Posted: 7/15/2004 8:57:42 AM EDT
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Jul 15, 10:01 AM (ET) DALLAS (AP) - Eight soldiers flying home from Iraq for two weeks of R&R flew in style instead of coach after first-class passengers offered to swap seats with them. "The soldiers were very, very happy, and the whole aircraft had a different feeling," flight attendant Lorrie Gammon told The Dallas Morning News in Thursday's editions. The June 29 seat-swap on American Airlines Flight 866 from Atlanta to Chicago started before boarding, when a businessman approached one of the soldiers and traded his seat. When the swapping was done, "the other two first-class passengers wanted to give up their seats, too, but they couldn't find any more soldiers," Gammon said. Another flight attendant, Candi Spradlin, said she was impressed with the acts of good will. "If nothing else, those soldiers got a great homecoming," she said. Cool! |
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From the Dallas Morning News: www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/071504dnmetfirstclass.20618.html Here's a pic of the soldier's: www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/07-04/0715met_flight.jpg Passengers' good will turned soldiers' trip home into a flight of fancy 10:42 PM CDT on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 By MICHAEL E. YOUNG / The Dallas Morning News It all began with a chance encounter at an airport, a glance, an offer, a quiet chat. What's your seat number, soldier? It's 23-B, sir, the soldier told the businessman. No, son, that's my seat. Yours is in first class. As more soldiers boarded, similar offers quickly came from the other first-class passengers. And eight soldiers heading home from Iraq for two weeks of R&R found themselves with their officers in the big seats up front instead of the center seats in coach. U.S soldiers fresh from Iraq were surprised but grateful for the first-class seats on Flight 866 from Atlanta to Chicago. That spontaneous act of good will transformed American Airlines Flight 866, from Atlanta to Chicago, on June 29. "The soldiers were very, very happy, and the whole aircraft had a different feeling," said Lorrie Gammon, one of the Dallas-based flight attendants working the trip. "There were 14 seats in first class, and there were 12 soldiers there. The other two first-class passengers wanted to give up their seats, too, but they couldn't find any more soldiers." Flight attendant Candi Spradlin of Conway, Ark., said she was impressed with how passengers treated the soldiers. "If nothing else, those soldiers got a great homecoming," she said. The soldiers were so surprised they barely knew what to do, said Ms. Gammon, who lives in Frisco. "They were so humble and thankful ? they spent the whole flight saying thank you," she said. "But we should have been saying thank you to them for what they're doing for us." E-mail [email protected] |
I wear birkenstocks, but I would gladly give up my seat to a soldier. In fact, I would readily be a soldier. Don't assume birkenstocks are anything more than shoes for people with German feet. |
Well, my feet are American of English and German desent. I too like Birkenstocks. Clarkes as well. is this a hyjack? -HS PS: Great story! |
| Over 20 years ago I flew to San Diego to go to my brothers graduation from Marine Corps boot. I was a brand new 2nd Lieutenant. We spent the weekend drinking, visiting Mexico and various nudie bars. We decided we would wear our uniforms for the return flight to Kansas City. One of the pretty young flight attendants stopped by to chat, checked out all the ribbons and pins on both of our uniforms, and basically drooled over both of us. In a few minutes the flight attendant who was in charge of the flight came by, escorted us to first class, and kept the drinks coming during the entire flight home. It was a great flight and something I will remember till I take my last breath. |