I would hope politics aside, we can recognize a great man has passed.
From a WWII Navy pilot, shot down by the Japanese. To President of the USA, to skydiving in his 90s. RIP sir, thanks for your service.
Amen.
A great American.
RIP Mr. President.........Semper Fi Sir
RIP President Bush. Thank you for your decades of service to this country.
God Bless
Bill
He was a great statesman, no doubt.
Our 41st President, a WWII veteran, and part of the Greatest Generation. He loved and served his country. Fair winds and following seas, Sir.
Respectfully submitted,
Hap l9l5 cut off
George H.W. Bush was a leader ALL Americans can be proud of. In WWII he didn't shirk from danger and everything he did in his life was in service to his country.
RIP Mr. President
He also packed up his family and moved to Midland/Odessa, Texas and got in the oil business when he could have stayed on the east coast and lived well in retirement. Among the things he used to have sent to him from Texas when he was President were those truck stop packages of Pork Rinds. He got used to eating them when he lived in West Texas. They are an acquired taste to say the least.
People used to wonder how he got to be governor of Texas. That's how.
We could use a few more like him.
A mexican grocery store a few blocks from the Chevy plant would deep fry a lot of [Snoots] every friday.You could buy a small sack fresh for a few dollars and they were very good with beer!! The man had Dignity which is sorely lacking now!Bud.
Truly A great American! God Bless.
America will be lucky to have another President like him.
Terry I agree, we sure don't have one now.
President Bush was smarter than a lot of us, he was a republican but he didn't vote for Donald. George Bush Sr calls Trump a 'blowhard' and voted for Clinton.
I debated with myself. But I guess I will say this.
George Bush, our 41st president, may not have been the best president of all time. But we should be so fortunate if we could have a hundred men (or women) like him in major politics today.
He really was one of the best of the best, and at that, of one of the best generations of all time.
I don't see anyone in national politics today that is even half the man (or person) that he was.
We went to breakfast at the Marana airport this morning and the flag was not at half mast. Same with the sheriff substation in Picture Rocks.
Am I missing something?
The day of mourning has been called for later this week. Reading this it should be;
https://abc7news.com/politics/flags-at-half-staff-for-30-days-following-george-h w-bushs-death/4067918/
John, no, you're not. They are. The order was all flags at half staff for 30 days from President Bush's death.
George Bush Sr. was a good man overall and I voted for him but he didn't always make the right decisions or say the right thing. He had his share of mistakes as all of our Presidents do.
His statement about building a new world order made me and a lot of others cringe. We tend to glorify people when they are gone and run them down when they are in office.
History will judge him as one of our best Presidents and he will stand the test of time.
The loyalty of a good dog...Sully.
john, "If History will judge him as one of our best Presidents",Trump said he is the best president in history, would he be better than George Bush 41?
Hey, I have a nifty idea! Why don't we make this thread entitled "RIP-President Bush" about President Bush and save the Trump snark for somewhere else? In the immortal words of Mr. Rogers, "Can you say 'tire-some'? There... I knew you could!"
I'm taking Thursday off to take my family to view his train as it makes its way to College Station and pay my respects.
I didn't agree with all of his politics, but he and Ronald Reagan were the Commanders in Chief during my military days and I held both of them in high regard.
You ask an honest question and it becomes Trump snark. RIP Mr.Rogers
And yes Dick...I agree...those saying bad things about our current president on this thread are saying more about themselves than they are about our president.
Thumbs up, Mr. Lodge.
Both he and Barbara were awesome people. I had the pleasure of traveling with him for 6 years when he was the V.P. I was assigned to the White House Communications Agency and I much preferred the V.P. trips as the groups were smaller and more personal. I was in DC for a few months, transferred to Camp David, then I was at Reagan's Ranch permanently. Whenever the boss wasn't at the ranch we were on the road. Traveling like that really allows the support staff to see what the principals are like as people. All Presidents have their ups and downs, as well as decisions that are good or bad in hind sight, but few are as genuine as he was. He always spent Thanksgiving and Christmas in D.C. or at Camp David so the Secret Service and our team could be home. Not many people in that position are that thoughtful of their support staff.
I became friends with a WWII vet years ago that knew H.W. from flight training. They remained good friends for many years and Bill got a call one day (from HW) to do some work for the CIA during the Nixon administration. He was later made the US Consolate to Hati. I ferried an airplane from the Guantanamo Bay Navy Flying club that had been leased from Bill back to the Atlanta area. In Bills house were pictures of Bill and his wife Jean along with HW and Barbra. There was the nicest note written to Jean from Barbra along with her mothers recipe for something stating how much they enjoyed their weekend. Bill said they and there children were all the most gracious and down to earth people one could ever meet. This was in about 91 and well before W even thought about being president. I always respected Bill. Like H.W., he was one of our nations best.
We often don’t think that our elected leaders are people like us. I will never buy the media hype to vilify someone I don’t know. Something about walking in their shoes. Too bad that this thread veered to anything other than honoring HW. He deserves honor.
I was on an advance detail in Asia for him, with my bomb dog.
I considered it an honor
President George H.W Bush, May he rest in peace.
President Bush was a true American Patriot.
I had the privilege of assisting Secret Service with security detail when President Bush walked the Mackinaw Bridge. Needless to say I felt privileged for the opportunity and considered it an honor.
You just can't compare a true American Patriot to a bone spur draft dodger.
May he rest in peace.
May he rest in peace.
I'm guessing that I was not the only one who was moved to tears watching a 95 year old Bob Dole manage to stand and salute President Bush's casket.
