July 4th re-up ceremony

This was the Largest re-enlistment ceremony - EVER.

It took place on July 4, 2008 at Al Faw Palace, Baghdad,
Iraq . General David Petraeus officiated.
This amazing story was ignored by the 'mainstream' media.

I am not sure who took these pics, thery were sent to me by a relative and I it was worth you all to take a look.

This just goes to prove that there are still some people who believe in this country and freedom.God bless our troops.

Hooah.

I hope they all got big, fat, tax-free bonuses. And some fabulous KBR lobster and steak with a few kegs of near beer.

I'm guessing they're not getting the four day weekend though.

Great post!

They can get the 4 day R&R in Qatar, manning permitting and CDR approval of course.

Here's the video.

It's a shame that this event didn't get more MSM coverage.

I think every American ought to watch it the first thing every morning immediately after arising.

YouTube Link

[edit on 2008/10/11 by GradyPhilpott]

this is really not as big of a deal as most people think...

I was in the military... LOTS of people always re-enlist on July 4th. its a normal thing. Why would the MSM cover something that is a regular event?

Those guys all got their re-enlistment bonuses tax free... lucky ppl IMO.

Those photos remind me of pictures of Berlin in the 40's....

It's a bigger deal than you seem capable of understanding.

It is after all the largest reenlistment ceremony in history and it took place in a war zone.

Furthermore, this is the war that the left wants everyone to believe that the troops don't support.

As for the "Berlin in the 40's" remark, that's your own projection and bears no relation to reality.

Civillians make this a bigger deal than military people do.

As a veteran, I've seen many many many people actually try and delay their enlistment so they can re-enlist in the desert (or "sandbox" as we called it).

You have to go to the sandbox when you're rotation is up. might as well try and re-enlist while you are there. All income made in the sandbox is non-taxable. can you imagine getting a 25,000 re-enlistment bonus without having to pay federal income taxes?

Re-enlistment, while patriotic, is typically done for more reasons than "to serve my country". Once you have been indoctrinated into a way of life... (which the military is, it is a very different lifestyle) it is a scary thing to separate. mix that, and a heafty cash bonus in for re-enlisting, and you have lots of people who re-enlist.

Seriously, I spent a good chunk of my life in the U.S. military. This isn't a big of a deal as the "right" would like you to believe.

Yeah, I was just referring to the fact that to do that would take all year with personnel requirements. But then again, they might not all be from the same FOB.

I never liked sending my guys to Qatar. Booze, girls, and trouble. Takes their head out of the fight. Most of them won't leave unless you make them though- they'll either just come to work or spend some time in their rooms catching up on sleep, video games, and porn.