Victory Tour In Tucson - After Action Report of Tucson Rally of MoveAmericaForward.org 09/06/2007

AmericanProtest.net ^ | 09/07/2007 | Wayne Boettcher

[\/\/ayne]

Victory Tour In Tucson

While Tucson, Arizona usually boasts of a dry heat it was not to be this Thursday morning on September 6, 2007. Overnight rain soaked the thirsty sagebrush and cactus; yet, they can only hold so much liquid. The rest of the water ran hither and yon upon the hard packed desert floor only to steam up the land into a humid hothouse as the desert day began. A drizzling rain fell intermittently from gloomy grey clouds.

Yet Tucson Pro-Americans were not depressed! With a song in our hearts at Freedom Park our task force of six quickly set up about 60 or so flags along with several troop supporting banners and signs, using the easy method of pounding in a narrow rebar then sliding the flagpole or banner pipe onto it. Jokes and smiles abounded and the desultory rain was pointedly ignored. That must have worked because the sun began to break through as the rally progressed.

We had heard about flocks of moonbats protesting American Victory and cards for the wounded that were gathering along the caravan route and so were prepared to meet them. Since the rally was at a steel and concrete pagoda in the back of Freedom Park, a large banner and some flags were set up at the entrance. I stayed there to guide rally attendees to the almost hidden back road leading to the pagoda but also held troop support signs. I had many "counter-signs" ready such as "Surrender to Terrorism? NO!" and "Don't Believe Left Wing Propaganda and Lies" in case any moonbats showed up. However, the counter-signs were not needed, as the wacky surrender advocates must have been afraid of the rain.

Since I had a portable radio I heard rally speaker Debbie Lee being interviewed on the way to the rally by Jon Justice of 104.1 FM, who had also interviewed several Tucson Pro-Americans about the rally in previous days. Some rally attendees were talking to me and needed directions so I missed most of it, though. When the caravan came in I received many honks, waves and a yell from FReeper Syncro who was obviously pumped up for another day of happy troop support. I called into station KNST while out front and promoted the rally and Victory for America. I understand rally speaker Debbie Lee was also interviewed on that station.

About halfway through the rally I returned to the pagoda to listen to the end of a speech by Colonel Thomas Byrge who is the Director of Command, Control, Communications, and Computer (C4) Systems, Iraqi Assistance Group, Baghdad, Iraq. He was running through ten myths of the war in a sort of preview of General Petraeus's report. The Colonel, a square jawed fighting man with many rows of campaign ribbons, related fact after fact about the war in a logical precise manner that at times was broken by somewhat emotional statements coming straight from the heart when he talked about his fellow service men and women in the combat zone.

The Colonel explained how Humvees are more armored then ever before, the only major problem now being specially made armor piercing roadside bombs called Explosively Formed Penetrators (EFPs) that use melting copper. Since only Iran makes bombs like this it's obvious where they come from. However, recently the main distributor in Iraq for this Iranian weapon and other forms of lethal aide across the Iran-Iraq border was captured. The last myth to be dispelled by the Colonel was "are we losing?" The answer is a resounding no; we are winning, especially since the surge is working so well.

I took the opportunity to speak to Colonel Byrge after the rally and thank him for his service. When I told him I read the DefenseLink.mil news link and knew about the Diyala River Valley August 19th reconciliation agreement between over 80 Sunni and Shia leaders, he became very excited.

"The Diyala meeting is a huge success story that is being ignored by major news media!" the military expert declared. I agreed.

After the Colonel spoke Gold Star Mother Debbie Lee came up to the podium to tell the story of her son who was killed in battle, Navy Seal Petty Officer, Second Class Marc Alan Lee. Fighting in Ramadi, the 28-year-old Seal held off enemy forces so an exposed soldier could be rescued. Navy Seals are among the most highly trained fighters in the world, but they are also taught strategy, leadership, psychology, guerilla warfare, undersea demolition and a host of other skills. Lee wrote an email home before he died urging Americans to stop and consider how fortunate we are and to always help our fellow man, in whatever way we are able. After the "Glory Letter" was read there was not a dry eye in the park.

