BLACKFIVE: President Obama Visits Wounded Troops

President Obama Visits Wounded Troops

Posted By Blackfive

Update June 24: I have talked with some people that were there that took exception to the email from David's father. Their opinion of events are that David shook the president's hand warmly and there are photos of the meeting.

--------------

David Borden Jr. was wounded in Iraq on January 19, 2008. A suicide bomber rushed him and detonated, and Borden was hit by over 200 pieces of shrapnel. He lost right leg (below the knee) and his left arm was severely damaged. He was in a coma for over a month.

He's inspired more than a few people while recovering. The NY Giants football team reports that he's the grandson of a NY Giant.

According to the email below from his father, David Borden (Sr.), David Jr. had an uninspiring visit from the President of the United States:

Since Dave Jr. has been injured he has met and been overwhelmed by many, many political and military "celebs". The list includes Bob Gates, Sec. of Defense, who came into his room and told him 3 or 4 times that if Dave Jr. had any issues to call his cell phone number. It includes Gen. Petereus who sat and talked with Dave Jr. for almost 45 minutes. The General recalled vividly all of the circumstances around the events that led to fighting that Dave was involved in. It includes Sen. McCain who arrived late on a Saturday afternoon during a thunder storm, unannounced, and talked to Dave Jr. about how similar their experiences with fate. It includes George Bush when Dave Jr. was invited to attend the very last Christmas party at the White House for the White House Staff. President Bush and his wife entered the ballroom and immediately went to Dave Jr.. President Bush knew Dave Jr.'s name as well as when and how he was injured. Dave Jr. had a picture taken with Laura and the President that he has framed and ill cherish forever. The list goes on and on of people coming in to meet Dave Jr. and the other wounded warriors at Walter Reed and Bethesda.

Yesterday. Dave Jr. was ordered to be at the National Naval Hospital with another 12 soldiers and Marines to meet with Obama. Obama was supposed to arrive at 11:30 AM. He finally got there at 3:00 PM. He entered the room with the wounded warriors and quickly shook each of their hands. He never asked their names, where they were from, or how they were injured. Then he left.

Dave Jr. has met the people who really care about the military. All he remembers from Obama is a weak handshake. The others in the room, younger and less exposed to the people that Dave Jr. has met, were so disappointed. Word about Obama's "insensitive" visit has spread to the MATC ( the rehab facility) at Walter Reed and throughout Bethesda. The military sees through his phoniness.

All I can say is that it is such a disappointment that this man is Commander-In-Chief of our Armed Forces. He is an embarrassment to our Nation.

Regards,
Dave

When a few milbloggers were invited to the White House to meet with military advisers and the National Security Team last April, I asked about why the President hadn't visited military hospitals. The answer was that, while he hadn't visited due to the hospital's concerns about disturbing the patients and disrupting the hospital staff, the President occasionally brought wounded troops to the WH or other places to meet rather than their hospital rooms.

The President has since visited Landstuhl military hospital in Germany.

While President Obama has a lot to live up to...following the last guy's concern with our military men and women, the wounded troops, and the families of the Fallen...we hope that the President's performance will improve.