Master Sgt. Shane La Caillade represented Missouri during a White House dinner honoring Iraq war veterans. He had deployments to Kirkush, Tallil, Iraq, as well as to Qatar. (Photo by Marvin Lynchard, Joint Hometown News Service)
Staff Sgt. J.H. Smith represented the state of Georgia during a special White House dinner honoring service members from all 50 states and territories for their service in Iraq. (Photo by Marvin Lynchard, Joint Hometown News Service)
Senior Master Sgt. Donnie Bolton represented Illinois duing a special White House dinner honoring men and women who served in Iraq. Bolton had multiple deployments between 2007 and 2009. (Photo by Marvin Lynchard, Joint Hometown News Service)
by Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service
3/1/2012 - WASHINGTON (AFPS) -- President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted a White House tribute to Iraq War veterans and their families last night to honor them for their service, sacrifice and commitment to the nation.
Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, and Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, along with senior officials from all branches of service joined the president and the first lady at an event dubbed "A Nation's Gratitude: Honoring Those Who Served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn."
Airmen representing nine states from throughout the U.S. were honored at the dinner for their service in Iraq. "The opportunity to meet other members from other branches of service and hear their personal sacrifices is an honor," said Master Sgt. Kevin T. Bullivant, an explosive ordnance disposal NCO assigned to the 151st Air Refueling Wing, an Air National Guard unit in Salt Lake City, Utah. "I am also proud to represent the explosive ordnance disposal community and share some of the sacrifices that fellow EOD technicians have endured."
Master Sgt. Shane A. Lacaillade, a clinical operations NCOIC from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., represented the state of Missouri for the dinner. "Admittedly, receiving the official White House invitation in the mail felt a bit surreal. I feel immensely honored to stand for my fellow Airmen at this event. It is no simple task to represent the caliber of men and women who I served alongside with in Iraq. There are the ones I'm thinking about tonight."
Other Airmen representing their states included Maj. Erik J. Jacobson, from Nevada; Tech. Sgt. Cristian Bennett, representing Wisconsin; Master Sgt. Jessica Coombs, representing Michigan; Senior Master Sgt. Donnie Bolton, from Illinois; Staff Sgt. J.H. Smith, representing Georgia; Master Sgt. Jeremy Coombs, from Maine and Staff Sgt. Andrew Piiainen, another EOD technician, representing Massachusetts.
"In one of our nation's longest wars, you wrote one of the most extraordinary chapters in American military history," Obama told the more than five dozen Iraq veterans and their guests. "Now, the Iraqi people have a chance to forge their own destiny, and every one of you who served there can take pride in knowing you gave the Iraqis that opportunity -- that you succeeded in your mission."
The vice president lauded service members for their ability to adapt to challenges, the capture of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and the opportunity they gave the people of Iraq to have a self-governing, self-sufficient nation.
"You're incredible. You adapted, you succeeded and you defeated," Biden said. "You defeated a tyrant, [and] you beat back violent extremists. And the most remarkable thing you did, because of the breadth of your capability, you enabled a country that had not been governed in any reasonable way for over four decades, you actually helped them set up institutions and train a military and a civilian corps that gives them a real fighting chance."
Panetta expressed his gratitude to all in attendance as well as the million-plus service members they represented for fulfilling their duties, for their dedication and for their service to the nation.
"To all who fought in Iraq, we thank you for your service," he said. "You've earned our nation's everlasting gratitude. We are indebted to you for your willingness to fight [and] your willingness to sacrifice for your country.
"We are [also] indebted to your families and your loved ones for the sacrifices that they made so that their loved ones could help defend this nation," Panetta said.
The chairman, who was first to speak, thanked the president and first lady for paying tribute to veterans and families of the Iraq War.
"Mr. President, Mrs. Obama, thank you for recognizing the service and sacrifice of the military family in this very special way," he said. "We really appreciate the support that you, the vice president and Dr. Biden, and those that they bound together in the 'Joining Forces' initiative and the nation provide us."