Local Tucson Gold Star Father Michael Lucero came to speak and tell of his Marine son, Lance Corporal Josh Lucero, who died in the battle of Fallujuh, Iraq. Blocking a terrorist grenade with his body, the brave Marine saved two of his squad from certain death. Later it turned out many others had also spoken of being saved or helped by Lucero, who was always ready to be there for anyone who needed him. Michael explained that terrorists did not "take" his son's life; Lance Corporal Lucero willingly gave it for his fellow Marines. The Lucero family supports the mission in Iraq.

In fact, Josh's sister Antoinette joined the US Marines and is now a Lance Corporal herself, having served one tour in Iraq. She is about to deploy again. Twin brother Anthony is in the Army like his dad who is an Airborne Ranger veteran. Mr. Lucero confirmed that armored Humvees are working; Private Anthony Lucero was blown up by an IED in Iraq while driving one but he and the driver received only minor injuries. However, perhaps that's just because of the well-known Lucero toughness of this patriotic family!

I missed celebrity singer Diana Nagy from being out by the park entrance, however, I obtained a CD. I had collected several poster boards of messages for wounded troops from work, church and fellow rally attendees and presented them to Debbie Lee to be included with the other cards and letters. This rally was interesting in that three conservative talk radio stations, KVOI AM, KNST AM and 104.1 FM, promoted and attended the rally with vehicles. KNST also provided coffee and doughnuts.

The Fight For Victory tour soon packed up and were on their way. There were approximately one hundred people at the rally so even though it was cloudy and a workday, it was still a good turnout to show the troops we care. Certainly we all left far better informed about the war than those who simply read newspapers and watch broadcast television news. As the Fight for Victory tour crosses America, let's all do what we can to support them and our troops. Write the House, Senate and Administration often to remind them not to cave in to terrorism. Now is an important time for our nation's future where we must all stand against surrender, and stand up for America!

Related Links:

Move America Forward - Follow the Fight For Victory tour!

Coalition Troops Kill, Detain Dozens, Seize Weapons in Iraq - American Forces Press Service

Iraq's Diyala River Valley Tribal Leaders Recommit to Reconciliation - by Sgt. Serena Hayden

Marine Lance Corporal Josh Lucero - A Memorial

Click any picture to enlarge

(Above) At the entrance to Freedom Park I guide attendees and await no show moonbats. Perhaps there was a "Legalize Pot" rally at the same time.		(Above) 104.1 FM "The Truth" set up banners at the entrance, too.
(Above) Troop supporters were riveted by the informative speech of Colonel Byrge.		(Above) Traveling FReeper Impeach98 (left foreground) listens intently while an Air Force photographer snaps some photos.Debbie Lee is standing on Colonel Byrge's right, at the podium is a photo of Navy Seal Marc Lee.
(Above) A side view of the crowd listening to the Air Force Colonel.		(Above) American Flags line the parking lot, a sign encourages victory, a glimpse of a mysterious open caravan truck.
(Above) KVOI 690 AM ran ads for the tour and attended the rally.		(Above) At this point the doughnuts and coffee have apparently run out!
(Above) OK, Uncle Sam! We get the message! Now quit pointing at me!		(Above) Jon Justice interviewed supporters and promoted the rally. Justice also interviews Colonel Don Bacon in Iraq every week.
(Above) Rally Speaker Debbie Lee accepted several giant well wishing cards for wounded troops from Tucson Pro-Americans to be delivered to Walter Reed Hospital.		(Above) Click this picture for a WorldNetDaily column about the tour by Melanie Morgan!

[\/\/ayne]

Extras for Free Republic report:

1. Two liberals had been walking in the park and were sitting at the Ramada when I got there. I objected to their claims there were no terrorists in pre-war Iraq and offered proof. When I held out the document, though, they scurried off to their cars and zoomed away, refusing to accept the facts.

2. Some Marine Recruiters we remembered from the GOE picnic came over to say hi; they were working out at the park. I wouldn't want to be a terrorist facing those guys!

