny was granted a 2 week leave in which to see his daughter being born. He arrived in an airport in Atlanta (from Kuwait...they dont let them leave straight from Iraq...isnt that kind? Pfft) And since the government counts your time on leave as the moment that you set foot on american soil, he couldnt actually schedule a flight as you never know if said Atlanta flight will be postponed. He waited on standby for three flights to minneapolis. With him, was a Lieutenant that was also waiting to see a wife and child born. They waited about 6 hours. Finally, in full fatigues, he went to the flight desk and said... "Listen, my wife is having contractions right now. I have only two weeks to see her and my baby. Im in active duty coming home from Iraq and I just want to get home." Not one single person gave up their precious seat. Danny watched as every one turned their heads. He got on the next flight thankfully, and not due to anyone being kind, but the Lieutenant had to wait 3 more hours before finally, a minister and his wife gave up their seats. Supporting the troops? ARE YOU SURE?? Days later, when I was at the hospital seeing his newborn daughter, I looked at him. He was skinny but seemed ok. I looked him square in the eye and I said "how is it over there." No one has ever looked me back this way when he said "I dont want to go back." Then he took off his boots... He had such a bad case of athletes foot that it had progressed to what I would liken to gangrene. Hes been there since last september and it had gotten so bad, but thats NOTHING. ####ING NOTHING compared to what is really going on with the troops. I sat him down over several cocktails later and he told me a story... "I was in charge of a bridge that led to Baghdad...one that led to a part of the city that was shut off due to several diplomats that would be there that day. There was to be no one passing said bridge. So the day went by, and he held the bridge with his guns and fellow soldiers. At about dusk, 6 people drove up that had just recently been SHOT and in an explosion caused by a roadside bomb. 5 of them were alive. One was not. It was, I think, 3 adults and 2 children. Not sure who was dead, only probably the one they WERE DRAGGING ALONG BEHIND THEM. They went to Danny because GUESS WHAT...the hospital is ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE. They were begging him, bleeding and ragged and dying to get to the hospital. He radioed in to whomever and they said no. They instead, ordered him to get the VIN NUMBERS of all the cars of the other side of the bridge. So, being a soldier, he did that. He radioed the numbers back, brought the dying people to the other side of the bridge, against orders... And got demoted. My cousin SAVED 5 LIVES, CARRIED A DEAD ####ING CORPSE ACROSS A BRIDGE, AND GOT DEMOTED. ALL THIS THINKING IN HIS HEAD, "####...I HAVE A NEWBORN CHILD ON THE WAY THAT I HAVE TO SUPPORT AND A WIFE THAT IS COUNTING ON ME. IM GOING TO GET A PAY CUT BECAUSE OF THIS. OH WELL." THAT is a hero. So when you talk about doers versus talkers? Tell that story. Ask yourself how fast would you give up your seat? Would you REALLY risk your job and/or your life for a pay cut BECAUSE YOU ARE JUST DOING YOUR JOB? And guess what else...I cant talk to him anymore because he cant go on myspace. But you know what I can do? TALK ON MYSPACE because that is why hes there. Wear your pin, wave a flag, go to the cemetary and leave flowers but for gods sake, just know.... its worse over there than ANYONE OF US knows. So take your memorial day off and go have a picnic and then go to starbucks WHERE YOU WONT GET BLOWN UP. ________________________ The preceeding rant has been brought to you by the reverend rae and the letter U because thats who I love, the letter S for bringing sexy back ( not sure how long it was gone) and the letter A for angry and filled with rage. ~the rev Oh...and the number 25 for how many years I might get for writing this. Bring it. ####ers.
209.23.172.162
Just wanted to pass this along... don't know why for sure... thought maybe someone besides me should read it. It's an e-mail I received from a friend.
My cousin Danny is in Iraq right now. He signed up for the Army national guard years ago, to pay for college and put in his few weekends. Then they sent him and 150 or so of his buddies over seas. He was excited to go. He felt priviledged to be chosen out of so many troops going there and so he married his lovely wife, got her pregnant, and then got sent off. I was at the going away "ceremony." Tim Pawlenty aka *evil incarnate* was there to wish them well on what WILL BE a life changing voyage.
She then got permission to go on the horn to all the other waiting passengers and said, "Thank you ladies and gentlemen for your patience. We have two active duty military men that just need to get home to their families. If you give up your seats, we will comp your next flight, give you a free hotel, 400 dollars in vouchers, a meal, and free transportation."
SCALE OF ONE TO TEN??
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