As promised — and I am sure much-awaited 🙂 — this is Part II of weekend images of our military.
The next two images are somewhat out of context but are of a personal nature to me. I trust our readers will indulge me.
After nearly 50 years of public service, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta will be leaving us as soon as the U.S. Senate can find the resolve and responsibility to confirm Senator Chuck Hagel as his successor.
Panetta has been, in my opinion, a great Secretary of Defense, a great Director of the CIA, a great civil servant and a great American. I thank him for his service and wish him all the best.
A couple of weeks ago it was the 40th anniversary of the release by the North Vietnamese of 591 American prisoners of war. It would take 54 C-141A Starlifter flights to bring these heroes back to American soil between Feb. 12 and April 4 1973 as part of ”Operation Homecoming.”.
My family and I were privileged to be present on the flight line when one of those flights arrived at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi. It was an unforgettable, emotional experience.
I have not seen much coverage about this anniversary and plan to write about it shortly.
All photos and captions: Department of Defense
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.