Posted on 10/02/2007 12:26:24 PM PDT by SZonian
American Marines & Soldiers Returning from Iraq Denied Entry to Oakland Airport Terminal Committee Republican Leaders Request Investigation September 28, 2007
Washington, D.C. – After learning that Oakland International Airport officials refused entry to the terminal to over 200 active duty American servicemen and women returning home from their tours in Iraq, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Republican leaders requested a federal investigation of the incident and possible violation of federal law.
http://republicans.transportation.house.gov/news/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=243
(Excerpt) Read more at republicans.transportation.house.gov ...
Sorry. That’s “atrocious behavior.”
Where’s the outrage from Senator Reid and Congress Critter Udall? Where’s the resolution of condemantion?
Same for me when I came back from Korea in 1993. Customs officer noticed me in line, and escorted me past everyone else with a smile and a handshake, took care of me personally, and sent me on my way.
Our country is going to hell in a handbasket. I am rendered speechless at the treason and traitorous behavior that is going by unchecked.
ah.....so disgusting.
Don’t forget, we’re dealing with a civilian government entity here, (remember Tom Dashole’s “You can’t professionalize unless you Federalize”?), so communication amongst their own disparate entities is not exactly their strong suit, to begin with. One set of morons doesn’t know what the other set of morons is doing, and then, too these are SF-Oakland area morons, so they are probably doubly stupid.............
No surprise here. These are the same liberal hippy types who spat on Vietnam Vets decades ago. And the Democrat Party wonders why they don’t have any support among active duty military.
They are not exempt...
“According to one of the returning Marines, the military personnel on the flight had been previously screened by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), had gone through U.S. Customs, and had already deplaned and entered the terminal at JFK International Airport in New York. However, instead of being permitted to enter the Oakland terminal before the final leg of the flight home to Hawaii, the men and women in uniform were required to deplane onto a grass median between runways.”
I think you misread my post. I think this is an outrageous incident. I’m just pointing out that a singular person in a uniform is not necessarily a real serviceman, as we have seen happen in Iraq and Israel with stolen uniforms. They should have been sent thru just as anybody else and not segregated apart from any other passengers or groups. From what I’ve read, their whole plane was put out in the cargo area like so much baggage and freight, a real insult to these people.........
I know they are not exempt, but their treatment was wholly dishonorable, even if they hadn’t been checked previously. To be taken out like cattle in a pasture to be submitted to this is definitely wrong.......
Is this Pelosi’s district? If so, then this incident or incidents should be laid squarely at her feet for remedial action (or inaction), as the case may be, with attendant consequences.
I totally agree....it was disgraceful...to put it the nicest way I can. They had already been cleared. And the clearance and rules that they have to abide by makes our walk through security nothing.
So to be kept out of comfort ...is ...despicable.
For next time:
(1)The marines should choose a small delegation of around five.
(2)They should insist on entry to the terminal.
(3)When denied access, they should point out that they are going to enter the terminal.
(4)They understand that this will probably result in their arrest.
(5)They should state that they will be taking names and that any officer involved in their illegal activity will be named in the civil suit denying them their civil rights.
(6)JAG is on the phone.
(7)The people blocking the way have 15 minutes to stand down.
What, and the other passengers didn’t protest this treatment? Outrageous!
That's not what the initial email said. From that email:
When we inquired why they wouldn't allow us in the airport they gave us some lame excuse that we hadn't been screened by TSA. While true, the screening which we did have was much more thorough than any TSA search and was done by US Customs.
This has been posted many times here. All of the posts lack an explanation from airport officials for the reason this was done-—if it was done. I suspect this whole story because the basic elements have been absent from every account posted here at FR.
Incorrect.
Thank you so much for sharing with me the information you had regarding the incident at the airport. As you know sometimes the way things appear initially regarding an incident turn out to be different after looking into the details. We checked into this once you had called me and raised your public relations concern, so again thank you. Here is the background information I have about the incident as well as the procedures and policies that affected decision-making that day.
In the case of North American Airlines Flight #1777, a military charter flight that arrived at OAK on Thursday, September 27, aircraft parking and passenger service arrangements were coordinated and approved in advance between the ground handling company and Airside Operations. The airport received information that the passengers were not TSA-screened at their originating airport and that weapons were on-board the aircraft. Together with our security partners, the airport made a decision to park this aircraft at a remote location on the tarmac. It is the responsibility of the charter airline that its operation is compliant with TSA screening requirements.
Upon landing and parking at OAK, the pilot-in-command advised the ground handling company that the parking and passenger handling provisions did not meet expectations. Upon learning this, Airside Operations and Aviation Security worked with the ground handling company and other law enforcement partners to coordinate a plan that was satisfactory to the pilot and passengers, and which was compliant with all airport safety and security standards.
Oakland International Airport (OAK) makes customer service a priority for all its passengers, whether they are traveling on commercial, military or general aviation aircraft. Charter airlines operating at OAK can choose to contract with a number of ground handling companies. Ground handlers coordinate flight services such as passenger handling, and aircraft fueling, cleaning and catering. It is the responsibility of ground handling companies to communicate aircraft and passenger operational needs to OAK’s Airside Operations Office in advance so that special accommodations can be coordinated to ensure that all airport operational, safety and security concerns are addressed.
The scheduled arrival and departure time of the flight is set by the aircraft operator. Time is needed to refuel the aircraft, perform maintenance inspections, refresh the catering, and give passengers time to stretch to break-up long travel periods. An analysis of the incident and prior correspondence between OAK’s Airside Operations and the ground handler determined that the airport did not receive clear communication in advance from the charter airline that was hired by the military.
I am out of town starting tomorrow for a convention. If you have any further inquiries about this incident and the way it was handled, Rosemary Barnes who is part of our Public Affairs team would be happy to speak with you. You may also call Joanne Holloway, the acting manager of the Port’s Community and Customer Relations Department.
Kindest regards,
Marilyn Sandifur
Port Spokesperson
Port of Oakland
Thanks. I had read most, but apparently not all, of the posts and until now had not seen the airport’s response.
Every Freeper should send a protest email to the Oakland International Airport to Joanne Holloway jhollowa@portoakland.com.
After hearing about the unforgivable treatment of our fighting soldiers, I sent the following email.
***********************************
What idiot believes the Ameican troops which have fought in
Iraq are a security risk? Isolating them from the general concourse,holding them in an area with no restroom facilities, no food or even chairs because the have not been security cleared is disgraceful. Their service in combat is all the clearence they need. The person responsible for this recent poor treatment of our fighting men and women should be FIRED! This kind of poor judgement in a public official must not be rewarded by continued employment.
*****************
Here is the pathetic response from Joanne Holloway
***************************
First of all, we at Oakland International, including all management,
staff and volunteers, proudly serve and support our nation*s military
service men, women, and their families and friends. They are always
treated with the highest level of respect and we go out of our way to
ensure that their travel experience through our airport is in line with
our very high customer service standards.
Oakland International Airport has had a long history of working with
the military. Oakland was the Bay Area*s airport launch point during
the Vietnam conflict for military transport aircraft. Also, Port of
Oakland leadership has had a strong military background, with three past
Port Executive Directors who held various positions in the U.S.
military.
We are extremely sorry that we inconvenienced some of our service men,
women and their families and friends during their brief stay here in
Oakland last week. We also want to acknowledge the hurt feelings of many
in our community, both locally and nationally, as a result of this
situation.
If you would like information on the actual events, please see the
Oakland International Airport website’s home page for our official
statement.
Joanne Holloway
Oakland International Airport
Customer Relations
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