Jesse Jackson, Rev. Wright, Farrakhan got captured U.S. pilot released

[RamboLiberal]

Robert O. Goodman is a former A-6 Intruder Naval Flight Officer and graduate of the United States Naval Academy who served as a Bombardier/Navigator. He was shot down over Lebanon on December 4, 1983. Captured upon ejection from his stricken plane, he was held for multiple days. His release was facilitated by Reverend Jesse Jackson.

While on a bombing mission, the crew from VA-85 was hit by a man portable missile (SA-7 or SA-9) into the engine nozzle upon dropping its bomb-load, while still in a dive through 1,800 feet (554 m) AGL. The fuselage and a wing were immediately engulfed in flames, and then the right side engine erupted.

The pilot, US Navy Lieutenant Mark Lange, a Naval Aviator, tried to control the aircraft in order to safely eject the crew. After a rapid, low-level descent, the Intruder was seen to pull up and likely stalled, resulting in a crash on a 1,000 AGL hill, above a village surrounded by Syrian AAA-positions. Lange ejected both himself and Goodman in the final moment, but his parachute failed to properly deploy by the time he hit the ground. Lange's left leg was severely injured and he died shortly after capture by Syrian troops and Lebanese civilians. Goodman, rendered unconscious, broke three ribs, injured a shoulder and a knee during the landing, but was otherwise stable. He was captured and awakened by the Syrians and taken to Damascus.

Goodman was held for over a month, during which the US government made numerous attempts to free him. He had a few visitors, including Ambassador Robert Paganelli who brought him Christmas dinner.

In January 1984, Jesse Jackson travelled to Libya and Syria along with Jeremiah Wright and Louis Farrakhan. The mission's peaceful purpose was accomplished, as they secured the release of Goodman, who was essentially a prisoner of war.

U.S. President Ronald Reagan welcomed LT Goodman at the White House January 4, 1984, hours after he and Rev. Jackson arrived back in the U.S.

Reagan said that LT Goodman "exemplified qualities of leadership and loyalty" and said Jackson's "mission of mercy" had "earned our gratitude and our admiration." In turn, Jackson praised Reagan for sending a letter to Syrian President Assad calling for cooperation in bringing peace to Lebanon.<2>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Goodman

Gone mostly unremarked about Obama's former pastor and his seemingly anti-patriotic remarks is the fact that he served in the military, in both the Marines and the Navy.

According to biographical information on the Trinity United Church of Christ's web site, on Wikipedia and elsewhere, Rev. Wright served six years in the U.S. military, in the Marines and the Navy.

As a cardiopulmonary technician in the Navy he attended then-President Lyndon Johnson during a medical procedure -- and was duly thanked by LBJ.

-----

Not all who have jumped on the Wright affair can claim the same service to his or her country, of course. One thinks, for example, of William Kristol, who referred in a recent New York Times column to "Wright's thoroughgoing and conspiracy-heavy anti-Americanism." No trace of patriotic military service in Kristol's CV, although he is often in favor of the use of U.S. military power abroad.

-----

One other generally forgotten item on Rev. Wright's resume: He was part of a mission to Libya led by Rev. Jesse Jackson in 1984 which resulted in the freeing of Navy pilot Lt. Ronald Goodman who had been shot down over Lebanon -- a service to the country recognized by then-President Ronald Reagan.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=16&entry_id=25141


Wright (foreground far right) attending LBJ, and LBJ's letter of thanks addressed to Wright

How dare that hateful traitor do that! :sarcasm:

[OhioBlue]

1. okay, so a bullet point recap of Pastor Wright

would include:

U.S. Marine
Cardiopulmonary Tech in the U.S. Navy
Attended procedure on President Johnson
Awarded 3 Presidential Commendations
Member of Peace mission to Syria and Libya to secure freedom of U.S. Navy Lt that was being held hostage, of which Pres. Reagan was grateful for his service to his Country
Invited to the White House to pray for President Clinton and sent a thank you letter from the President.
Grew Chicago Church from a few hundred members to several thousand members
Attends to those less fortunate and ministers to those in need
Mentors young people to follow a life of self determination

[madrchsod]

2. and he`s retired...

the church has a new young leader that is going to be a bigger force in his church and the community of america than anyone we have seen yet..

[madrchsod]

3. boy did they get shit for doing that...

i remember all the shit that was thrown at them for doing this...it was really sad that the freeing of this flyer became nothing more than racisim