Click here to listen to "Heroes In Our Midst," words and music
by Dick Eastman.
© 2006 Dick Eastman Music/ASCAP
My name is Major Eric Smith. I am an active duty officer in the United States Army. Last year I was deployed to Iraq along with many others in support of the war on terrorism. During my R&R, I was required to catch my connecting flight through Dallas. I just wanted to thank your staff as well as the countless volunteers who so graciously give of their time to welcome all of our Soldiers back home.
I spoke of the heartfelt reception we received in Dallas with other Soldiers upon my return to theater and found that they too had received the same warm welcome. Ken, your contributions make Soldiers feel like a “Rock Star” for a day! Your actions, as well as those of countless veteran groups, schools and many others give us Soldiers a true test of how Americans and Texans feel about us. As I’ve shared many times with my family and friends, my airport connection in Dallas will be one of the fondest memories of my deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Please know that what you do means a lot to all of us serving in uniform. The water cannons on the tarmac were an especially nice touch. I still have the post card on my refrigerator. Keep it up!!
v/r
Eric
(MAJ Eric S. Smith)
I returned from Iraq in September 2005 for my R&R. Then I also came home for good in December 2005. The welcome I received in Dallas brought tears to my eyes! That welcome also made me realize that I will continue to serve this great country and its even greater people until its time to retire from the military. Thanks to all of you from the bottom of my heart and God bless you all for all the good things you do!! Keep up the good work, it means alot.
Staff Sergeant Jon Depiesse
Kansas Army National Guard
I just returned from a glorious two week leave in the great state of Texas. I expected to arrive in Dallas, wander to my connecting flight to Houston and get home without any real memory of DFW. Instead, I was blown away by the whole experience. I was surprised by the water salute, but when I found the reception at the gate it was all I could do to choke back the tears. I sit here day after day in the dining facility and hear CNN report how everyone hates what we do and it makes it so hard to stay motivated. I wasn't born until 1968 but I have heard stories my whole life about Viet Nam vets getting spit upon in the San Francisco Airport as they arrived home. Of course, I always knew that there were huge differences between Dallas and San Francisco, but as a Houstonian I have also always had little love for Dallas. That will certainly change now. Thank you so much for the completely unexpected and wonderful welcome. I really don't know how I can ever express the gratitude I feel for the homecoming you gave us. It makes me prouder than ever to be a Texan, to be an American and to be a soldier. God bless you all.
Daniel A. Phillips
111th Area Support Group
Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan
Folks - I want you to know that US Army Soldiers love Texas... Here's why... I came through DFW a couple weeks ago on my way home from Iraq for my 2 week R&R. Well, I must tell you that I was so impressed by (and am still very appreciative for) the Texas style "welcome home" that my fellow Soldiers and I received when we came out of the DFW customs area into the DFW main terminal. Truly, it was awesome... Now I grew up in the Army, and I've been just about everywhere, but I want you all to know that I've never felt more “welcome” or more “at home” than I did just then when I was met by the throngs of friendly Texans who personally thanked me for my service and welcomed me back from Iraq.
Being an old Airborne Ranger with 26 years of service I kinda like to think of myself as a fairly tough and stoic type guy. Moreover, I like to think that I'd never show my emotions in public (and especially while wearing the uniform). Even so, I do have to admit that I did get a little misty eyed from that very kind and spirited DFW welcoming. About an hour later in DFW Terminal A, while waiting with the Kansas City bound Soldiers, we discussed amongst ourselves how wonderful it was to be thanked and welcomed home by the people of Texas. I told my fellow Soldiers that my father was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, and that his grave stone read the wars of his service: WWII, KOREA, VIETNAM. I related how he had served in the Pacific Theater and subsequently occupied Japan after WWII... and how by the time he came home after his tour of occupation that the VJ-Day welcoming parades and celebrations were long over... I explained further that he got no welcome home of any kind after he came back from the Korean War as well... And even worse, that he and many of our Vietnam era military received nothing but rebuke and insults when coming back home in uniform.
So I said to our KC bound group that it was truly something special that we had received from the people of Texas there in DFW, and that we should relish the moment.. All of the Soldiers were heartedly agreeing with me when an older gentleman, who was sitting amongst our group, interjected that he was a Korean War veteran, and like my father had never received a welcome home or received any appreciation for his combat service. Well my fellow Soldiers and I immediately engaged this old fellow in warm conversation and he then introduced us to his wife who was sitting with him. Interestingly, this old fellow and my father both served in the 7TH Infantry Division during the Korean War but were in different Infantry Regiments; he in the 32ND Infantry and my father in the 31st Infantry. Well, being inspired by the fine example from the people of Texas, I stood up and told the old Soldier get to his feet as well. I then shook his hand and gave that old veteran a big old bear hug and said, "Welcome home, brother. We’re damn proud of you and we truly thank you for your loyal service in defending us and our nation. God bless you, old Soldier." Well the old guy couldn’t have been happier and he even got a little misty eyed just as I had done only an hour before. The old Soldier said to me that he wished that my father had gotten a welcome home for his long military service. I told the old Soldier, "Sir, my dad just got his welcome home today (through me) right here in DFW, Texas."
Anyway, I wanted you to know that the DFW welcoming truly meant something to the troops (young and old), and for you to please be sure to tell all your volunteers to keep up the good work. Truly, the troops damn sure appreciate the love and support we received from you all there in the great state of Texas. God bless you all.
Respectfully,
LTC John M. Hughes
OIC, DMT 6
101st Sustainment Brigade
FOB Q-West, Iraq |
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