Vice President visits Whiteman

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephen Linch
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  "We owe you and your families, and we are putting our money where our mouth is," said Vice President Joe Biden. That was the overall message he shared with more than a thousand of Whiteman members during a troop rally April 16. 

"We are tremendously proud of our global mission and our ability to execute it at a moment's notice from abroad as well as from right here at Knob Noster, Mo.," said Col. Robert Wheeler, 509th Bomb Wing commander. 

"This wing has kicked down the door in every major combat operation since the arrival of the first B-2 in 1993," Colonel Wheeler stated before opening the floor to the distinguished visitors.

Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO) then welcomed Mr. Biden to what he declared was the finest Air Force base in the entire Air Force, Whiteman AFB. 

Mr. Biden presented Tech. Sgt. David Townsend, 509th Logistics Readiness Squadron, with a Bronze Star for his actions as a convoy commander in Iraq. 

Mr. Biden thanked Sergeant Townsend for his service saying, "17,000 miles on those roads is a lot of worry; we have lost thousands of Americans on those convoys." 

"It was a great honor pinning that bronze star on you," the vice president said. "You were probably less concerned jumping in the convoy (in Iraq) than coming up on stage (here)." 

Biden went on to speak about his experience in deployed locations. 

"On occasion I have walked into a C-130 with a fallen angel strapped on the floor," he said regarding times he has flown out of Iraq and Afghanistan. "When you see that it turns that cavernous opening into a cathedral, because you know there is a family waiting at the other end." 

Mr. Biden then recalled when older people have spoken negatively about this generation, "I just say to them come with me and look into the mountains of Afghanistan, up to Kunar Valley, to the multiple cities in Iraq, 10-15 years ago in Bosnia and you will see that your generation is the most powerful, best disciplined and best trained warriors America has ever produced." 

This administration is devoted to serving those warriors in uniform, he said. 

"As you sacrifice to serve our country, we should do a little sacrificing to serve you," Mr. Biden said. "President Obama and I are proud that in our first budget, in these very tough times, we have increased funding for veterans by 25 billion dollars." 

It is the biggest budget increase for veteran spending in a generation, he said. 

"When we proposed it, people said how can you do that in the midst of this economy, and our response was how can we not do that," said Mr. Biden. 

Everyone in here will be a veteran someday, he exclaimed looking onto the camouflaged-clad crowd. 

"Over 15,000 of the wounded coming back, not to count the fallen angels who came home to be buried, will need the most modern medical care for the rest of their lives," Mr. Biden said. "The cost of that will be in the tens of billions of dollars, but it is a sacred commitment." 

The vice president highlighted many of Whiteman 's achievements during Operations Allied Force, Enduring and Iraqi Freedom.

"Seeing that B-2 looking over my shoulder is some sight," he said. "The things that other militaries marvel at is that your men and women get up from your dinner table, suit up, get in one of these magnificent birds, fly round trip over 30 hours and deliver a lethal payload with precision beyond anything any other generations ever thought possible, saving the lives of your comrades on the ground and clearing the way for America's interest." 

"We are very proud of the Airmen you see here that make it happen every day," Colonel Wheeler said.