3. I received many honks from cars out at the entrance, the Channel 9 film guy got that but I never saw it on the news.

4. The Lucero family are often under attack due to their Christian ministry and unwavering support of the troops and America. Please pray for them and their serving members Antionette and Anthony!

5. It was great seeing FReepers Syncro and Impeach98 again, plus I talked to an intelligent young rally worker named Danny.

6. I'm writing my Congress again to tell them not to surrender! How about you?!

[elcid1970]

I always love to read about the excellent Tucson FReep! Good luck in all future events.

BTW, it was Ranger Lucero (didn’t know about the family ministry!) who confronted the bullying threatening “Marine Fighter Guy” and exposed him as a coward. I hear that since MFG is afraid to pick fights anymore, he is now known as “Semper Fraud”.

[BillF]

. . . the wacky surrender advocates must have been afraid of the rain.

They surrendered to the rain.

Outstanding FReep and report! Well done.

[BillF]

Ping to Wayne’s great report of a great event.

[Impeach98]

Heeeeyyyyy Wayne! It was great to see you again! You guys always do such a darn good job of putting these events together on the ground. What a great group of patriots you guys have in Tucson!

And thank you for this great after-action report!

[Albion Wilde]

Thanks for the ping, BillF. Fantastic report, \/\/ayne! Momentum is building.....

[\/\/ayne]

There is another report of Tucson's Fight for Victory tour at Move America Forward which also includes other cities. It has a great summery of the Colonel's speech written by Danny:

Here are some highlights from Col Byrge’s speech.

The Top Ten Myths of the War in Iraq.

1 – that the war is all about Oil.
2 – The US is fighting alone
3 – Iraq is engulfed in a full scale war
4 – Iraqis were better off under Saddam Hussein
5 – Iraqi government is ineffective
6 – There is no economic development in Iraq
7 – Contractors are costing the Government too much
8 – The troops are not properly equipped
9 – Troop morale is low
10 – We have lost the war.
Col Byrge told us how all of these myths are wrong and in fact the opposite is very true of each of these. Here are some interesting facts and figures:

The Brookings institute estimates that an immediate pullout of Iraq would result in 750,000 civilian deaths almost immediately

26 countries militaries as well as 331,000 Iraqis and contractors from 40 countries are all working with us.

5 resolutions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom have been passed

Recruits from Ramadi – Nov’06 4 recruits. Mar’07 1500 crecruits.

The majority of Muslims are not extremist fundamentalists and do not feel that Islam needs to rule the whole world.

Since Hussein there has been a 25% increase in immunizations and 90% reduction in measles.

Before the war most of Iraq got 4-8 hrs of electricity/day. Now those areas have 8-10.

75% of Iraqis get twice the time on electric grid than they did before the war.

The US Army Corps of Engineers has completed 3704 construction and public service projects with 4794 planned projects.

The Iraqi government has done remarkably well in one year when you consider that the US constitution took 9years to become effective.

Iraqi GDP up 9 and many countries have forgiven debts that Iraq owed them including Suadi Arabia and Russia. Also inflation has been cut in half.

We work with 129,000 contractors in Iraq of which; 21,00 are US, 43,000 international, and 65,00 are Iraqi.

Having contractors working in Iraq means less troops deployed, they perform high quality work and average only 3% profit.

All the troops have body armor and no troops leave base without an armored vehicle.

On a typical day in Iraq there are 1200 cargo trucks making deliveries, 400,000 meals served, and 2.8 million pieces of laundry cleaned…in ONE DAY

Tribal leaders are starting to resist Al Qaeda

26% decline in sectarian violence since Operation Fardh Al-Qanoon.

[BufordP]

Great job, guys!

[Syncro]

Great report Wayne

I’m trying to get Colonel Byrge video manageable to post to youtube, but can’t finish it yet.

Always a good rally in your patriotic town, and the Infidel people are just awesome!

Gotta go oh and yea, that Danny dude is a tireless worker, blogger that he is

[sweetiepiezer]

God Bless you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stay safe.