General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forumsoh my gosh, you guys, did you see this picture?
?w=735"This was one of the most poignant moments of the President's first term. He was visited wounded warriors in the intensive care unit ICU at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, May 1, 2012. He had just presented a Purple Heart to Sgt. Chase Haag, who had been injured by an IED just hours before. Sgt. Haag was covered with a blanket and it was difficult to see how badly he was injured. He was also seemingly unconscious so the President whispered in his ear so not to wake him. Just then, there was a rustling under the blanket and Sgt. Haag, eyes still closed, reached his hand out to shake hands with the President."
http://lightbox.time.com/2012/10/08/pete-souza-portrait-of-a-presidency/#101
(I apologize for the size--I don't know how to shrink the photograph.)
Chase is apparently doing well now. From the President's speech at Fort Bliss on August 31, 2012:
Sergeant Chase Haag is 22 years old. This past spring he was with his team when their vehicle got hit by an IED the day that I flew in. So when I arrived at his hospital room, he and his buddies were all in pretty bad shape. And he was certainly in bad shape -- his leg was broken, his back was fractured. He was laying there on his bed. He was under a lot of medication, face was swollen, his eyes were shut.
And at first, my attitude was I didnt want to disturb him because I thought he was sleeping. And the doctor said, no, I think he can understand what youre saying even if he cant acknowledge it, and I think hed appreciate knowing that youre by his side. So I leaned in and I told Chase how proud I was of him and how proud the country was of him, and how wed be praying for his recovery.
And I was turning to leave and then something happened. There was a rustling under his blanket. And Chase never opened his eyes, couldnt make a sound, but suddenly you saw the blanket lift and his arm came out. And he shook my hand -- a firm Army handshake. (Hooah!) And I dont think there was a dry eye in that room.
And then a few months later I was visiting our wounded warriors at Walter Reed, and I walk around the corner and whos there but Chase. He had endured multiple surgeries. He was persevering through physical therapy. But this time he was on his feet. He was walking again. And he had his dad next to him. And today hes back where every soldier wants to be -- back with his unit. (Hooah!) (Applause.)
And it made me think, thats just one moment in the life of one American soldier. But it captured the spirit, the resilience, the tenacity, the discipline, the resolve, the patriotism of all of you.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/08/31/remarks-president-troops-fort-bliss-tx
porphyrian
(18,530 posts)goclark
(30,404 posts)FarPoint
(12,409 posts)The respect this soldier has for his President....semiconscious and still rises to duty. Our President, being sensitive as well...........oh....I'm so moved.
ThatsMyBarack
(7,641 posts)janx
(24,128 posts)had gotten better. Such good news!
malaise
(269,026 posts)Now bring them home
calimary
(81,304 posts)money in the Cayman Islands.
Proud of him as my President! I just voted to give him another four years!
CakeGrrl
(10,611 posts)Amazing.
HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)Obama is a true president. I can't fathom how anyone could consider rMoney when we have Obama. We don't need a vulture capitalist. We need the leader we already have - a real leader.
sakabatou
(42,152 posts)HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)At least he can count on FOX to edit out the 90% of shit he says because it's totally stupid.
sheshe2
(83,785 posts)So true the only hands he will be shaking are that of corporations "corporations are people my friends" don't ya know.
ellaydubya
(354 posts)The human spirit is strong......a very moving, beautiful moment. Thanks for sharing.
Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)Republicans love to go on about how they respect veterans, but the problem is they also support cowboy diplomacy which inevitably translates into more of them winding up like Sergeant Haag or worse. So in reality they don't respect them at all.
A true supporter of troops advocates for bringing them home and keeping them out of needless conflicts which only result in pain and destruction.
Tigress DEM
(7,887 posts)daleanime
(17,796 posts)spanone
(135,843 posts)Turbineguy
(37,337 posts)is a mooooocher! We could be giving what he costs to some well deserving CEO as a bonus for off shoring jobs.
And for the trolls...
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)...so Presidential.
Kyad06
(127 posts)they should have been brought home years ago. I support Obama but dragging this war on is a disgrace
MissDeeds
(7,499 posts)I couldn't agree more.
frogmarch
(12,153 posts)defacto7
(13,485 posts)politicaljack78
(312 posts)Daemonaquila
(1,712 posts)I have many objections to our President's decisions, but I can love him for the fragging good guy he is.
bluestate10
(10,942 posts)picked and expanded by the Veteran's Administration. The program gives first time offending former soldiers a choice to undergo a recovery plan or go to jail. As one would guess, the former soldiers chose to go into the program. The program has a stunning success rate. This is just one more example of how much different President Obama does his job, his administration takes chances to rebuild soldier's lives instead of throwing them in jail to rot. Imagine what republicans would do and say if just one of the soldiers in the program commit a major crime while in the program? We would have another Willie Horton over-reaction.
