The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Meeting TSgt. Pat Hall

by Dessa Rodeffer, Publisher/Owner

29 January 2003

I was anxious to meet TSgt. Pat Hall and his wife and hear of their thoughts after his three month stay in Saudi Arabia serving our United States in the Air Force Guard.

My husband and I had invited them to Cerar's in Monmouth for a welcome home celebration of sorts and enjoyed the two hours we spent together while indulging in some of Cerar's delicious cajun shrimp, salmon, filets and stuffed mushrooms.

Our soon-to-be-sworn-in Senator John Sullivan was enjoying a meal with several friends there as well.

We discussed the large handful of pictures Pat brought of his sand-duned military base which his special forces kept secure.

His wife talked of the inconveniences of having her help-mate gone while working and watching their two young sons 10 and 12.

She shelters them from the television news as much as she can, she said.

Pat said it is so good to be home on American soil and home with his family.

He is a Galesburg police officer and continues with Air Guard duties weekends.

Although his wife doesn't want to see him go again, she knows it is part of what she has to do to support him and the United States.

Not everyone understands, she said, explaining that others are not always understanding of what it is like to be a single parent during the times he is serving.

Pat is aware of the ongoing movement of the military and feels he could be sent somewhere after three months.

Where, he doesn't know, but his wife hopes if he must, it is in the secure military base in Saudi rather than some of the hot spots.

The e-mail has been a blessing to military families.

After talking of the military work and sometimes fun get-togethers and adventures - such as getting the truck stuck, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, the roast goat feast that gave him a stomach adjustment for several days, Pat handed me a couple of gifts to show his thanks for my support of the U.S. Military and his efforts.

First he pulled out a shiny Genie lantern that was inscribed with Saudi Arabia and said this is for luck.

He said the Arabs use it more for hot tea. Then he handed me a felt folder which had a picture of his Joint Patrol "Defenders Of The Base" and included were several signed certificates. All had my name on them, signed by a military officer.

He explained that a flag had been flown in November of 2002 on 5 planes on my behalf on missions by pilots in recognition of "outstanding support and contributions to the United States Air Force and our nation."

One such mission by the Marines Seahawks on November 1st lasted 4.4 hours and said "Prowlers jammed, targeted and destroyed Iraqi radar systems and surface to air missile threats in order to protect coalition aircraft that come under Iraqi surface to air fires." during Operation Southern Watch and Operation Enduring Freedom patrols.

This certificate also included a note about the April 1991 United Nations Security Council Resolution 688 which "demanded that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein end the repression of Iraqi civilian population, and that Iraqi military bombing and strafing attacks against the Shi'ite Muslims in Southern Iraq during the remainder of 1991 and during 1992 indicated Hussein chose not to comply with the U.N. resolution."

It also said that:

"President George Bush announced Aug. 26, 1992, a decision by a coalition of U.N. forces to begin surveillance operations in Iraq below the 32nd parallel. the goal was to ensure Iraq's compliance with UNSCR 688.

To facilitate the monitoring, the coalition barred all Iraqi fixed and rotary wing aircraft from flying over the surveillance area.

With the president's announcement, U.S. Central Command activated Joint Task Force Southwest Asia, a command and control unit for coalition forces monitoring the no-fly zone. The mission was dubbed OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH. The first SOUTHERN WATCH sortie was flown Aug. 27, 1992 - less than 24 hours after the announcement."

He then gave me the U.S. American flag, which he had tightly folded and placed in a plastic bag.

I was overwhelmed as I read each one, wondering how what little I had done could have meant so much to deserve this.

Then I remembered the Viet Nam era and how little support many of our soldiers had while they were there and when they returned.

Our support of our servicemen and women is really the most important thing we can give them, because what they do is for all of us.

As we look at the upcoming weeks and months, lets find ways, little or big, to back our military families and our officials as they leave their families and their homeland and strive to make our world free from terrorism.

As we left Cerar's that cold evening, I walked away with a warmer heart knowing a little bit more about the great citizens in our midst who make up the good old U.S.A.