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http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/Bush_Makes_Holiday_Calls_/2007/12/24/59526.html
Bush Makes Holiday Calls to Troops
Monday, December 24, 2007
WASHINGTON -- President Bush made Christmas Eve calls to 10 U.S. troops
serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and other spots around the world, thanking them
for their sacrifice and wishing them a happy holiday even though they'll be
far away from their families and friends.
The president made his calls Monday from the Camp David presidential retreat
in the Maryland mountains, where he is spending Christmas. He spoke with
members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard,
including seven serving in Iraq.
White House press secretary Dana Perino said Bush knows it is difficult for
the children of U.S. servicemen and women to understand why their fathers
and mothers cannot be home for the holidays. Bush said that when the
children are older, he hopes they'll understand and appreciate their
parents' sacrifice, Perino said.
"He said he couldn't thank them enough for their contribution to their
country, hopes they are in high spirits, and that they are serving a cause
that is very noble," Perino said. "He said, `I know that you miss your
family.'"
"He asked them to pass on to their colleagues his appreciation and his
wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."
Bush also exchanged holiday greetings on the phone with Russian President
Vladimir Putin and spoke with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said that Bush and
Erdogan discussed their efforts to fight terrorism and the importance of the
United States, Turkey and Iraq working together to confront the PKK.
The PKK, or Kurdistan Workers' Party, has fought for autonomy in Turkey's
predominantly Kurdish southeast since 1984. The group is considered a
terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.
Over the weekend, Turkish warplanes bombed Kurdish rebel targets in northern
Iraq in the third confirmed cross-border offensive by Turkish forces in less
than a week.
Bush will leave Camp David the day after Christmas for his Texas ranch and
will return to Washington on New Year's Day. A week later, on Jan. 8, he
begins a trip to the Middle East with stops in Israel, the West Bank,
Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Among those joining the president at the wooded compound in Maryland's
Catoctin Mountains are Mrs. Bush's mother, Jenna Welch; and the first
couple's twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna; the president's sister, Doro
Bush Koch and her family; and the president's brother, Marvin, and his
family. For lunch on Christmas Day lunch, they will dine on roast turkey,
cornbread dressing, green beans, sweet potato casserole, fruit salad,
pumpkin and pecan pies and red velvet cake.
Bush called:
-Army Staff Sgt. Anthony R. Lewis, deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan, with the
428th Field Artillery Brigade from Fort Sill, Okla.
-Army Sgt. Cleveland W. Upton, deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, with the Attack
Company, 1-28 Infantry, 4th Brigade, Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. No
home town information was immediately available.
-Army Spc. Joseph E. Sizemore, deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, with
Multi-National Corps, C-3 Tactical Operations. Sizemore's daughter and son
live in Snowshoe, W. Va.
-Marine Sgt. Joseph K. Jenkins, deployed to al-Anbar Province, Iraq, with
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 29. Jenkins' wife, Melissa, lives in
Grand Prairie, Texas.
-Marine Cpl. Orlando P. Anaya, deployed to al-Asad Air Base, Iraq, with the
Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Forward.
Anaya's fiance, Carrie Martinez, lives in Roswell, N.M., according to the
corporal's parents, who also live there.
-Navy Personnel Spc. 1st Class Claudine A. "Toni" Gayle, deployed aboard the
USS Harry S. Truman in the Persian Gulf with Carrier Air Wing Three Naval
Air Station Oceana from Virginia Beach, Va. Her husband, Telly Spruill, and
daughter live in Virginia Beach.
-Navy Petty Officer Kelly Mumm, deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, with Naval
Mobile Construction Battalion Fifteen from Belton, Mo. Mumm's wife, daughter
and son, live in Neola, Iowa.
-Air Force Senior Airman LaTishia B. Hall, deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq.
No home town information was immediately available.
-Air Force Airman 1st Class Rachael R. Whitlow, deployed to Balad Air Base,
Iraq, with 22nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. Her husband, Gregory
Whitlow, is currently stationed at Kadena Air Force Base in Japan. No other
residence information was immediately available.
-U.S. Coast Guard Boatswain Mate 1st Class Michael W. Tapp, deployed with
the USCGC RUSH (WHEC-723) on patrol in the Bering Sea. Tapp's wife, Anne,
and daughters live in Grand Haven, Mich.
