U.S. war leader visits airmen

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kristina Barrett
  • 457th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (AFPN) --  The leader of U.S. Central Command stopped April 18 at a forward-deployed bomber location to show his appreciation for the job the airmen here have done.

Army Gen. Tommy Franks gave a hearty "thanks" to more than 1,200 airmen who supported and flew 100-plus B-52 Stratofortress combat missions in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"Everyone standing here is a half a world away from home. Everyone standing here has people waiting for them a half a world away," the general said to the crowd of well-wishers gathered to see him. "But you're standing by friends. You're also standing in front of a guy who cares.

"No way in the world can you do what's been done without a whole lot of work by a whole lot of people bending wrenches, building bombs, dropping them and worrying about the base operations necessary to do it all," he said.

Franks said the success of Operation Iraqi Freedom was because of the dedication of the U.S. military.

"It's about a whole lot of people -- you -- who get up every day and break their backs to do what the presidents asks," he said. "He couldn't be more proud of you and neither could I.

"You're country loves you and so do I," the general said. "God bless you, and God bless America."