BOB MOEN Associated Press writer | Posted: Friday, November 23, 2007 12:00 am
CHEYENNE - Sen. John Barrasso ate Thanksgiving Day meals with Wyoming troops serving in Iraq, filled them in on Wyoming news and delivered some much sought-after beef jerky and other items.
"I've wanted to get to Iraq since I was sworn in, and I specifically wanted to come at Thanksgiving to thank the brave men and women who are here serving our country and serving all of us," Barrasso said during a telephone interview from Iraq Thursday.
Barrasso was traveling with a small congressional delegation led by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Joseph Lieberman, I-Ct., as well as others. The group met with the top military commander in Iraq and the U.S. ambassador and visited a prison.
There was some excitement when mortars struck the U.S.-protected Green Zone in Baghdad during the time when the Senate delegation was supposed to be arriving at the base.
"We were running late so we missed it," Barrasso said.
Barrasso said the Iraq trip will allow him to make sure the troops are getting what they need and to check on progress in pacifying the country.
"It is clear to anybody here that you are in a war zone, and there's just no doubt about it," Barrasso said. "But measurable progress is being made."
He had lunch in Baghdad with two Wyoming soldiers - Danny Warner of Sheridan and Thomas Gorsuch of Douglas - and dinner in a surrounding province with four Wyoming Marines - Grant Royal of Greybull, Ray Hahn of Sheridan, Duane Szuma of Newcastle and Jason Case of Cheyenne.
"They want to know what's going on in Wyoming," Barrasso said. "They talk about snowmobiling in Yellowstone, keeping the east gate open. They want to talk about hunting, and the weather and the UW football team."
Barrasso handed out ball caps, patches, phones cards, stickers and coins.
"None of them had seen the new Wyoming quarter, so I brought a couple rolls of Wyoming quarters and gave them out," he said.
He also brought along beef jerky.
"They take it along when they're out on patrol and things," Barrasso said.
Barrasso said the troops had no complaints.
"The troops are very appreciative to have folks here to spend Thanksgiving with them," he said.