George II
(67,782 posts)....and to think that his predecessor, who was responsible for that wounded warrior being in Afghanistan, barely acknowledged those wounded and killed and did what he could to reduce the funds available to treat them when they returned to the US.
Thanks for the picture and story!
janx
(24,128 posts)wanting to smile, but very moved.
oldtime dfl_er
(6,931 posts)what a moving moment.
and for all those -- myself included -- who say "it's time to bring these men and women home", I'm pretty sure that's EXACTLY what Obama is thinking in this picture.
Duppers
(28,125 posts)I am now wiping tears.
Brings tears to my eyes....
Historic NY
(37,449 posts)underthematrix
(5,811 posts)so awesome so real
WillyT
(72,631 posts)SCVDem
(5,103 posts)Romney in this picture.
He really only cares about money!
Betsy Ross
(3,147 posts)was probably made by one of the numerous quilters who contribute to the Quilts of Valor. Initially focused on providing hand-made quilts to wounded troops of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, they are now distributed to veterans from all wars and circumstances. Please visit www.qovf.org for more information.
A few of my quilts were sent to Afghanistan, Germany, and military hospitals all over the US. Some may be viewed at
http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/344334380SzIAud
I encourage anyone who knows how to operate a sewing machine to jump in a give it a try.
[URL=http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/1515713112067347196iKnWsF][IMG][/IMG][/URL]
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)Thank you for the information and for all you do in making quilts.
Had no idea the program existed.
GoCubsGo
(32,086 posts)That "molas" quilt is fantastic! Did you also make the molas, or just incorporate some that were made in Central America?
I wish I had the patience for that kind of thing...
William769
(55,147 posts)David Zephyr
(22,785 posts)Powerful.
SaveAmerica
(5,342 posts)toby jo
(1,269 posts)& for the righties - we have Ryan fake washing fake dirty pots.
mstinamotorcity2
(1,451 posts)Myrina
(12,296 posts)OMG, wrong answer. How 'bout honorable discharge with full benefits!?!?!
tk2kewl
(18,133 posts)TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)and need the income, or maybe just wants to keep on doing what he's doing. Some people do make a career out of the military.
tk2kewl
(18,133 posts)the soldier can choose as he wishes
chasehaag
(4 posts)I read alot of these comments on this thread and want to thank everybody for the support, and if anyone is wondering I just had my VA physical yesterday and get out on the 7th of march.
uppityperson
(115,677 posts)Hoping being out in the world again goes well for you.
chasehaag
(4 posts)Thank you, just kinda wish people would be able to know more than just what the picture shows, that I was not the only one injured that day in my truck and so on and so forth.
uppityperson
(115,677 posts)Reading on the other thread that you will try to get a group photo up. Best wishes to you all.
I'm probably your mom's age, grew up with Viet Nam vet friends and now our kids are like you, involved with the current stuff.
ellisonz
(27,711 posts)This thread has been archived so it won't get kicked up for all to see - to remedy that I'm going to re-post your post as a new post: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022293737
I'm very glad that our community was a help to you and wish you the best of luck.
Aloha.
chasehaag
(4 posts)I'am just thankful for all the nice comments on this thread and surprised this picture got around. Nd thanks again.
ellisonz
(27,711 posts)Check-in every once in awhile.
Aloha.
handmade34
(22,756 posts)PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)Good to see you are dong better.
MADem
(135,425 posts)Unit cohesion and esprit de corps are a big part of the overall morale picture. Terms like "Band of Brothers" (and sisters, these days) don't materialize out of thin air. There's a shared responsibility in a high functioning unit.
He would only get a discharge with full benefits if he were medically retired or finished a 20 year career. If he wanted out, he could have parlayed his wounds into a ticket home, but he clearly wanted to recover/return to his friends.
Phentex
(16,334 posts)the expression says it all.
Initech
(100,079 posts)Obama wins again.
Uncle Joe
(58,364 posts)Thanks for the thread, renate.
gademocrat7
(10,659 posts)Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)Please don't make me cry I love our president for this. Obama/Biden 2012
renate
(13,776 posts)At least it's a happy tear, since Chase is doing well now.
Ikonoklast
(23,973 posts)It is to our great national shame how these women and men are treated.
There is no amount of money I would keep from the VA, if they asked for a trillion dollars, I would find it somewhere.
God damn it.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)Chase's hand is a wonderful shape. Big, strong and with long fingers.
patrice
(47,992 posts)It also confirms in me, even more deeply, how profoundly important it is, since they are sworn to obey ALL lawful orderss, to elect the right person to be Commander in Chief.