Photo By Sgt. Jeff Ledesma | Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace, visited Multi-National...... read more read more
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By Spc. Shea Butler
7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace, visited Multi-National Division-Baghdad service members here July 17.
Kicking off the meeting in true cavalry tradition, "First Team" leaders presented Pace with the 1st Cavalry Division's branding iron as a thank you for visiting and for his service.
"I can think of a couple people I could use this on," Pace said jokingly referring to the branding iron. As the laughter died down in the division's conference room, Pace moved on to discuss business.
"The most important thing I want to do is to say, 'Thank you,' to you," Pace said. "What you are doing here is making a difference. You know that. You see it. I get reports about it and I get back here (Iraq) about every three months. I can tell a difference every time I come back."
Spc. Doug Morgan, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Division Special Troops Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, attended the meeting with Pace and agrees that things are getting better.
"There have been many changes since my first tour in 2003. I have to say the biggest changes have been in the safety department," Morgan said. "When we rolled into Baghdad in 2003, there were no armored vehicles. Now all Humvees have to have armor to leave the FOB (forward operating base). That's quite a change and a lot safer for all of us."
Pace turned the floor over to the troops allowing them to ask questions. He didn't want to talk at the troops, he wanted to talk with them, he said.
"I want to answer your questions about anything you want to ask about," Pace explained. As the floor opened up for questions, troops were a little hesitant about asking the first one. It took some encouragement to get the questions flowing.
"Alright, first one to ask a question gets a football," Pace encouraged.
With the temptation of a football, the ice was broken and questions came from the highest to the lowest ranking military member. Predictably, many Soldiers asked questions concerning extensions and future dwell time.
The leadership (in Washington D.C.) is committed to working toward shorter deployments and longer dwell time, Pace told the assembled service members. The eventual goal, he said, is to be deployed 12 months and have 24 months of dwell time.
Another Soldier asked the general what service members could do to bridge apathy and hit home with the American people.
"First of all, I don't agree with the word apathy. Apathy means that they (American people) don't care," Pace responded. "The American people care deeply. I think they are just confused between what they hear from us (service members) and what they see on TV."
Pace encouraged all service members, especially lower enlisted, to tell their individual story when they returned home.
"Tell what you saw, felt and did. That's how the real story gets told, is by those who live," Pace said.
As the questions wound down Pace shook everyone's hand and passed out coins to those in attendance.
"I want to make sure I give everybody one of my coins," Pace said. "These things
(the coins) go for about 5,000 bucks on e-Bay, but by the time I give one to each of you today, the price will go down a little bit.
"It may be disappointing when you log on tonight to find out it's more like a buck and a half instead of 5,000," Pace joked. "The point is, I really would like to take a moment to shake your hand, look you in the eyes and say 'Thank you.'"
Service members stayed after the meeting to receive a coin and a personal 'thank you' from Pace.
"It is refreshing to have a leader in such a prestigious position recognize the hard work that goes on a day-to-day basis," Morgan said of receiving a coin from Pace. "It seemed to really give a boost to the Soldiers' morale. He came across genuine and sincere, and that impressed me most about his visit."
| Date Taken: | 07.17.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 07.17.2007 12:39 |
| Story ID: | 11316 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 134 |
| Downloads: | 117 |
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