Bush Makes Holiday Calls to Troops
Monday, December 24, 2007
WASHINGTON -- President Bush made Christmas Eve calls to 10 U.S. troops
serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and other spots around the world, thanking them
for their sacrifice and wishing them a happy holiday even though they'll be
far away from their families and friends.
The president made his calls Monday from the Camp David presidential retreat
in the Maryland mountains, where he is spending Christmas. He spoke with
members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard,
including seven serving in Iraq.
White House press secretary Dana Perino said Bush knows it is difficult for
the children of U.S. servicemen and women to understand why their fathers
and mothers cannot be home for the holidays. Bush said that when the
children are older, he hopes they'll understand and appreciate their
parents' sacrifice, Perino said.
"He said he couldn't thank them enough for their contribution to their
country, hopes they are in high spirits, and that they are serving a cause
that is very noble," Perino said. "He said, `I know that you miss your
family.'"
"He asked them to pass on to their colleagues his appreciation and his
wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."
Bush also exchanged holiday greetings on the phone with Russian President
Vladimir Putin and spoke with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said that Bush and
Erdogan discussed their efforts to fight terrorism and the importance of the
United States, Turkey and Iraq working together to confront the PKK.
The PKK, or Kurdistan Workers' Party, has fought for autonomy in Turkey's
predominantly Kurdish southeast since 1984. The group is considered a
terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.
Over the weekend, Turkish warplanes bombed Kurdish rebel targets in northern
Iraq in the third confirmed cross-border offensive by Turkish forces in less
than a week.
Bush will leave Camp David the day after Christmas for his Texas ranch and
will return to Washington on New Year's Day. A week later, on Jan. 8, he
begins a trip to the Middle East with stops in Israel, the West Bank,
Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Among those joining the president at the wooded compound in Maryland's
Catoctin Mountains are Mrs. Bush's mother, Jenna Welch; and the first
couple's twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna; the president's sister, Doro
Bush Koch and her family; and the president's brother, Marvin, and his
family. For lunch on Christmas Day lunch, they will dine on roast turkey,
cornbread dressing, green beans, sweet potato casserole, fruit salad,
pumpkin and pecan pies and red velvet cake.
Bush called:
-Army Staff Sgt. Anthony R. Lewis, deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan, with the
428th Field Artillery Brigade from Fort Sill, Okla.
-Army Sgt. Cleveland W. Upton, deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, with the Attack
Company, 1-28 Infantry, 4th Brigade, Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. No
home town information was immediately available.
-Army Spc. Joseph E. Sizemore, deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, with
Multi-National Corps, C-3 Tactical Operations. Sizemore's daughter and son
live in Snowshoe, W. Va.
-Marine Sgt. Joseph K. Jenkins, deployed to al-Anbar Province, Iraq, with
Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 29. Jenkins' wife, Melissa, lives in
Grand Prairie, Texas.
-Marine Cpl. Orlando P. Anaya, deployed to al-Asad Air Base, Iraq, with the
Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Forward.
Anaya's fiance, Carrie Martinez, lives in Roswell, N.M., according to the
corporal's parents, who also live there.
-Navy Personnel Spc. 1st Class Claudine A. "Toni" Gayle, deployed aboard the
USS Harry S. Truman in the Persian Gulf with Carrier Air Wing Three Naval
Air Station Oceana from Virginia Beach, Va. Her husband, Telly Spruill, and
daughter live in Virginia Beach.
-Navy Petty Officer Kelly Mumm, deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, with Naval
Mobile Construction Battalion Fifteen from Belton, Mo. Mumm's wife, daughter
and son, live in Neola, Iowa.
-Air Force Senior Airman LaTishia B. Hall, deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq.
No home town information was immediately available.
-Air Force Airman 1st Class Rachael R. Whitlow, deployed to Balad Air Base,
Iraq, with 22nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. Her husband, Gregory
Whitlow, is currently stationed at Kadena Air Force Base in Japan. No other
residence information was immediately available.
-U.S. Coast Guard Boatswain Mate 1st Class Michael W. Tapp, deployed with
the USCGC RUSH (WHEC-723) on patrol in the Bering Sea. Tapp's wife, Anne,
and daughters live in Grand Haven, Mich.
