[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.