Bush Visits Troops,
Families at Walter Reed
(December 25, 2008) |
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President George W. Bush
shakes hands with U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kyle
Stipp of Avon, Ind., after presenting him with
two Purple Hearts, Dec. 22, 2008, during a visit
to Walter Reed Army Medical Center where the
soldier is recovering from wounds suffered in
Operation Iraqi Freedom. Looking on are his
wife, Megan, and father, Mitch Stipp. |
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WASHINGTON, December 22, 2008
President George W. Bush paid a call to
Walter Reed Army Medical Center here today to visit with
wounded warriors, extend holiday greetings to them and their
families and check up personally on the care and support
they are receiving.
“Every time I come here, I get amazed at the quality of
care, the professionalism and the courage of our troops,”
Bush told reporters after the visit.
“I can say with certainty that the health care that our
troops get in military medical facilities is excellent,” the
president said. “I am so pleased to hear from spouses and
other loved ones about the care they get, as well, when they
come to visit their ... wounded child or wounded husband or
wounded spouse.” |
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Noting that the visit is likely to be his
last before leaving office, Bush said he took “great
pleasure” in thanking those who serve at Walter Reed and
other military medical facilities. |
He reiterated his
sentiment that he'll miss his role as commander
in chief more than any other part of the
presidency. “The military is the thing I'll miss
the most, and coming here to Walter Reed is a
reminder of why I'll miss it,” he said.
Bush said in a Washington Times article
published today he considers the time he spends
with wounded troops and families of the wounded
and fallen an important -– and highly emotional
-- part of his job.
“This is my duty,” he said. “The president is
commander in chief, but the president is often
‘comforter in chief,' as well. It is my duty ...
to try to comfort as best as I humanly can a
loved one who is in anguish.”
Comfort can come in many different forms, the
president said. “Comfort means hug, comfort
means cry, comfort means smile, comfort means
listen,” he said. |
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President George W. Bush holds 15-month-old
James Jensen, son of Purple Heart recipient U.S.
Army Cpl. Isaac Jensen of Layton, Utah,
background-right, while posing for a photo, Dec.
22, 2008 with Cpl. Jensen, his wife, Bethany and
his mother, Eva Francis, right, during President
Bush's visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Center
in Washington, D.C. Jensen is recovering from
injuries sustained while serving in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom. |
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“Comfort also means, in many cases, assure
the parent or the spouse that any decision made about troops
in combat will be made with victory in mind, not about my
personal standing in the polls or partisan politics.”
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President George W. Bush shakes the hand of U.S.
Army Private 1st Class Lukas Shook of Strafford,
Mo., after presenting him with a Purple Heart,
Dec. 22, 2008, during a visit to Walter Reed
Army Medical Center, where the soldier is
recovering from injuries received in Operation
Iraqi Freedom. Looking on are Shook's mother and
father, Dennis and Cynthia Shook. |
President George W. Bush shakes the hand of U.S.
Army Sgt. First Class Neal Boyd of Haynesville,
La., after presenting him a Purple Heart during
a visit, Dec. 22, 2008, to Walter Reed Army
Medical Center, where the soldier is recovering
from injuries received in Operation Iraqi
Freedom. Looking on his Boyd's wife, Joyce. |
President George W. Bush congratulates U.S. Army
Private 1st Class Joseph Devan of Baltimore,
Md., after presenting him with a Purple Heart,
Dec. 22, 2008, during a visit to Walter Reed
Army Medical Center, where the soldier is
recovering from injuries suffered in Operation
Iraqi Freedom. With them is Devan's wife,
Stephanie. |
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Article by
Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
White House photos by Eric Draper
Copyright 2008
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