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Fort Campbell Soldiers Celebrated 4th July In The White House.
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A group of Fort Campbell soldiers enjoyed July 4th in an unforgettable way. They had been invited to celebrate to Independence Day at the White House.
The soldiers had been invited to Washington D.C. by President Barack Obama as part of the White House salute to the military. The event honored our nation’s troops, and celebrated their success.
“For me, its pride – I enjoy what I’m doing,” said Specialist Jason Forster with the 4th Brigade Combat Team.
An American soldier does need a gratitude and never asks for a reward, but having dinner with the President on the 4th of July is tough for any soldier to turn down.
“In this line of work you normally don’t get to meet your boss… but you actually get to meet your boss this time,” says SPC Forster.
Twenty-five Fort Campbell soldiers join the president to celebrate Independence Day.
“We’re going to have dinner at the White House and meet the president. There’s no better way to spend the 4th of July,” says SPC Forster.
On Saturday, the soldiers had dinner with President Obama, and they have got to watch the fireworks from the South Lawn of the White House. Each member of the 101st earned their trip to the nation’s capitol through their service overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Not surprisingly, before the event soldiers have been wondering what it will be like to spend dinner with the Commander in Chief.
“You can’t think of a more patriotic way to spend the 4th of July for someone in the military than to go to the White House to enjoy fireworks with the President of the United States,” said Chief Warrant Officer Travis Higgins, with the Warrior Transition Unit.
Each of the soldiers has earned their chance to meet the president. Higgins was a Blackhawk helicopter pilot in Iraq.
“It’s just a very unexpected perk that came with the job, I guess,” he says.
Specialist Greg Waters was awarded the Silver Star for his work as a medic in Afghanistan.
“The reward was in the people I treated overseas – that’s where my reward is. Meeting the President, obviously, is a huge honor,” says SPC Waters.
They may not ask for a reward, or require a thank you, but this Fourth of July, they’ll get both from the President of the United States.
“I’ve been in the army a long time and never had an opportunity like this before. All I can say is I am very lucky,” says CWO Higgins.
Members of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, the 101st Division Special Troops Battalion, and the Warrior Transition Team were all invited to make the trip.