Prime's Worm Hole : A Geat Story: Welcome Home

Friday, January 27, 2012

A Geat Story: Welcome Home

1/11/2012 - NEW YORK -- LaGuardia Airport personnel received an unexpected
arrival Dec. 27, 2011, when the 4th Special Operations Squadron aircrew
radioed the airport requesting permission to land.

Deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn since 2003, the
AC-130U Spooky Gunship was on its final leg home. The unexpected arrival
became an opportunity for everyone at LaGuardia Airport to honor the crew in
true New York fashion.

"Robert McAdams, the station manager for SheltAir Aviation, LaGuardia
Airport's fixed base operator, notified my office of the AC-130U's scheduled
arrival time and that the aircraft was en route from Iraq to Hurlburt
Field," said Thomas Bosco, general manager for LaGuardia Airport.

With timing of the essence, the staff responded with the singular goal of
honoring returning service members who are travel weary and itching to set
foot on U.S. soil.

"The Port Authority (of New York and New Jersey) earn their living by
thinking, organizing, and acting quickly and decisively," said Bosco. "So,
it wasn't difficult at all for them to organize personnel and equipment for
the event. As the word spread of the AC-130's arrival, airport workers, who
could safely break away from their duties for a few minutes, did so in order
to render a heartfelt "thank you" to our brave men and women in uniform."

The aircrew was bringing one of its finest and most battle-tested assets
home. The final AC-130U Spooky Gunship from the 4th SOS was closing in on
U.S. soil - something the plane had not touched down on since 2003.

Taxiing into the designated parking spot, the crew was overcome with
emotion. For many, this was their first glimpse of the United States in
months. Off the nose of the aircraft, emergency vehicles lined the taxiway
with their flashing lights beckoning them forward into the parking spot.
Personnel from every section at the airport stood cheering and waving
American flags as well as fire trucks symbolically saluting the aircraft and
her crew with water cannons.

"It is indescribable the feelings our crew had as we taxied up to the
amazing reception," said Capt. Justin Harvey, AC-130U Spooky Gunship pilot
of 4th Special Operation Squadron. "For me this was a top 5 moment of my Air
Force career at this point. I could hardly taxi the aircraft my hands were
shaking as we pulled into parking."

Choosing to land at LaGuardia Airport became a symbolic nod to Americans
whose lives were irrevocably changed by 9/11. While the aircrew was coming
home from Iraq instead of Afghanistan, the homecoming had a reassuring
effect on those who attended.

"Port Authority police and civilian airport workers felt compelled to
organize a warm and appropriate welcome to our returning heroes," Bosco
said.

Given the horrific 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, and informed the
aircrew's intent to put "boots on the ground" in New York City, Bosco said
it was a fitting conclusion to their combat mission.

While the homecoming was deeply appreciated by the aircrew, it left an even
more lasting impression on the LaGuardia staff.

"Welcoming the AC-130 crew was one of the most striking and heartwarming
moments of my career," remarked Port Authority Police Officer Dan Francis.

Kevin Dauwalter, Chief Operations supervisor at LaGuardia Airport, said he
was deeply moved by the home coming and grateful for the opportunity to say
thank you to those who risk their lives to defend our freedoms at home.

The aircraft's return represented the end of Hurlburt Field's commitment to
the OND mission but underscores Hurlburt Field's commitment to protect
America and her allies.

"Although this aircraft's arrival signifies the end of one chapter, we
remain engaged in operations around the globe and vigilant in the defense of
our country's freedom," said Col. Jim Slife, commander of 1st Special
Operations Wing.

As one of the final four planes to come back to the 4th and 9th Special
Operation Squadrons here, the impromptu welcome home salute cemented what
service members already knew: America is a "grateful and patriotic nation."

"We want the crew members to know that New Yorkers, and indeed all
Americans, are grateful for their service to the nation in defense of our
liberty," Bosco said.

