    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [February 1, 1991]
    [Pages 92-94]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to Community Members at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in
    Goldsboro, North Carolina
    February 1, 1991

        Thank you so very much. Cynthia, thank you for that introduction.
    This is the warmest picnic on a cold day I've ever attended, I'll tell
    you. And really, it's great to be here at Seymour Johnson, home of the
    4th Tactical Fighter Wing--the ``Rocketeers'' and the ``Chiefs''--as
    well as these great refueling units, the 68th and the 916th. And let me
    just pay my respects and say what an unbelievable job Colonel ``Jumbo''
    Wray is

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    doing here on this base. We're very proud of him. While your wing
    commander, Colonel Hornburg, is deployed with Desert Storm, ``Jumbo'' is
    filling in, doing just great.
        And I'm also glad to see a man that flew over with me from our last
    stop--that's Governor Martin out here, the Governor of this State.
    Congressman Martin Lancaster, from this district, and I am very proud he
    is with us here today. And, of course, the mayor, Mayor Plonk, is with
    us, too. And I wanted to specifically thank the military affairs
    committee of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce for hosting this
    fantastic picnic. I don't believe I've had so much fun in a long, long
    time.
        And of course, I do want to salute two others: our very able
    Secretary of the Air Force that you just met, Don Rice back there, as
    well as the Air Force Chief of Staff, General Tony McPeak--both of them
    doing a fantastic job for our country.
        This is a three-stop day for me. We just came here from the Marine
    Air Station at Cherry Point, and from here we head to Fort Stewart. But
    I want to tell you how very pleased I am to be able to spend some time
    meeting and talking to at least some of you--especially the kids--
    because I know in my heart how tough these days can be. There's a lot of
    waiting, a lot of uncertainty--the not knowing. But each of you do know
    this: The men and women from Seymour Johnson are doing a fantastic job
    for this country, and we are very, very grateful.
        You've got the tactical fighters and the refuelers and the medical
    personnel and the civil engineers and the security police. I just want
    you to know how grateful the Nation is to this entire team--and to you--
    and to share with you here today just a few thoughts. I cast fear and
    horror into the heart of one guy I was having lunch with because I told
    him this was going to take 45 minutes; it won't, believe me.
        But let me just share some thoughts with you. I probably don't need
    to tell you that the brave service men and women of this base are part
    of the most motivated, the best educated, the best equipped Armed Forces
    in the history of this great country of ours, bar none. Because they
    are--and you are--doing the hard work of freedom, the cause of freedom
    will prevail. I'm absolutely certain of that.
        You know, we're now more than 2 weeks into Desert Storm. And I'm
    happy to say--and put it this way--we are on course and we are on
    schedule. And as each day passes, Iraq's war machine, thanks to many of
    your loved ones, is being systematically destroyed by our allied
    military forces. Our investment, our training, and our planning are
    paying off. And yes, sacrifices still lay ahead, but we will succeed.
    And when we do, we will have taught Saddam Hussein and all others like
    him that there is no place for lawless aggression in the region or in
    this new world order that we envision.
        While I'm here, I would be remiss if I didn't salute what the U.S.
    and coalition airmen have accomplished. Air superiority is an
    established fact now. The Iraqi Air Force is no longer a factor. And I
    know that this base--as much as any base in this country--this base is
    very proud of the way that we have used air superiority to go after
    Saddam's missiles of terror.
        And yes, our mission in the Gulf is demanding and it's difficult,
    but I can tell you that our troops will not be asked to accomplish their
    mission with one hand tied behind their back. We are not going to do
    that in this war. And let me say something else: Your husbands and wives
    and your moms and dads will not be in that Gulf one day longer than is
    absolutely necessary. I want them home, and I want them all home.
        And finally--and I don't think I have to tell this particular group
    this point--but I want each of you and all our troops--this really is
    for the troops--I want you to know that the American people stand with
    you. And I hope you had a chance to watch at least the part of the State
    of the Union Message that I want to mention to you because if you did,
    you would have seen a very moving scene: The entire Congress--and
    Congressman Lancaster was there; he will tell you this is true--the
    entire Congress, the Cabinet, the Supreme Court, the Joint Chiefs, the
    diplomatic corps rose to their feet in a prolonged, heartfelt tribute to
    the troops. It was a moving thing. And if only you could have felt
    it, as I did standing

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    up there in front of the Congress--felt the thunder of the applause and
    sensed the emotion that filled that Chamber. And the cheering for our
    armed forces--and it was strong, it was for them--was followed by two
    more standing ovations for you, the courageous families of our service
    men and women. And it was for you and for our troops. And that's exactly
    the way it should have been.
        And I hope that that Saddam Hussein, in his bunker somewhere in
    Baghdad, saw every single minute of it. And if he did, maybe he now
    understands that we are a nation united in support of our troops.
        I know it's been tough on a lot of you--maybe all of you here at
    Seymour Johnson. And I know also what it is that you have offered this
    great nation of ours. I understand what it is that I have asked of you,
    what General McPeak has asked of you. Members of this fighting unit have
    voluntarily set aside their freedom to wage this battle. But while today
    some may be prisoners of war, and others may have made the ultimate
    sacrifice, a lifetime of democracy and faith in God keeps their spirit
    free. No foreign dictator can imprison the love of liberty that beats in
    the hearts of every American.
        And before I finish, I'd like to say something to all of the kids
    here today. I want you to know that your parents, your loved ones, our
    troops in the Gulf are enduring the hardships of war today so that you
    may know the blessings of peace tomorrow.
        And seeing such strong, wonderful families here today and knowing
    the support that you have received from this community is good for the
    soul and proves the strength of America's spirit. And I think each and
    every one of you--I thank each and every one of you. And when I climbed
    on Air Force One this morning out there--I told them this over at Cherry
    Point--I heard on the television, ``President Bush is visiting the bases
    to help lift the morale.'' And it's been exactly 180 degrees the other
    way around. My morale has been pretty darn good, frankly, but seeing
    those people over there and now all of you, my morale has never been
    more sky-high.
        Thank you for this fantastic support for the troops--because you
    see, you see, I do draw strength and courage from your forbearance--for
    the job that the colonel and all the others are doing around here. And I
    ask God's blessing upon you all--every one of you--and upon every
    soldier and sailor, marine, airman, and coastguardsman--every man and
    woman now serving in the Persian Gulf. What a wonderful country we have.
    And nothing could prove that more than the patriotism and the courage
    and the devotion of your loved ones, our beloved troops, halfway around
    the world.
        May God bless the United States of America and each and every one of
    you. Thank you very, very much.

                        Note: The President spoke at 11:55 a.m. at the base
                            picnic grounds. In his remarks, he referred to
                            Cynthia Hornburg, wife of Col. Al Hornburg, wing
                            commander, 4th Tactical Fighter Wing; Col. James
                            ``Jumbo'' Wray, vice commander, 4th Tactical
                            Fighter Wing; Gov. James G. Martin of North
                            Carolina; Representative H. Martin Lancaster;
                            Hal K. Plonk, mayor of Goldsboro; Secretary of
                            the Air Force Donald B. Rice; Gen. Merrill A.
                            McPeak, Air Force Chief of Staff; and President
                            Saddam Hussein of Iraq. Following his remarks,
                            President Bush traveled to Fort Stewart, GA.