The first lady and Dr. Biden have championed the Joining Forces effort, which seeks to mobilize tangible support for service members and their families in all sectors of American society.
Just before dinner began, the president emphasized how proud he is of the U.S. military for working together to achieve success in Iraq.
"As your commander in chief, I could not be more proud of you," Obama said. "As an American, as a husband and father of two daughters, I could not be more grateful for your example [of] the kind of country we can be, [and] for what we can achieve when we stick together."
Obama paid tribute to "courageous" troops who served despite the likelihood of being sent into harm's way and to fallen service members and their families.
"You taught us about sacrifice -- a love of country so deep, so profound, you're willing to give your life for it," he said. "Tonight, we pay solemn tribute to all who did."
Obama recalled five service members who were the first casualties of the Iraq War, and the last U.S. casualty there, who was killed Nov. 14.
"Separated by nearly nine years, they are bound for all time among the nearly 4,500 American patriots who gave all that they had to give," the president said. "To their families, including the Gold Star families here tonight, know that we will never forget their sacrifice, and that your loved ones live on in the soul of our nation, now and forever."
Comments
3/7/2012 12:35:55 AM ET @RET col Matcheck. The President inherited this war and ended it as previously negotiated by the former President. We didn't surrender to anybody. Also, your military training doesn't prevent you from saying anything, you are retired and no longer a part of Big Blue. You can say whatever you want.
HiSwanny , AFEFsuckas
3/6/2012 12:10:13 PM ET See what Dean did there? He said his training prevented him from saying something, then went right on to say it. I'm pretty sure that meets the technical definition of talking out of both sides of one's mouth.
PB, US
3/6/2012 7:27:10 AM ET @Dean Matcheck: My dissent as an American encourages me to criticize. Apparently you missed that lesson. Oh btw, who got us into this war? Who set the time table for withdraw? The answer is the same person.
JJ, TX
3/6/2012 3:52:13 AM ET @ Msgt Michael Carnevale. What are your sources on this?
Anon, Europe
3/5/2012 9:59:26 AM ET @Col Matcheck, Interesting comments. I wonder what you think about a president who sent troops into Iraq without a clear mission in the first place?
jazzcat, USA
3/4/2012 10:37:47 PM ET Mr. Dillon: Actually Mr Obama tried to negotiate a long stay for US troops in Iraq. He failed at that so we had to leave at the time set by the Bush Administration.
Msgt Michael Carnevale Ret, Colorado Springs CO
3/4/2012 6:24:32 PM ET Col Matcheck, your brother's service is appreciated. However, one should not make ignorant comment just like you did. The president is doing what the previous president had negotiated and as far as I know 80 percent of the veterans did not think it was worth going to this war. Thank you for your service.
Check Six, USA
3/2/2012 9:24:03 PM ET Guess my invite got lost in the mail.
F16FXR, Western US
3/2/2012 2:45:44 PM ET Were any of the servicemembers CURRENTLY SERVING IN IRAQ invited? Yes the numbers are much smaller, but we do still have servicemembers in Iraq not to mention the 1000s of US citizen contractors working DOD contracts for the security assistance mission.
Maj, SWA
3/2/2012 12:28:14 PM ET @ Reserve Col Dean: Thankfully your brother survived... 3,500 GIs weren't so lucky. And at what gain? Who were and are the so called enemies? I'm glad were out of that hole. I'd been there in the 90's as part of the UN, which determined there weren't any WMDs after all. But thanks to our friends at Langley, we got us 3K KIA and 30K WIA. Glad this president was good on his word, otherwise the numbers would be higher. The place will fall to crap soon and we'd wished Saddam was there to keep his leash on things like Iran.
Fudd Dillon, CONUS
3/2/2012 11:31:19 AM ET I wander if they told them that their out of pocket healthcare cost could soon increase by more than 200 percent.
DSDSSWOEFOIF VET, ALABAMA
3/1/2012 8:23:49 PM ET My military training prevents me from saying what I really think about a president who encouraged our enemies to persevere by promising to surrender if elected. Thank god my brother got out of Iraq alive.
