November 2007
December 2006
But I am stickler for details. While it's fictional, if the writers would do a little more research they might end up with a better story.
Last night (it airs Sunday at 10 p.m. but I catch the Monday 8 p.m. replay), some Airborne troopers returned home from Iraq. They stood patiently at ease on the tarmac in front of a C-130 while families waited and a short prayer was recited. It looked good on TV but that's not how it is done.
When the Airborne troopers come home, they do it right.
The families are a sequestered in the cavernous Green Ramp at Pope Air Force Base. It's a hanger where they prepare for training jumps. The benches are built to accommodate a soldier with parachutes front and back and the families awkwardly sit waiting for the troopers. There are signs everywhere and the noise, despite the 82nd's band, is deafening.
In November, when Alpha, Delta and HHC companies flew in, the charter did a low loop around Pope AFB and waggled its wings before landing. One Dad standing next to me said the waggle wasn't for us but for the Best Buy employees as a sign that business was suddenly going to improve.
When the plane landed, a two-star was there to shake each soldiers hand. The troops formed in a column of eight and the rear guard marched out with the battalion colors, on which there are battle streamers from every major campaign - some dating back to WWI. Even the most hardened are moved by the colors as they move out to the returning soldiers. The troops then march in to Green Ramp. A tribute is given to the fallen and the troops are dismissed to their families, who are scrambling to find them. The soldiers have about five minutes before they reform to turn in their weapons and other gear. It's great theater, far better than a group soldiers standing at ease on the tarmac in front of a C-130.
But in reality, it doesn't matter what it looks like as long as it's "boots on the ground" at home.
3 comments:
You are far less judgemental than me Dad.
I watched that particular episode myself, and when the welcome home ceremony aired I said, WTF?
ther is no way on gods green earth that the Arny would make anything that short and simple.
And in the matter of home comings, quite rightly.
The thing is, most of the soldiers and thir families would rather not have a ceremony.
They just want to be together after a long and winding road.
Hope Mark's leave is going well?
I pick Matt up at Manchester airport tomorrow.
Probably won't sleep much tonight.
How did Gayle like Manchester Boston Regional?
Our ceremonies were quite short but the march in was impressive. The families were at fever pitch.
Gayle liked Manchester. Very easy to get through and even the TSA folks were nice. We fly into Logan in a couple of weeks, so she will have something with which to compare her experience.
As I write, I have my Dice-K shirt on. Have managed to catch a couple of Red Sox games down here....been fun to watch. Might actually become a baseball fan again.
Manchester is a nice little airport. Easy to get to easy to get out of, and easy to get around in.
If you haven't been to Logan for a while, you'll be surprised.
It got big.
I use to drive airport shuttle into there, and last spring when we flew out of there I didn't recognize it.
The Rays are teaching the Sox a lttle about baseball this week.
But Kice K is shutting them down tonight.
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