Ft Hood Visit

I only just heard this on the news, and I agree Bush, was known for being a frequent visitor at Reed, but because he was there for the troops and the families, most Americans don't realize how he was just an everyday American since he always did it in silence.

I loved that about him. I was fortunate, Bullet was never injured, but we had our share of losses in the flying community. I respect Bush, because he did not take the media, he realized that their lives were disrupted enough and cameras will not lessen the pain. Instead, he just wanted to touch their lives privately, so the families knew he understood the cost and wanted them to know they were not a number or just a face, that their sacrifice touched his life.

Here is a story that Bullet told me about 5 yrs ago when he was at the Pentagon. I am sure I am screwing up the story, but not the jist. Bullet can give the actual facts of how the guy met both 41 and 43.

Bush 41 goes to Asia, he attends a state dinner, and during this function 41 finds out that this Protocal officer's wife is 9 mos pregnant due any minute. 41 and Barbara tell him leave and go home to be with his wife. The baby was born, a son while Bush was there. 10 yrs later Bush 43 meets up with this guy and starts the conversation with how is your son, my Dad told me about you.

Bush for all his faults really did care about the military. Unfortunately, I place Obama on the level of Carter when it comes to the military.. He just doesn't get how to relate to them...maybe in time he will.
 
Unfortunately, I place Obama on the level of Carter when it comes to the military.. He just doesn't get how to relate to them...maybe in time he will.

President Carter is a Naval Academy graduate and former submarine and surface warfare officer. I won't address any political viewpoints; however, I'd hardly say that he did not know how to "relate" to the military.
 
I SERVED under Carter. Then I had the HONOR and PRIVILEGE of serving under Regan. Then on to Daddy Bush. And I finished my career serving during Clinton's reign. And I will, without a doubt, tell you that Carter had absolutely no clue how to relate to the military. He couldn't make a decision to save his life. He cared too much about his career to ever get confrontational. When it came to the military; Carter was a joke. Even in his non-CIC role of just recognizing them, he was a joke. Did I mention that Carter was a Joke???
 
I served under Carter and Reagan. I was not thrilled to call Carter my CIC, but he was an Annapolis man. I was proud to Call RR CIC. He gave us the best COLA I ever got anywhere, military or civilian. He cared about the military, and he did not back down. If I remember correctly, weren't the Hostages released the day President Reagan took office after being held for the last 444 days of Jimmy Carter's presidency? I am getting older and my memory may be a little fuzzy, but I remember thinking that Iran knew not to mess with RR.
 
^^^^^ You may disagree with President Carter politically, and that is most certainly your right. I'll just point out that he is a Veteran (not only that, a Service Academy graduate...and this is Service Academy Forums, yes?). Thus, he clearly had some understanding of military culture, as it was a major part of his formative years. Perhaps, then, it is not the most accurate thing in the world to call a fellow Veteran, a man who dedicated his life to public service, a "joke."
 
^^^^^ You may disagree with President Carter politically, and that is most certainly your right. I'll just point out that he is a Veteran (not only that, a Service Academy graduate...and this is Service Academy Forums, yes?). Thus, he clearly had some understanding of military culture, as it was a major part of his formative years. Perhaps, then, it is not the most accurate thing in the world to call a fellow Veteran, a man who dedicated his life to public service, a "joke."

I agree with you, I may not think he was the greatest President of my lifetme, but he accomplished much and he is a fellow veteran. I would never call him a "joke". He also has done more to help people since he left office than any of the other Presidents as far as I can see.
 
I don't believe anyone called Carter a joke...what we said as a CIC he was not a strong leader regarding the military.

Carter is in his own right is an amazing human being, what he has accomplished with Habitat for Humanity is down right inspiring. However, that being said, as the CIC he created a hollow military. His belief that boycotting the Olympics would show the Russians that he meant it through diplomatic channels was laughable at best. I remember that time, and as a teenager thinking ...REALLY? You really believe that will show them. I also recall RR announcing at his inauguration that the hostages were free, and thinking at that time Oh how unfair is that to Carter. Only with age did I realize the fear of a hawk had a direct effect. Reagan was a hawk...can we all remember back in the 80's when he bombed Libya? RR was a no holds bar President. Carter believed talking could make the difference. Carter in his own weakness against Russia in Afghanistan created what we are in now. Russia invaded in Dec 80, that was Carter's watch.

