thedrifter
04-24-06, 03:07 PM
Dad of slain Marine protests Bush visit
Megan Blaney, Staff Writer
TWENTYNINE PALMS - Sitting along dusty Adobe Road near the Marine base where President Bush visited Sunday, Terry Davis held a one-man protest against the war that took his son.
Davis was doubtful that Bush would drive by and stop to chat about Zachariah Scott Davis but nonetheless sat in the bed of his red pickup for hours.
The president spent the morning at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center to attend church and have lunch with Marines and their families as part of a three-day visit to California.
A former Marine, Terry Davis said he supports the troops, but feels that this is the "wrong war."
"If my son had died while trying to find (bin Laden) it wouldn't be as bad as him dying on a false pretense. But we couldn't go into Saudi (Arabia) after Bin Laden because they are oil friends," he said.
Zachariah Davis, 25, was killed on Jan. 6, 2005, by an improvised explosive device while serving in the volatile Al Anbar province of Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Terry Davis' other son is also a Marine.
"(Bush) has never been here before, but now that his poll numbers are so bad, he's trying to make up for it," Davis said. "Active Marines can't say that, but I can."
White House spokesman Ken Lisaius said the intent of Bush's visit was to meet some of the soldiers and their families who are serving the country.
"He travels all across the country . . . speaking to Americans about issues that are important to them and will continue to do so," Lisaius said.
Five miles away, in downtown Twentynine Palms, many people were largely unaware or indifferent of the visit.
"This is just a photo op," said Frank Mack, 56, who said he is a retired Marine who fought in Vietnam. "He doesn't care to come out and see us in town, so we don't care about him."
Sunday was Bush's first trip to the Marine base, and most residents, regardless of their feelings for him as president, were glad Marines got to spend some time with their commander in chief.
"I think it's great that he's here," said Marine Staff Sgt. D.J. Latimer. "Not a lot of presidents care enough to come visit us out here."
Daniel Stewart, 31, said he voted for Bush but hasn't been impressed with him since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.
"It would have been nicer if it was made more public, but I'm glad he is spending time here. The Marines give so much, it's only right," Stewart said.
Some residents felt the base visit was an afterthought, given that his visit to the state included a fundraiser Saturday night in Indian Wells that raised $2 million.
"The only reason he came here at all is to pick up some cash," said Raymond Harris, 45. "He didn't come out and see us. If you're poor, he doesn't care, but if you've got big dollars, he's happy to see you."
Terry Davis said he feels that Bush is reluctant to acknowledge American casualties or fallen soldiers' families.
As of Sunday, there were 2,389 American casualties in the war.
Davis said he never received any condolences from the White House after Zach died. A married father of two, he worked for the San Bernardino County Fire Department.
"If he had just stopped and said `I'm sorry about your son' to (war activist) Cindy Sheehan, he probably would have gotten a lot more support from me," he said.
Ellie
Megan Blaney, Staff Writer
TWENTYNINE PALMS - Sitting along dusty Adobe Road near the Marine base where President Bush visited Sunday, Terry Davis held a one-man protest against the war that took his son.
Davis was doubtful that Bush would drive by and stop to chat about Zachariah Scott Davis but nonetheless sat in the bed of his red pickup for hours.
The president spent the morning at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center to attend church and have lunch with Marines and their families as part of a three-day visit to California.
A former Marine, Terry Davis said he supports the troops, but feels that this is the "wrong war."
"If my son had died while trying to find (bin Laden) it wouldn't be as bad as him dying on a false pretense. But we couldn't go into Saudi (Arabia) after Bin Laden because they are oil friends," he said.
Zachariah Davis, 25, was killed on Jan. 6, 2005, by an improvised explosive device while serving in the volatile Al Anbar province of Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Terry Davis' other son is also a Marine.
"(Bush) has never been here before, but now that his poll numbers are so bad, he's trying to make up for it," Davis said. "Active Marines can't say that, but I can."
White House spokesman Ken Lisaius said the intent of Bush's visit was to meet some of the soldiers and their families who are serving the country.
"He travels all across the country . . . speaking to Americans about issues that are important to them and will continue to do so," Lisaius said.
Five miles away, in downtown Twentynine Palms, many people were largely unaware or indifferent of the visit.
"This is just a photo op," said Frank Mack, 56, who said he is a retired Marine who fought in Vietnam. "He doesn't care to come out and see us in town, so we don't care about him."
Sunday was Bush's first trip to the Marine base, and most residents, regardless of their feelings for him as president, were glad Marines got to spend some time with their commander in chief.
"I think it's great that he's here," said Marine Staff Sgt. D.J. Latimer. "Not a lot of presidents care enough to come visit us out here."
Daniel Stewart, 31, said he voted for Bush but hasn't been impressed with him since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.
"It would have been nicer if it was made more public, but I'm glad he is spending time here. The Marines give so much, it's only right," Stewart said.
Some residents felt the base visit was an afterthought, given that his visit to the state included a fundraiser Saturday night in Indian Wells that raised $2 million.
"The only reason he came here at all is to pick up some cash," said Raymond Harris, 45. "He didn't come out and see us. If you're poor, he doesn't care, but if you've got big dollars, he's happy to see you."
Terry Davis said he feels that Bush is reluctant to acknowledge American casualties or fallen soldiers' families.
As of Sunday, there were 2,389 American casualties in the war.
Davis said he never received any condolences from the White House after Zach died. A married father of two, he worked for the San Bernardino County Fire Department.
"If he had just stopped and said `I'm sorry about your son' to (war activist) Cindy Sheehan, he probably would have gotten a lot more support from me," he said.
Ellie