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Nice note below.....
Have a wonderful time in Nantucket.
Xo
Betsy


----- Original Message -----
From: White, Kirsten B.
To: Russell, Catherine M.; Elizondo, Carlos E.; Clark-Bauserman, Deborah E.; Massey, Nancy E.; Campbell, Meg; Doorenbos, Bobbi J.
Sent: Mon Nov 22 22:09:40 2010
Subject: Fw: Dinner Tonight


----- Original Message -----
From: Tien, John K.
To: White, Kirsten B.
Sent: Mon Nov 22 21:51:10 2010
Subject: RE: Dinner Tonight

Kirsten, thanks very much for inviting me tonight. I have had some nice moments in my two and half years at the White House to include accompanying the President on a visit to wounded warriors in Bagram AFB in Afghanistan. Tonight, however, I will cherish more than any of those other moments because it also included military family members and not just spouses, but parents and children too.

On March 6, 2006, I remember holding the hand of one of my Soldiers, Specialist Jose Morales, when he was in a hospital in Mosul, Iraq. Six hours earlier SPC Morales lost his right leg in an IED explosion in northern Iraq. The driver of his vehicle, PFC Ricky Salas was killed and their platoon leader was seriously wounded. SPC Morales was unconscious when I linked up with him in the hospital. I had been on a patrol myself that night and was one of the first ones to the IED site. It was dark, cold, and barren in that field where SPC Morales' vehicle had been hit. As I held SPC Morales' hand, I worried that SPC Morales' last thoughts before losing consciousness was that he was all alone and the enemy was in the vicinity. I prayed that when SPC Morales woke up, that someone would be there for him to let him know that he was among friends who would care for him and protect him. I later found out that SPC Morales woke up on the troop plane from Baghdad to Landstuhl Hospital in Germany and the onboard surgeon was there right by him. Specialist Morales, who could not have known I was with him in Mosul, gave the surgeon his cross to give to me and told the surgeon to "send to lieutenant colonel tien to keep him safe." I wore that cross for the fourteen straight months and gave it back to SPC Morales two years later thanking him for keeping me safe. Thus, when I watched the Bidens tonight embrace these young men and their families, I loved them for it. I loved the Bidens for showing these Soldiers and Marines and Airmen that America will be there for them when they "wake up," that we will care for them, that we will protect them, and most importantly, that we will not forget them. I am inspired, and will re-dedicate myself to the service of all of them whenever and wherever I can. Please also thank Kathy, Darienne, Bobbi, Courtney, and Carlos for welcoming me as a member of "Team Jill" for this special night.

Yours,

John Tien
Soldier

John K. Tien
Senior Director for Afghanistan and Pakistan
National Security Council
EEOB 326
(202) 456-9381
Unclassified email: JTien@nsc.eop.gov
SIPR: JTien@nsc.eop.sgov.gov
JWICS: JTien@nsc.eop.ic.gov

-----Original Message-----
From: White, Kirsten B.
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 12:42 PM
To: Tien, John K.
Subject: RE: Dinner Tonight

John - we'd love to have you. I have attached the briefing memo. Dinner is at 5. Bobbi and Darienne Page will be coming up I believe in OVP transport but will probably cab back here afterward. I'll let you know about transport. But definitely plan to come - we have a seat for you at the table. 26 wounded warriors/families, Darienne, you, VP, Dr. Biden, and Father O'Brien (giving the blessing) will be seated.

-----Original Message-----
From: Tien, John K.
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 11:47 AM
To: White, Kirsten B.
Subject: RE: Dinner Tonight

Absolutely. I'll keep my 5 pm free until you confirm back. Thanks for thinking of me. Great talk today. Love serving veterans and the military family community. John

-----Original Message-----
From: White, Kirsten B.
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 11:19 AM
To: Tien, John K.
Subject: Dinner Tonight

Are you free for dinner tonight at NAVOBS with 26 wounded warriors/families, VP and JTB? 5pm.