My son guarded President Carter

[dodger501]

Last Thursday, 8/11, Naval Submarine Base - Kings Bay, GA

My son Tony is a PO2 in the Navy, assigned to law enforcement on the base.
Pres. and Mrs. Carter came Thursday night to attend ceremonies for the arrival of the nuclear sub USS Jimmy Carter.

So Tony is assigned the overnight shift starting at 11pm and he is there in the morning when the Carters got up. Tony said he is a nice, friendly, genuine guy. He stopped to shoot the breeze with Tony (where you from, how is it going, etc.) before going to his morning swim. Needless to say, Tony is beside himself. I had told him earlier to tell Pres. Carter how much I admired him and that he was the first president I voted for. Tony did this and Pres. Carter expressed his thanks for that.

Here's the sorta funny part: Later, before the ceremony, the Carters, a 3-star (Vice-Admiral) and a 2-star (Rear-Admiral), a full bird Captain and a bunch of junior officers are milling around. One of the Secret Service guys asks Tony if he wants a picture taken with the President. Well, yeah!!
Problem -- no one seems to have a camera. The SS guys asked everybody there -- you now have the former President's security detail hunting up a camera. Finally, the Vice-Admiral's wife says she has one but it's in the car. She goes and gets it!

So the former President poses with Tony and says, "Let's make it a good one for the State of Minnesota!" Snap.
As they were off to the ceremony, Tony thanked Pres. Carter, said it was an honor to server him this day. Pres. Carter replied, "No, thank YOU. The honor is mine. Say hello to Minnesota for me."
I told Tony I will take care of that last item, for sure.
Carter carried our state in both elections.

Wow. Just wow.
Hopefully we can retrieve that picture soon from the Admiral's wife and I can post it here for you.

I'm going to cross-post this in the Georgia forum, too.

[classof56]

1. Jimmy Carter is one class act and IMHO a true Christian.

I have "Christian" relatives who proclaim loudly that Carter "ruined the country." And yet they support Bush...go figure!

This is a very nice story and makes me feel good on several levels. Thanks for sharing! Look forward to the photo.

Tired Old Cynic

[katinmn]

2. Thanks, Dodger! Pres. Carter is the best.

Nice way to treat your son.

I've read similar accounts of how he treats people like he would treat a close friend or relative - very respectfully.

[Spike from MN]

3. When I saw your subject line, I thought it was going to be a spoof

on John "I carried a briefcase" Kline's campaign ad. My bad.

Wow. Just wow. Sounds like Carter and everyone around him is a real class act. And that includes your son. Please thank your son for serving and tell him to stay safe. And post the pic when you can. What a great story.

[dodger501]

4. Ha ha! Good one, Spike!

Yeah, he carried the football. What a national hero.
Thank you and the others for your comments.