NcDeuce
05-03-2004, 07:14 PM
Schwarzenegger visits U.S. troops in Germany
http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2004/WORLD/europe/05/03/germany.schwarzenegger.ap/story.schwarzenegger.reut.jpg
Gov. Schwarzenegger speaks to U.S. troops in Germany Monday.
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AP) -- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger shared tales of his Austrian military experience with hundreds of U.S. troops during a stop Monday on his way home from a Middle East trip.
On stage with dozens of troops before a huge American flag, Schwarzenegger drew laughs from those assembled in a hangar with personal stories of his bodybuilding and political aspirations.
"I have to say that my career in the military was not spotless," he said. "There was one night when I woke up in the morning and my tank was gone. I forgot to put the right gear in there and it rolled into the river in front of us. That's where I found it the next morning."
The celebrity governor mixed his humor with words of admiration for the troops and with the more somber task of visiting wounded soldiers at the base hospital.
Airman 1st Class Jonathan Ivy of Lovejoy, Georgia, said Schwarzenegger was "the first celebrity here since I've been here. It lifts morale. I love his movies."
Schwarzenegger's plane touched down at the sprawling Ramstein Air Base hours after former American hostage Thomas Hamill, a civilian contractor who escaped his Iraqi captors over the weekend, was flown in for medical checks.
However, military officials said Schwarzenegger did not meet Hamill during his visit to the U.S. military's Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.
A C-130 cargo plane was parked outside the base where hundreds of airmen listened to Schwarzenegger.
Staff Sgt. Ronnie Caballero of New Orleans came with his wife and 9-month-old son.
"He's one of my role models. He's doing a great job in California ... He's real people, he's not like other politicians making money," said Caballero, holding a magazine photo of Schwarzenegger he hoped to get autographed.
Schwarzenegger was to fly out in the evening, Ramstein spokesman Maj. Mike Young said.
Earlier Monday, Schwarzenegger paid a hastily arranged visit to King Abdullah II of Jordan on Monday following criticism from Arab-Americans that the governor's Mideast trip excluded a meeting with Arabs.
Schwarzenegger had come in from Jerusalem, where he paid tribute Sunday to the millions of Jews killed in the Holocaust and helped dedicate a planned museum of tolerance during a whirlwind visit to Israel.
http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2004/WORLD/europe/05/03/germany.schwarzenegger.ap/story.schwarzenegger.reut.jpg
Gov. Schwarzenegger speaks to U.S. troops in Germany Monday.
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AP) -- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger shared tales of his Austrian military experience with hundreds of U.S. troops during a stop Monday on his way home from a Middle East trip.
On stage with dozens of troops before a huge American flag, Schwarzenegger drew laughs from those assembled in a hangar with personal stories of his bodybuilding and political aspirations.
"I have to say that my career in the military was not spotless," he said. "There was one night when I woke up in the morning and my tank was gone. I forgot to put the right gear in there and it rolled into the river in front of us. That's where I found it the next morning."
The celebrity governor mixed his humor with words of admiration for the troops and with the more somber task of visiting wounded soldiers at the base hospital.
Airman 1st Class Jonathan Ivy of Lovejoy, Georgia, said Schwarzenegger was "the first celebrity here since I've been here. It lifts morale. I love his movies."
Schwarzenegger's plane touched down at the sprawling Ramstein Air Base hours after former American hostage Thomas Hamill, a civilian contractor who escaped his Iraqi captors over the weekend, was flown in for medical checks.
However, military officials said Schwarzenegger did not meet Hamill during his visit to the U.S. military's Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.
A C-130 cargo plane was parked outside the base where hundreds of airmen listened to Schwarzenegger.
Staff Sgt. Ronnie Caballero of New Orleans came with his wife and 9-month-old son.
"He's one of my role models. He's doing a great job in California ... He's real people, he's not like other politicians making money," said Caballero, holding a magazine photo of Schwarzenegger he hoped to get autographed.
Schwarzenegger was to fly out in the evening, Ramstein spokesman Maj. Mike Young said.
Earlier Monday, Schwarzenegger paid a hastily arranged visit to King Abdullah II of Jordan on Monday following criticism from Arab-Americans that the governor's Mideast trip excluded a meeting with Arabs.
Schwarzenegger had come in from Jerusalem, where he paid tribute Sunday to the millions of Jews killed in the Holocaust and helped dedicate a planned museum of tolerance during a whirlwind visit to Israel.