One combat vet to another
My friend and co-worker Stanley Butchart once told me an amusing story about himself and Bush Sr. Stan and President Bush had served together as naval aviators and remained lifelong friends. His story was intended to illustrate what kids they were while in the Navy, and not to demean in any way.
It seems that Stan and HW, having gone through pilot training and operational assignment together, had become good friends. (Bush / Butchart, everything alphabetical.) One day, prior to a mission, the two were engaged in a rowdy discussion in the back of the ready room and failed to notice when their commander entered to brief the mission.
When the commander finally got their attention, he asked what was so important that they failed to be ready for the briefing. HW replied that he and Stan were arguing over the order of seating. (Lowest ranks sit in back.) HW explained that he should be sitting in front of Butchart because, even though both were Ensigns, HW's enlistment date predated Butchart's.
The senior officer responded to HW's excuse, replying (I'm paraphrasing here), "Listen Bush, seniority among Ensigns is like virginity among whores. Now sit down and shut up and pay attention."
I guess that bit of levity broke up some of the tension before the mission.
We are indeed fortunate that both Bush and Butchart survived their wartime experiences and continued to serve our country in their own ways. You can learn more about Stan Butchart here:
https://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/news/Biographies/Pilots/bd-dfrc-p027.html
Dick, I can relate to your story. When I was in the Air Force in the 1960s, we were taught the same thing (only with "lieutenants" instead of "ensigns").
Dear old dad was born in 1924, also. Joined the Navy as soon as he turned 18...would have sooner, but grandma would have no part of that. By February of 43, he was in the So. Pacific.
Men of those times were just that, men, with values, commitment and dignity.
Bob Dole and Bush Sr were said to be somewhat rivals, from years back. That did not stop Dole from using his ALL to STAND and honor his comrade.
I'm afraid the cookie cutter has long been lost for more men like that generation.
Dave, I was talking with a friend in my shop earlier today, about being raised by WWII men. My Dad and his brothers were all Army, 4 of them WWII. My oldest uncle was a Medic, and was at The Battle of the Bulge, and Remagen. Another was a paratrooper, dropped behind the lines the night before the Normandy Invasion. These men were incredible motivators and teachers. It's a tremendous loss every time one passes.
Bush and his generation are leaving us.
My mom's dad flew daylight raids over Germany in B-17's, then flew C-47's in the Berlin Airlift. The first mission into Berlin, he was so overloaded that his plane went off the end of the runway and went nose-down.
My wife's grandad was with McArthur on Corrigedor, then endured the Bataan Death March and 4 years as a Japanese POW.
Both made it home against the odds, lived long happy lives and were loved by their families.
I took the day off and we drove out to a rail crossing near Plantersville, TX this afternoon.
To say it was surreal and gave me chills would be an understatement. Here's a couple photos. I have video as well and as soon as I can get it loaded to my YouTube page, I'll post a link.
Rest In Peace President Bush. You deserve it. GHWB ran for senator in Texas a few times in the sixties. He and Barbara met my mom and dad at a social function in New Braunfels and he remembered my folks at the same function 6 years later. What a guy! Then he sent me and 5000 of my close friends to invade Panama on 20 December 89. Finally, I was extremely proud to hear my college band play 4 Ruffles and Flourishes into Hail to the Chief in College Station today...
America was in good hands in the Truman, Eisenhower, Reagan and Bush years. Consider the common denominator of military service, we seem to have lost our compass headings with these last several presidents...
Blue Skies President Bush
(wiping a tear from my eye)
Jeez, Don, your photos of the train are giving me the chills.
Thanks SO MUCH for posting those. I wish I could have been there.
We lost a truly great man. RIP, Mr. Present.
Sorry, that last post meant to say RIP, Mr. President.
As I mentioned in the Pearl Harbor thread, I missed the first funeral, but watched the second one that was in Houston. What a great, emotional service!
The music, the songs, eulogies..hard to keep a dry eye believe me. And of course, his FINAL RIDE!! What a way to go to your resting place. I wonder how many days it took to get the engine and all those cars so "spit-polished" clean?!
RIP George, you deserve it.
Again, God Bless America
Finest country in the world.
The Union Pacific Railroad displayed a lot of class with that train.
Engine No. 4141. What a tribute!
RIP, Mr. President.
That was one of my foremost thoughts too John. Good on UP for what they did.
First class behaviour.
Something that was missed by the major networks, but i have always found the missing man formation the most somber and respectful act our Country gives to a fallen Airman, nicely done.
https://twitter.com/LaurenBlanch12/status/1070807659371220995/video/1
We always have to sink into politics, don't we?
President Bush was the first president I ever voted for, I turned 18 July of '92, and he and President Reagan are the first Presidents I actually remember. Whatever may be said about him he was President of the United States, served his country in war and peace, and loved and was loved by his family.
He was also one of the few surviving world leaders that served in WWII. Queen Elizabeth is the only other i can think of right now. I only add this because it seems to me that it gave them a perspective and experiences that will never again walk the balls of power in this world.
RIP Mr. President!
I do not think that above picture was sinking.Bud.
Bud, there's nothing wrong with the picture.
Jason,
Not to detract from President George H.W. Bush's record, but President Jimmy Carter was in the Naval Academy during WWII, but the war ended before he graduated. Carter then served in the Navy submarine fleet during The Korean War.
Both have naval vessels named after them; the Nimitz-class Super Carrier (CVN-77) George H.W. Bush and the Sea Wolf Fast Attack Submarine (SSN-23) Jimmy Carter.
President Carter is the sole surviving President who served during WW II (albeit in training) and in a theater of battle (Korea).