Nobody was slamming Carter, the person,the SA grad, the President, they were all saying he was a weak military leader. The President is the CIC.
 
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Responding to Pima's quote: "I don't believe anyone called Carter a joke"

Hmmm....

Carter was a joke. Even in his non-CIC role of just recognizing them, he was a joke. Did I mention that Carter was a Joke???

That would be three times where President Carter was called a "joke" in the same post. I will now give my defense of the man a rest, as this isn't what the thread is about.
 
My bad... and I agree the thread started off about Bush visiting Hood. The thread warped. Yet, in the end of the day Obama is closer to Carter, sadder yet, he is not even being compared to Clinton! Bush was closer to Reagan regarding the military...this is a SA/military site, and those that served under Carter, Reagan Bush like you enlighten the candidates and their family through experience.
 
I MOST DEFINITELY called Carter a Joke. Sorry, I met him. I served under him. I mean what I said.

And sprog; I'm sorry to say this; even though many cadets and applicants will read this; but just because someone is a graduate of a service academy, doesn't mean that they automatically are honorable, has integrity, or even deserving of respect. I totally respect the "SERVICE" that all men and women who serve in our military has given to their country. But I was criticizing Carter "AS PRESIDENT". Because he went to the academy, means nothing to me. Not in relationship to him being president. My opinion goes BEYOND his politics. He did NOT care for the military personnel; (Not the way many others have); and he definitely didn't know how to relate to them. Whether it's because he was more concerned with his political future or trying to be a fence sitter (With vietnam recently ending, and the military not being a very popular place for many voters). But the point is; he was NOT a good commander in chief. mike....
 
Speaking of caring about the troops, my roomate was a Camp David Presidential guard, so I know this is true. George Sr, as President, said, "Where can my family spend Christmas that requires the smallest security team and allows the maximum Christmas leave for the support people?". The Answer was "Camp David". George SR spent EVERY Chistmas there. Clinton, uh, not so much.
Then George "W" is elected, and there follows 8 YEARS of Christmas at Camp David.
I don't know many who knew that story as I knew it, but in my travels when I met someone who personnal knew and interacted with the President(s), I would sometimes tell that story. They ALL would literally shrug and say, "Yea, that's him...". Completely unsurprised and unpublished, just like "W"'s family's hospital visits and the Ft Hood support.
If I could only write a book on how to be a great President using examples I've seen and heard. The problem is, the great ones don't need it and the rest won't read it...
 
Speaking of caring about the troops, my roomate was a Camp David Presidential guard, so I know this is true. George Sr, as President, said, "Where can my family spend Christmas that requires the smallest security team and allows the maximum Christmas leave for the support people?". The Answer was "Camp David". George SR spent EVERY Chistmas there. Clinton, uh, not so much.
Then George "W" is elected, and there follows 8 YEARS of Christmas at Camp David.
I don't know many who knew that story as I knew it, but in my travels when I met someone who personnal knew and interacted with the President(s), I would sometimes tell that story. They ALL would literally shrug and say, "Yea, that's him...". Completely unsurprised and unpublished, just like "W"'s family's hospital visits and the Ft Hood support.
If I could only write a book on how to be a great President using examples I've seen and heard. The problem is, the great ones don't need it and the rest won't read it...

I know that story from my Uncle, a Secrete Service Presidential Security man from Nixon to Bush senior. He also always talked about the exodus when Clinton came in, I'm sure some here remember the story of Hillary's distaste for uniformed Secret Service men around the house...:thumbdown:

BTW, I agree with CC's Carter assessment.
 
I wonder how many people will leave under Obama's administration? Will it be like Carter and Clinton? We all know that when the economy is bad people stay in the military, when it is good they leave. So, when the economy turns it will be interesting to see if there is a max exodus. If the economy continues to stay in the gutters, then I bet we will be seeing a RIF very soon, since there are mandated %'s between field and company. If there isn't a RIF, then we will probably see promotion boards speed up to get the % in alignment. It is either going to be one or the other.
 
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