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Despite controversy, Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel calls the troops on Thanksgiving Despite controversy, Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel calls the troops on Thanksgiving
(34 minutes later)
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, following a whirlwind few days in which he resigned as Pentagon chief, carried through on a holiday tradition of his on Thursday: Making phone calls to a handful of U.S. service members who are overseas.Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, following a whirlwind few days in which he resigned as Pentagon chief, carried through on a holiday tradition of his on Thursday: Making phone calls to a handful of U.S. service members who are overseas.
Hagel made the phone calls from his home in Northern Virginia, four days after President Obama announced Hagel’s resignation, a Pentagon official said. The secretary was not available for media interviews, but wanted to wish the troops a Happy Thanksgiving despite the recent controversy, the official said. He has quietly made phone calls to rank-and-file troops on holidays throughout his tenure in the Pentagon.Hagel made the phone calls from his home in Northern Virginia, four days after President Obama announced Hagel’s resignation, a Pentagon official said. The secretary was not available for media interviews, but wanted to wish the troops a Happy Thanksgiving despite the recent controversy, the official said. He has quietly made phone calls to rank-and-file troops on holidays throughout his tenure in the Pentagon.
Hagel called a Marine in Liberia, a soldier in Afghanistan, an Air Force pilot in Kuwait and a sailor aboard the USS O’Kane, a Navy destroyer, the official said. They were selected by their services to take the call.Hagel called a Marine in Liberia, a soldier in Afghanistan, an Air Force pilot in Kuwait and a sailor aboard the USS O’Kane, a Navy destroyer, the official said. They were selected by their services to take the call.
“With everything going on him, him even taking the time out of his day to call was awesome,” said Marine Sgt. Matthew S. Ohler, 24, who has been in Liberia since the summer maintaining MV-22B Osprey aircraft, which are being used to ferry medical supplies around as part of the effort to control the Ebola virus. “With everything going on with him, him even taking the time out of his day to call was awesome,” said Marine Sgt. Matthew S. Ohler, 24, who has been in Liberia since the summer maintaining MV-22B Osprey aircraft, which are being used to ferry medical supplies around as part of the effort to control the Ebola virus.
“It shows what an awesome person is, even that he would take the time to talk to us,” Ohler said in a phone interview. “He was more interested in what I was doing than what he was doing, and considering I like football, he wanted to talk about that.”“It shows what an awesome person is, even that he would take the time to talk to us,” Ohler said in a phone interview. “He was more interested in what I was doing than what he was doing, and considering I like football, he wanted to talk about that.”
Army 1st Lt. Darrel J. Guthrie II, 24, said in a phone call from Jalalabad, Afghanistan, that he appreciated that Hagel, a former Army infantry squad leader in Vietnam, wanted to know about his experiences on deployment, but didn’t ask too many questions about being in combat. Guthrie has been under fire several times, including during an attack on his unit this month involving suicide bombers, he said.Army 1st Lt. Darrel J. Guthrie II, 24, said in a phone call from Jalalabad, Afghanistan, that he appreciated that Hagel, a former Army infantry squad leader in Vietnam, wanted to know about his experiences on deployment, but didn’t ask too many questions about being in combat. Guthrie has been under fire several times, including during an attack on his unit this month involving suicide bombers, he said.
“It’s not necessarily the most enjoyable things to talk about,” Guthrie said. “He was really good about asking about it briefly, but not prying too deeply.”“It’s not necessarily the most enjoyable things to talk about,” Guthrie said. “He was really good about asking about it briefly, but not prying too deeply.”
The other two to take calls were Air Force Capt. Derek Van De Wege, 27, a C-17 pilot at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, and Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ruddana P. Skipper, 24.The other two to take calls were Air Force Capt. Derek Van De Wege, 27, a C-17 pilot at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, and Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ruddana P. Skipper, 24.
Skipper’s ship, the O’Kane, is in the Persian Gulf. Van De Wege has been flying airdrop missions in support of the U.S. mission in Iraq, delivering food, water and other supplies.Skipper’s ship, the O’Kane, is in the Persian Gulf. Van De Wege has been flying airdrop missions in support of the U.S. mission in Iraq, delivering food, water and other supplies.