While searching through the pictures of our trips to Washington DC for the veteran reunion’s, I came across these pictures of Jesse. The first one was taken on our first evening at the reunion with soldiers from Ft. Hood who presented the colors. I thought she looked so tiny in the midst of the soldiers, but I was surprised that none of the guys even talked to her. They were very polite in posing with her, but did not speak to her at all. The second picture was taken at the reunion banquet with our friend, Capt. Jeff, who had recently returned from dropping bombs on Baghdad and was then stationed at the Pentagon. During the banquet Jeff got much attention with his dress blues and medals. The veterans were all over him wanting to take pictures with him. Many thought that Jesse was his date and some even thought she was his wife. One veteran and good friend of my uncle’s came up, pointed at Jesse and said, "How old is she?" At that time, Jesse was 21. When I told this to the vet, he exclaimed, "You’re kidding! Yesterday,I thought she was about fifteen, but when I saw her tonight, I was not so sure anymore!" Aha, now I understood why the soldiers had not spoken to her. In her jeans and t-shirt, she looked like a little girl. In her little black dress at the banquet, she looked much older.
Side note: I have posted other pictures of Jeff - plane pron as Laurie said. He is now married and stationed in Alaska.
4 comments:
Great photos. I was struck by how very young your friend Capt. Jeff looks. And also by the fact he's wearing the Distinguished Flying Cross. Impressive, even in this day and age, when the USAF is infamous for awarding medals and decorations at a pace unknown in the past, and more importantly, in the other services. (Blogger won't take a link I want to post, so I'll just have to quote it)
By the start of the 21st century, the Air Force had created several new ribbons as well as an Air Force specific campaign medal known as the Air and Space Campaign Medal. Since then, members of other military branches have been known to comment upon the high amount of awards and decorations that the Air Force bestows...
Just another of my hot buttons...
And Becky: No more smart-a$$ comments about how I find all these military folks "young looking," mmm-kay? :-)
As I have posted before, Capt. Jeff is an incredible young man. He had been flying the no-fly zone between Iraq and Kuwait (I believe) before we invaded Iraq, came home, and was sent back to the Mid. East as we invaded Iraq. At the banquet pictured, my uncle introduced Jeff to General Peterson (Joint Chiefs of Staff) whom was so impressed with Jeff, he said, "You are coming to work for me." Later Jeff was one of the people who did research for General Myers and sat behind him during the 911 hearings. I could go on and on bragging about him (I even have a picture of him setting next to Mrs. Cheney at some militry function), but he never got around to telling me how he got the Distinguished Flying Cross. Now you know why the veterans were all over himat the banquet. Plus, this was at the beginning of the war in Iraq and they wanted real news.
Wonderful photos, Lou. Jesse looks lovely in jeans and evening dress. In fact, she looks like the kind of sweet, self-assured and intelligent young woman that a young man would love to introduce to mom and then marry. Maybe that's why they were a little bashful! :)
Bec said, "...that a young man would love to introduce to mom and then marry. Maybe that's why they were a little bashful!"
I hadn't thought of that, but you could be right.
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