President Bush dials deployed Airman

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Randy L. Mitchell
  • 447th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
BAGHDAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Iraq --  While most people were waiting to make an important call on Thanksgiving, an Airman here was awaiting a call from the President of the United States, George W. Bush.

Airman 1st Class Sarah Sullivan, an airfield management operations supervisor, received that call at 5:30 p.m., when the White House switchboard put the commander-in- chief through to her.

The president's phone call was an event designed to lift morale for deployed Airmen during the holidays. Airman Sullivan was selected out of a number of nominees to receive the honor. She had learned about a week earlier President Bush would be calling on Thanksgiving to thank her for her service in Iraq.

“I was in total and complete shock,” Airman Sullivan said. “I never really thought I would be selected. I know there are many hard working troops out there and I figured the odds were for someone else.”

Her commander said it was her selfless attitude that got her nominated in the first place.

“I can’t speak for Airman Sullivan,” said Lt. Col. Joe Katuzienski, 447th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron commander. “But I think she was chosen because she is a humble, diligent, hard-working, selfless Airman who works quietly behind the scenes. She gives others credit for her work, treats others with respect and her personality lifts-up people around her.”

“It's hard to wrap my brain around,” Airman Sullivan said. “I just feel so proud, and humble, at the same time.”

Airman Sullivan wasn’t the only one excited about the call. Her coworkers back home said they were proud and happy for her.

Colonel Katuzienski said he could hardly contain himself when it was time to tell her she had been selected to receive the call.

“I caught-up with Sully at our intramural volleyball game,” he said. “When we arrived at the volleyball courts, about 50 people were there, and I made a public announcement:

'Attention … everyone … attention … this is real world, the White House staff office just called and the President of the United States will personally make a phone call to Airman Sullivan on Thanksgiving Day.’

“Sully stood-up from the bleachers, smiled and turned completely red in the face," added Colonel Katuzienski.

The call lasted about two minutes, but Airman Sullivan said it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity she would savor forever.

“I will never forget him saying ‘Sarah, this is the President of the United States calling,’” she said. “He was laughing and sounded excited to be doing this. He told me he was calling to wish me and everyone here a happy Thanksgiving. He told me how proud of me and our troops he is, and I told him we where proud to be here.”

She even found they have something in common besides a sharing a good laugh.

"He asked me where I was from and I mentioned I lived in Maine for four or five years, so I thought we had something in common. He laughed and said, ‘yeah, my parents have a house up there,'" said Airman Sullivan.

“I think it is so impressive that the president would take the time out of his day to do this,” she said. “It makes a big impact on us as deployed members.”

The president even asked about her husband and how much longer she had left here.

“I told him [my husband] was in North Carolina,” Airman Sullivan said. “Then he asked how long I’ve been here - I told him nearly three months and he asked how long my tour was. After I told him, he said I’d be home in no time.”

Above everything, she said she’s grateful and extremely proud to have represented the Airmen assigned here through her "presidential conference."