WHAT KIND OF MAN?

[Smoky14]

Subject: What kind of man would do such a thing

At Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC recently the Sergeant Major of
the Army, Jack Tilley, was with a group of people visiting the wounded
soldiers. He saw a Special Forces soldier who had lost his right hand and suffered
severe wounds of his face and side of his body.

The Sergeant Major of the Army wanted to honor him and show him respect
without offending, but what can you say or do in such a situation that will encourage and uplift.

How do you shake the right hand of a soldier who has none?

There was a man in that group of visitors who had his wife with him to visit the wounded. He seemed to knew exactly what to do. This man reverently took the soldier's stump of a hand in both of his hands, knelt at the bedside and prayed for him. When he finished the prayer, he stood up, bent over the soldier and kissed him on the head and told him that he loved him.

A powerful expression of love and Christ-like example, for one of our wounded heroes.

What kind of a man would do such a thing?

The wounded man's Commander-in-Chief,

George W. Bush; President of the U. S.

This story was told by the Sergeant Major of the Army, at a Soldier's Breakfast held at Redstone Arsenal, AL, and recorded by Chap lain James Henderson stationed there.

Pass it on... the press won't.

[Marlin]

A very moving story which, I believe, was reported on the WorldNetDaily news site, which I read daily.

Thanks for bringing it to our attention, Smoky.

[SouthernMoss]

Thanks, Smoky.

[ibtrukn]

Thanx Smoky, U R rite the "media" won't pass it along. Y should they? It makes OUR PRESIDENT look good. Dam good

[outdoorsman260]

That' and it's a bit embellished.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/bush/injured.asp

[SouthernMoss]

Even Snopes concedes that it is possible the President could have prayed for the soldier.

~~~~~~~
...but none of the press reports about the visit mentioned the President's praying with any of these wounded men (although that would not necessarily have been out of character for him). emphasis added
~~~~~~~



And the story as per Snopes still shows a caring and compassionate Commander-in-Chief:

~~~~~~~

On one visit he [the SMA] spoke to a young special forces soldier who lost his hand in an accident involving a rocket-propelled grenade launcher. As he was leaving, the soldier stuck his limb to the SMA and SMA Tilley gingerly shook the bandages to not injure him further. He presented him a coin and said "God Bless You."

The same soldier was visited several days later by the President, who was awarding medals to many of the wounded soldiers. The soldier stuck his limb up to the President as he was leaving, and President Bush cupped his limb with both hands and said "God Bless You." He then knelt down and kissed him on the forehead.

[JohnK3]

Hmmmm....I dunno, but "God Bless You" is very much like a prayer. It is a supplication to the Almighty for His blessings upon someone.

The more I hear about him, the more I'm glad I voted for him.

[stash247]

Beat the dog out of the guy I worked for, in 1969-70-71-72.
I voted for him, prayed for him. and continue to do so.
Should he run for a third term(My vote is already decided for a second), I'd do it again.
GW, and his daddy, are tops in my book.

[glocknut]

Originally posted by Smoky14
Pass it on... the press won't.

Ain't that the truth!

mike

[dcd_enterprises]

Algore or Lurch--I mean J. Kerry (He served in Vietnam, by the way) woulda done the same thing....



NOT!

[BobMcG]

Thanks for the post. I wouldn't have been aware otherwise.

[stash247]

Both the Bush gentelmen are exactly that; God fearing, compassionate, gentelmen, in every sense of the words.
The military hospitals, all over the country, are filled with young men who got hurt, that we would not be hurt, and they are the finest, most highly trained, soldiers in the world!
I've got Brooke Army Medical Center, the foremost burn treatment center in the world, and Wilford Hall, an Air Force facility, in my 'backyard', so to speak, in San Antonio, and they are on my 'Christmas list', for this year, as for several years past.
When I came home, after my second tour, the raid on Son Tay, then, my third tour, the one 'consistancy' was that I was 'bad mouthed', spat upon, and generally 'less than welcomed' home; two of my tours in RVN I 'third purpled' out, early. Not the way I would have chosen, but the way it was.
These kids are gonna get better treatment, if it is within my power, to make it so. They stood tall, in defense of our country, and our way of life, and damned well deserve it!
Cracker Jacks, chocolate covered raisins, salt water taffey, and such, are not expensive gifts, they are not size, or gender specific, yet every young serviceperson would delight in such an unexpected gift, for the holiday!

And the thought of a stranger, sending such, to someone, simply to say 'thanks', means to many of them, far more than the gift, as they know they are recognised, and appreciated!
Twenty bucks ain't much, yet, it would fund 6 or more such gifts; I challenge everyone on this list, to match this, and deliver what you buy to the front desk of a military hospital, in your AO.
Some hospitals have some serious 'security concerns' so, call ahead, and ask how best to do this, subject to their procedures; you may have to wrap the gifts, in the hospital, after inspection, a hassle, but no biggee; point is, do it!
I remember, full well, the 'sting' of my 'welcome home' several times, with more stitches in me than a good saddle; these kids deserve much, much , better!
If that gives a perspective on 'what kind of man' the younger Bush is, I am glad; I'm inclined, personnally, to question anything coming from 'snopes' as they seem to have a habit of playing 'fast and loose' with facts, but believe what you will, and get the gifts to the kids, regardless!
It's the right thing to do, and the kids will love you for it!