No comments:

Prime's Worm hole

This is a place for me to muse about the issues that affect our world. My world and my country and my life in particular. I can say what I want to here and those who may stumble across my musings, are welcome to comment,or not. America is under siege. Everything this nation has ever represented, is now being torn asunder and crushed by the onslaught of egalitarian socialism. All morals and social values have been devolved into the belief that systemic racism, is the only underlying cause or reason for any societal ills in America. And that representation, is nothing but a Trojan Horse argument. A means of getting the egalitarian camel's nose into the tent. And now that it has been inserted? There is mayhem and anarchy and burning and looting all across America. And the only questions that remains to be asked and answered? Are these. When is enough enough and when will the American people call full stop and take the law into their own hands, to repel this socialist based attack on the Constitution and our personal freedoms.

Thinking

It started out innocently enough. I began to think at parties now and then -- just to loosen up and be a part of the crowd.
Inevitably, though, one thought led to another and soon I was more than just a social thinker.

I began to think alone -- "to relax", I told myself -- but I knew it wasn't true.
Thinking became more and more important to me and finally I was thinking all the time.

I began to think on the job. I knew that thinking and employment don't mix, but I couldn't help myself.

I began to avoid friends at lunchtime so I could read Thoreau, Muir, Confucius and Kafka. I would return to the office dizzied and confused, asking, "What is it exactly we are doing here?"

One day the boss called me in. He said, "Listen, I like you and it hurts me to say this, but your thinking has become a real problem. If you don't stop thinking on the job, you'll have to find another job."

"Honey," I confessed, "I've been thinking..."

"I know you've been thinking," she said, "and I want a divorce!" "But Honey, surely it's not that serious." "It is serious," she said, lower lip aquiver.

"You think as much as college professors and college professors don't make that much money, so if you keep on thinking, we won't have any money!"
She exploded in tears of rage and frustration, but I was in no mood to deal with the emotional drama.

"I'm going to the library," I snarled
I headed for the library, in the mood for some John Locke. I roared into the parking lot with NPR on the radio and ran up to the big glass doors.

They didn't open. The library was closed.

To this day, I believe that a Higher Power was looking out for me that night.

Leaning on the unfeeling glass, whimpering for Emerson, a poster caught my eye, "Friend, is heavy thinking ruining your life?" it asked.

This is why I am what I am today: a recovering thinker.

I never miss a TA meeting. At each meeting we watch a non-educational video; last week it was "Porky's." Then we share experiences about how we avoided thinking since the last meeting.

I still have my job, and things are a lot better at home. Life just seemed easier, somehow, as soon as I stopped thinking. I think the road to recovery is nearly complete for me.

Today I took the final step...I joined the Democratic Party

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If you are able,
save them a place
inside of you
and save one backward glance
when you are leaving
for the places they can
no longer go.
Be not ashamed to say
you loved them,
though you may
or may not have always.
Take what they have left
and what they have taught you
with their dying
and keep it with your own.
And in that time
when men decide and feel safe
to call the war insane,
take one moment to embrace
those gentle heroes
you left behind.

Major Michael Davis O'Donnell
1 January 1970
Dak To, Vietnam

Captain Michael O'Donnell was lost in Cambodia on March 24 1970, while flying a UH1 rescue helicopter, trying to rescue an eight man LRRP team under attack in Cambodia. He was listed as MIA along with the eight he had attempted to rescue after his UH1 Huey was shot down by enemy fire. The official military report listed the eight as shot down 'non survivable' and 'non recoverable.'

Michael O'Donnell was submitted for the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions that day. He was awarded the Distinguished flying cross, the Bronze Star, The Air Medal and The Purple Heart and he was promoted to the rank of Major (posthumously).

In 1978 he was officially listed as KIA by the Department of Defense.

A little about the philosophy of the author

The Borg Conspiracy is one man's purely pedestrian thoughts, independent musings and frequently cheeky commentaries...Mixed with an abundance of patriotism, love of God, and love of country.

My thoughts?

In my opinion........in another generation, all that will remain of our once great republic, may be little more than what is left to weather the passage of time in the form of a few obscure and forgotten monuments to the great American experiment.

If America should fail....let it be written as her epitaph.....died by her own hand. The greatest experiment in freedom ever undertaken, lost in the end to the pursuit of the illusion that egalitarian tolerance was more valuable than individual freedom.

Let us be warned.
Franklin, Payne, Jefferson. They all knew the consequences of the lack of vigilance and they tried to warn us. They gave us a document as our guide post. We were to guard it and revere it and use it to guide and govern our future and our posterity.

No one listened.